Minji blinked in the dim light, her head throbbing as she came to. She realized her hands were bound behind her back, her legs tied to the chair she was seated in. Panic rose in her chest as her gaze darted around the cold, damp room. It was a basement, with stone walls and a single flickering bulb hanging overhead. The air was heavy, damp, and reeked of mold.

"Where am I?" she muttered under her breath, her voice hoarse. She struggled against the ropes, but they only bit into her wrists, leaving a sharp sting. "Who did this to me?!"

She strained her ears, hoping for a sound or clue. Suddenly, she froze. Footsteps echoed down the narrow hallway leading to the room. Her breathing quickened, and she instinctively leaned back, trying to shrink into the chair.

The door creaked open, and two figures stepped inside. In the dim light, she could make out the familiar silhouettes. When they stepped closer, the shock nearly knocked the air out of her.

"Alpha Y-yoongi?Alpha  Hoseok?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, disbelief laced in every syllable.

"Surprised, Minji?" Yoongi's voice was low, dripping with mockery. His sharp eyes glinted dangerously as he crossed his arms, leaning casually against the wall.

Hoseok stepped forward, his usual sunny demeanor replaced by an expression so cold it sent shivers down her spine. "You didn't think we'd figure it out, did you?"

"I-I don't understand," Minji stammered, her voice shaking. "Why am I here? I didn't do anything!"

Yoongi let out a dry laugh. "Oh, you didn't do anything? Shall we go over the list? Poisoning the Luna with a fruit that could have killed him? Trying to drive him away with petty misunderstandings? "

"You're mistaken!" Minji protested. "I didn't—"

"Enough." Hoseok's voice cut through her words like a blade. His usually warm eyes burned with anger. "We have evidence, Minji. The fruit you brought into the house, the slip-ups you made in the kitchen, and, oh, the witnesses who saw you handling it. You can stop pretending."

Minji's face turned pale as the weight of their accusations pressed down on her. "N-no, I swear, I didn't mean—"

"You didn't mean to?" Yoongi interrupted, his tone venomous. "Didn't mean to almost kill King's mate? Didn't mean to betray the family that gave you shelter? Spare us the excuses."

Her denial crumbled under their icy stares. Tears streamed down her face as she began to sob. "Please... I made a mistake. I'll do anything—just don't hurt me."

"Anything?" Hoseok smirked, his tone laced with mockery. "Oh, you'll wish you hadn't said that."

Yoongi straightened, his expression deadly serious. "You'll stay here until Jungkook wakes up. You'll pay for every second of pain Taehyung and his mate endured because of you. And if he doesn't wake up..." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper, "You'll beg for death, Minji. And even then, we might not grant it. Wait till he wakes the king will grand your death"

Minji's sobs grew louder as Hoseok gestured toward the guards at the door. "Make her regret every choice that led her here," he ordered coldly.

The guards stepped forward, dragging Minji's chair further into the darkness. Her screams echoed through the basement as the door slammed shut, leaving Hoseok and Yoongi standing outside.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Jin and Jimin sat in tense silence, the air heavy with anger and worry. They had just been informed of Minji's betrayal, and it was taking every ounce of restraint to stay seated.

"I can't believe her," Jimin spat, his fists clenched. "After everything, after all the kindness Taehyung showed her—she tried to kill Jungkook?!"

Jin shook his head, his usually calm face twisted with rage. "I always knew she was trouble, but I never thought she'd stoop this low. The audacity of her, thinking she could get away with something like this..."

"She nearly killed him, hyung," Jimin said, his voice breaking slightly. "Jungkook hasn't even been here that long, and yet... he's become family. How could she do this?"

Jin's eyes softened at Jimin's words, but his anger didn't waver. "Taehyung might be keeping quiet now, but when he acts, it's going to be devastating. Minji has no idea what she's brought upon herself."

"Good," Jimin muttered darkly. "She deserves everything coming to her."

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

The bedroom was cloaked in silence, broken only by the soft rustling of curtains swaying in the cool night breeze. Taehyung sat beside Jungkook on the bed, his hand gently brushing the younger's soft, pale cheek. The boy lay motionless, his chest rising and falling faintly, but his face was serene, as though he were merely asleep.

Taehyung's heart ached as he leaned closer, his forehead brushing against Jungkook's. The faint trace of lavender—Jungkook's  scent—still lingered, but it was so faint now that it felt like he was slipping further away. Lavender and something uniquely him—a sweetness Taehyung had no words to describe.

"I miss your scent bun," Taehyung whispered, his voice trembling. His hand moved to Jungkook's, holding it tightly, as though willing him to wake up. "I miss the way it wraps around me, calming me... grounding me. I need you to come back to me."

The maid had cleaned Jungkook earlier, ensuring he was comfortable, but that act had stripped away his lavender. The mere thought of another's scent clinging to Jungkook made Taehyung's stomach churn. No matter how faint, it felt like a violation of their bond, an intrusion into something sacred.

"Forgive me, bun," Taehyung murmured as he leaned closer, pressing his nose against Jungkook's neck. He inhaled deeply, searching for even the faintest trace of lavender. "I know you'd tease me for being so possessive, but... I can't stand it. I don't want anyone else near you like this. You're mine."

He pulled back slightly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But if i have marked you then, and this... this is my fault." His voice cracked. "If I had done it sooner, maybe none of this would've happened. You wouldn't be lying here like this."

