The days blurred into weeks, and the atmosphere within the Moonlight Pack had shifted. Jungkook had buried himself in his work, his presence a ghost within the pack house. His office became his home; he slept on the worn leather couch, his desk cluttered with patrol schedules, reports, and maps of the territory. The air in his office was thick with the scent of coffee and exhaustion, but it was better than confronting the gnawing pull of the mate bond.

Kyro, his wolf, was a restless storm beneath his skin, pacing, growling, demanding to see their mate. But Jungkook had mastered the art of suppression, keeping himself distracted with the pressing threat of rogues and the integration of the Shadow Pack members. He couldn't allow himself the weakness of longing for Kkum. Not now. Not ever.

The distance wasn't just physical; it was emotional, a chasm widening with each passing day.

---

In the quiet solitude of Jungkook's house, Kkum sat by the window, her gaze distant as she watched the trees sway in the breeze. The house felt empty, lifeless without Jungkook's presence. The weight of his absence was a constant ache in her chest, an ache Elysia, her wolf, echoed in every restless sigh.

Elysia had been unsettled from the start, pacing within her mind, her eyes constantly darting to the door, hoping, waiting. But Jungkook never came.

Kkum, Elysia whispered, her voice soft yet insistent. Why is he avoiding us? Why does he stay away?

Kkum sighed, resting her head against the cool glass. "He's trying to avoid the bond," she murmured. "He doesn't want this. And honestly, neither do I."

But he is our mate, Elysia argued, a growl lacing her words. We need him. You feel it too, don't you?

"I do," Kkum admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But needing someone only brings pain. You know that as well as I do."

Elysia whined softly, the sound filled with a sorrow that matched Kkum's own. I miss him. I miss his scent, his presence. This distance... it's tearing us apart.

Kkum closed her eyes, swallowing the lump in her throat. She missed him too, more than she was willing to admit. But admitting it wouldn't change the fact that they were both running from the inevitable.

---

Weeks passed, and the strain of the bond began to show on both of them.

Jungkook stood outside his office, rubbing the back of his neck as he stretched. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the pack grounds. His patrol had ended hours ago, but he couldn't bring himself to return home.

Kyro stirred within him, restless as ever. We can't keep doing this, Jungkook. We're wasting away.

"I'm protecting us," Jungkook muttered under his breath. "From the bond, from the pain."

You're running, Kyro snapped, his voice a low growl. And you're hurting her in the process.

Jungkook clenched his jaw, unwilling to engage further. He turned on his heel, intending to head back into his office, but his feet carried him in a different direction. Without realizing it, he found himself near his house, the familiar path calling to him with a force he couldn't deny.

---

Inside the house, Kkum stirred. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled as Elysia shot up, alert.

He's near! Elysia cried, her excitement palpable. Our mate is close!

Kkum's heart leapt into her throat, but she quickly tamped it down. "No," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm not ready. I can't face him. Not yet."

You've avoided him for too long, Elysia argued. You've felt the emptiness. Don't you see? He's struggling too. He's been avoiding us, but he's near now.

Kkum shook her head, clutching the fabric of her dress tightly. "It doesn't matter. Sensing him will only bring back the pain."

Elysia growled, a deep, feral sound. You think hiding will protect you? It's already hurting us. I won't let you ignore this any longer.

Unable to resist the pull any longer, Kkum stood and walked to the front door. She hesitated for a moment, her hand on the knob, before stepping outside. The cool night air enveloped her, and for a moment, she felt a strange calm.

And then, his scent hit her.

It was faint but unmistakable-earthy, woodsy, with a hint of the wild fruits. Jungkook's scent. Kkum inhaled sharply, her chest tightening as the scent stirred something deep within her.

Elysia stirred, her voice a whisper filled with longing. Mate...

Kkum clutched her chest, trying to steady her breathing. The scent was fading, but it lingered just enough to make her heart ache.

"He's gone," she murmured, her voice trembling. "He was here, but he's gone."

Elysia whimpered softly. We missed him. But he was close. He's thinking of us, even if he won't admit it.

Kkum closed her eyes, letting the lingering scent wash over her. It was a cruel reminder of what she was trying so hard to forget, of the bond she couldn't sever no matter how much she tried.

"I'm not ready," she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I can't face him. Not yet."

Elysia was silent for a moment before replying softly, You may not be ready, but the bond won't wait forever. Neither will he.

________________________

It had been weeks since Jungkook last stepped foot in the house. The silence he left behind was heavy, filling every corner of the place like a shadow I couldn't escape. At first, I told myself it was a blessing-his absence meant fewer awkward encounters, fewer moments of resisting the bond that tethered us. But as the days stretched on, it became harder to ignore the hollow ache inside me, an ache Elysia reminded me of constantly.

