"...mmm..hah...hah....ugh.."
The grunts and shaky breathing filled the dark, spacious room where Taehyung was being kept for the past three nights, doing nothing but receiving harsh punches, slaps and whipping. He's not allowed to eat but they give him water to drink, though he prefers to drink blood at the moment. It's a vampire's body reacting to survive. Once vampires experience having fatal blows or severe wounds or even serious illness, their body thirsts for blood because it can help them recover and quickly heal. So, vampires who couldn't drink enough blood to heal themselves could kiss their immortality goodbye and right now, Taehyung was so close to bidding goodbye. Good thing he's a royal blood, one of the strongest vampire genes.
Taehyung was hanging in the middle of the dark room, arms raised and wrists chained, keeping him in the same upright position. He was covered with his own blood from the cuts and deep wounds. He felt exhausted and weak but he doesn't even think about his already life and death situation, rather, all he could actually think of is his family, friends and most specially, his mate. The night before he was imprisoned, he called Jungkook saying he needed to go to America and probably stay there for an uncertain period of time because of an urgent emergency regarding clan matters that he knew the true blood would choose not to meddle with. And he was right. Jungkook didn't ask further and believed in his words, not knowing that he was actually at the dungeon of his grandfather's castle, being disciplined slash tortured for the past three days.
Taehyung felt tired and he wanted nothing but to stay unconscious but his wounds hurt like a bitch and he's not used to it. In the past, if ever he's hurt or wounded, it would be painful but it wouldn't last for long since it heals fast. But being constantly hurt for the past days, tells a different story. The cuts aren't given time to heal, plus, the blood loss has a huge negative impact to a vampire's body, making the wounds seemingly permanent just like in a human body. Good news though, the masked knight of King Dagan, Taehyung's grandfather, finally got tired of whipping the crowned vampire prince and decided to go out only to be met by Jimin who was always visiting his cousin.
"Tae." Jimin said in a soft voice, looking at his best friend behind the bars, feeling his heart breaking into pieces that tears started flowing from his eyes. It was like that every time but he'll never get used to the sight of his best friend being hurt and the frustrating, painful feeling of the fact that he couldn't do anything.
Taehyung tried his best to raise his head to look at Jimin, though his vision was blurry, and flash a weak smile. "Chim....y-your injuries?" He uttered, his voice sounding raspy, as if you could feel how dry his throat is while his chapped lips were trembling as if all his strength already left his body.
Jimin wiped his tears, trying to compose himself. He took a deep breath and bit his lip to prevent his tears.
"I'm completely healed. I'm a pure blood, y'know. I'm strong unlike you. So you should just worry about yourself, idiot." Jimin tried his best to sound so light but he really feels like he just wants to drop on his knees because of the heavy feeling in his chest and before he knew it, he was already sobbing, tears seemed to endlessly roll on his cheeks.
"Hey...I'm being released this night. So....don't cry...You're uglier when you cry." Taehyung mumbled, chuckling a little, showing that he's okay, that's he's tough and that his Chim Chim doesn't have to worry at all.
"Tae-"
"Master said we're done."
The masked knight said, opening the bar and releasing the prince from being chained as ordered by his master. Jimin immediately rushed towards Taehyung, who looked lifeless, and caught him before his body hits the ground.
"Tae!"
"Prince Taehyung, King Dagan said you need to come back tomorrow night. He has something important to discuss with you."
With that one last order, the masked vampire left the two. Taehyung seemed to be unconscious while Jimin hurriedly carried him going home to cure his wounds and make him drink blood for faster recovery.
~•~•~••~•~•~
"What a bitter face. Do you hate me?" Dagan said, smirking at his grandson who was standing before him, showing him a serious expression with a burning gaze.
"No. I pity you. Your heart is filled with hatred."
Taehyung retorts making the elder's smile falter, his lips turning into a thin line.
"I guess I was too lenient. Clearly, your punishment wasn't enough but...." Dagan paused, wicked smile forming. "We're here to talk about crushing your mate bond." He continued. Taehyung couldn't move or utter any word. He doesn't know what comes first. Anger, sadness, frustration, shock or disbelief. But if there's one thing he's certain of, it is the fact that he doesn't want the bond to be removed. He doesn't want to part with Jungkook.
"No. I don't want to." The prince said. "He's my mate and I'll never leave him. Dethrone me or cast me away, I don't care but I will never leave him." He continued, saying what he sincerely feels without hesitation and with eyes filled with determination and unwavering resolve.
There was a moment of silence, just the two royalties staring at each other.
After a while, Dagan snorted in annoyance and sighed.
"You don't understand, Taehyung." The elder said in a soft tone. "You're the future king of our clan. You can't shame your ancestors who fought the war against those animals."
"That war was centuries ago! We all need to learn to move on-"
"You say that because you weren't there!" The elder shouted, glaring with his crimson eyes.
"You're not the one who experienced losing someone!" He continued, breath shaking in rage.
