Y/N’s POV

A groan escaped my lips as the sunlight crept onto my face, forcing me to burrow deeper into my pillow. The light was sharper, brighter, and... wrong. Squinting, I opened my eyes, only to be met with an unfamiliar ceiling—higher, grander, and bathed in a golden glow.

“What the—” I mumbled, but the creak of a door cut me off. My gaze snapped forward.

The sight rendered me breathless. Water dripped from lean, pale abs that stood mere feet away from my bed. My gaze trailed upward, tracing the rivulets of water sliding down a toned chest, up to a familiar face—Jungkook’s. His damp hair clung to his forehead, droplets cascading onto his lips as he dried his face with a towel.

For a moment, I froze. His effortless beauty left me staring, but as his piercing gaze met mine, I yanked the covers over my head. Maybe he’d think I was still asleep. Surely.

Silence stretched between us, save for the muffled beat of my own racing heart. Then, the bed dipped under his weight. Against my better judgment, I peeked out. His golden eyes bore into mine, amusement dancing within them as his lips curled into a smirk.

“I knew you weren’t sleeping,” he teased, his voice a rich chuckle that sent heat rushing to my cheeks.

As he stood and moved away, I attempted to rise, only for a sharp pain to shoot through my skull. I flopped back down with a wince, clutching my throbbing head.

“Alcohol doesn’t suit you, does it?” he said with a knowing smirk, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face.

“Wouldn’t know. Never had it before,” I muttered, my voice weak, thoughts muddled. He laughed softly, earning a glare from me.

I turned my gaze to the left, spotting a glass door leading to a balcony. The view was unfamiliar, confirming this wasn’t my room—or a hospital.

“We’re in my room,” Jungkook said, as though reading my mind. My eyes widened as I struggled to sit up, my body refusing to cooperate.

“Get me out of here,” I demanded, scowling.

But his smirk deepened. “That’s not what you wanted last night.”

My stomach dropped. What?

Pieces of the night before were missing. His proud tone didn’t help. Panic flashed in my eyes, and he sighed before flopping onto the bed beside me.

“We kissed,” he admitted bluntly, “but nothing more. You were asleep when we got here, so I let you stay. There was a pillow barrier.” His tone was sincere, and I believed him, despite the heat rising to my cheeks.

“Okay,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“You don’t care?” he asked, tilting his head. I shook my head, trusting his words.

His genuine smile replaced the smirk, softening his features. It made him look... different. Kinder. But I couldn’t afford to think about that. Not when I had plans of my own.

Rolling over, I stretched my wings, testing their movement. They felt... lighter, freer. Jungkook’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You can move them?” he asked, his curiosity evident.

“I think so. It just... clicked,” I explained, fumbling for the right words.

His expression darkened briefly, a shadow passing over his golden gaze. I knew why. The stories of his past, the lab experiments that turned him into what he was now, were no secret. My heart ached for him.

“I’m sorry,” I said softly.

“For what?” he asked, his tone light, but his eyes betrayed the weight of his past.

“For what you endured.”

His gaze locked onto mine, serious and unyielding. In a swift motion, he flipped me onto my back, hovering above me. His wings flared, their shadow swallowing the room.

“It’s not your fault,” he said firmly, his voice low and commanding.

I nodded, unable to trust my voice.

A small smile played on his lips as he kissed my forehead and left to get dressed. His wings disappeared into his back, leaving no trace behind.

“How...?” I began, awestruck.

“You can learn too,” he said. “Now that your wings are fully formed, you can train to retract them—and to fly.” His tone softened as he met my gaze, but I knew what this meant. The quicker I learned, the sooner I could leave.

“Rest for now,” he said, gently pushing me back down.

As he left, my eyes wandered to the balcony. The world beyond called to me, promising freedom.

JUNGKOOK's POV

I bolted out of the room, my chest tight and my mind reeling from the kiss. Again. I kissed her—again.

The look in her eyes had mirrored my own shock. But I couldn’t stay. Not with my thoughts in chaos and my pulse hammering as if it wanted to escape my body. It wasn’t just a kiss; it was the weight of everything I felt for her, unraveling all at once. Yesterday, she’d been different, unguarded, lost in the haze of emotions and exhaustion. Now, she was back to herself—pure, untouchable, and unknowingly captivating.

Still, her face when I contracted my wings had been priceless. She hadn’t questioned me before when I claimed I concealed them under my clothes. But now? Now she has wings of her own, and she'd need guidance—my guidance—to understand them. And I would give it to her, no matter what it took.

I’d had no one to guide me when I was transformed in the lab. My memories of that time were a nightmare—a blur of pain, poison, and relentless conditioning. They wanted me to be stronger, faster, and heartless. Even when I was unconscious, they kept injecting me with their vile concoctions. But Y/N? She was different. She was stronger and healthier. Her transformation hadn’t been a death sentence like mine. And I swore to myself, I would never let her suffer as I did.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the conference room doors swinging open before me. Conversations ceased instantly, the tension in the air palpable. I stepped in, my gaze sweeping over the gathered men, their eyes betraying a flicker of fear as I unfurled my wings to their full, commanding length.

"As you were," I said coldly, my voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

There was no room for vulnerability here. No one in this room—or anywhere else—would ever see the emotions I held for Y/N. She was the only person who brought out the fragments of humanity left in me, the only one who made me smile. That part of me belonged to her alone, and I would protect it fiercely. To the rest of the world, I was, and always would be, the cold, unfeeling leader they feared.

The meeting unfolded with ruthless efficiency. We discussed shipments, alliances, and plans for expanding our reach. Yet, even as I spoke, a part of me was distracted. Her face—those wings—kept creeping into my mind.

In this world, titles held power. As the leader, I was the "Boss." And the woman beside the leader, the rare few who were truly loved, became the "Queen." I’d already started envisioning Y/N in that role. She deserved to be honored, cherished, and worshipped in a way the world had denied her. The thought of giving her a life where she was finally safe and valued filled me with purpose.

But that was a conversation for another day. For now, the meeting ended earlier than expected, giving me the excuse I needed to return to her. Just one more check, I told myself.

As I strode through the corridors, I felt the corners of my lips twitch at the thought of her waiting in my room. My angel. My salvation.

But when I opened the door, my heart froze.

She stood on the balcony, her wings spread wide, glowing in the soft light of the setting sun. The sight was breathtaking—and horrifying. Her stance, the way her wings dipped slightly, told me everything.

She was going to fly. She was going to leave.

The air seemed to crackle as panic surged through me.

"Y/N!" I shouted, my voice raw with desperation as I surged forward.

But it was too late. Her wings lowered, and with one powerful motion, she was gone.