𝐎𝐦𝐞𝐠𝐚'𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝 [𝗄𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗏]

Chapter Thirty Six

~~~

The morning sun barely peeked through the thick canopy of trees surrounding the packhouse, casting golden streaks across the training grounds.

A week had passed since Jeongguk and Taehyung had walked into the meeting hall, confirming the truth that had long been whispered through the corridors of the pack.

A week since the pack had been forced to acknowledge what had once been nothing more than rumor—Kim Taehyung, their Luna, was mated to Jeon Jeongguk, the true-blood Alpha.

The reactions had been... mixed.

Some wolves—especially the younger ones—had taken the news well, their respect for Taehyung unwavering and their trust in Jeongguk's strength solidified.

Others, particularly the older wolves and the elders, remained skeptical.

The tension wasn't as sharp as before, but it still lingered beneath the surface, present in the way some wolves hesitated before bowing in respect, in the glances cast when Jeongguk walked beside Taehyung.

Jeongguk had never cared much for their opinions before. He had spent years ignoring the whispers about his origins, his attitude, his recklessness. But now, every glance sent toward Taehyung made his blood simmer.

That was how he ended up in his current predicament.

"You look like a lost puppy," Mingyu snickered, tossing a wooden training sword from one hand to the other as he watched Jeongguk pace at the edge of the training field. "Actually, scratch that. More like a guard dog that doesn't know what to do with himself now that his owner left the house."

Jeongguk stopped mid-step, narrowing his eyes. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Jimin, stretching beside him, snorted. "He's talking about the way you've been trailing after Taehyung all week."

"Not trailing."

Jaehyun smirked. "Right. And you're totally here for training, not because Taehyung went to meet Alpha Namjoon in packhouse, and you don't know what to do with yourself."

Jeongguk clenched his jaw, refusing to rise to their teasing, but Yoongi—who had been watching silently—finally joined in with a lazy smirk. "It's a little sad, honestly. You're a true-blood Alpha, but you act like you'll collapse if he's not in your line of sight."

Mingyu placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "It's kind of romantic, though. The mighty Jeon Jeongguk, reduced to an anxious mess over his mate."

Jeongguk grabbed the nearest wooden sword and hurled it at him. Mingyu dodged, laughing.

He exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "They're still arguing over it?"

Yoongi nodded. "They won't outright reject you. That'd be stupid, considering your strength. But they're hesitating. They don't know if your leadership will be stable. They think your bond with Taehyung is too fresh, too new, and they don't trust the transition."

Jeongguk scoffed. "It's not new."

"To them, it is."

Jeongguk ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He hated politics, hated the unnecessary bureaucracy of it all. To him, it was simple—Taehyung was his mate, had always been his mate. He didn't need their approval. But Taehyung...

Taehyung cared about the pack.

Taehyung had spent years leading them, being their Luna even when no one knew who his mate was. He had earned their respect, not through brute strength, but through patience, wisdom, and an unwavering dedication to their survival.