Eclipsed by Destiny

Chapter 3: The Fire Beneath the Moon

The days following Namjoon and Jin's mate bond revelation left Jimin reeling. Witnessing such a powerful connection had stirred something in him that he couldn't shake, especially when it came to Yoongi. Their quiet moments together had always been comfortable, filled with an easy companionship. But lately, there was an edge to their silences, an undercurrent of something neither of them was ready to confront.

Jimin couldn't help but wonder if Yoongi felt it too—that strange pull, that sense of something deeper waiting just beneath the surface. The thought lingered in his mind during their patrols, even as they prepared for another long night guarding the southern border of their territory.

Namjoon's voice echoed in Jimin's ears as they were assigned their roles. "Yoongi, Jimin, Taehyung, Hoseok—you'll take the southern patrol tonight."

Jimin found himself walking beside Yoongi as the others trailed a bit behind, the moon casting long, silver shadows through the trees. Every brush of their arms sent a shiver down Jimin's spine, and he couldn't shake the feeling of warmth and comfort emanating from Yoongi. Their conversations flowed easily, filled with shared jokes and teasing, a familiar rhythm that made Jimin feel secure.

But as they patrolled, the atmosphere shifted. Jimin noticed that the usual lightness in Yoongi's demeanor began to fade. Something unspoken hung between them, and Jimin sensed a change in the air.

Suddenly, the group was greeted by a familiar voice, one that instantly changed the atmosphere around them.

"Jimin!" came the cheerful call of Taemin, one of their allies from a neighboring pack. He was tall, with a bright smile and an easy demeanor that drew people to him. Jimin and Taemin had always been close, their friendship forged through years of joint patrols and shared missions.

"Taemin!" Jimin grinned, his face lighting up as he rushed over to greet his old friend. "What are you doing out here?"

Taemin chuckled, pulling Jimin into a quick, friendly hug. "We were finishing up our patrol and thought we'd stop by, see how your pack's doing with all the recent chaos."

Jimin laughed softly. "Same old, same old. Though things have been more tense lately."

As the two exchanged stories, Yoongi stood a few paces away, his gaze darkening. He watched Jimin smile and laugh with Taemin, his stomach twisting at the sight. He hated the way Jimin's eyes sparkled when he looked at Taemin, the way their conversation flowed so easily, as if nothing else in the world mattered.

Yoongi clenched his fists, the jealousy simmering just beneath the surface. He wasn't used to feeling like this, wasn't used to the sharp, possessive pang that stabbed at his chest every time Jimin smiled at someone else. Especially someone like Taemin.

Taemin had always been close to Jimin—closer than Yoongi had ever been, at least on the surface. Yoongi hated the thought of Taemin knowing things about Jimin that he didn't. And now, seeing them together, laughing and talking as if there wasn't a storm brewing between them, made Yoongi's blood boil.

"Yoongi," Hoseok's voice cut through his thoughts, breaking him out of his jealous haze. "You good?"

Yoongi forced a tight smile, nodding. "Yeah. Fine."

But he wasn't fine. Not even close.

As the conversation between Jimin and Taemin carried on, Taemin's hand reached out, playfully brushing a stray leaf from Jimin's shoulder. The innocent touch sent a surge of anger through Yoongi, and before he could stop himself, he stepped forward, his voice cutting through the lighthearted conversation.

"Taemin," Yoongi's tone was cold, sharper than usual. "Shouldn't you be getting back to your pack? You wouldn't want to get caught out here when things go south."

Jimin blinked, surprised by Yoongi's sudden interjection. Taemin, however, didn't seem fazed, flashing Yoongi an easy smile. "We're just wrapping up. No need to worry."

Yoongi's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched tight. "It's not your territory," he said, his voice low. "Maybe you should be more cautious."

The tension was palpable now, and Jimin glanced between the two, sensing something off. "Yoongi, it's fine," he said softly, trying to diffuse the situation. "Taemin's just checking in. It's not a big deal."

But it was a big deal to Yoongi. Every second that Jimin spent smiling at Taemin, every word of encouragement, felt like a knife twisting in his gut. He didn't want to acknowledge why it hurt so much, didn't want to admit that the reason he was so angry had less to do with the pack's safety and more to do with the gnawing fear that someone else could take Jimin from him.

Before Jimin could say anything else, Yoongi grabbed his wrist, pulling him a few steps away from the group. The touch wasn't harsh, but it was firm—urgent. Jimin's heart raced as he stared up at Yoongi, confusion clouding his thoughts.

"Yoongi, what's going on?" Jimin asked, his voice quiet but full of concern.

Yoongi's eyes were dark, his voice low as he spoke. "I don't like it when you're with him."

Jimin blinked, startled by the raw honesty in Yoongi's words. "What do you mean?"

Yoongi let out a frustrated breath, running a hand through his hair. "I mean... I don't like the way he looks at you. The way you're so comfortable around him. It—" He cut himself off, biting back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

"It what?" Jimin pressed, his chest tightening. "Yoongi, what are you trying to say?"

Yoongi's jaw clenched, his eyes locking onto Jimin's. For a long moment, he said nothing, the silence between them thick with unsaid emotions. But then, just as Jimin was about to give up on getting an answer, Yoongi spoke again, his voice rough with jealousy and frustration.

"It makes me angry, Jimin. Seeing you with him. I—" He hesitated, the words heavy in his throat. "I don't want him to have what I—" He stopped, shaking his head. "What I want."

Jimin's breath caught in his throat, the weight of Yoongi's confession settling over him like a blanket of realization. He had never seen Yoongi like this—so raw, so vulnerable. And it hit him all at once. Yoongi wasn't just jealous. He was afraid. Afraid of losing him, even though they had never said what was between them out loud.

"I didn't realize you..." Jimin trailed off, his voice soft, almost uncertain. "Yoongi, you don't have to be jealous. There's nothing between me and Taemin."

Yoongi's eyes softened, but the tension didn't leave his body. "It doesn't feel that way when I see him with you."

Jimin stepped closer, his hand resting lightly on Yoongi's arm. "You don't have to worry about him," Jimin said gently. "I'm here. With you."

Yoongi's gaze flickered, his chest rising and falling with the weight of his emotions. He looked at Jimin, really looked at him, and for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to believe that maybe—just maybe—he wasn't going to lose him.

Before Yoongi could respond, a loud howl echoed through the forest, the unmistakable sound of danger approaching. The moment shattered, the threat looming over them pulling their attention back to the mission at hand.

"We need to go," Jimin said, his voice steady as he glanced toward the direction of the howl. But as they turned to leave, he gave Yoongi's hand a brief, reassuring squeeze. "We'll talk later. I promise."

Yoongi nodded, his jealousy still simmering beneath the surface, but the promise of that touch—of Jimin's reassurance—was enough to keep him grounded, at least for now.

As they ran into the forest, the enemy pack drawing closer, Yoongi couldn't help but glance at Jimin, his heart still heavy with the emotions he hadn't yet sorted out. But one thing was clear—he wasn't going to let anyone come between them. Not Taemin. Not anyone.