Taehyung woke up to the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains of his room. Yet, something felt off. His chest felt heavy, an unshakable restlessness thrumming beneath his skin. His wolf, V, was unusually agitated, pacing in his mind like a caged animal.

"What's wrong?" Taehyung mumbled, his voice groggy. But V didn't respond, only growled lowly, unsettled.

With a sigh, Taehyung turned his head to the side, and all at once, the unease melted away.

There lay his mate, Jungkook, snuggled up to him like a small, warm ball of comfort. The boy's delicate features were relaxed, his lips slightly parted as he breathed softly in his sleep. One of his hands clutched Taehyung's shirt, as if afraid he might disappear.

Taehyung's heart clenched at the sight. "Bun," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair away from Jungkook's face.

V purred in satisfaction, calming instantly. See? He grounds us.

Taehyung smiled softly and leaned down to place a feather-light kiss on Jungkook's forehead. His restlessness might have faded for now, but something still lingered—a nagging feeling he couldn't shake.

After getting ready, Taehyung joined the others for breakfast. Jungkook sat beside him, happily munching on his toast and sipping his banana milk. The hyungs teased him about his obsession with the drink, making Jungkook pout adorably.

"You'll turn into a banana one day, Jungkookie," Hoseok joked, earning a chorus of laughter.

Jungkook turned to Taehyung for support. "Hyungie, tell them I won't!"

Taehyung chuckled, ruffling Jungkook's hair. "They're just jealous because you're sweeter than their jokes."

Jungkook beamed, clutching his banana milk protectively.

As breakfast wrapped up, Taehyung prepared to leave for work. He stood by the door, fixing his tie, as Jungkook followed him like a shadow.

"Be good while I'm gone, okay?" Taehyung said, crouching slightly to meet Jungkook's eyes.

Jungkook nodded eagerly. "Come back soon, hyungie."

Taehyung kissed his mate's temple. "Always."

-------------

Taehyung entered the sleek, modern headquarters of Vantae Enterprises, the usual air of authority surrounding him. His employees greeted him with a mix of respect and nervous energy, but today, Taehyung barely noticed. He strode to his private elevator, adjusting his cufflinks, but his wolf, V, was still pacing restlessly in his mind.

Why are you so unsettled? Taehyung asked internally as the elevator doors closed.

Something's wrong, V growled. Something about our mate. Go back.

Taehyung sighed, shaking his head. "He's fine. I just left him surrounded by the hyungs. Nothing will happen to him there."

But the elevator ride felt longer than usual, and by the time he stepped onto his executive floor, his nerves were already fraying.

Taehyung's first meeting of the day was with the company's finance team. They presented quarterly reports, but the numbers felt meaningless. Taehyung leaned back in his leather chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest as the head of finance droned on.

"Mr. Kim, as you can see, the projections for next quarter show a 12% increase in revenue..."

"Hmm," Taehyung hummed noncommittally, his sharp gaze flickering to the large windows behind the speaker. The clear sky did little to calm his mind.

"Sir?" The head of finance paused, sensing Taehyung's inattention.

Taehyung snapped back. "Yes, continue," he said curtly, his tone colder than usual.

The rest of the meeting dragged on, and when it ended, Taehyung left the room with a tight jaw. His assistant hurried to his side, holding out his next set of files.

"Sir, the operations team is waiting in the conference room," she informed him.

Taehyung nodded silently, running a hand through his hair.

In the conference room, the operations team presented updates on several ongoing projects. Taehyung tried to focus, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the mansion, to his bun.

"...and this initiative should reduce production costs by at least 8%," one manager concluded, looking hopeful.

Taehyung nodded absently. "Good work. Proceed with the pilot run."

Another manager took the floor, detailing logistics plans, but Taehyung found himself zoning out again. He rubbed his temple, a dull ache forming. V growled louder in his mind, agitated.

"Sir, are you feeling alright?" one of the managers dared to ask, noticing Taehyung's distant expression.

"I'm fine," Taehyung snapped, his voice sharper than intended. The room went silent, the tension palpable.

He sighed, softening his tone. " Continue."

The meeting wrapped up quickly after that, the managers filing out quietly. Taehyung stayed behind, pinching the bridge of his nose.

By lunchtime, Taehyung had barely touched his workload. His assistant knocked lightly on his office door, peeking inside.

"Sir, would you like me to order lunch for you?" she asked hesitantly.

"No," Taehyung replied, staring blankly at his desk. "I'm not hungry."

