Flames

Chapter 23

The next day rolled on, the tension of previous night still on the air. It was in the law that the next sunrise after the challenge was accepted, the claim match should be conducted.

Namjoon noticed Jeongguk's absence in the breakfast. His younger brother looked distraught, barely eating anything while his mate and others try to talk him through it. Yoongi came and sat next to him, worry evident in his face.

"You saw Jeongguk?" Namjoon asked, both of the alphas looking at their younger brother. "No." Yoongi replied with a hint of fear in his voice. "Didn't come home last night."

"You know his alpha is strong Joon." Yoongi said. "If people realize it..."

"I know it would put him in trouble." Namjoon sighed.

"I think members of Selene hid his true nature for a reason." Yoongi clenched his fists. "This is not the old society. Not the one where people worshipped true blood but with some considering them as a threat."

"There is nothing I can do hyung." Namjoon whisper shouted. "You know, I tried last night. But things have gone out of my hands."

Namjoon knew Yoongi knew it. A silence fell between them. "I will protect him Joon." Yoongi said after thought. "Jeongguk, I feel his hesitance. He is afraid of himself. Of his strength. I will protect him."

"We will." Namjoon corrected with determination. "Not just because he is Tae's mate."

Yoongi watched Hyunwoo standing up from his seat and walking towards them. "Where is your kid alpha?" He smirked. "Run off last night." Yoongi wanted to wipe away that teasing glint on his face with his fists.

"Hyunwoo, step back." Jaehwan came next to them and the other alpha glared at him but obeyed nonetheless. "I'm sorry for him." Namjoon could sense the shame from his words. He nodded understandingly.

"We need to begin the ceremony soon. Where is your alpha?"

Yoongi had enough. He stood up excusing himself, leaving Namjoon with Jaehwan and others.

He went inside his cabin and noticed a familiar person inside.

"Where were you?" He couldn't help but lace his voice with anger and a huge relief washed over him seeing Jeongguk there.

The latter's eyes were back to normal and Yoongi's expression softened as he noticed Jeongguk's face.

"Honestly, I don't get why you are afraid." The elder sighed taking seat opposite to him. "The Hyunwoo guy is a joke next to you."

"I'm not scared." Jeongguk said quickly but his face fell again. "At least not of that alpha."

"Then?"

"I'm not suitable for Taehyung." Jeongguk barely whispered. "I'm scared that I will let him down."

"Wait." Yoongi cut him off. "Why do you even think of that?"

"Look at me hyung. All my life I stay away from people because of my true identity. I was afraid when I was a kid, experiencing how my powers hurt others. My pack hid me away because they knew others would never accept me. I saw them being slaughtered with my own eyes and I couldn't do anything. I'm nothing. I have no pack, no family and Taehyung he..."

"He is..." Jeongguk was lost of words. "I'm scared that I will hurt him hyung. What if I couldn't control my power and end up hurting him."

"You will never do that." Yoongi said determined.

"You don't know." Jeongguk half shouted. "I have read and heard about it. About true bloods. It had happened before."

Yoongi listened to him closely. "They lose the control over their wolf and killed their own mates. They have." A small tear left past the alpha's eyes.