Arranged marriage

✨Chapter 13✨

The eerie rustling in the trees grew louder, sending chills down Y/N's spine. Her heart raced as her eyes searched the darkness beyond the flickering campfire. Taehyung stepped closer, his hand still on her shoulder, steadying her while his other hand instinctively reached for the dagger strapped to his belt.

Y/N's breath hitched. The shadows seemed to close in, wrapping around them like a thick fog. A twig snapped nearby, and her pulse quickened. She felt a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach.

"Stay behind me," Taehyung whispered, his voice barely audible, his gaze fixed on the dense trees. The calm determination in his tone did little to soothe her frayed nerves.

Jungkook emerged from the shadows just as another figure stepped into the clearing. His sudden presence startled Y/N, who hadn't seen where he'd gone. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes glinted dangerously in the moonlight as he sized up the threat in front of them.

The figure stepped closer, the fire illuminating their face—a man, with cold, calculating eyes and a twisted smirk that sent shivers down Y/N's spine. His presence exuded danger, a predator playing with his prey.

"Found you," the man sneered, his voice low and menacing. His gaze flicked over to Y/N before resting on Jungkook and Taehyung.

Jungkook moved faster than Y/N could comprehend, placing himself between her and the intruder in an instant. His posture was defensive, protective even, but the coldness in his demeanor remained.

"What do you want?" Jungkook's voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.

The man's grin widened. "I want her," he said, pointing a finger toward Y/N. "And I'm not leaving without her."

Y/N's blood ran cold at the malice in his words. Her hands trembled slightly as fear gripped her, but she quickly hid them behind her back.

Jungkook's expression hardened. "You're not getting anywhere near her."

The intruder let out a low, mocking chuckle. "Ah, protective, are we? How sweet. But I wasn't asking for your permission." His eyes darkened as he took another step forward, the tension snapping in the air.

Without warning, Jungkook lunged at the man, fists flying. The two clashed in a flurry of movement, their fight brutal and fast. Y/N gasped, her heart in her throat as she watched the violent scene unfold before her eyes. Taehyung grabbed her arm, pulling her back further from the fight, shielding her from any harm.

Jungkook was a force of nature—each punch landed with precision and power, his movements fluid and lethal. But the man was no slouch. He fought back fiercely, landing blows on Jungkook that made Y/N wince with each impact.

Despite the brutality of the fight, there was something terrifyingly mesmerizing about the way Jungkook moved—controlled, calculated, like he had been trained for this his entire life. His face remained a mask of cold indifference, no emotion betraying his thoughts, even as he defended her with everything he had.

The battle raged on, and for a moment, Y/N feared that Jungkook might not make it out unscathed. The man's smirk faltered, and desperation crept into his movements as Jungkook overpowered him, his strength and speed too much for his opponent to handle.

With one final, brutal strike, Jungkook sent the man crashing to the ground, unconscious.

Y/N's breath caught in her throat, the scene before her both horrifying and awe-inspiring. Jungkook stood over the fallen man, his chest heaving as he wiped blood from his split lip. His cold gaze flickered to her, but instead of relief or comfort, all Y/N saw in his eyes was something dark. He didn't rush to her side, didn't ask if she was okay. He simply stared, his face unreadable, as if the fight hadn't been for her at all.

Before Y/N could speak, Jungkook's cold voice cut through the silence.

"Let's go," he said, turning away from her as if nothing had happened. "It's not safe here."

Y/N's heart sank. She wanted to thank him, wanted to express her fear and confusion, but the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she followed in silence, Taehyung walking beside her, his gaze flicking between her and Jungkook with concern.

The walk back to their makeshift camp was tense, the air thick with unspoken emotions. Jungkook hadn't said a word since the fight, and his cold indifference made Y/N's chest ache. She couldn't understand him. He had fought so fiercely to protect her, yet now he acted like she didn't matter.

She wanted to ask him why—why he was doing this, why he was pushing her away when she needed him most. But the fear of his rejection kept her silent.

Taehyung, sensing her turmoil, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as they sat by the fire again. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Y/N nodded, though her mind was still racing. "I'm fine," she murmured, her eyes drifting to Jungkook, who sat a few feet away, sharpening his knife with deliberate precision. He hadn't even glanced at her since they returned. It was as if she were invisible.

Taehyung followed her gaze and sighed softly. "He's... complicated," he said, his tone understanding.

Y/N looked at him, her heart heavy. "I don't know what to do," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "One minute he's saving me, and the next he's acting like I don't exist. I don't understand him."

Taehyung's expression softened with empathy. "Jungkook has his reasons. But that doesn't mean you deserve this treatment."

Y/N's throat tightened at his words. She wanted to believe Taehyung, wanted to believe that she was worth more than the coldness Jungkook showed her. But a part of her couldn't let go of the hope that there was something more to Jungkook than this icy facade.

"Give him time," Taehyung said softly, his hand resting on hers. "But don't lose yourself waiting for him."

As the fire crackled softly and the night deepened, Y/N lay awake, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She couldn't shake the image of Jungkook fighting for her, yet treating her like she didn't matter. She knew there was more to him, but how much longer could she endure this coldness?

And then, as if the universe itself sensed her turmoil, a low voice cut through the night.

"Y/N."

She froze, her heart leaping into her throat. Slowly, she sat up, her eyes locking onto Jungkook's dark figure standing a few feet away, his gaze unreadable.

"Come with me," he said, his tone devoid of emotion.

Y/N hesitated, her mind racing. What did he want now? But despite the turmoil inside her, she found herself standing, her legs moving before her mind could catch up. She followed him into the trees, the darkness swallowing them whole.

As they moved deeper into the forest, the silence between them became suffocating. Y/N's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to read Jungkook's expression. What was he thinking? What did he want from her?

But before she could ask, Jungkook stopped abruptly, his back still to her. He stood there, silent for a moment, before speaking in a voice so low it sent shivers down her spine.

"There's something you need to know," he said, his voice tense with something she couldn't quite place. "Something about why I've been acting this way."

Y/N's breath caught in her throat. What was he about to say?

But just as the words left his lips, a sudden noise pierced the air—the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching fast.

Before Y/N could react, Jungkook grabbed her arm, pulling her behind him as the shadows moved once again.

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