She hesitated before leaving, and Taehyung leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. V's unease was becoming unbearable.

Why won't you calm down? Taehyung asked his wolf.

I can't. I feel like something's coming.

Taehyung clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. "You're being irrational. He's safe. He's home."

But V's growl only deepened, making Taehyung's chest tighten.

By mid-afternoon, Taehyung could no longer pretend to focus. His restlessness had reached its peak, and every instinct screamed at him to go home.

He stood abruptly, startling his assistant as he stepped out of his office.

"Cancel my remaining meetings," he ordered, grabbing his coat.

"But sir, the board—"

"Reschedule," Taehyung interrupted, his voice leaving no room for argument. "I'm leaving."

Without waiting for a response, he strode out of the building, his heart pounding. The drive back to the mansion felt excruciatingly long, and Taehyung gripped the steering wheel tightly, his mind racing.

Bun, please be okay.

Taehyung's car smoothly glided through the long, winding road leading to the mansion. The trees on either side swayed gently in the evening breeze, the golden sunlight casting a serene glow. Despite the picturesque scene outside, his thoughts were far from peaceful.

When the mansion's gates came into view, a strange sense of calm washed over him. It was subtle but noticeable, as if his wolf, V, was momentarily pacified.

See? He's fine. I told you, Taehyung thought, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

V, however, huffed softly in response, the unease still lingering faintly in the back of Taehyung's mind.

As Taehyung parked the car and stepped inside the mansion, the warmth of home enveloped him. The familiar chatter of the hyungs filled the air, and the faint sound of Jungkook's laughter drifted from the living room.

The moment Taehyung entered, Jungkook spotted him and immediately lit up like the sun itself.

"Hyungie!" Jungkook squealed, abandoning his spot on the couch and running toward him.

Taehyung barely had time to set his briefcase down before Jungkook launched himself at him, wrapping his arms tightly around Taehyung's torso like a koala.

"You're back early!" Jungkook said, his voice muffled against Taehyung's chest.

Taehyung chuckled softly, his earlier tension melting away as he hugged Jungkook back, inhaling his comforting scent. "I missed you, Bun."

Jungkook leaned back to look up at him with his wide, sparkling eyes. "I missed you too, Hyungie!"

Taehyung couldn't help but smile, ruffling Jungkook's soft hair. "Were you good while I was gone?"

"I was!" Jungkook said proudly, then pouted. "But it was boring without you."

Taehyung carried Jungkook back to the living room, where the rest of the pack was lounging. They greeted him casually, teasing him about coming home early.

"Couldn't stay away, huh?" Yoongi smirked, sipping his tea.

"Work was dull today," Taehyung replied nonchalantly, though the truth was far more complex.

As he sat down with Jungkook still clinging to him, Taehyung noticed how V's restlessness had significantly lessened. But it hadn't disappeared entirely.

His wolf remained on edge, a faint tension coiling within him like a taut string. Taehyung frowned slightly, trying to shake off the feeling.

"Are you okay, Tae?" Namjoon asked, noticing the slight furrow in Taehyung's brow.

Taehyung nodded. "Just tired. It's been a long day."

After a few minutes of chatting, Taehyung excused himself to freshen up. Jungkook followed him upstairs, chattering about his day as Taehyung listened with a fond smile.

"Hyungie, you should've seen Jimin-hyung trying to teach Yoonie-hyung that dance move," Jungkook giggled, hopping onto the bed while Taehyung removed his tie. "He almost fell!"

Taehyung laughed softly. "I can imagine. Yoongie-hyung isn't exactly...graceful."

Jungkook nodded enthusiastically. "And then—"

But Taehyung wasn't fully listening anymore. He glanced at Jungkook, who was sprawled on the bed, kicking his legs playfully. The sight was so ordinary yet so comforting that Taehyung's earlier unease felt almost ridiculous.

Almost.

As they headed back downstairs to join the others, Taehyung couldn't shake the faint nagging at the back of his mind. His wolf had quieted, yes, but something still lingered.

I'm probably overthinking, he told himself.  

Bun is here, safe and happy. There's no reason to worry.

But the uneasy whisper in his heart refused to be silenced entirely.

--------------------------------

The evening had settled into a comfortable rhythm, with everyone gathered in the living room. Taehyung and Jungkook had returned from their brief break, the mood light and cheerful as they joined the hyungs. Jungkook was perched beside Taehyung on the couch, playfully teasing him about something, when a maid entered carrying a tray of glasses filled with a refreshing mixed fruit juice.

