The morning had been quiet, a rare calmness that hung over the lone wolf community. The early autumn air was crisp, and Kkum lay in her small cabin, finally at peace after a restless night. She had barely slept for days, the weight of her father's decision and the ache of loss pulling at her constantly. So she had resorted to sleeping pills, desperate for some escape from the gnawing emptiness inside her. Unbeknownst to her, the world outside was slowly erupting into chaos.

The first signs of danger came in the form of shadows. The rogues, hungry for blood, crept toward the lone wolf settlement like a silent storm. They were vicious, brutal wolves without pack loyalty, driven by nothing but a need to wreak havoc. By the time the first cabin was set aflame, the air was already filled with screams, growls, and the crackling of fire. Wolves were battling for their lives, but Kkum-buried under layers of sleep-remained oblivious to it all.

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Meanwhile, miles away in the Moonlight Pack, Jungkook sat at his desk, going over some reports. His mind was restless, replaying the events of the past few days. The meeting with the Lunae Pack, the strange vanilla, musky scent that had lingered with him, and Kyro, his wolf, who had been on edge ever since. He could barely concentrate.

Suddenly, Kyro stirred violently inside him, growling deep and loud.

Mate is in danger!

The voice boomed in Jungkook's mind, rattling him to his core. Kyro, who had been eerily quiet for so long, was now roaring to take over, clawing at the walls Jungkook had built around him.

Before Jungkook could process what was happening, Yoongi, his ever-reliable Beta, barged into his office, breathless. "Jungkook!" Yoongi's face was unusually tense, and Jungkook knew something was terribly wrong.

"What is it?" Jungkook asked, already feeling Kyro thrashing inside him.

"Rogues. They've attacked the lone wolf community," Yoongi said, his voice urgent.

Jungkook stood up abruptly, fists clenched. The rogue attacks had been increasing, but this-this felt different. The knot in his chest tightened as Kyro growled louder.

Mate is there. We must go. Now!

With no time to waste, Jungkook and Yoongi gathered their forces and set off toward the lone wolf community. Kyro was a constant presence in Jungkook's mind, trying to push forward and take control. The thought of his mate-whoever she was-in danger made Kyro relentless.

"Kyro, calm down!" Jungkook growled aloud as he rode his bike with Yoongi close behind. But Kyro was in no mood to be tamed.

She's in danger! You know this, Jungkook. Let me take over!

But Jungkook fought for control. "We'll find her," he promised his wolf, but even he felt the tension in his voice. The unease. The desperation.

---

When they reached the outskirts of the lone wolf community, the smell of smoke and ash filled the air. The chaos was overwhelming. Cabins were ablaze, and the air was thick with smoke. The sound of wolves snarling, fighting, and bodies hitting the ground rang through the burning landscape. But the Moonlight Pack had come in full force, quickly outnumbering the rogues.

Realizing they were losing, the rogues began retreating, their mangy forms darting into the dense forest. The fight was over as quickly as it had begun, but the damage was done. Fires still roared, and the scent of blood and fear lingered.

Jungkook, his mind still racing, quickly approached the nearest elder wolf he could find-Soomin. Her face was lined with worry, and she had clearly been through the worst of the battle.

"Is everyone okay?" Jungkook asked urgently, his eyes scanning the area.

Soomin nodded, then hesitated, her face paling. "Wait... Kkum! She's not here. I haven't seen her."

The moment her name was mentioned, a strange surge of energy hit Jungkook like a bolt of lightning. He didn't know why, but the mere mention of Kkum sent his heart racing.

Without another word, Jungkook took off toward the cabins. His steps quickened as he approached the smaller cabins, his eyes darting wildly until they landed on one that was engulfed in flames. He could feel the fire's heat from where he stood.

She's in there! Kyro roared, now pushing harder than ever to take control.

"Kkum!" Jungkook shouted, but there was no answer. Panic gripped him as he approached the burning cabin. The flames had already consumed most of the structure, the smoke thick and suffocating. His mind raced-there was no time to lose.

Jungkook's pulse quickened as he prepared to enter the cabin. He knew it was dangerous, that he could get burned or worse-but Kyro's relentless energy was driving him forward. His mate was inside. He would save her, or he would die trying.

