𝐎𝐦𝐞𝐠𝐚'𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝 [𝗄𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗏]

Chapter Eleven

~~~

The next day came with a sense of normalcy for the pack, but not for Taehyung. As the Luna, his responsibilities only seemed to grow.

He now had to juggle pack matters and, more importantly, care for his young mate, Jeongguk. It was a delicate balance, and the weight of it was starting to settle heavily on his shoulders.

Taehyung sat in his office, located at the very top of the pack's central building. The room was a blend of functionality and elegance. A wide mahogany desk dominated the space, piled with neatly stacked files, a sleek laptop, and a few scattered notes.

Behind the desk was a panoramic window that offered a stunning view of the dense forest surrounding the pack territory. Shelves lined one wall, filled with books on pack laws, history, and leadership strategies, interspersed with framed photographs of his family.

On the opposite side of the room, a sitting area with a leather couch and armchairs provided a more informal setting for meetings.

The atmosphere in the room was tense as Taehyung flipped through a stack of documents, his expression grim. The knock on the door barely registered until it opened, revealing Mike, his assistant and bodyguard.

"Luna," Mike greeted, stepping inside. The tall, muscular Alpha exuded an aura of strength and calm. He carried a stack of files and an iPad, placing them on Taehyung's desk. "The houses in the southeastern corner of the territory were attacked by rogues last night. These are the photos and reports from the patrol team."

Taehyung sighed, his dark eyes scanning the photos. The damage was extensive, and his jaw tightened in frustration. "Any more issues?" he asked without looking up. "Because it feels like I've been dealing with non-stop problems since sunrise."

Mike shook his head. "Nothing else for now, but I'll keep you updated if anything comes up."

Taehyung leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I know I can handle these problems, but I've been wondering about something."

Mike straightened, waiting for the question.

"Did my dad ever deal with issues like this, or did he just leave them all for me?" Taehyung's voice was laced with both frustration and a hint of sadness.

Mike hesitated, then shook his head. "I don't know, Luna. I wasn't involved in these matters back then."

Taehyung nodded slowly, dismissing Mike with a wave of his hand. "Let me know if anything urgent comes up. You can go now."

Mike gave a respectful bow and left the office, leaving Taehyung alone with his thoughts.

~~~

Meanwhile, outside the pack house Jeongguk was locked in a wrestling match with Mingyu.

"Are you even—Gosh, Jeongguk!" Mingyu wheezed, struggling to breathe as Jeongguk had him pinned.

"Admit it, I'm stronger!" Jeongguk teased, tightening his grip.

"I'll tell Taehyung-hyung you cursed—" Mingyu tried to gasp out, but Jeongguk flipped him onto the ground, leaving him groaning.

"You little shit—"

"Jeongguk, what's this behavior?" Taehyung's voice cut through the playful chaos, sharp and commanding.

Jeongguk instantly let go of Mingyu and scrambled to his feet, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Hyung, we were just playing—"

"Why were you squeezing him like that? And where did you learn to use such language?" Taehyung asked, helping Mingyu to his feet and dusting him off.

Mingyu smirked, hiding behind Taehyung as Jeongguk glared daggers at him.

"Sorry, hyung. It was just a game," Jeongguk muttered.

Taehyung sighed deeply. "Go to your room, Jeongguk. And Mingyu, your mom is waiting for you—go home."

As Mingyu walked away, he threw a triumphant glance at Jeongguk, who hissed under his breath, "I'll get you later."

Once inside, Jeongguk hesitated by the doorway to the living room, feeling the weight of guilt pressing down on him. He saw Taehyung sitting on the couch, engaged in a heated discussion with Jimin.

"I can't believe you rejected him! Bogum confessed to you, and you just—" Jimin exclaimed, his hands flailing dramatically.

"Jimin, I've told you a hundred times. He's not my type!" Taehyung rolled his eyes but stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Jeongguk standing nearby.

He quickly pinched Jimin's arm to silence him, aware that such conversations were inappropriate for Jeongguk to hear.

"Ggukie, what's wrong? I thought I told you to go to your room," Taehyung said, his voice softening as he addressed the boy.

Jeongguk hesitated, fidgeting with his fingers. "Sorry, hyung, about earlier. I shouldn't have acted like that. I... I learned those words during training."

"Of course, it's Yoongi," Taehyung muttered, shaking his head in exasperation. "It's okay, Ggukie. Just go wash up before dinner."

Jeongguk nodded and hurried off, but his thoughts were far from settled. Why is hyung acting differently? Does he like Bogum? Does he think I'm a burden? The questions swirled in his mind, leaving him unsettled.

Later that evening After dinner, Taehyung sat at the dining table, reviewing yet another stack of files. Jimin joined him, setting down a cup of steaming tea.

"You need to take a break, Tae," Jimin said, his tone both gentle and firm.

Taehyung rubbed his temples, exhaustion evident in his posture. "I can't, Jimin. There's too much to do, and Jeongguk... I don't want him to feel neglected."

"You're doing fine, Taehyung. But you're not a machine. He looks up to you, you know. You don't have to be perfect—just be there for him," Jimin replied with a small smile "I don't know why the boy is so special to you"

Taehyung leaned back in his chair, letting Jimin's words sink in. "Sometimes, I wonder if I'm being too hard on him."

"He's a kid. He needs structure, but he also needs love. And you're giving him both. Stop being so hard on yourself," Jimin reassured him.

Taehyung nodded, the weight on his chest easing slightly. "You're right. I just need to keep trying."

Jimin smirked, crossing his arms. "You know, if Bogum were here, he'd probably tell you the same thing."

Taehyung groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Don't start."

Jeongguk lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling. Taehyung's behavior had been on his mind all day. He couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed, that Taehyung was keeping a distance from him.

Does he regret taking me in?

He turned on his side, clutching the blanket tightly. No matter how hard he tried, the doubts refused to leave.

I'll just have to prove myself to him, Jeongguk resolved. I'll become someone hyung can be proud of.

With that thought, he finally closed his eyes, though sleep didn't come easily.

____

More chapters until Adult Jeongguk.