Ma Moitie

Chapter 33

Happy Reading, Cheriés!💕
      Pastel hue

The sunrise, a flamboyant explosion of apricot and rose, spilled across the cabin, painting the walls in warm, vibrant hues.  It wasn't a gentle awakening; the light was insistent, bold, forcing its way through the gaps in the curtains, demanding attention.

Taehyung stirred, a low groan rumbling in his chest, his silver hair, usually meticulously styled, a shimmering, chaotic mess that spilled across the pillow, tangling with the soft furs of his blankets.  He was a picture of relaxed disarray, a stark contrast to his usual controlled and composed demeanor.  His usually sharp features were softened by sleep, his normally intense eyes still veiled in the hazy remnants of slumber.

  His skin, usually pale, held a faint rosy flush from the warmth of the sun and the lingering effects of sleep.  One hand lay flung out beside him, fingers slightly curled, while the other rested beneath his head, the weight of his silver hair splayed across it.

His normally taut muscles were relaxed, his body languid and yielding in the embrace of the soft furs.  He looked vulnerable, unguarded, a far cry from the hardened warrior he presented to the world.

  The overall effect was one of unexpected beauty, a stark contrast to his usual austere appearance.  He was a warrior, yes, but in this moment, he was simply… Taehyung, stripped bare of his usual armor, both physical and emotional.

He groaned, the sound muffled by the plush comfort, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within him.

A wave of realization washed over him, sharp and cold, cutting through the lingering vestiges of sleep like a winter wind.

The warmth of the sun, previously a comforting presence, now felt intrusive, a harsh spotlight illuminating the stark reality of his situation.  His mind, still foggy with sleep, struggled to fully grasp the implications, the pieces of the puzzle slowly clicking into place.  He should be at the pack grounds by now, his muscles already warmed from rigorous training, the scent of sweat and exertion filling his nostrils.

He should be engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the elite warriors of Silver Moon Pack, his body moving with practiced precision, his senses honed to a razor's edge.

  He should be pushing his limits, testing his strength, honing his skills.  But here he was, nestled in the soft furs of his bed, the sun already high in the sky, its golden rays painting the cabin in warm hues, a stark contrast to the cold dread that now gripped him.

  The realization hit him with the force of a physical blow, a jarring interruption to the peaceful slumber he'd only just begun to enjoy. 

Then, a single name pierced through the fog of his self-recrimination, a sharp, clear note cutting through the cacophony of his thoughts.

Jeongguk.

The Alpha's return, the unspoken shift in power dynamics, the subtle change in the pack’s atmosphere – it all came flooding back to him.

  The memory wasn't a gentle reminder; it was a forceful intrusion, a stark and unsettling truth that replaced the lingering comfort of sleep with a knot of apprehension in his stomach.

The realization settled upon him like a shroud, heavy and inescapable. The Alpha is back. Taehyung could almost feel the Alpha's focused intensity, the controlled energy radiating from him then A knot of tension tightened in Taehyung's chest. What was the point of going to the training grounds now?

Jeongguk was already there, efficiently managing everything.  Perhaps the Luna wouldn't even visit their shared cabin today. 

The thought offered a fleeting moment of relief, a brief respite from the anxiety that gnawed at him.  But the relief was short-lived, quickly replaced by a prickle of disappointment, a subtle ache of longing.