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As Taehyung's fangs retracted from Jungkook's neck, a pulse of energy rippled through the room. The bond mark glowed faintly before fading to a soft shimmer. For a tense moment, everyone watched Jungkook's body, still as a porcelain doll, with bated breath. Then, his body convulsed slightly, a faint groan escaping his lips.

Taehyung froze. "What's happening to him?" he demanded, his voice sharp with panic.

The doctor rushed forward, placing her hand on Jungkook's wrist to check his pulse. "Hold him still," she instructed. "It's the bond settling in."

Jungkook's body arched slightly before falling limp again. Taehyung's heart clenched, and V growled lowly within him, restless and on edge. Slowly, Jungkook's breathing steadied, the uneven gasps smoothing into a calm rhythm. The doctor exhaled, her shoulders relaxing.

"What happened?" Taehyung asked, his voice trembling, the dark aura around him only slightly dissipating.

The doctor turned to face him, her expression soft but firm. "He's stable now. The bond... it's fully accepted. Jungkook has taken you as his mate with his heart and soul. That's why his body responded positively. Without that acceptance, this wouldn't have worked."

Taehyung's legs almost gave out as he sat down beside Jungkook, cradling his mate's hand in his own. Relief flooded him, but his wolf's unease remained. "So he's going to be okay?"

The doctor nodded cautiously. "He's stable, but he's still weak. He'll need time to regain consciousness and fully recover. The poison... it's still in his system, though it's no longer spreading as rapidly. I need to extract it carefully. For now, I recommend everyone leave the room so I can proceed with the treatment."

Nobody moved. The air was heavy with hesitation and worry until Namjoon placed a gentle hand on Taehyung's shoulder. "Come, Taehyung. Let her work. Jungkook is stable now. Let's give him the best chance to recover."

Taehyung reluctantly released Jungkook's hand, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to his mate's forehead. "I'll be back, Bun. Stay strong for me."

They  filed out of the room, leaving the doctor to her work.

Hours later, the doctor emerged, fatigue evident on her face. She gave them a small nod. "I've done everything I can for now. He's stable and resting. I'll monitor him closely over the next few days. For now, he needs peace and quiet."

Relief washed over everyone, though it was tempered with lingering unease. Jungkook was alive, but the tension of the day had drained them all. They  moved Jungkook to Taehyung's bedroom, carefully tucking him into bed. Taehyung stayed with him for a while, sitting silently by his side, his fingers brushing over Jungkook's hair.

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As the somber atmosphere hung heavy over the mansion, Jin pushed himself off the couch, breaking the silence that had settled like a blanket over the room.

"No one has eaten properly since yesterday," he said softly, his voice carrying the weariness they all felt. "I'll go prepare some snacks. We can't help Jungkook if we're all running on empty."

Hoseok started to protest. "Hyung, we—"

"Enough. You're eating," Jin interrupted firmly. His usual warm tone was edged with the no-nonsense authority he rarely displayed. "Just wait here."

Reluctantly, the others nodded, their silence agreeing with his decision. Jin walked into the kitchen, running a hand through his hair as he mentally planned a quick menu.

He opened the fridge and scanned the shelves. His eyes landed on the fruit basket resting on the counter beside it. Something about it felt...off. He leaned closer, his brows furrowing as he noticed a bright orange fruit sitting prominently in the pile. The sight made his stomach churn.

"No," he whispered, picking up the offending fruit. It was unmistakable: orapear. His grip tightened around it as alarm bells rang in his mind. Why was this here?

Jin's thoughts raced back to Taehyung's strict orders to keep the fruit out of the mansion. He'd explicitly banned it, knowing it was deadly to humans—specifically, to Jungkook. A cold chill ran down Jin's spine. This wasn't a mistake. It couldn't be.

He spun around, clutching the fruit tightly, and hurried back to the living room.

"Hyung, what's wrong?" Namjoon asked immediately, noticing Jin's pale face.

Without answering, Jin placed the fruit on the coffee table. Everyone's eyes widened.

"Isn't that...?" Jimin trailed off, his voice trembling.

"Yes," Jin confirmed grimly. "It's orapear"

The room erupted into murmurs, each voice layered with confusion and dread. Hoseok shook his head vehemently. "That can't be right! No one here would buy it, knowing—"

"It doesn't matter how it got here; the question is why it's here," Namjoon said, his voice sharp.

"Maybe someone brought it for themselves," Hoseok suggested, though his voice lacked conviction. "After all, it's only poisonous to Jungkook."

"But Taehyung banned it from the entire house," Namjoon countered, crossing his arms. "Everyone knows that."

"Hyung, are you sure it's the same fruit?" Jimin asked Jin, though he already knew the answer. His fingers twitched nervously as he glanced at the offending fruit.

Jin's eyes narrowed. "Absolutely. There's no mistake."

At that moment, Jimin's phone vibrated on the coffee table. He picked it up and answered, his voice quiet. "Hello? Oh, Doctor... yes. Any updates?"

The room fell silent as everyone listened intently. Jimin's face paled as the doctor spoke.

"Yes," he said shakily. "I'll let them know. Thank you." He ended the call and looked at the others, his lips trembling. "The poison in Jungkook's body... it's from the orapear."

