Jimin, I know-

Sorry-

Now onto the story;
___________

First gong~

An inquisitive audience stare down, biting down on their nails expecting the first move of their "Tiger of the town"- General Min Hyung.

Eyes locked, a scowl on Min hyung's lips and a smirk on the other's, the pair moved about in circles visibly awaiting the first move of the other.

'Know your opponent, or dare not to lay a finger' Taehyung vaguely remembers his mother telling him.

Neither moved a finger, just their gazes locked and legs matching steps. This went on left right left right left righ—

That's enough of 'knowing your opponent' bullshit! Get this done wit—

Deftly fisted, Min hyung flung a robust arm sharply aiming the other's abdomen. But the arm never reached it's destination, getting pulled mid-air by the other, who in a breeze twisted it around and threw him to the ground.

Writhing in the fury of a wounded ego, Min Hyung stomped his way towards Jung hyuk who stood with a rather bored expression, carefully picking on his finger nails-

On a duel ground!?

"Come on, general," The alpha prodded taking a last glance at his finger nails, "I know you're better~"

Min hyung! Idiot! Don't fall! No no no no no no no-

But Taehyung was too late to wish, Min hyung was already caught in a head lock between Jung hyuk's arms. He could see him still managing a glare at the other, turning red.

"That's it?" Jung hyuk taunted, unlocking him from the position as Min hyung went on a coughing fit, " From the tiger of the town? I expected more" He prodded, the nickname dripping with a dangerous blend of mock and sarcasm.

A kick from Min hyung- that he deftly deflected- replied, to which the alpha shook his head with a hearty chuckle and sing sang, "Would love to see you try~"

And Min hyung continued his attacks, with Jung hyuk's light hearted defense and occasional incensive comments. Time flew by as the gong struck again signalling the end the round, ending up with no points to either, for one attacked with no results and the other merely defended to earn any point at all.

By the time the second round ended, Min hyung was close to passing out in exhaustion, while the other just sat alone in the other end of ground, softly humming to himself as he plucked petals off a daisy flower.

For a silent moment that pride chose not to intervene his heart, Taehyung did admit that Jungkook was beautiful. He sounded beautiful, looked beauti—

'We are back to crushing now, aren't we your highness?' his rational remnants bitterly remarked.

Third gong~

Series of punches, countless failed jabs, weak attempts at kicks and more futile strikes, yet not once did Jung hyuk budge.

Min hyung was visibly losing despite both their points being zero. Peeking signs of exhaustion gave enough clues. But sadly enough for his friend, his ego weighed more. So still red in fury, Min hyung went for a powerful punch, that for once finally managed to reach it's destination- across Jung hyuk's jaw.

Oh no.

His eyes turned red as he glared at Min hyung, who weakly smirked through his busted lips.

Oh no, min-

Min hyung was sent flying to the ground, and the crowd gasped in unison to it.

Hot- no wait, what the fuck?!

A panicked Ryejin ran towards a groaning Min hyung.

THE WEATHER, I said the weather- see it's almost noon, unfairly humid, suddenly sultry, sweat dripping from his forearms, he's licking his lips, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallows, and the sweat now dripping down his chest to where it disappears-

NO! WHaT ThE FUcK?!

The ministers shot up from their seats in distilled disbelief.

He's not hot! He looks all sweaty and gross!

The crowd cried for their tiger to wake up and fight back.

But he's handsome though-

The crowd was now declaring open opposition to the duel and it's soon-to-be-victor announced.

NO HE'S NOT!

Wait-what?

Lips pulled to a mischevious smirk now threatening to widen, the said alpha sent a subtle wink at his direction, shortly after locking gaze with his own.

Why did he do that? By any close impossible chances, can he read minds? But no werewolf, not even by black magic, can procure such powers!

Then why did he smirk!

Why's he still smirking?

Oh my god! He's smirking wider now!

Stop thinking, Taehyung!

'Honestly~ why the fuck are you bothered?!' A rational part of himself argued, sighing in disapproval.

"Because I am hot? "

WHAT?!!!!! NO!!! DID HE JUST- WAS THAT HIS VOICE?! WAD HIS MIND PLAYING TRICKS WITH HIM NOW? HOW THE FUCK DID HE DO THAT?!! NO!!! WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON!!!! WAS HE LOSING HIS MIND-

To anyone, Kim Taehyung might just pass off as an embodiment of tranquility amidst the commotion that was brewing on the duel ground of the palace. Min Hyung had passed out. The crowd- now in denial with the victory- had begun a collective protestation against the other Alpha. Raged with defeat, the ministers had barged out of the palace screaming something along the lines of "And people call you the king for saving a monster like him! "

But taehyung hardly heard anyone. Jungkook was still looking at him, taehyung held his breath—he was hearing him, he is reading him, he will think—

' Get a grip, Taehyung! ' his rationality sourly ordered. Taehyung jolted awake from the spell.

