Chapter 4: The Midnight Gathering

Taehyung sat in a lavishly decorated sitting room with Jungkook’s mother, glancing nervously between the ornate walls and the door, his anticipation palpable. The golden hues of the setting sun poured in through the tall windows, only to be replaced with the flickering lights of the lanterns as dusk settled.

“What are you looking for, dear?” Queen Laura asked gently, noticing Taehyung’s anxious glances.

He turned to her, his eyes wide with curiosity. “Aunt Laura, who was that magnificent wolf I saw in the forest yesterday? Who saved me?”

Queen Laura’s heart softened at the mention of Jungkook’s transformation into his wolf form, yet she hesitated before answering. “That was Jungkook who saved you,” she said, choosing her words carefully.

Taehyung's eyes brightened, a smile breaking through his expression. “Really? Where is he now? Why didn’t I see him at dinner?”

Laura's smile faltered, replaced by a hint of sadness. “He’s… he’s preoccupied, my dear. He’s been on a royal hunting trip and will return by midnight for the night celebration of all royal families.”

Taehyung’s excitement flickered. “But I can't go! I've heard if anyone looks at me, they’ll turn into a storm. I don’t want that to happen.”

Laura nodded, sympathy painting her features as she recognized the pain in Taehyung’s eyes. “I understand. It’s a heavy burden for one so young,” she replied quietly, feeling the weight of shame stealing over her for the boy’s misfortune.

As midnight approached, Taehyung readied himself, donning a garment in Jungkook’s favorite color, a deep sapphire blue. He looked into the mirror, feeling a rush of joy at the thought of finally seeing Jungkook again. This would be his first royal gathering; his heart swelled at the notion of meeting other kings and kingdoms, yet the absence of his parents cast a shadow over his excitement.

After placing his cherished bunny on the bed and drawing the window shut, Taehyung headed toward the venue where the royal families gathered.

The grand hall was bursting with life, an exquisite array of color and sound. Representatives from every kingdom were present, including old foes, united by a singular purpose: addressing the reemergence of vampires. A collective murmur of anticipation filled the air as the doors swung open, revealing Jungkook seated with his father, the king, his aura dark and commanding, a potent reminder of the power he inherited.

Taehyung felt a rush of nerves as he entered, his heart racing beneath the veil obscuring his face. Jungkook’s mother stood beside him, holding his hand tightly, reassuringly, guiding him into the depths of the hall.

She led him towards their designated seats, where the Kim family awaited. Taehyung stole a glance at Jungkook, who seemed immovable beside his father, a stoic expression resting on his handsome features, an unyielding wall that intimidated him. What happened to him?

As the various kingdoms settled in, Jungkook’s mother seated Taehyung on their side of the venue, drawing close to him. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and Taehyung couldn't shake the feeling that he was about to discover new truths.

The king began, addressing those gathered, “Thank you all for coming. We face a grave situation, as shared by our dear cousin Taehyung regarding the vampire threat. We must not take his words lightly.” His voice carried authority and urgency.

Yet as the king outlined the peril, murmurs of dissent arose from some; their expressions betraying their disbelief.

“How do we trust the words of a powerless peasant prince?” one of the opposing kings scoffed, his eyes narrowing at Taehyung. “What does he know of the vampires?”

“He probably just wants to save his own skin,” another added cruelly, igniting whispers among the attendees. The insults came like arrows, each slicing deeper into Taehyung’s heart. “He abandoned his parents to run away!”

Tears pricked at the corners of Taehyung’s eyes, but he clenched his fists, choosing to remain silent. The words stung, but amidst the whispers, he had vowed to show strength, determined to honor his parents’ last wishes.

“Enough!” a royal guard suddenly shouted, his contempt oozing from every word. “You should just kill this omega. He’s useless anyway, and the vampires wouldn’t need him.”

Laughter rippled through the audience, the sound venomous and haunting.

Fueled by an impulse he could no longer control, Jungkook stood up sharply, the air around him crackling with energy. “Enough!” he roared, his glare pinning the guard in place. “You think it’s funny? Bad-mouthing Prince Taehyung? My cousin?”(the last words were bitter)

A deafening silence engulfed the hall. Jungkook's fury was tangible, and his eyes burned with an array of emotions that hinted at the chaos barely contained within. In that moment, a knife from one of the tables began to levitate, shimmering ominously in the air as Jungkook’s rage cemented into an unbreakable determination.

Jungkook's father reached out desperately. “Jungkook, no!” he exclaimed, but the warning fell on deaf ears. No one could stop Jungkook when he was like this; panic gripped the hall as everyone braced themselves for the inevitable.

The knife hovered dangerously close to the guard’s throat, and Taehyung gasped, his heart racing as fear took hold of him.

“Please!” he called out, his voice trembling as he sprang to his feet, fighting against the shattering weight of panic. “Jungkook, please stop!”

Jungkook’s gaze faltered, meeting Taehyung’s desperate eyes. The knife quivered before it fell harmlessly to the floor, clattering against the marble and subsiding in a cloud of silence.

Taehyung stepped forward, his heart pounding. “You can’t hurt him,” he said, his voice firm despite the quaking of his heart. “Killing won’t solve this…we’re better than that.”

Jungkook’s anger still radiated from him, but Taehyung’s plea hung in the air, a fragile thread of hope. “Do you like the way they spoke about you? Do you like being called a whore?” Jungkook shouted, his words biting, laced with a tumult of emotions.

Taehyung looked down, tears cascading down his cheeks as he struggled to maintain composure. “No… but I can’t let you do this…”

Frustrated, Jungkook turned and stormed out of the hall, leaving Taehyung standing there, his heart aching from their confrontation.

“Jungkook!” Taehyung called after him, but his words fell on deaf ears. The hollowness of the hall roared back to life, conversations bubbling among the others, eyes glued to Taehyung in shocked silence.

Taehyung wiped his tears, feeling the weight of every curious gaze upon him, and made a decision. He couldn’t let this continue. He rushed after Jungkook, navigating through the throng until he emerged outside, where the stars twinkled overhead.

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