𝐎𝐦𝐞𝐠𝐚'𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝 [𝗄𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗏]

Chapter Forty Three [End]

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Taehyung woke with a sharp, twisting pain in his stomach, his entire body recoiling at the sensation.

A lump rose in his throat, and before he could process what was happening, nausea overtook him. He lurched out of bed, staggering toward the bathroom with trembling steps.

The moment he reached the toilet, he collapsed to his knees, gripping the cold porcelain as his stomach convulsed violently.

"Shit," he grunted between heaving breaths, his body trembling as he emptied his stomach.

The retching left his throat raw, his limbs weak. He gasped for air, resting his forehead against the cool rim of the toilet as another wave of nausea hit him.

He barely had time to take a breath before he was gagging again, his entire body shuddering.

"This has been happening for weeks," he muttered, his voice hoarse. His brows furrowed as a sudden realization dawned on him. "I should tell Gguk..."

He attempted to stand, gripping the toilet for support.

His legs felt like they would give out at any moment, but he forced himself upright, staggering toward the sink. He turned on the faucet with shaking fingers, splashing cold water on his face before rinsing out his mouth.

His throat burned, his chest tight.

He glanced up at his reflection in the mirror. His face was pale, sweat glistening on his forehead. His lips were dry, and his usually bright eyes were dulled with exhaustion. He barely recognized himself.

A sharp pain shot through his stomach again, and he groaned, gripping the edge of the sink. His breathing was uneven, his body unsteady.

Then, suddenly—

A noise.

At first, it was distant, muffled. A strange ringing filled his ears, drowning out everything else. But as the ringing subsided, he heard it more clearly—screams.

Taehyung's breath hitched. His heartbeat pounded violently in his chest, his body snapping into alertness despite his exhaustion.

The screams weren't just random noises in the night. They were real. Urgent.

Something was happening.

Panic surged through him as he rushed toward the bedroom. He barely made it past the bathroom door when's he froze in place.

Jeongguk stood in the middle of the room, his back turned to Taehyung, motionless.

Something was wrong.

Taehyung's chest tightened as he stepped closer. "Gguk—"

Jeongguk didn't move.

The screams outside grew louder—the sounds of wolves snarling, of bodies colliding, of fire crackling somewhere in the distance. The scent of burning wood and blood tinged the air.

Taehyung's breathing quickened. He reached out, hesitating before his fingers brushed against Jeongguk's arm. His mate was unnaturally still, his posture tense, his breathing too shallow.

"Gguk?" Taehyung whispered, his voice barely audible over the chaos outside.

No response.

He hurried in front of Jeongguk, his eyes searching his mate's face. What he saw made his blood run cold.

Jeongguk's expression was blank—his usually fierce, determined gaze was distant, lost. His face was deathly pale, his pupils blown wide as if trapped in a nightmare.