𝑷𝒖𝒎𝒂 ||𝑻𝑿𝑻 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚||

XVIII

The next morning at the zoo, a huge Puma laid wounded on a mattress, he had patches and scars everywhere on his body, some were old, some were fresh and brand new.
Every breath was painful and difficult for the big Puma.
Slowly he opened his eyes of an intense dark green, an image of the depths of the forest, he looked around disoriented by the sudden change of environment... He was confused on how he got there and how he was still alive.
Park Guard: "Oh my God you're alive! He made it!"
Soon the nurses came near the park guard who was checking on him all night.
The Puma transformed back into human revealing the wounded and battered body of Soobin.
Even as human he couldn't move, his body was too weak and he had too many injuries to even have the strength to move.
Soobin: "W-who are you?"
He answered in a faint voice.
Park guard: "Let's say that I take care of Pumas...By the way I think there is someone here that wants to see you"

The hunters showed up just in time to save him.
They sent the werewolves away and checked the poor condition of the Puma, laying almost lifeless on the forest floor, huge blobs of blood were scattered everywhere, fur of various colors and pieces of skin under leaves and plants, they had a fight to dead and the wolves had the better.
The hunters took him delicately and carried him as fast as possible to the zoo, to save him and hopefully to stabilize his conditions.
There the doctors worked all night to keep the poor boy alive, as soon as the park guard heard of his capture he immediately reported it to Beomgyu, Taehyun and Myah.
They were destroyed by the news and seeing their leader in those conditions was hurtful, especially for the two friends.
Myah remained in the fence, while the other two were called to visit the Puma as he woke up.

Beomgyu: "Hyung! How are you? What did they do to you to end up like this?"
Soobin: "Beomgyu hey!"
His voice hoarse with effort, his belly was ripped open by a bite, if the hunters wouldn't arrived on time he would have died.
Taehyun: "Don't talk, you just hurt yourself more... Shit! You were really giving it all!"
Beomgyu: "Look at those scratches! And those scars! Hyung you are really fighting everything!"
The raven smiled tired.
Soobin: "I-I have to"
The two stayed there for a few minutes to give him some comfort, it was a real shock for both of them to see him in those conditions.
Used to seeing him always strong and sure of himself, they certainly did not expect to see him at the end of his strength.
Taehyun: "You really have some guts to face four werewolves alone!"
Beomgyu: "It's madness! What jumped into your head!?"
Soobin: "It was either m-me or Y-Yeonjun and t-the baby"
He coughed and closed his eyes trying to rest as the two sat distant to let him sleep.
Beomgyu: "Who knows how much Yeonjun is worried! He's about to give birth and his husband is missing!"
Taehyun: "He probably thinks Soobin's dead... It breaks my heart... If that was Kai I wouldn't be able to move one"
Beomgyu patted the other one trying to prevent him from crying.

Soon after the park guard returned and took the two away.
Park guard: "Tell me about him"
Taehyun: "Choi Soobin, he's twenty-one and his birthday is December 4th"
Beomgyu: "Tell them, they can't get separate... Especially now that they're about to have a child"
Taehyun: "Him and Yeonjun are married and will soon have a baby"
Park guard: "That's so cute!"
Beomgyu: "Taehyun... Have you ever thought about being parents with Kai?" He asks all of a sudden.
Taehyun: "No, not yet... Maybe it will be for the future... Oh right... We don't have a future"
He glared at the park guard while she didn't even bother to look at him, then she escorted them back to their cage.

The doctor came to Kai and rushed in the boy's room to update him about his friend.
Kai was the first to know of Soobin's capture and the first to see the elder in his hopeless conditions.
It was a long night for the boy who stayed awake all the time praying and hoping that his firend would be saved, would stay alive... For the first time in months he cried, the whole night, for his brother being alive.
Doctor: "Kai! Kai!"
Kai: "Did he make it?"
Doctor: "Yes, he's safe! He woke up a little while ago, your boyfriend and Beomgyu just finished visiting him, now you can go too"
Kai: "Luckily... I should be in his place, I'm the one who would feed the wolves to save them, to protect them, I'm their shield, the one who would sacrifice himself for them...I could have avoided it, I know I could!"
Doctor: "You would have died and left Taehyun with the most incurable wound"
Kai: "Let's go to Hyung"
He said saddly.