Without a second thought, Jungkook took a deep breath, braced himself, and plunged into the flames.

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Jimin sat restlessly in the passenger seat as Taehyung sped down the narrow road toward the lone wolf community. The tension between them was palpable. After learning that their father had sent Kkum to the community, Jimin hadn't been able to sit still, let alone process how their father could be so heartless. Taehyung, who had been ordered to escort Kkum to her new life away from the Lunae Pack, was silent. His knuckles gripped the steering wheel tightly, his mind whirling with a mix of guilt and anger.

The forest whipped by as they raced down the dirt path, Jimin tapping his foot nervously. "I can't believe he did this," Jimin muttered, more to himself than to Taehyung. His mind kept going back to the moment he realized he couldn't feel Kkum's presence through their mind-link. The void had hit him like a punch to the gut.

Taehyung remained silent, his jaw clenched. The weight of responsibility hung over him like a storm cloud. He had no choice but to follow orders, but that didn't make it any easier.

The moment he learned where his father had sent Kkum, a fresh wave of rage had coursed through him, and now it was threatening to explode.

"How could he send her there?" Jimin spat, his voice seething with disdain. "Of all places, to the Moonlight Pack's territory? To live under the shadow of the wolves that killed Jong-suk? What the hell is wrong with him?"

Taehyung kept his eyes on the road, jaw clenched, but said nothing. He knew Jimin was upset, and rightfully so. This wasn't a situation anyone could be calm about, but Jimin's constant badmouthing of Jungkook and his pack was beginning to grate on his nerves. Jimin had always been hot-headed, but this level of rage was dangerous, especially with so much already at stake.

"They took everything from her!" Jimin continued, his voice rising in anger. "And now she's being forced to live near them, to be reminded every day of what happened to Jong-suk. How could Father do this? How could anyone think that's okay?"

"Jimin-" Taehyung started, but Jimin cut him off.

"No, seriously! How can you stand there and defend them?" Jimin snapped, his eyes burning with intensity as he glanced at Taehyung. "You're driving me to the community that's basically run by the same wolves who killed my sister's mate. And now, what? We're supposed to just trust them?"

Taehyung sighed deeply, tightening his grip on the steering wheel as he turned to look at Jimin. "It's not like that, Jimin. You need to stop seeing everything in black and white."

"What are you talking about?" Jimin's brows furrowed in disbelief. "Are you seriously going to stand there and say it's not their fault? The Moonlight Pack was involved in the attack! They're the reason Jong-suk is dead."

"That's not the truth," Taehyung finally said, his voice low but steady. "You don't know the full story."

Jimin blinked, momentarily thrown off by Taehyung's response. "What do you mean? Of course, I know. It was rogue wolves working with the Moonlight Pack! That's what we've always believed!"

Taehyung shot Jimin a glance, his expression hardening. "That's what we were led to believe. But it's not true, Jimin. The Moonlight Pack wasn't involved."

Jimin opened his mouth to argue, but Taehyung's words silenced him. He stared at his friend in confusion, waiting for an explanation.

Taehyung took a deep breath, his tone measured as he continued. "Jungkook and his pack didn't have anything to do with Jong-suk's death. The ones responsible were rogues. It was a setup, Jimin. A conspiracy by the Shadow Pack to pit the Moonlight Pack and Lunae Pack against each other. They wanted to create chaos, to weaken both packs."

Jimin's mouth went dry as Taehyung's words sank in. "What... what are you talking about?"

Taehyung kept his focus on the road, but his voice softened. "Jungkook didn't know at first, but after the investigation, he found evidence that cleared his pack. The attack was orchestrated by rogues working for the Shadow Pack. They wanted us to fight. They wanted blood between our packs. That's why Jungkook is trying so hard to mend things. He's been working to stop"

As they turned a corner, the faint smell of smoke hit them.

Jimin's nose flared as the scent became stronger, thick in the cool afternoon air. He shot a glance at Taehyung, whose eyes narrowed in concentration. "Do you smell that?" Jimin asked, his voice taut with tension.