The confirmation hit like a thunderclap. Hoseok's expression darkened as anger surged in his chest. "Who brought it here?" he demanded, his usual sunny demeanor replaced with icy fury.

"We'll find out," Yoongi said coldly, his jaw clenched. Though he rarely showed his emotions, the thought of someone intentionally endangering Jungkook made his blood boil. "I swear, I'll make them pay."

Taehyung, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. His voice was low and dangerous, sending chills through the room.

"We don't need to wonder who. Whoever did this won't stay hidden for long," he said. His golden eyes, still tinged with the fierce glow of his wolf, pierced through the tension like a blade. "They'll regret it."

The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, leaving no room for doubt. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances. Taehyung's aura was suffocating, his usual composed demeanor replaced with an ominous calm that was far more terrifying than rage.

"I'll start investigating immediately," Yoongi said, standing abruptly. Hoseok nodded in agreement. The two of them exchanged a determined look before leaving the room to begin their search.

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

Taehyung entered the room, his heart weighed down by the events of the day. The sight before him struck him harder than any battle he had ever fought—his precious Jungkook, lying pale and unmoving on the large bed, his chest rising and falling ever so faintly. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the moon filtering through the curtains, casting a silvery hue over Jungkook's serene yet vulnerable face. The machines attached to him beeped steadily, a cruel reminder of his fragility.

Taehyung quietly approached the bed, his steps heavy with anguish. He lowered himself onto the edge of the bed, his trembling hand reaching out to gently caress Jungkook's cheek. His skin was warm, but there was no response to his touch. It was the first time in years that Taehyung felt utterly helpless, his usual confidence shattered.

"Bun," Taehyung whispered, his voice breaking. "My baby... what did I do wrong to let this happen to you?"

The alpha's deep voice, always steady and commanding, now trembled with despair. His fingers brushed a stray lock of hair from Jungkook's forehead, and his other hand clutched Jungkook's limp one tightly.

"You're so strong," he continued, his tone soft but laced with desperation. "You've been through so much already, and yet here you are, fighting again. You have to keep fighting, love. You have to come back to me."

Taehyung lowered his head, resting his forehead against Jungkook's hand. He closed his eyes, trying to steady his own erratic breathing. His mind raced with memories of their time together—Jungkook's bright laughter echoing through the mansion, his curious questions that never ceased to amuse Taehyung, the way he snuggled into Taehyung's chest like it was his safest place in the world.

"I promised to protect you," Taehyung murmured, his voice thick with guilt. "And I failed. I let you get hurt. But I swear to you, Jungkook, I'll make this right. Whoever did this to you will pay. No one will harm you again, not while I'm breathing."

Tears slipped down Taehyung's cheeks as he raised his head to look at Jungkook's peaceful face. His mate looked so delicate, so innocent, and it tore at Taehyung's heart to see him like this. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Jungkook's forehead.

"I'll keep you safe, no matter what it takes," Taehyung vowed. "Even if it means sacrificing everything I have. My power, my position, even my life. You're my world, bun. Without you, nothing else matters."

He sat back, his hands now cradling Jungkook's smaller ones. He stroked his mate's fingers, marveling at their delicate structure—hands that held so much strength, yet so much gentleness.

"I know I said I wanted to wait," Taehyung admitted, his voice soft. "I wanted our marking, our bond, to be special. To be perfect. But today, I realized something. Nothing in this world matters more than you, Jungkook. Not traditions, not ceremonies, not timing. If it means keeping you here with me, I'll do it a thousand times over. Because I can't... I can't lose you. I won't lose you."

He paused, taking a shuddering breath as he gathered himself.

"Do you remember the day we first met?" he asked, though there was no response. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he recalled the memory. "How stupid i was to run away. I knew, even then, that you were special. That you were mine. And you still are, Jungkook. You'll always be mine."

Taehyung's voice cracked, and he squeezed Jungkook's hand tightly, as though willing his mate to feel the depth of his emotions.

"You're going to wake up," he said firmly, his tone growing resolute. "You're going to open those beautiful eyes and call me 'Hyungie' again. You'll smile that bunny smile and tell me I worry too much. And when you do, I'll hold you so tightly, you'll never doubt how much you mean to me."

A long silence filled the room, broken only by the faint beeping of the monitors. Taehyung leaned forward again, his lips brushing against Jungkook's temple.

"Please, baby," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Come back to me. I need you. The others needs you. You're our light, Jungkook. Don't let it go out."A tear slip down from his left eye.

For the first time, Taehyung allowed himself to cry freely, his tears falling onto the bed. His shoulders shook as he released the grief and fear that had been consuming him. He stayed there, his head bowed, his hands clutching Jungkook's like a lifeline.

"I love you," he said softly, his voice steady despite the tears. "I love you more than anything in this world. And I'll keep loving you, no matter what happens. That's my promise to you. Dont you want to hear your Hyungie saying this to you, wake up baby"

The room seemed to hold its breath, the stillness almost sacred. Taehyung pressed one final kiss to Jungkook's knuckles before sitting back, his eyes never leaving his mate's face. Though his heart ached with worry, he held onto hope—the hope that his love, his prayers, and his promises would be enough to bring Jungkook back to him.

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