"I hereby declare for this duel to end," His voice booming through the stadium washed out the commotion, turning heads towards him, "with Jung Jung hyuk's victory"

Curses, gasps and arguments followed, the stadium back to being a commotion ground. While in his little search party for Min hyung's whereabouts, he found a furious Ryejin glaring daggers through his skull.

"Look past your bias, Rye. Min hyung lost long ago," He linked her.

"Look past your bias, Tae. You lost yourself the moment he stepped in here" Ryejin gritted through their link before blocking herself off.

"And as promised, Jung Jung hyuk shall be rewarded with freedom from an impending trial of incarceration relieving him from the title of prisoner and false accusations of being a rogue, " Taehyung declared, eyes locking with the alpha's black ones, "About his attire, as unconvincing as it is, it was a replacement from a rogue attack that he survived after getting his own robe torn. No black magic has the capacity to proffer such innate powers like abnormal strength and speed. So I, as the king of Kaatru, request my people to accept this judgement as a fair one"

"But your highness, if at all he isn't a rogue," a commoner spoke out pointing an accusing finger at Jung hyuk, "then what is he? "

"As your king, I accept my paucity in knowing not how to answer that query," Taehyung replied ruefully, "But taking responsibility to all my actions, I swear to protect you, my people, till my last breath"

That was the only truth he could muster without second thoughts in his life.

Now Min, asshole, you better be okay!

Yanking off the cloak around his shoulders and the crown off his head, before not-so-gently placing them on his throne, Taehyung scurried off the backdoors towards Ryejin's chambers.

"Rye, let me in" He linked her.

"Oh who's this? Taehyung? Thought you forgot me, brother!" She spat, "shouldn't you be caring for your Jung hyuk? "

"Rye no, this is not the time-"

"Oh! And? I have reasons? Let me explain? Do as I say? What is the excuse now, Your Highness? " Her voice wavered at the end.

"None. Just want to check on Min, " Taehyung replied in resignment, running a hand over his face, "I know he's your best friend, but so is he to me. Just let me in, Rye"

"You knew it, didn't you? "

"Knew what? "

"That he wouldn't stand a chance against Jung hyuk, didn't you? "

"No Rye-"

"Cut the crap, Tae" She sourly interrupted. " Just. . . Agree"

"Am sorry but I did it for a reaso-"

"Just don't screw that apology with another excuse, Tae" Ryejin sighed, "Come in. . . . but. . . please don't talk"

" Thank- thank you! Thanks a lot! I swear I won't talk! Promise-" But Ryejin had already blocked him. Shoulders slumping in defeat, he ran a tired hand over his face, before sighing heavily.

Stepping forward, and knocking twice -a morse code their younger selves had made up when he was playing the secret spy in her kingdom- Taehyung was met with Ryejin's red puffy eyes and past her, an unconscious Min hyung almost looking like he was having a peaceful slumber.

He walked up to the bed, before analysing the slowly healing scars on his face, lips, arms and ugly purple bruises on his stomach. If at all he were concious, then they would have healed by now.

But Min, you fought so well! I'm sorry, I had to do this...

Sighing heavily, he walked up to her closet where he knew was a preserved collection of herbs nicknamed "my golden casket"

Like he would ever forget that

Ryejin had gone back to staring out the window, whilst he quietly treated Min hyung. After about an hour or so, he was done securing a wet cotton cloth over the treated bruises on his stomach and simple turmeric paste over the smaller ones on his arms, face and lips.

One look at his twisted ankle and Taehyung knew, he had sprained it bad.

Oh our good ol' friend, twisted ankles~

He examined it for a while, before gently taking the twisted ankle in his hand and deftly twisting it along the other direction. A satisfying click of the muscles, a weak groan, Ryejin tumbling towards Min hyung and a soft sigh of his own, Taehyung knew it was his cue to leave.

He might lie. Was even quite the liar. But was never the one to break his promises. He had been broken too many for that.

"T-tae. . ?"

He froze on his spot, battling between guilt, promise and giving in to the desire to turn around and hug the hell out of his friend calling after him. Taehyung weakly shook his head, he has to keep promises, he has to keep his friendship even if min hyung hates him now.