Taehyung nodded grimly. "It's coming from the direction of the lone wolf community."

Panic began to rise in Jimin's chest. "Step on it, Taehyung!" His voice cracked with urgency. Taehyung didn't need to be told twice. He slammed his foot down on the gas pedal, the car jerking forward with a burst of speed as they raced down the road.

As they got closer, the smoke grew thicker, dark clouds billowing into the sky, blotting out the horizon. Jimin's heart pounded wildly in his chest, his palms sweating. The thought of Kkum being trapped in whatever chaos was unfolding sent waves of dread coursing through him.

"Please, let her be okay," he whispered under his breath, barely audible but filled with desperation.

When they finally reached the outskirts of the lone wolf community, the scene before them was nothing short of a nightmare. Fire roared through the small cabins, their wooden structures engulfed in flames. Wolves, both in their human forms and as large beasts, ran frantically, trying to douse the flames or rescue those trapped inside.

Jimin leapt out of the car before it even came to a full stop, his body trembling with fear and adrenaline. "Kkum!" he shouted, his voice hoarse as he frantically searched for his sister among the chaos.

Taehyung was right behind him, his usually composed face now twisted with panic. They ran toward the center of the community, dodging fallen debris and packs of wolves trying to control the fires.

"Where is Kkum?!" Jimin shouted, grabbing the arm of a man who was rushing by. The man, his face smeared with soot, looked confused for a moment before realization dawned.

"Her cabin... it's over there!" the man shouted, pointing toward a cluster of cabins near the edge of the community.

Jimin and Taehyung shared a brief, panicked look before sprinting in the direction the man had pointed. The closer they got, the more suffocating the heat became. The smoke was thick, making it hard to see clearly, but Jimin's eyes were sharp, scanning every inch for any sign of his sister.

As they rounded a corner, Taehyung stopped abruptly, his eyes widening in shock.

"Jimin..." Taehyung's voice was barely a whisper, but the fear in it sent chills down Jimin's spine.

Jimin followed Taehyung's gaze, and what he saw made his blood run cold.

Kkum's cabin was fully engulfed in flames. The fire was hungrily devouring the wooden structure, black smoke billowing into the sky. The roof had partially caved in, and the windows were shattered, flames licking the edges of the broken glass.

"Kkum!" Jimin screamed, his voice filled with raw, unbridled panic. He rushed forward, his legs moving before his brain could even register the danger. Taehyung grabbed him by the arm, yanking him back just as a section of the cabin's roof collapsed in a fiery blaze.

"Jimin, wait! You can't go in there!" Taehyung's voice was firm, but there was an undercurrent of terror that Jimin had never heard from him before. "You'll die if you try to go in!"

"I don't care!" Jimin yelled, tears burning in his eyes as he struggled against Taehyung's grip. "She's in there! I need to save her!"

Taehyung tightened his hold on Jimin, pulling him back with all his strength. "We'll find her! But if you run in there now, you'll just get yourself killed!"

Just as Jimin was about to argue, his eyes caught movement near the burning cabin. Through the haze of smoke and flames, a figure was emerging. At first, Jimin thought his mind was playing tricks on him, but as the figure came closer, the details became clearer.

It was Jungkook.

The Alpha of the Moonlight Pack moved through the smoke like a shadow, his clothes singed and covered in ash. His face was set in a grim mask of determination as he approached the burning cabin, ignoring the flames that licked at the edges of the wooden beams.

"Jungkook!" Taehyung shouted, his voice filled with a mix of disbelief and relief.

Jungkook didn't respond. His entire focus was on the burning cabin, his eyes locked on the inferno as if drawn by an invisible force. Without hesitation, he stepped toward the cabin's entrance, his body tense as if ready to spring into action.

Jimin watched in stunned silence, his heart pounding in his chest. He had no idea why Jungkook was here or what he was doing, but one thing was clear-Jungkook was going in after Kkum.

And nothing, not even the roaring fire, was going to stop him.

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Thank you for staying with the story through this intense chapter! Things are heating up-literally-and the stakes are higher than ever. Stay tuned to see what happens next as Jungkook races against time!

Love,
lavendermiso 🪻