Bound by Fate

Chapter 26: Unseen Forces, Hidden Fears

The kingdom was quiet once more, though the stillness was deceptive. In the aftermath of Jungkook's uncontrollable rampage, it was not peace that filled the air but an unspoken tension. The palace grounds, once ravaged by the storm of Jungkook's power, had been repaired, and the sky no longer bore the oppressive weight of dark energy. Yet the emotional scars left behind were deeper than anyone cared to admit.

Namjoon stood by the window of his private chambers, watching the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of crimson and gold. It had been two days since Jungkook's power had nearly torn the kingdom apart, and Namjoon hadn't been able to shake the unease that settled in his chest like a stone. He exhaled slowly, his breath fogging the cool glass in front of him.

His mind wandered back to the scene in the forest, to the raw power that had radiated from Jungkook. It was unlike anything Namjoon had ever felt before—wild, untamed, and devastating. He had tried to intervene, to protect the kingdom, but his own power had faltered in the face of Jungkook's overwhelming energy. How was it possible? Namjoon, with his vast abilities, had been outmatched. Not by an enemy, but by Jungkook—someone he had never thought capable of such destruction.

But what unsettled Namjoon the most wasn't Jungkook's power. It was RM. The brief encounter RM had with Jin during Namjoon's absence played over and over in his mind. RM, the darker part of his soul, had taken control, and Jin... Jin hadn't been afraid. In fact, Jin had called out to RM as if the two of them shared a bond. Namjoon's heart ached at the thought, a deep-rooted jealousy and fear gnawing at his insides. What if RM hurts him? What if I hurt him?

That thought was enough to make Namjoon pull away from the one person he cared for most.

For the past two days, Namjoon had been avoiding Jin. At first, it was subtle—short conversations, quick exits from shared spaces. But now it was becoming obvious. Namjoon found excuses to leave the room whenever Jin entered, avoiding eye contact, keeping their conversations brief and distant. He couldn't bear to face him, not after what had happened. The fear that his soul—his power—could one day lose control, just as Jungkook's had, haunted him. What if the next time RM took over, it wasn't a simple misunderstanding? What if he couldn't protect Jin from himself?

As the sun disappeared below the horizon, Namjoon heard a soft knock at his door. He tensed immediately, recognizing Jin's presence before he even spoke. For a moment, he considered pretending he wasn't there, but the door creaked open, and Jin stepped inside.

"Namjoon?" Jin's voice was soft, almost tentative. "I've been looking for you."

Namjoon clenched his jaw, refusing to turn around. "I've been busy," he muttered, his voice low and strained.

Jin approached cautiously, his brows furrowed in concern. He could sense the distance between them, the cold wall that Namjoon had erected. "You've been avoiding me," Jin said quietly, his eyes searching Namjoon's face for any sign of the man he had come to know so well.

Namjoon closed his eyes, fighting the urge to reach out, to hold Jin close and erase the pain in his voice. But he couldn't. He couldn't risk it. "I'm not avoiding you," he lied, though his voice betrayed the guilt simmering beneath the surface. "I just have a lot to think about."

Jin's expression softened, but the hurt in his eyes was unmistakable. "Is this about RM?" he asked gently. "Because if it is, you don't have to worry. I'm not afraid of him, Namjoon. I know he's part of you."

Namjoon's heart clenched painfully at Jin's words, and for a moment, he was tempted to believe him. But fear held him back. His voice was sharp as he responded, "You should be afraid, Jin. RM is dangerous. He's not like me. He could hurt you, and I wouldn't be able to stop him."