RIGHT PERSON WRONG PLACE

CHAPTER 68: DETERMINATION

Hoseok clung to Yoongi,
his fingers digging into the fabric of the alpha's shirt as if it were a lifeline.
The familiar scent of Yoongi-calming,
grounding-began to cut through the fog of his panic,
anchoring him back to reality.
He felt Yoongi's steady breaths beneath his cheek and tried to match them,
forcing himself to inhale slowly,
then exhale,
though it still felt like his lungs were burning...
________________________

...I'm not going to Korea...

It never occurred to Hoseok that he could be this scared for his life. He'd always put on the facade of fearlessness, a brave face even when the odds were stacked against him. He’d laughed in the face of danger more times than he could count, daring the world to challenge him, to push him to his limits. But now, with the weight of his own secrets threatening to crush him, Hoseok realised that it wasn’t just the external threats that terrified him. It was the vulnerability, the thought of exposing the cracks in his armour, of admitting that he wasn’t as invincible as he’d always tried to be.

He’d been strong, he’d been resilient, but beneath it all, Hoseok was just as scared, just as desperate to survive as anyone else. And with Yoongi standing right in front of him, holding him close, Hoseok could no longer hide behind his bravado. The fear was too real, too suffocating, and it clawed at him with an intensity that left him trembling.

Now he realised he was still afraid of Hungjae's wrath. He'd always been afraid of the old man, he just never thought of it this deep until now. Hungjae had always been a shadow over his life, a constant reminder of what could go wrong, of how easily everything could be torn apart. Hoseok had spent years convincing himself that he’d moved on, that he’d left that fear behind along with the man who had tormented him. But standing there, with Yoongi’s arms wrapped around him and his own vulnerability laid bare, Hoseok couldn’t deny the truth any longer. Hungjae’s influence still lingered, like a ghost haunting the corners of his mind.

The old man’s wrath had been merciless, a brutal force that had shaped Hoseok’s every move, every decision. No matter how far he ran, no matter how fiercely he fought, that fear was always there, lurking beneath the surface. It wasn’t just the fear of being hurt—it was the fear of being powerless, of losing control, of having his life dictated by someone else’s whims. And now, faced with Yoongi’s unwavering concern and the dangerous mission that lay ahead, all those old fears came rushing back, more potent and paralysing than ever.

Yes he hated the man for destroying his life, for destroying his innocence, he was even on his revenge list. But that didn't stop the fact that Hoseok didn't have that courage to face him like he'd vowed to  on countless sleepless nights. The promises he made to himself, the silent oaths of retribution, all seemed to crumble under the weight of his fear. It was easy to fantasise about revenge when Hungjae was nothing more than a dark spectre in his memories, but the reality of confronting the man—of seeing those cold, calculating eyes again—was far more terrifying than Hoseok had ever let himself admit.

He felt like a child again, he felt like the traumatised twelve year old Hoseok, trapped under Hungjae’s oppressive hold, powerless to resist the twisted games the old man played. Every instinct in Hoseok screamed at him to be strong, to be the person who could stand up to the past and reclaim his power. But in that moment, all he felt was the crushing weight of fear, of doubt, and the bitter taste of shame that he couldn’t simply be the fearless warrior he’d always pretended to be.

Yoongi’s arms tightened around him, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of Hoseok’s emotions. Yoongi knew, of course he knew. Seokjin had disclosed everything to him the previous night, and he could pretty much tell they all equally went through the same thing, for the could see the shadows in their eyes, the haunted look that appeared whenever his father's name was mentioned. But knowing and feeling were two different things, and Hoseok hated that he couldn’t be stronger, hated that he couldn’t just brush off the old wounds and be the partner Yoongi needed in this fight.

Hoseok clenched his fists, nails digging into Yoongi’s chest as he tried to steady himself. He hated that he was still this afraid, that even after everything, Hungjae still held this kind of power over him. But more than that, he hated that Yoongi had to see him like this—shaken, vulnerable, and terrified of shadows that should have been long gone.

And this was exactly why Yoongi wanted hoseok out of the feud. He'd made that decision the moment Seokjin had told him everything, because he knew Hungjae was a huge part of everything that was going to happen, the monster would do everything to bring Hoseok back under his feet, considering that the omega worth generations of wealth and influence. Hungjae’s greed was insatiable, and his obsession with control over every aspect of Hoseok’s life was a constant threat. Yoongi knew that as long as his father was alive, Hoseok would never be truly free. And that was something Yoongi couldn’t accept.

"I'm not going to Korea." Hoseok finally found his voice to speak, although still shaken, he was determined. "I'm not going to Korea," he repeated, more firmly this time. The tremor in his voice was still there, but so was the resolve that had carried him through every battle, every dark moment that threatened to swallow him whole.

Yoongi’s eyes fluttered close, a heavy sign leaving his lips, pressing the omega's face further into his chest. "You can’t face him cupcake... please..."

"No!” Hoseok interrupted, pulling away from Yoongi’s grasp. He stepped back, his gaze hardening as he fought to keep the tears at bay. "I made a promise to myself six years ago and that promise is going to be fulfilled no matter what. Your father ruined me, and I'll be the one to ruin him regardless of the circumstances. I'm not going to be a coward and cower. And if you think you've got the power to force me out of this country, jokes on you, I've got my legs and my mind intact and I’m not going anywhere unless it’s to face Hungjae.” Hoseok’s voice wavered, but the fire in his eyes was undeniable. “I’ve spent too long being his victim, and I’m done. If this is the end of the line, I want to go down on my terms, not running scared because of what he might do...”

.
.
.

Here you go guys. please don't forget to vote