Forced Vows,true Love ||top Tae

32

Taehyung lowered his sword, his chest heaving as he turned to Jungkook. “Are you hurt?”

Jungkook shook his head, his eyes brimming with tears. “No… but the pin…”

Taehyung picked up the pin, which now glowed faintly, its power undiminished. “It’s safe,” he said, handing it to Jungkook. “And so are you.”

Jungkook clutched the pin tightly, his heart heavy with the weight of what had just transpired. He looked at Taehyung, seeing in his eyes not just strength, but also a depth of care he had never fully understood until now.

~

Jungkook stood quietly outside Taehyung's chambers, the evening breeze ruffling his soft pastel hanfu. He clutched his hands tightly, unsure if he should knock. It had been so long since he’d seen his parents—too long—and the ache in his chest had only grown stronger with each passing day.

He took a deep breath, his lips trembling slightly. He wanted to ask Taehyung to accompany him back to jiyang for a visit, but the fear of rejection held him back. What if he thinks I’m being selfish? What if he gets angry?

From inside the room, he could hear the low murmur of Taehyung’s voice as he spoke with an advisor. The calm authority in his tone reminded Jungkook of just how distant the alpha often seemed, wrapped up in matters of state and strategy.

Jungkook bit his lip, debating whether to knock. He couldn’t help but wonder—would Taehyung even understand how much he missed his parents?

After standing there for what felt like an eternity, Jungkook finally raised his hand to knock, but the door opened suddenly. Startled, Jungkook froze as Taehyung’s tall figure appeared in the doorway. The alpha’s piercing gaze softened slightly when he saw Jungkook, though his expression remained composed.

“Is something the matter?” Taehyung asked, his voice calm but direct.

Jungkook hesitated, feeling his throat tighten. “I… um…” He looked down at his hands, unsure how to put his feelings into words. “It’s been a while since I visited my family,” he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

“I was wondering if… if you might come with me to jiyang,” Jungkook said hurriedly, his heart pounding. “Just for a short visit. But if you’re too busy, I understand.”

Taehyung’s expression didn’t change immediately, and Jungkook’s heart sank as he misinterpreted the silence as disapproval. He quickly added, “I-I mean, it’s fine if you can’t. I know you have important duties—”

“Jungkook,” Taehyung interrupted gently, his voice steady. “Why didn’t you just tell me sooner?”

Jungkook blinked, surprised. “I didn’t want to trouble you,” he admitted softly.

Taehyung let out a quiet sigh, stepping closer to him. “You’re not troubling me. If seeing your family is important to you, then we’ll make time for it.”

Jungkook’s eyes widened, his heart swelling with a mix of relief and gratitude. “Really?”

“Yes,” Taehyung said simply, his gaze meeting Jungkook’s. For a moment, his eyes seemed to hold a flicker of warmth that was rare to see.

The next morning, Taehyung ordered preparations for their journey to jiyang. Though he didn’t say much, his actions spoke volumes, and Jungkook couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Taehyung cared more than he let on.

As the carriage rolled out of the palace gates, Jungkook glanced at Taehyung, who sat beside him, his attention focused on a scroll. Though the alpha remained quiet, his presence alone was enough to soothe some of Jungkook’s worries.