Mix and Match ~ TK

92

"This can work." Taehyung shook his head, looking directly at the meadow surrounding the Main House and admiring the flowers growing in colorful bundles all around it.

"It won't." He informed the beta. "It might've worked before but as I previously explained, it's too late now."

Yoongi had opened his mouth to question Taehyung when he was interrupted by none other than his brother.

"Yoongi, Beta Jung is looking for you." Jungkook said almost breathless, as if he came running here from where Beta Jung's house was, which was on the other side of the pack. He didn't look at Taehyung once, but Taehyung couldn't help but look at him. He studied the tangled but soft black hair and the sweat slicking at the back of his neck, a few droplets hanging slowly from his temple and slowly seeping into the black V neck he was sporting, paired with his usual gray sweats and combat boots. Unfortunately, the sight only brought melancholy and, surprisingly, unease to the brunette. He couldn't help but remember the kiss he saw earlier. The passion it held could be seen by a blind man. How could he has overseen this so much? Lucas was very close to Jungkook. So close that at times, Taehyung thought it unnatural. He saw Lucas at the border of the pack and instantly got suspicious. He supposed his mind was looking for any explanation plausible to justify the closeness between the beta and his mate. What was ironic was that he thought it more plausible that Lucas would betray them, than him having a relationship with his mate.

"I gotta go, but we'll finish this conversation later." Yoongi said, probably to Taehyung even if the latter had completely lost interest in anything the beta was saying. When the white haired wolf left hurriedly, an awkward silence instilled between the two who both had so much to say to each other, yet no words came out. Jungkook still wasn't looking at him, and when he started moving to go away, Taehyung blurted out.

"I don't regret you coming to Lupus." He didn't know why or what exactly he was saying, but he was saying it and the most important thing was that even if he wasn't looking, Jungkook was listening. "I wasn't the kindest person to you, but I never hated you, Jungkook."

It was weird talking to someone's side, someone who projected through the feeble connection between them, a consequent dosage of contempt. But Taehyung went on anyway. "I guess I can never be sorry enough for what I did or say to you, but I want you to know that I am sorry. I have so many regrets about how this went down between the two of us and I understand completely that I am to blame for all of it. I'm not going to chase you anymore, Jeon Jungkook. You deserve your happy ending. Maybe more than any of us." Taehyung inhaled longingly, the words seeming to lift some weight from his shoulders, but he still pushed. "Anyway. Just be careful with Lucas. Not to seem crazy or anything but it's always a good idea to be careful." At those words, Jungkook finally turned and faced him. Taehyung almost stepped back at the hatred he saw blazing through the eyes of his supposed mate.

"Jimin told me about Lucas." He spat. "You seriously think him of all people would betray us? Me?" Taehyung shook his head if only to clarify that he didn't mean it like that, but Jungkook stopped him. "Honestly Taehyung, I think I prefer it when you minded your own business and ignored my existence. I think this is what's best for us at the moment. At least we can give each other time to figure out how to severe this bond and be over with it."

Taehyung stood still, shocked and hurt from Jungkook's word. He didn't know what to say to that. He was prepared for Jungkook to insult him, maybe even shout at him or push him around. He was ready for that. What he wasn't ready for was the blatant hatred and despise he felt in every word Jungkook directed at him, that he could only stand there, speechless. The former seemed to figure out he wouldn't be getting an answer back because he turned away and left.

Taehyung shuddered, and then shook and before long, tears were silently pouring from his eyes. He suspected that it was about time karma came around and got him. And Taehyung, the ever believer in karma and all it does, accepted it with opened arms, and cried the tears that he knew he deserved.

No, marking was definitely not an option any longer.

-

"Hey!" Jungkook was greeted as soon as he entered the cabin. He didn't think Lucas would still be here but he was glad for his presence.

"Hey..." he answered, lowering himself on the sofa and taking deep breaths to calm himself and his wolf. His wolf seemed to be oddly silent lately. Jungkook remembered how he was always bothered by him in every decision he made, and he found it quite odd how now that Jungkook needed his guidance, he was awfully silent.
The seat next to him was taken by the concerned beta who was now looking at him with obvious concern. It was becoming a repeating occurrence that Jungkook wanted to groan out loud. He was the Alpha here and still Lucas was the one who always picked up his broken pieces. "Don't worry about it, it's just a stupid altercation with Taehyung." He hurried to say. When he looked up, Lucas was smiling at him.

"You guys need to stop running into each other sometimes." He chuckled.

"It's not easy with him being here and living so close by. In Lupus, we rarely met because of school and everything. I kinda miss that now." He threw his head back, relaxing against the sofa. "I never realized how complicated this whole situation could become." He didn't know why, but Jungkook was suddenly in the mood to talk and open up. "I feel like I've been running in circles my entire life because I was convinced that my mate was the solution to everything." He pondered for a moment, before adding, "maybe he was, I don't know. But I know for certain that I wasted a lot of time going into the wrong direction." He suddenly laughed and turned to face the still smiling beta who was looking at him with warm brown eyes. "I guess my parents were right."

"About what?"

"Oh you know, about choosing someone suitable for me even if it isn't my fated mate. Make him future Luna of the pack, and continue living my life as I should've. As Head Alpha of Bangtan."

Nobody spoke after that last statement, but Jungkook thought it was okay. There was nothing that could be added to his words anyways.

"Is... is this what you want to do?" Lucas finally asked. Jungkook thought about it for a moment before he turned to the beta again and smiled.

"Yes."

-