My 7 Alpha's Step-Brothers || BTS OT7 x Readers AU ✔

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟳

Months of buried feelings finally came to a head on one quiet evening in the packhouse. It was after a very long day, filled with training and managing pack affairs, but the tension in the air wasn't from fatigue; it was deeper, building for far too long.

YN sat in the common, legs tucked under her as she flipped through a book. The brothers were lingering around her, all finding reasons to be near her. Namjoon was reviewing notes at the table, Jungkook and Taehyung were playing a half-hearted game of cards while Jimin sprawled on the couch nearby. Yoongi, Hoseok, and Jin sat in quieter corners, eyes drifting to her more than they intended.

The silence wasn't uneasy for YN, but for the brothers, it was suffocating. Every glanced-at-glance, every subdued communication, every moment spent pretending their emotions didn't exist - it was becoming unbearable.

As YN closed her book and rose to her feet to leave, it was Namjoon's voice that stopped her.

"YN, wait."

She turned to him, her brow furrowing slightly. "What's up?"

The room fell silent, the tension snapping taut like a rubber band poised to break.

We need to talk," Namjoon said, his voice even but laced with an edge of urgency.

"About what?" she asked, her eyes darting between them.

Jungkook abruptly stood up, cards forgotten. "About us. About you."

"We've been trying to ignore it," Taehyung said, stepping forward. His usual playful demeanour was gone, replaced by raw vulnerability. "But we can't anymore. Not when it's this strong.

"Not when it's all of us," Jimin added softly, his gaze unwavering.

YN blinked, her heart racing as she looked around the room. "All of you?

Namjoon nodded, his expression serious. "We care for you, YN. More than we probably should. More than we have admitted to ourselves until now."

Hoseok leaned forward, his voice soft but firm. "We've tried concealing it because we didn't want to burden you. You've been through enough already."

"But we can't keep pretending it doesn't exist," Yoongi said, his tone low and even. "Not when it's ripping us apart.

YN's mind reeled, her words crashing over her like waves. She stepped back, shaking her head. "You. all of you? I don't understand."

Jin rose to his feet, his calm an anchor, but no less unnerving. "We did not plan this, YN. It just...happened. But we tell you now because you are owed the truth."

"I-I don't know what to say," YN said, her words barely above a whisper. "This is...overwhelming.

"You don't have to say anything," Jungkook said quickly, his voice pleading. "Just. don't shut us out."

YN's gaze flickered to him, then to each of them in turn. "I'm not trying to shut you out, but this is. It's too much. You're my family, my pack. I can't—"

"Why not?" Taehyung asked, his voice cracking a little. "Why can't you see us as more than that?"

Because it's complicated!" YN snapped, her frustration boiling over. "What happens if things go wrong? What happens to the pack? To us?"

"We'll deal with it," Namjoon said firmly, stepping closer. "Together. That's what we do."

"But I'm not ready for this," YN admitted, her voice cracking. "I don't know how to handle this. I don't even know if I feel the same way.

Her words hung in the air like a dagger, sharp and painful.

Jungkook's jaw clenched, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "So what? You're just going to ignore us? Pretend this doesn't exist?"

"I'm not ignoring you," YN said, her voice rising. "I'm trying to figure out how to deal with this without ruining everything we've built!"

And what of how we feel?" Jimin asked, his usually soft tone laced with a wound. "Do our feelings mean nothing?"

"This isn't about just you!" YN exploded, her emotions pouring forth. "I'm trying to protect all of us, to protect the pack!"

Dipped in ice, Yoongi's tone cut deep as he stood. "We aren't asking for protection, YN. We are asking for honesty, and if you don't, then say it.

Her silence was deafening.

Namjoon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This isn't how we wanted this to go."

"No," YN said, her voice shaking. "It's not. But maybe it's better if we take a step back. From this. From whatever this is."

Her words hit like a blow, and the brothers exchanged stunned, injured glances.

"Fine," Jungkook muttered. His voice was thick as he spoke. "Do what you want."

With that, he was out of the room, followed by Taehyung and Jimin. Hoseok, Yoongi, and Jin lingered a bit, faces scrunched in a mixture of hurt and frustration, before finally leaving themselves.

Namjoon stayed, eyes stuck on YN. "We're not giving up on you. On us. But we'll give you time."

YN nodded, her eyes welling up as she watched him go.

That night, YN lay in bed, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn't untangle. The brothers retreated to their rooms, each wrestling with his own emotions.