One moment taehyung was sure he was on his way to stepping out of the door and the next he knew, Ryejin had already stormed past him.

"Taehyungie, " It was him again.

"Min, no-"

"Tae"

"I have promised Rye, I won't talk to you-" He frantically shook his head, still not turning around.

"Idiot-"

"No no no no no no-" He shook his head, chanting a string of NOs while firmly holding his large palms over his ears.

"I know"

It was two weak syllables that stopped his chanting, yanked his palms off his ears and wrapped his heart with cold guilt. His eyes shot up to meet Min hyung's.

"You do? "

"Hmm-hmm" Min hyung hummed.

"Did you-"

"Am sorry, Tae"

"What? "

"Too bad, I won't repeat"

"am sorry i had to this, i couldn't fight you myself and i didn't want ryejin to—"

"Am so sorry, Tae, that it had to take all this to realise what you've been trying to tell me all these years," Min hyung hung his head.

"It's not your fault, Min," Taehyung waved it off, "We all crave some praise and attention "

"But not to the point where I would lash out at someone just because they didn't give me enough, right?" Min hyung mumbled," Why else would you have gone this far, tae? "

"I have always looked out for you, Min and will choose to do it even if it means you'll hate me for that" Taehyung replied, "I had to choose between this or you thriving off of only attention and praises which I know is something you can lose in a snap of fingers. . . Am so sorry that I had to choose this, minnie"

"Remember? When I called you "so full of yourself" just cause you didn't bother a word of praise to me for killing all those rogues back then," Min hyung asked, "the entire town praised me but you, god how could I have even said that to you? "

"It was the 'tiger of the town' who said that," Taehyung smiled, " The Min I know would never"

"Then what about when I asked you for a duel just because you kept saying 'Don't let praise grow into a parasite'?"

"That's Something Alpha Min hyung did," Taehyung reasoned, "My dear Minnie would never"

"What about all the times I made you feel bad, being so full of myself? "

"That's something Min hyung of the past did," Taehyung shrugged, "present min is being cry baby enough about that"

"Sh-shut u-up! " Min hyung sniffled fiercely rubbing a hand over his wet cheeks.

"Whatever you say, general! " Taehyung bowed in mock salute.

Amidst preparations for the upcoming uvagai, countless trade dealings, tensions at the borders, suspicious rogue activities and heightened rogue attacks, it has been long since the two sat together for hearty chuckles and heart felt talks.

"Mend things with Rye, Tae, " Min hyung sighed as Taehyung bid him farewell, "You know she can be pretty stubborn"

"Nothing that princess Ryejin isn't privileged for," Taehyung replied with a knowing smile and a shake of his head before skipping his way out of the door.

♛┈✧┈♛

"Whyyyyyy~"

A familiar voice. The familiar whine.

"Shut up! Won't you? "

"Okay! Fine! You won't tell me about these shackles, right?! "

"No, I won't "

" Then tell me about your life. Are you married? How's your wife? Do you have kids? How many? How old are they? "

"None of your business"

"Are they as big as you? Oh no! Wait- are they as boring as you?! Are you always this boring too? Your poor wife-"

"My wife ran away"

"What about your kids? Did you leave them alone?! That's absolutely unfair!! Are you that heartless-"

"I said SHUT UP!"

"I said I WON'T!"

"The hell do you want?! "

"Get me out of these! "

"No, not that"

"Whyyyyyy~"

"Lord- oh greetings my king!" The guard bowed in respect soon as Taehyung entered the room.

"Hmph!" The alpha huffed out loud, pouting to himself as he fiddled with the shackles.

A familiar warmth. The familiar butterflies.

"Thank you, seon ho, " Taehyung bowed back.

"Oh no no! Your highness! Thank you, for giving him a second chance that he deserved," The guard's softened eyes narrowed as he turned back to a pouting Jung hyuk, "though I highly doubt that now- but thank you for giving me the privilege to serve you my king! "

"WHAT THE-"

"Am so much younger than you! Don't bow to me please!"

"No your highness, it's the least I could do!" The beta smiled warmly, bowing once more.

"YOU HAVE GOTTA BE KIDDING-"

"You have done so much more, seon ho! Take it as an order and please don't bow!" Taehyung gave a polite grin.

"Whatever my king wishes," The guard replied with a wider smile.

"THE HELL!? IS EVERYONE RUDE TO ONLY ME-"

"You can take your leave," Taehyung shared the polite smile before turning to the alpha, "I will take care from here"

The beta turned to Jung hyuk, eyes narrowing darkly, "You better behave with our king "

"Not like am gonna eat him or something," The alpha mumbled, still cutely fiddling with the shackles.