When they arrived Kai immediately approached Soobin who was resting there where on the mattress, struggling even when just breathing.
Kai: "Hey hi Hyung!"
Soobin: "Kai! Y-your sister found us! S-she's with Yeonjun!"
He struggled to say.
Kai: "What?! Is Bahiyyih with Yeonjun?"
Soobin nodded.
Kai: "At least she's in safe hands, but now you shouldn't worry for this, you know they're safe together"
Kai eyeing Soobin's body again started to feel his anger rise inside him.
He was just waiting to get out of there and hunt down those werewolves till the last single one, those werewolves who had reduced Soobin to that state, who hurt his friends and almost destroyed his family.
Kai: "As soon as I get out of here I will kill those werewolves one by one, I will lose my life but at least I will avenge you, I will avenge my sister and make them pay for what they've done"
Soobin: "Kai no! Don't do it, it's not worth it"
He said before closing his eyes and sighing, after a few seconds Soobin's chest stopped moving, in Kai's eyes there was total panic.
Kai: "Soobin! Soobin! Help me! Help!"
He shook the raven boy, without any success, in just a second, a team of nurses rushed him to the intensive care unit, taking care of him and keeping him alive.

Kai stayed the whole afternoon in front of the window of Soobin's room, who was resting senseless on the bed, his life depending on the machines in the room.
Kai: "I swear I'll kill them, one by one"
Doctor: "Kai...If you do that you'll lose your humanity, you could risk killing your sister or Taehyun if that happens! I know you feel guilty about what happened, even though I'd completely not your fault, but taking revenge won't fix things"
Kai: "Probably not, but at least they will learn an unforgettable lesson"
Doctor: "You've been repressing your anger for too long and this is the result, be careful don't take your humanity away, you are an admirable person because of your strong and kind personality, don't ruin that for your revenge"

The doctor then left and disappeared for about twenty minutes, while Kai stayed in front of the window stoic.
When the doctor returned, he tapped on Kai's shoulder catching his attention, their plan was taking action.
Doctor: "Get out of here, there's a person waiting for you outside"
Kai was confused, but as soon as he opened the door he remained puzzled, surprised seeing his boyfriend after such a long time.
Kai: "Taehyun!"
He screamed before running towards him and hugging him.
Taehyun: "Hyuka! I missed you so much!"
They remained hugged to each other for a few minutes.
Kai: "My sister found Yeonjun! They are traveling together"
Taehyun: "Wow finally good news!"
Kai: "Soobin is making it... Everything is on him now"
Taehyun: "He has to make it! He can't leave Yeonjun and the baby!"
Kai smiled and then took a deep breath.
Kai: "Plus the doctor is my friend and...He gave me this"
Kai put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a ring box.
Kai: "Okay uhm...W-We haven't been dating for a long time, but we have known each other for a long time anyway and so... I think this and our love complement this little time we spent together as lovers... T-taehyun... I loved since the first day I saw you and I knew one day I would be here, in front of your, declaring my love for you... What I mean is..."
He got down on one knee, opened the ring box, revealing a ring with a blue diamond nestled in it.
He looked at Taehyun as if him and his eyes contained the whole universe in them and Kai loved that universe, he loved him so much he would die for him, he loved him so much he knew he was the only thing in the world that could make him human again if he lost his humanity, he loved him so much he knew he wanted to spend his whole life with him.
Kai took another deep breath and with trembling hands, as well as his voice and shining eyes, asked the question of all questions.
Kai: "Kang Taehyun will you marry me?"