Afterlife ✔️

Chapter 11: Closure

As Taehyung treks through the cursed mountain, the rest of his group pants in exhaustion. Their only reprieve is when Taehyung pauses to draw a plant that piques his interest.

"The future Queen is quite energetic and brave." Namjoon mutters as he desperately catches his breath.

"Is it only me, but is he drawing faster?" Yoongi pants when their stops seem to shorten.

"Dusk is drawing near, so I need to quicken my pace." Taehyung explains and closes his sketch book.

"Hurry, Northerners." Jin grins and follows Taehyung.

"The future Queen is trying to kill us." Namjoon whines as Taehyung begins to disappear in the distance.

"Quicken your pace. Dusk really is upon us." Jungkook mutters and quickly follows his mate.

"Should he continue his current path? He is drawing near your graves." Yoongi informs the King as they follow Taehyung.

"He needs closure. This is why he is trekking this mountain." Jungkook explains.

"Very well." Yoongi hums in understanding then picks up his pace.

When Taehyung enters a clearing, he pauses and looks around. He shivers when he feels those familiar ravenous eyes watching him from the shadows.

"I am here." Jungkook whispers and wraps his arm around his mate who relaxes in his embrace.

"Are those our graves?" Taehyung asks when he sees a spot with flowers blossoming.

"Yes. I came to this mountain to find what was left of our bodies. When I entered this clearing, I noticed the graves. Someone buried us together. There is a small stone which marks our grave. It says 'The prince and his mate lie here in peace'." Jungkook answers and gently kisses his mate's cheek.

"There was an alpha who protected us and allowed me to die in peace while keeping the ravenous non-human wolves at bay. I am guessing he is the one who buried us." Taehyung whispers as the memories of that night flood his mind.

"He did. He kept guard over our graves until the day I appeared in the clearing." Jungkook's words surprise Taehyung.

"We died over two hundred years ago. How is he still alive?" Taehyung asks in surprise while staring at his mate in shock.

"The horrid kingdom that my grandfather overthrew had many warriors who were the children of an alpha and an enslaved witch. Those children were born with eternal life because of who their mother was. However, those children ended up stealing their mother's life line. That was the cost of eternal life. Most of those children were slaughtered by one of that kingdom's past kings because he feared for his throne. However, one of those children escaped to this cursed mountain and survived alone. He is the one who protected you in your final moments and buried us together." Jungkook explains to his surprised mate.

"Is he still alive?" Taehyung asks and hopes to thank the alpha that protected their bodies and gave him peace in the end.

"He is, and you have already met him. Ever since we met, he has never left my side." Jungkook answers and points to Min Yoongi.

"Are you telling me that he is over two hundred years old?!" Jin gasps in horror as he stares at the alpha who looks no older than thirty.

"I am 243 years old." Yoongi answers as he softly smiles at Taehyung who is looking at him with teary eyes.

"Thank you, and I am sorry for biting you." Taehyung cries as he looks at the alpha he now recognises.

"Do not apologize little wolf. You did nothing wrong. You were in pain, and you were protecting your mate to the very end. You have always been quite brave." Yoongi softly smiles while tears trickle down Taehyung's cheek.