Taking a shaky breath, Taehyung pressed his forehead against Jungkook's once more. His wolf stirred within him, V's presence heavy and restless. The wolf's desire to protect their mate was palpable, and Taehyung felt it mingling with his own desperation.

"I'll make this right," Taehyung vowed, his voice firm despite the tremor in his chest. "When you wake up—and you will wake up, bun—I'll never let anything hurt you again. I'll surround you with my scent, my protection, my love... so no one, nothing, can come close to you."

He slid his arms under Jungkook, carefully lifting him from the bed. His body trembled as he held Jungkook close to his chest, pressing his nose into the crook of the younger's neck. Slowly, deliberately, he let his own scent—a warm,  blend of coconut oil , chocolate and musk—mingle with Jungkook's lavender.

"You'll smell like me now," Taehyung whispered, his voice almost inaudible. "No one else. Just me."

Tears spilled down his cheeks as he rocked them gently, his grip tightening as though afraid Jungkook would slip away entirely. His wolf growled softly in approval, the bond between them strengthening with each passing second.

"I love you," Taehyung said softly, his lips brushing against Jungkook's temple. "And I'll say it every day when you wake up. I'll remind you every moment how much you mean to me. Just... please, bun, come back to me."

The room was heavy with emotion as Taehyung continued to hold him, his tears soaking into Jungkook's hair. He remained like that for hours, unwilling to let go, his scent a silent promise to protect, cherish, and love his mate for all eternity.

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The usually lively mansion had turned into a place of profound silence. The air felt heavy, burdened with worry and sadness, as though the walls themselves carried the weight of the recent events. It had been only two days since Jungkook had fallen unconscious, but to everyone, it felt like an eternity.

In the living room, the other members sat scattered across the space, their usual banter and laughter replaced by an oppressive quiet. Namjoon sat at the head of the table, a book open in his lap, but his eyes weren't focused on the pages. He had read the same sentence five times and still couldn't recall a single word. With a frustrated sigh, he shut the book and leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.

Jimin was by the window, staring out into the garden. His usually bubbly demeanor was gone, replaced by a somber expression. His fingers toyed absentmindedly with the hem of his sweater as his mind replayed the image of Jungkook collapsing. He hadn't eaten properly in days, his appetite lost to the gnawing worry in his chest.

"Why does it feel so empty?" Jimin muttered softly, his voice breaking the silence for the first time in hours.

"It's because it is," Jin replied from the kitchen doorway, his voice equally soft. He had been cooking earlier, trying to distract himself, but even the smell of freshly baked bread couldn't lift the weight in the air. "Jungkook brought life to this place. Without him..." Jin's voice faltered, and he shook his head, unable to finish.

Yoongi sat on the couch, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He had always been the quietest among them, but now his silence felt different—sharper, more menacing. His wolf was restless, pacing within him as if ready to tear apart the girl who  caused this pain. His jaw clenched, and his fingers drummed against his arm, a rhythm of barely contained fury.

Hoseok tried to lighten the mood, as he always did, but his usual energy was nowhere to be found. He sat beside Namjoon, fidgeting with a cushion, his leg bouncing anxiously. "It's too quiet," he said after a while, his voice trembling slightly. "I keep expecting him to come running down the hall, laughing about something silly."

But there was no laughter. Only silence.

Taehyung sat beside Jungkook's bed, his hand tightly gripping Jungkook's smaller one. The younger's face was pale, and his body was still, save for the faint rise and fall of his chest. Taehyung's eyes were red-rimmed from lack of sleep, his usually sharp features softened by the despair etched into them.

"Why is it so quiet, bun?" Taehyung whispered, his voice cracking. "You always hated the quiet. You used to fill this house with your chatter, your laughter." He chuckled bitterly, the sound more like a sob. "I'd give anything to hear you call me 'hyungie' again."

His wolf, V, stirred restlessly within him, its presence heavy with worry. Mate needs us. Protect mate. Fix this. The wolf's thoughts echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of his failure to keep Jungkook safe.

Jin stood by the counter, staring blankly at the ingredients in front of him. He had planned to make something simple—comfort food for the others—but even cooking felt like a monumental task. His hands trembled as he reached for a bowl, his mind drifting back to Jungkook's bright smile the last time they had shared a meal together.

"You promised to help me make dumplings next time," Jin murmured, his voice barely audible. A tear slipped down his cheek, and he quickly wiped it away, shaking his head. "No. He's going to be fine. He has to be."

Namjoon walked through the garden, the cool evening breeze brushing against his skin. He needed fresh air, but even here, the weight of worry followed him. His eyes fell on a patch of lavender bushes, and his chest tightened. Lavender—the scent that was uniquely Jungkook's.

"He'll be okay," Namjoon whispered to himself, as if saying it aloud would make it true. But doubt lingered, and he clenched his fists. "He has to be."

The mansion itself seemed to grieve. The corridors, once filled with laughter and life, were eerily silent. The staff moved quietly, their expressions mirroring the sadness of the pack. Even the wolves seemed subdued, their usual playful energy replaced by a solemn stillness.

Jungkook's absence was a void they all felt deeply. He had become the heart of their home, and without him, everything felt off-balance.

But amidst the gloom, one thought kept them all going: Jungkook was strong. He would fight. And they would all be there, waiting for him to come back to them.

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