In Jungkook's absence, Yeonjun's presence had become a surprising comfort. His energy filled the void Jungkook left, like a little burst of sunlight in the darkness. He quickly became a constant, sticking around like an annoying-but endearing-little brother, always hovering, always teasing, and filling the silence with his endless chatter and laughter.

I smiled to myself as I thought of him. Yeonjun was all warmth and brightness, and even though he was part of Jungkook's pack, he felt like mine, too. Somehow, in these past few weeks, he'd wiggled his way into my heart, reminding me what it was like to feel something other than emptiness.

A burst of laughter erupted from the television, but I barely noticed. My gaze drifted to the window, fingers tapping idly on the couch cushion, my mind lost in the blur of my emotions. Jungkook hadn't shown up in so long. The ache in my chest flared, the wound of his absence raw and persistent, no matter how much I tried to ignore it.

"Hey!" Yeonjun's voice broke through my thoughts, startling me. He shook my shoulder lightly, a mischievous smile on his face. "Did you see how that guy just faceplanted on the sidewalk?" He pointed to the TV, laughing.

I blinked, dragging myself back to reality. "Uh, yeah..." I mumbled, trying to match his energy. "Hilarious."

Yeonjun raised an eyebrow, his smile slipping into a smirk. "Oh, really? What exactly did you find so funny?"

I fumbled, opening my mouth to say something clever, but he shook his head with a chuckle, already seeing through me. "Busted! You weren't even paying attention!"

I narrowed my eyes at him, a playful glint creeping into my gaze. "I was too paying attention!"

"Oh yeah?" His eyes gleamed as he leaned in closer. "Liar!"

Before I knew it, his hands were on my sides, fingers digging in, tickling me mercilessly. I squirmed, laughter spilling out despite myself as I tried to push his hands away.

"Yeonjun! Stop!" I managed to gasp between laughs, thrashing against his relentless assault. But he only grinned, undeterred, his fingers pressing harder, moving to my ribs.

"Not until you admit you weren't paying attention!" he shot back, his voice light and teasing.

"Fine, fine!" I squealed, trying to catch my breath. "I wasn't paying attention! Happy now?"

"Nope!" he laughed, his face close enough that I could see the mischievous glint in his eyes. "You're getting the full tickle treatment now!"

He lunged again, fingers working against my sides, and I doubled over in laughter, my hand clutching at his shoulder as I tried to wiggle away. In our wrestling, we ended up on the couch, me straddling him, neither of us paying attention to the fact that I was practically pinning him down.

"You-absolute-menace!" I gasped, my breath coming in short bursts as I tried to catch my breath. My fingers found their way to his sides, my revenge swift and merciless. "How do you like it?"

Yeonjun twisted under me, his laughter breaking into helpless giggles as I continued to tickle him. "Okay, okay, I give up!" he choked out, hands flying up in surrender, his face scrunched up in pure joy.

________________________

Yeonjun's laughter rang out, filling the room as I continued my relentless attack, both of us lost in the game. We were so wrapped up in each other's playful taunts and tickles that neither of us noticed the sound of the front door unlocking, nor the heavy footsteps approaching.

"Alright, alright!" Yeonjun gasped, hands raised in surrender, a wide grin stretched across his face. "I give up, you win!" I let out a breath, triumphant, still hovering over him, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.

But then, a low, dangerous growl shattered the air, ripping through the moment and snapping us both to attention.

Before I could even turn to look, a firm, unyielding grip wrapped around my arm, yanking me away from Yeonjun with a force that made my heart skip a beat. My back collided against a familiar, muscular frame, and the scent that filled my senses was unmistakable-pine, smoke, and something darker, something primal.

Jungkook.

He stood behind me, his hand protectively gripping my waist as he glared down at Yeonjun, his eyes blazing with a fury I'd never seen before. His jaw clenched, and a storm brewed behind his gaze, simmering, ready to unleash, his wolf, was dangerously close to the surface.

"Get away from her," Jungkook's voice was low, filled with a possessiveness that sent a shiver down my spine.

Yeonjun, wide-eyed, scrambled back on the couch, his hands raised defensively. "Whoa, Jungkook! It's not what you think-"

But Jungkook's hold tightened on me, his gaze never leaving Yeonjun, each second heavy with unspoken threat. His chest heaved, his muscles tensed, like he was ready to charge, ready to protect what he'd claimed as his.

________________________

Author's Note

Thank you for reading this chapter!
If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to vote and leave a comment! Your support means the world to me and motivates me to upload the next chapter sooner. Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

- lavendermiso