Bound by Fate

Chapter 30: A Rift Between Souls

Taehyung's eyes fluttered open, the haze of exhaustion and five days of intense emotions clinging to him like a thick fog. His body felt heavy, sore, and every movement reminded him of what had transpired. As his surroundings came into focus, he saw Jungkook sitting beside him, his face etched with concern and guilt.

But Taehyung didn't care about Jungkook's guilt. He remembered everything—every touch, every kiss, every forced moment between them. He hadn't wanted it. The bond between them, something that should have been sacred, had been formed under the cruel force of his heat and Jungkook's relentless soul. Anger surged through Taehyung like fire.

"Why?!" Taehyung's voice was hoarse, but his shout pierced the air like a whip. Jungkook flinched as if he had been struck. "Why did you let this happen?"

Jungkook's throat tightened, his eyes wide with guilt and shame. "Tae, I didn't— I never wanted this to happen like this. I swear... I couldn't control—"

"You couldn't control it?!" Taehyung's voice cracked, tears welling in his eyes. He pushed himself up from the bed, his body shaking with the effort. "You marked me! You forced us into this! You had control and you chose to let this happen! You should have stopped it!"

Jungkook's heart broke at the sight of Taehyung's tear-streaked face. His chest tightened with regret. "Tae, I didn't have a choice. JK—he took over... I was trying to protect you, I—"

"I didn't want this!" Taehyung screamed, his emotions boiling over. "I never wanted it like this!" His voice trembled with rage and sorrow, and it echoed through the halls of the palace, reaching those standing just outside the room.

The commotion brought everyone running—Jin, Namjoon, Yoongi, and Jin's father all rushed toward the room, their hearts pounding with fear at the sounds of Taehyung's distress.

Inside, Jungkook stood frozen, his chest heaving with emotion, his hands trembling as he tried to reach out to Taehyung. "Tae, please... let me explain—"

Before he could finish, Taehyung stumbled toward the door, sobbing. "There's nothing to explain! This should have never happened! You should have stopped it—both of us should have!"

Jungkook, desperate, ran after him, grabbing Taehyung's wrist as they reached the door. "Please, Tae, don't go—let me make this right!"

Just as Jungkook's hand gripped Taehyung's wrist, the door flung open, and Jin's father stormed in. His eyes blazed with fury. Without a word, he forcefully pulled Jungkook's hand away from Taehyung.

"You've done enough," Jin's father said through gritted teeth, his voice thick with anger and disappointment. The force of his presence made Jungkook step back. But before anyone could react further, Taehyung's body swayed and crumpled to the floor, his legs giving out beneath him. His exhaustion from the past five days had finally caught up, and his body couldn't take any more.

"Taehyung!" Jin cried out, rushing to his brother's side.

Yoongi moved quickly, his arms scooping Taehyung up effortlessly. "He's exhausted," Yoongi murmured, his voice calm but tense. "I'll take him to Jin's room."

Jin's father turned to Jungkook, his gaze cold and unrelenting. "You will meet me in my study this evening. We need to discuss for what you've done."

The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, leaving everyone in stunned silence. Jungkook, his heart shattered, could only nod weakly. He wanted to say something, to defend himself, but the guilt weighed down on him like a boulder. He watched helplessly as Yoongi carried Taehyung away, Jin following close behind, his face streaked with tears.

In the quiet of his room, Jin sat beside Taehyung's unconscious form. His hands trembled as he gently touched the bite mark on Taehyung's neck—the mark that sealed his brother to Jungkook forever. The sight of it made Jin's heart twist painfully. He hadn't wanted this. He never wanted his younger brother to be forced into such a bond, to suffer in such a way. The tears that had dried earlier now returned, flowing freely down his cheeks as he wept silently.