Adjustment (taejoon & yoonmin/jikook)

Chapter 17

Taehyung avoided Jimin like the plague for the rest of the day. Even when it was just the two of them inside the den, the tension and bitterness between the two made it feel like they were oceans apart yet somehow, it didn't feel like it was far enough.

Jimin's words were haunting Taehyung, and Taehyung felt shame, anger, and sadness all at the same time.

Taehyung wanted to scream and hit something.

He refused to see it as it was. That Jimin was indeed correct. It was too much to bear, so Taehyung decided to redirect his feelings into anger and bitterness towards Jimin.

It was his only option if he wanted to keep the illusion he had fought so fucking hard to finally create and come to terms with.

Taehyung knew that Namjoon was undoubtedly well aware of the words that had been exchanged between the two humans, and Taehyung couldn't even find it in himself to care about how Namjoon would react when he returned.

Taehyung and Jimin were still the only ones inside the den when the rest of the pack returned later that evening. Yet for some reason, it was only Namjoon and Yoongi that entered the den, both of them, surprisingly, in their human forms.

Namjoon only had to look in Jimin's direction, not moving from his spot at the entrance of the cave before Jimin got up from where he was seated on his bed, head hung low, before he followed Namjoon outside.

Worry immediately shot through every fibre in Taehyung's body, despite his conflicted feelings towards Jimin. The fact that Namjoon got involved was concerning , really fucking concerning.

Then, it was just Yoongi and Taehyung inside the cave.

Taehyung gazed towards Yoongi, who didn't seem particularly affected by his Alpha's treatment of his mate. Yoongi had simply moved further inside the cave, making sure the flames of the fires would burn out.

Taehyung was flabbergasted; Yoongi was uncharacteristically calm. It wasn't necessarily surprising that the other man didn't care that Namjoon was the one carrying out Jimin's reprimand or punishment this time around. It was, however, very astounding that he didn't appear particularly angry with Jimin.

The wolf's unusual behaviour immediately set off alarm bells and it made Taehyung nervous for Jimin, but also exceptionally furious.

"What is he going to do?" Taehyung asked Yoongi, voice hard and bitter.

Yoongi didn't reply beyond a bored shrug of his shoulders as he continued to work lazily on the fire.

It fucking ticked Taehyung off.

"You're so fucking tough, aren't you? You're fucking awful, you know that right? Who the fuck treats their mate like that?" Taehyung snarled, unable to hold back any longer. The anger inside him had been building up the whole day, from Taehyung's fight with Jimin, and Taehyung hadn't known where to direct it until Yoongi arrived. It gave him the perfect opportunity to explode.

Yoongi's head snapped towards Taehyung, eyes lightening with pure fury as he threateningly bared his teeth at Taehyung, but beyond that, he remained silent.

It was not the reaction Taehyung wanted, not the pushback his fingertips were itching for. So Taehyung couldn't help but continue to push even further.

"Fuck, you're such an asshole. Go to hell!" Taehyung's voice became louder.

Yoongi decided to turn his back towards Taehyung again, clearly not interested in entertaining Taehyung's demand for a fight.

"Jimin deserves so much better than you. He'd be so much happier if you hadn't come around. If only Jungkook had presented earlier, then Jimin could be with someone who actually loves him and someone he loves," Taehyung spat, knowing exactly how to inflict pain on the wolf.