"Here you go, everyone," she said politely, setting the glasses on the coffee table. Jungkook's eyes immediately lit up as he spotted his glass.

"Hyungie, look!" Jungkook giggled, showing Taehyung the pink juice, swirling it in his hand. "It's pink, just like my favorite color!"

Taehyung smiled, though there was a flicker of unease in his chest, an instinct he couldn't quite shake. "Be careful, Bun," he said, his voice soft, but his hand gently resting on Jungkook's head, his thumb brushing over his hair in a protective gesture.

Jungkook took a long sip, savoring the sweet, fruity taste. He looked up at Taehyung, a content smile on his lips. "It's so good, Hyungie. You should try some!"

Taehyung nodded, about to reach for his own glass when he was distracted by a noise—a faint, unsettling growl from V, deep inside his mind. Taehyung paused, a shiver crawling up his spine. He glanced over at Jungkook, who was still sipping happily from his glass, and his stomach tightened.

"Baby..." Taehyung murmured, but his voice was lost in the moment, drowned out by the laughter around him.

And then it happened.

Jungkook's face suddenly twisted in discomfort. His hand trembled, nearly dropping the glass as his breath began to quicken. His pupils dilated, and his hand shot up to clutch his throat. "Hyungie... Hyungie, it... it hurts..."

Taehyung's heart dropped into his stomach. He immediately stood up, his mind spinning. "Baby Bun?! What's wrong?"

The laughter from the others turned into a backdrop of frantic noise as Jungkook gasped for air, his skin rapidly turning an alarming shade of red. He was clutching at his throat, struggling to breathe, his chest rising and falling erratically. His eyes were wide, full of panic, and his lips began to tremble, his voice barely a whisper. "I... I can't... breathe..."

Taehyung dropped to his knees beside him, his hands trembling as he cupped Jungkook's flushed face, his mind going blank. "Stay with me, Bun. Stay with me, please!"

Jungkook's body jerked violently in his arms. "Hyungie..." he whimpered, his voice weak and desperate, tears streaming down his face. "It hurts so much..."

"Call the doctor!" Taehyung shouted, his usual calm shattered. His breath came in ragged gasps as he tried to keep Jungkook's head steady, eyes frantic.

The hyungs rushed into action. Jin dashed toward the phone to summon the in-house medic, while Hoseok dialed for emergency help. Namjoon crouched beside Taehyung, his own face pale with worry. "What happened?"

"I don't know!" Taehyung shouted, his heart racing. "He had juice, mixed fruit juice... but it was fine earlier—he was fine—"

"Jungkook!" Taehyung called out, his voice trembling with raw fear. "Stay with me, baby. You're going to be fine, please, don't leave me..."

Jungkook's body spasmed again, his eyes fluttering, his mouth opening in a silent scream. He crumpled against Taehyung, his body going limp in his arms, and then... nothing.

Silence.

Taehyung's blood ran cold. "No..." he whispered, shaking Jungkook's shoulders desperately. "No, no, no—Bun!"

But Jungkook didn't respond. His body was motionless, and his breath, shallow and erratic, had finally ceased.

Panic spread like wildfire through the room. Jin, who had just reached the phone, dropped it, his face pale. "What... what happened?"

Taehyung's mind raced. He could feel V howling in his head, a deep, guttural cry of anguish and fury. No... he can't be gone. He's our mate.

"I don't know what happened!" Taehyung shouted, his voice breaking as he clutched Jungkook to his chest, holding him tight, willing him to wake up. "He was fine, he was fine... He was drinking juice... someone, anyone, tell me what's going on!"

And then... a figure in the corner of the room. They were watching, standing silently in the shadows, their lips curling into a sly smirk.

The others hadn't noticed. Their focus was entirely on Jungkook, who remained lifeless in Taehyung's arms. The smirking figure lingered, eyes glinting with a cruel satisfaction.

Taehyung's gaze shifted to the door, his heart pounding. "Where's the doctor?!" he yelled, but his voice was a whisper against the growing sense of dread that enveloped the room.

His worst fear had come true, and he didn't even know how it had happened. The juice—was it the juice? What had they put in it?

The tension in the air was thick with uncertainty, but Taehyung had only one focus. His mate. Bun, please, stay with me...

But Jungkook remained still in his arms, unconscious, his life hanging in a delicate balance.

And in the shadows, the figure continued to watch, satisfaction curling on their lips as the chaos unfolded before them.

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