The chamber doors turned shut as soon as the guard walked out, leaving them in his King's chambers with Jung hyuk tied to his bed post.

Ignoring the alpha, Taehyung walked up to his study, opening random scrolls from across the rack as read through them scrupulously.

"So? " Came the alpha teasing voice, "Hot eh? "

As soon as the question left his lips, Taehyung choked on his own spit. And soon as his incessant coughs simmered down, he wheezed out a small "what?" turning beet red.

" Hot hmm? " Jung hyuk replied more like a question, balancing his head on the shackled arm as he laid out on the bed, a lopsided smirk visible as he did so.

"Look, cut the crap and tell me how did you do that? " Taehyung snapped, ignoring his hot cheeks.

"Did what?" The alpha asked with doe eyes blown out in innocence and disbelief, a complete contrast to moments ago.

" I said cut the crap" Taehyung gritted out.

"Well, I know how people look at me and generally it's that so I assumed so," Jung hyuk explained before adding a respectful "My king "

Taehyung only stood and stared at him, silent but dangerously persuasive.

"I'm saying the tru-"

"Listen to me and listen carfully, " Taehyung articulated darkly, voice turning an octave lower, "I might have given you a second chance, but that gives me the power to snatch it away from you at the snap of my fingers too." He snapped his fingers for emphasis.
"I don't know why the hell you were messing with my head, but try and do that again, you won't be seeing the next daylight"

Jung hyuk visibly gulped in reply, blinking at him. His eyes unreadable, except for a few stars.

Why the fuck are these emotions so fucking hard?! stupid emotions!

"Don't try messing with me again," Taehyung warned, as he rolled his sleeves and grabbed a few scrolls from the rack, "I swear, I will make sure it will be the last time you'd do it"

And as he strode towards the door in haste, the alpha spoke up, "so you do agree? "

This time as Taehyung turned around, he noticed that the shackles were still around his wrists but had been broken away from the bed post. And there, with that lopsided grin and raised brow, laid Jung hyuk, head balanced on one shackled arm and the other tracing mindless patterns on the mattress.

"What? " He snapped.

"You do agree that am hot? " The alpha inquired.

With a sigh Taehyung softly replied, "Just forget you ever heard it"

And with that he walked out of the door with a grand pout, towards his courtroom.

♛┈✧┈♛

In the temple shrine, in Gandhara;

"How much more longer, hyeon su? " Jung hyun heavily sighed, as he removed the crown off his head.

"Not too long, your highness, " The loyal servant replied before looking out of the window at the drowning sun, "just a few hours more "

"The sun is soon to set," The king sighed heavily, "How much more longer? "

"A prophecy is to be opened, my king," The servant gave a knowing smile, "It is all fated, I assure you it won't be long. . . Just a few hours for the darkest hour before the dawn"

"The last time the saka calendar had held within a prophecy to itself, Jungkook... Jungkook was fated to be the tenth alpha" Jung hyun mumbled with a distant look in his eyes.

"But our prince, unlike the alphas before," The servant reassured, "wouldn't at any cost become a tool for destruction, my king"

"He won't but his wolf can. . . The strongest supernatural being to exist comes with a price, hyeon su, " He paused, "and that is an untamable wolf"

"But-"

"Yes, I did train him all day long to tame it. . . But prophecies are unchangeable, they are what they are," Jung hyun sighed, "and him. . . Is he. . . well?

"He is, my majesty" The servant warmly smiled, " He is very well, you shall not worry "

"He deserves to be, hyeon su," Jung hyun mumbled again with a heavy sigh, " He deserves it so bad"

"The sun has set, my king" The servant declared with an urgency to his voice, "shall I bring the scroll to you? "

"No no!" Jung hyun immediately shook his head, "We are in the temple, I shall collect it from the shrine myself. You head home"

"Your wish, my king" The servant bowed, "I'll take my leave now"

Nodding to it, Jung hyun took long strides towards the temple shrine, heart thumping within his chest. Breath erratic and forehead decorated in beads of sweat, he held out two clammy hands to gently take the scroll off it's stand.

Hands quivering under nerves, he softly opened the scroll, running his eyes over the text.

No no no. . .

The scroll slipped out of his hands.

A sad thud resonated the isolated shrine.

♛┈✧┈♛

A/n:
The story is begin on full swing dandies!

Pack some popcorns~
🍿

Also someone please give me a remedy~
I'm missing this man badly!

🥺💜
Love y'all! Thank you for the support!