The Wolf's Heart

27

By the time Jungkook returned to his chambers, his resolve was firm. He needed to distance himself. If Daek Kyun’s words held even a grain of truth, then pouring his heart into someone who didn’t care for him was a fool’s errand.

He spent the following days avoiding Taehyung as much as possible. When Taehyung entered the dining hall, Jungkook excused himself. During court meetings, he kept his eyes fixed on his lap, never daring to glance at his husband. And in the evenings, he feigned exhaustion to retreat to his chambers early.

Taehyung noticed every action, every avoidance, and it gnawed at him. He told himself it didn’t matter, that the distance was easier to manage than whatever complicated feelings were bubbling under the surface. But the truth was harder to swallow. He missed Jungkook’s presence, his soft voice, and the way he always seemed to quietly support him, even when Taehyung had given him little in return.

One late night, unable to bear the silence any longer, Taehyung went to Jungkook’s chambers. He found the omega sitting near the window, staring out into the night, the wooden box holding the Royal Pin resting on the table beside him.

“Why have you been avoiding me?” Taehyung asked, his voice low but firm.

Jungkook flinched but didn’t turn around. “I haven’t been avoiding you, Your Highness. I’ve simply been... keeping to myself.”

“Don’t lie to me,” Taehyung said, stepping closer. “Something changed. Tell me what it is.”

Jungkook’s hands clenched in his lap. He took a deep breath, willing himself to stay calm. “Does it matter? It’s not like you’ve ever cared before.”

The words hit Taehyung harder than he expected. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jungkook finally turned to face him, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “It means I’m tired, Taehyung. Tired of trying to reach someone who doesn’t want to be reached. Tired of hoping for something that will never come. I thought... I thought maybe you’d see me, but now I realize I was a fool.”

Taehyung’s heart clenched at the sight of Jungkook’s pain, but his pride kept him from softening. “You think I don’t see you? I see everything, Jungkook. I see how naive you are, how easily you let your brother manipulate you. I see your weakness.”

Jungkook’s breath caught, the sharp words cutting deeper than any blade. “Weakness?” he whispered. “You think caring is weakness?”

“I think trusting people who don’t deserve it is weakness,” Taehyung shot back.

Jungkook shook his head, his tears now spilling freely. “You’re wrong, Taehyung. Love isn’t weakness. But maybe you’ll never understand that.”

He turned away, his shoulders trembling, and Taehyung felt an unfamiliar pang of regret. For the first time, he realized how much he had pushed Jungkook away, how much damage he had done in his attempt to shield himself from vulnerability.

But instead of reaching out, instead of saying the words that could heal the wounds between them, Taehyung did what he always did—he walked away, leaving Jungkook alone in the darkness.

The next morning, Jungkook woke with a heavy heart but a renewed sense of purpose. If Taehyung couldn’t see his worth, then Jungkook would stop trying to prove it. He would focus on his duties as consort, protect the Royal Pin, and stand strong for himself.

Taehyung, on the other hand, found himself haunted by the confrontation. For the first time in years, he questioned his choices, his walls, and the reasons he kept people at arm’s length.

Little did they know, their individual resolves would soon be tested. A storm was brewing, one that would force them to confront not only each other but also the secrets and dangers that surrounded them.