LOVE MAZE | VKOOK

➴ sixteen.

But Jeongguk acted like he's deaf. He did not move, as if he don't want to let go of the boy in his arms. Maybe because he really doesn't want to.

Taehyung felt some kind of hope rising in his chest as Jeongguk stilled. He was really fighting his tears but if Jeongguk would continue to be like this, he'd burst any moment.

"G-ggukie.." Taehyung whispers and held his arms, turning around to see Jeongguk, who looked at him with solemn. He held his cheeks. "Hey, it's time.."

Again, Jeongguk did not move. Nor say something. He just looked at Taehyung deeply, as if memorizing every feature of his face. It again gave hope to Taehyung.

But the hope in Taehyung's heart fades as Jeongguk smiled, nodded his head and let go of his waist. "Yes, it's time."

Nonetheless, Taehyung smiled back. He's thankful that Jeongguk spoke because if not, then all that they have done just to get here will be put into waste.

"Jimin? We're ready." Taehyung spoke and the other nodded.

"You both know what to say. You just gotta feel it in your hearts." Jimin spoke, smiling. He looked at Taehyung and mouthed, 'it'll be okay,'

Taehyung sighed deeply and held Jeongguk's hand. Then they looked at each other's eyes. Both of their wolves howled in sadness but they knew, this is for their own good too.

They nodded as the moon finally reached it's brightest.

"I, Jeon Jeongguk, reject you, As my other half, my destined and fated one, to have and to hold, to serve and to cherish, from the beginning of the time until the end, written in the holy scripture and bonded by the moon. I now reject you as my mate."

Jeongguk held onto Taehyung's hand tighter, eyes anticipating. Somewhere along the lines, he's hoping that Taehyung would stop this, would tell him to stop speaking.

But it is really too late.

"I, Kim Taehyung, reject you, Jeon Jeongguk, As my other half, my destined and fated one, to have and to hold, to serve and to cherish, from the beginning of the time until the end, written in the holy scripture and bonded by the moon. I now reject you as my mate."

***

"Tae!"

Namjoon practically ran for his brother as soon as he saw him, limping a little beside Jimin. He ingulfed him into a hug before he let out a sigh. "Thank God, you're okay."

"I'm okay hyung, I miss you," Taehyung responded, smiling softly to his brother.

"I missed you too. What happened to you? Why are you limping?" Namjoon asked.

"Just slipped on our way to Blood Moon Peak, still a little unwell but I'm fine, hyung."

Alpha Jeoun followed after, smiling a bit as he saw Jeongguk beside Yoongi approaching. Yoongi bowed his head as Jeongguk ingulfed his father into a hug as well. "Father."

"I'm glad you're safe, Jeongguk. Go rest now." He spoke and Jeongguk nodded. His eyes landed on Taehyung and Namjoon. "What about them?"

"Namjoon will stay for the night while Taehyung will stay for as long as he pleases. He needs rest the most." Jeoun spoke. "And I heard his bestfriend is now Yoongi's mate. He'll most likely spend some time with him since that healer would have to live here now."

Jeongguk once again nodded before turning on his feet and went to his own chamber, finally going to have some real sleep after almost a week of long walks.

Taehyung watched him walked away and then bit his lips. After that night, everything had changed between them. The mate pull was now gone but it felt like, Jeongguk disappeared with it too.

On their way back, Jeongguk was either talking to Yoongi or Daniel, sometimes asking some knowledge from Jimin but not a single word was spoken to him. As if he was not there. As if he was invisible to him.

"Hey, Tae. Alpha Jeoun said you can stay here as long as you like, until you gain your full strength back." Daniel spoke, smiling. Taehyung then was happy for the Alpha's kindness. Now he can spend more time with Jimin before he go back to their pack. "You're unhappy?"

"What? Oh no, ofcourse I am happy. I mean, I'll have some more time with Jimin so ofcourse I'll be happy."

"And you'll see Jeongguk more too." Daniel added amd sighed. "We're not blind, Tae. We know you're hurt. Hey, you can talk to me."

Taehyung looked down and sat himself on the pavement of the fountain, now feeling a burst of emotions from how Daniel mentioned it. Before he even realized it, he's already sobbing.

"I don't even know why I'm hurting.." He softly mumbled and felt Daniel's hands rubbing his back. "I shouldn't be feeling this, right? We have already broke the bond! Why am I still affected?"

"Not everything you feel is caused by the soul bond. Some things comes..within us. Within you." Daniel spoke. "What you feel, is what you really feel. There's no bond envolved, there's no magic envolved- only your true emotions, Tae. And I'm sorry if you're hurting."

"It's just that.." He bit his lips and sobbed. "Why is it always so easy for him to let go? to ignore me, to pretend like he didn't even know me? as if I'm a stranger to him! I know we broke the bond, but does it mean he'll have to break whatever we have too? I just, I just thought..I'd be special for him too like how special he is to me.."

"Oh, Tae.." Daniel spoke softly and rubbed his back comfortingly. He could only comfort the sad omega. He sighes. "Why don't you rest for now, Tae? Don't think too much about, okay? You'll be okay."

Taehyung smiled. "Thank you, Daniel."

***

"That traitor," Luna greeted her teeth as she knew about what Daniel had done. She clenched her fists. "I offered him home and this is what he'll repay me? How dare he! Now we have to get that omega again!"

She wanted to scream in anger from how close she was to getting Taehyung. But one of his men betrayed her and now she's back from square one. She doesn't even know if she still have some patience left in her. She's itching to be with his mate again.

"You!" She spoke and the lady looked up to her, eyes wide. "Find him. And when you does, I myself will come for him. I'm fucking sick of waiting and trusting idiots for this!"

"No need for that." A man spoke that caught her attention. Her eyes squinted as she raised her hand in defense, causing for some of his wolf guards to snarl at the Alpha. A soft chuckle left his lips. "Please, let's not be violent, Luna."

"Don't come near me."

"Help. I am help." He spoke and smirked. "No need to seek for who you need. I will bring him to you. Sounds good?"

Luna chuckled. "And what will be the prize for your nobelity?"

"Let's just say, instead of starting a war between you and me, why not we help each other? It will benefit us both." He grinned. "I know that you want your mate back. And you could say, we're going to hit two birds with one stone. Through that boy, you don't only get your mate back. We're going to get the revenge you want by destroying the pack of the alpha who killed your mate. Lovely?"

Luna finally smiled. "Sounds great. What's the plan?"

He smirked. "No, Luna. What's your plan?"

***