LOVE MAZE | VKOOK

➴ five.

Taehyung somehow managed to go back to the pack house. As soon as he stepped into it, almost immediately, the rejected pain started to kick in.

"Tae!" Namjoon spoke as he saw his younger brother knelt down in pain. This time, it was too much to bare. He felt like dying.

Taehyung's tears stained his cheeks. It's been two days since his mate rejected him and he think, he had reached the maximum time of not having his mate. He can feel it. The pain is just too much.

"Hyung?" Taehyung whispered. "Can I... can I see Jeongguk? Please.."

"What—"

"I-I just need to talk to him. I think I've reached my limit." Taehyung whispered.

Namjoon let out a weeping snarl for his brother, tears threatening to fall in his eyes. He gently nodded and lifted his brother, all eyes on Namjoon and Taehyung as they trail the way to the yong alpha's room.

A servant knocked on Jeongguk's door, Namjoon thanked him after. The door opened immediately, revealing Jeongguk who had his eyebrows creased by the sight of Namjoon and Taehyung.

"What–"

"He needs to talk to you. Let him inside." Namjoon spoke, sounding like a command. Jeongguk doesn't like any of it but for the sake of the poor omega, he'll let them in.

Namjoon wordlessly put Taehyung down, who's now feeling a lot better that he's near his mate again. But he doesn't want that temporary ease now. He really is tired of experiencing the pain.

"Hyung? Can you wait for me outside?" Taehyung soflty requested.

Namjoon shook his head. "No, Taehyung. I cannot let that—"

"Please, hyung. Nothing will happen," Taehyung softly smiled. It only made Namjoon feel sadder. The alpha soon nodded, eyeing Jeongguk warningly before turning around and heading out of the room.

Once they were alone, a sigh escaped at the young alpha's lips. Taehyung almost whimpered at the pain it inflicted, now really sure that the alpha doesn't want any of him.

"What are you doing here?"

"I-I won't be here for too long, don't worry," Taehyung spoke, smiling ever so softly that enthralled the young alpha no matter how he denies. The alpha remained unfaltered; Taehyung bit his lips and looked at his fingers. "I-I'm going home, Jeongguk. So I just wanted to say goodbye."

"Why are you going home?" Jeongguk asked. "Your pack, they're still here."

"What's the point of staying," Taehyung replied. "I atleast wanted to spend my remaining time with my loved ones, Jeongguk."

"What do you mean?" Jeongguk asked. His jaw tightens as his wolf hawls in grief.

Taehyung chuckled. "You know, for a future head alpha, you sure don't know much about this whole mating thing, huh?" Taehyung sighes.

Jeongguk huffed, walking towards the weak omega in his bed. "I said, what do you mean, omega?"

"Jeongguk... it's too much.." Taehyung whispered, a tear threatening to fall on his soft cheeks. It made the alpha's wolf howl in anger and frustration. Taehyung weakly smiled. "I just- wanted to talk to you for a second, please?"

Jeongguk didn't answer, but it was enough for Taehyung to continue. "I understand it now, Alpha. And... and I completely accept your rejection. I just wish you didn't treat me like that, you really don't have to be an asshole, you know?"

The omega's voice was laced with a tease, obviously joking. But it is enough for Jeongguk to realize all the shitty things he had done for the past two days of meeting his mate.

"I apologize." Jeongguk mumbled, looking away. "I'm sorry, Taehyung."

Taehyung shook his head. "No, no, I've forgiven you. And you're actually right, Jeongguk. About everything." Jeongguk looked at the omega closely. "You're right. We-we shouldn't depend on mate pull- or whatever we call all this mate thing- when we are to find our soulmate."

"Taehyung.."

"What you've said to me awhile ago, opened my eyes, Jeongguk. It made me understand, that you simply doesn't mean to make me feel unwanted, that rejecting me was the only way for you to really know who's bound for you. And I guess, it's really wasn't me." Taehyung weakly giggled. Jeongguk smiled at that, still feeling guilty for causing so much pain, both physically and emotionally, to the poor omega.

Taehyung stared at the alpha's eyes. He could still feel the strong affection towards his mate but he knew, that it's all useless now. Now that he doesn't want to acknowledge the pull he's feeling, now that his eyes are opened.

Later that night, The moon blaze pack started to bid their farewell to their alliance, as they rush to bring the omega back to their pack before his unfaithful death.

"Thank you for welcoming us, Alpha Jeoun. I assure you that the Moon Blaze Pack will return the favor in time and we will always always welcome anyone from the Dark Hound pack."

"And we assure you that we'll remain true to our treaty." Alpha Jeoun spoke before putting a hand on Namjoon's shoulders. "I'll kneel down if you wish if it means you'll forgive my son. I send my deepest apology, Alpha Namjoon."

Namjoon's jaw clenched as he whipped his eyes to look at Taehyung, who's weakly laying on a mat tied in a a strong bamboo for the journey. Beside him was Jeongguk, holding the hands of his weak mate.

"So this is goodbye?" Taehyung weakly giggled, forcing his tired eyes to open for his mate. Jeongguk, on the other hand, is having a battle with his mind and heart.

His mind says, don't give in. What he feel towards his mate is only caused by the mate pull. But his heart, it says to not let his mate go and be gone, for good.

The moon blaze pack started to move and Jeongguk's heart beats fast. His eyes looked at the weak brown ones of the omega, feeling a stronger pull, a stronger urge to not let him go.

Taehyung loosened his grip, smiling one last time at the alpha who had this different expression in his deep eyes. Jeongguk blinked his eyes and found Taehyung's warmth gone.

After this very night, that warmth will be gone. Forever.

He growled when he realized how selfish and ignorant he is. While he's alive and chasing his vises, his mate will be there, laying six feet deep the ground because of his own foolishness.

"Jeongguk!" His father called as the young alpha sprinted to god knows where.

As soon as he saw the small cabin of the pach witch, he immediately went inside and found the witch smiling.

"I knew you would come." The witch spoke.

"Is there," He breathes, voice desperate. "Is there any other way? To save him? Is mating the only answer to this? Fuck, I don't want him die, Mina."

"Either you seal the bond," The witch looked outside, having the sight the blood moon peak. "Or break it. Those are your two options, Jeongguk."

***