Bound by Fate

Chapter 41: A Cry in the Night

Jin lay in bed, his thoughts swirling with the feeling he couldn't shake. Something about that forest had felt ominous, more than just a fleeting instinct. He turned restlessly, his mind unable to quiet down as the strange pull from earlier kept him awake. He had to go back—something in him told him the answer was in the forest. Sitting up, he glanced at Namjoon, peacefully sleeping beside him. With a deep sigh, Jin slipped out of bed, quietly moving to dress in the dim light of the moon that poured in through the window.

Stepping out into the cool night, Jin breathed in the forest's scent. It was peaceful, but the deeper he went, the more the unease grew. His steps quickened as if something invisible urged him forward. Meanwhile, back in the palace, Namjoon stirred, immediately sensing Jin's absence. His connection to Jin had grown stronger lately, his soul instinctively attuned to the other's presence. Feeling Jin's unease ripple through him, Namjoon threw on a robe and followed Jin's trail.

As Jin walked deeper into the forest, the faint smell of burning caught his attention. His heart raced, and he broke into a run, following the scent through the trees. The sight that met him made his breath catch in his throat. A small cottage was engulfed in flames, the fire roaring violently against the night. Without hesitation, Jin raised his hand, summoning water from the nearby stream. With a swift motion, he doused the flames, the water sizzled as it hit the burning wood.

Namjoon arrived just as Jin extinguished the fire, his voice low but urgent. "Jin, what happened?"

Jin shook his head, his eyes scanning the now smoldering ruins. "I don't know. I just... I felt something, and then I found this." He gestured to the destroyed cottage.

The two of them moved closer to investigate, their expressions grim. Namjoon knelt beside the collapsed door, peering inside. His eyes widened in shock as he saw the lifeless forms of a man and a woman, charred and motionless.

"They're dead," Namjoon confirmed quietly, his voice thick with sorrow.

Jin's heart sank, his hands clenched at his sides as the weight of what they were witnessing hit him. "Who could've done this?"

Just as they were about to leave, a loud wail pierced the night air. Jin's head snapped in the direction of the sound. "A baby!" he exclaimed, running toward the noise.

They frantically searched through the debris, and after a few moments, Jin spotted a small basket, partially hidden beneath a pile of rubble. He rushed over, gently pushing the debris aside. Inside was a baby boy, no more than six months old, wailing in fear and confusion.

Jin scooped the baby up into his arms, holding him close. The baby's cries softened immediately, as if sensing safety in Jin's warmth. He looked down into the baby's wide, tear-filled eyes. There was something about the boy—his innocence, his vulnerability—that tugged at Jin's heartstrings.

Namjoon approached, his hand resting on Jin's shoulder as he looked down at the baby. "We should take him back to the palace. He doesn't belong out here."

Jin nodded, his gaze never leaving the baby, who had now fallen into a quiet slumber against his chest.

The sky was just beginning to lighten when they arrived back at the palace. Jin cradled the sleeping baby against him as they quietly entered, but as soon as they crossed the threshold, the baby stirred, his cries echoing through the halls.

First to rush into the room were Jin's mother and Namjoon's mother, both followed by their husbands. The sight of Jin holding a baby shocked them all.

"What happened?" Namjoon's mother asked, already moving forward to check the baby for any injuries.

"He's fine," Jin reassured her, glancing down at the child who was still fussing but otherwise unharmed. "We found him near the cottage that was burning."

Jin's mother looked at the baby with concern, gently stroking his small head. "He must be about six months old," she said softly, her eyes softening as she took in the sight of the baby.

Despite her soothing touch, the baby's cries only grew louder, his small face scrunched in distress. Jin's mother moved to take him, but the moment the baby left Jin's arms, his wails became even more frantic. Without thinking, Jin took him back, and almost instantly, the baby's cries subsided, nuzzling into Jin's warmth.

"It seems he's already attached to you," Jin's mother said with a small smile. She disappeared for a moment and returned with a bottle of milk. "Here, feed him. He must be hungry."

Jin hesitated, unsure of how to handle the baby, but with his mother's gentle guidance, he slowly began feeding him. The baby latched onto the bottle eagerly, drinking in silence as everyone watched.

The noise from earlier had woken the rest of the palace. Taehyung and Jungkook arrived first, with Yoongi, Hoseok, and Jimin following shortly after. Hoseok, having left Y/N to rest, was the last to enter.

Taehyung immediately knelt beside Jin, cooing at the baby in awe. "He's so tiny," Taehyung whispered, his fingers gently brushing against the baby's cheek.

Jungkook, on the other hand, stood frozen in shock, his eyes fixed on the baby with a mixture of fascination and uncertainty. Yoongi stood next to him, just as quiet but far more composed.

Hoseok and Jimin, always the soft-hearted ones, hovered close to Jin, their eyes filled with curiosity and warmth. "So, how did you end up with a baby in your arms?" Hoseok asked, his tone light but with a hint of seriousness.

Jin explained the events of the night—finding the burning cottage, the baby hidden in the basket, and the tragic deaths of the baby's parents. The room grew quiet as they absorbed the gravity of the situation.

After a moment, Namjoon spoke up. "We're going to take care of him. He has no one else."

There were no objections. Everyone seemed to agree that the baby belonged with them now. After the baby finished his bottle, Jin and Namjoon decided it was time for them all to rest. They bid the others goodnight and retreated to their room, the baby still nestled against Jin's chest.

Later that morning, after watching the baby sleep peacefully between them, Namjoon and Jin exchanged a glance.

"He's safe with us," Namjoon whispered, his hand resting gently on the baby's tiny head. Jin smiled, feeling the weight of responsibility but also the warmth of love swelling in his chest.

And with that, they closed their eyes, drifting into the first peaceful sleep they'd had in a long time.

The rest of the palace, after cooing over the baby and offering their support, slowly returned to their own lives. But something about that night had changed everything. The presence of the baby brought a new light into their home, even amidst the shadow of danger that still lingered outside.

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Envi: So, the sweet twist I mentioned? It's here! But what does the baby have to do with Jin? There's something suspicious about it...

And here's a question for you all: Who do you think the child is? I've already mentioned this baby boy in the story—this is his second appearance. What do you think?

comment down when i mention him.