"Losing your mate is considered the most painful death, Taehyung."
"So you wanted me to feel that too?" The younger said, voice breaking as he tried to stop his tears.
"We have to. You're the one who made the dumbest mistake by choosing a werewolf as a mate."
"I won't let you kill him."
"You're going to protect him?" Dagan scoffed.
"He's my mate."
"What about his friends, family, his packmates? Are you sure you can protect them too?"
Taehyung clenched his hands, disgusted on how dirty can his so called grandfather could be. Thinking how can Dagan mercilessly involve other people.
"It will result to another war."
"So?" The older said, raising an eyebrow.
"My dearest grandson, you know how strong and how big our clan is compared to the decreasing number of those animals."
"So you don't care if another war starts?" Taehyung asked, feeling so shocked and disappointed, despising his own blood.
"I don't, but you do."
Taehyung's heart fell out of his chest, feeling so frustrated because he knows that there's nothing that can change his grandfather's thinking and ways of viewing things. They just think differently, their perceptions are opposite and it's saddening that he couldn't do anything about it. "What do you want?" Taehyung asked, voice laced with sadness and hopelessness. "I will never let you hurt them."
"We won't. There are two ways to free you from the bond." Dagan stated and Taehyung's eyebrow twitched upon hearing the word 'free' knowing that his true freedom is when he and Jungkook can just love each other without minding anything or anyone.
"First and easiest way is to kill your mate." Taehyung clenched his jaws, eyes turned crimson while his hands balled into fists, trying to control himself not to rage.
"Second is to kill but resurrect you." Taehyung froze, face distorted in shock and confusion. His anger immediately being replaced by other mixed emotions.
"But that's-"
"Yeah. It's an ancestral ritual that only royal blood can do. It was used to revive royal bloods but you will still actually die."
Taehyung nodded his head, understanding what his grandfather is saying. He deeply breathe, his eyes turning back to normal.
"Because everything will vanish." The prince said in a soft voice as if he was accepting defeat. "My memory, my personality, my soul....everything about me will be permanently erased.....Only my body will return life." Taehyung mumbled. "An empty shell that will follow everything I say." Dagan added and Taehyung felt like everything right in front of him was crumbling down as images of his family, friends and Jungkook came across his mind.
No. He's not ready. He'll never be. He can't give them up. He doesn't want to leave them. The life with the people he loves is the life he wants to have forever.
The life where his dad and mom rarely comes home but showers him with love and support in their own ways, where his Chim Chim is always by his side, ready to smack his head and curse at him but also coddles him when he's sad, where Jin who only loves food nags him like a mother but also calls him a slut, where the brightest personality of Hoseok makes him feel light, where Namjoon's level of intellect and outlook in life always amaze and inspire him and a life where he can see Jungkook's rare laughters, hidden smiles, hot eye rolls, comforting warm hugs, sweet kisses and feel his confusing but undeniably real love.
A life where Jungkook exists. But what can he do? I guess nobody can have a perfect life.
~•~•~••~•~•~
"Tae, don't. No. Wait! No no no-" "Jungkooooooooooooook!" Taehyung shouted as he ran towards his mate while Jungkook panicked, immediately standing up from his seat, widely opening his arms and making sure his stance is secured as he lets the vampire jump in his arms, making sure to catch him.
"Jungkook!" Taehyung exclaimed, happy that the younger caught him as he wrapped his arms and legs around his mate.
"Taehyung!" Jungkook shouted as he secure his hold. "What the fuck?!" He continued as he lets his heart calm down from the panic he had just felt.
"You caught me." Taehyung replied, grinning at his mate while the younger rolled his eyes and smiled because okay, he can forgive his adorable mate.
"Yeah. I did." Jungkook said.
Taehyung hummed and nodded his head before burying his face in the crook of his mate's neck, hugging the younger tightly.
"Hey, you okay?" Jungkook asked in a soft tone, feeling that there's something troubling his mate. "I just missed you so much." The older responded, loving the warmth of the werewolf that never fails to make him feel at home.
"Well, it was you who disappeared for a week because of urgent family issues but you could've texted or called me y'know."
"Sorry..."
"Hey, you sure you're okay?"
"Mmm...let's just stay like this for awhile."
The older assured and Jungkook started walking towards the sofa of his office. He sat down with Taehyung on his lap, head still resting on the crook of his neck.
"Jungkook, I have to punish you." Taehyung suddenly said, his voice was a little muffled. "What?" The younger asked, his big warm hands rubbing his mate's back.
"You turned your employees into zombies again."
"It's your fault."
"Seriously, Kook.Your poor employees are the one suffering. You need to control your temper everytime I leave."
"Then never leave me." There was a moment of silence before Taehyung slowly retracted his head from his mate's neck.
The vampire raised his hands, cupping the younger's face while looking deeply into his eyes. Taehyung smiled, a reassuring sweet smile before landing a short, gentle kiss on Jungkook's lips.
"I will never leave you."