Chapter 4: Shadows and Secrets

The streets of Seoul never truly slept. Underneath the glow of neon signs, the city buzzed with life, yet within the walls of Kim Enterprises, a different kind of energy thrived—one laced with secrecy and power.

Jeon Jungkook walked down the dimly lit hallway leading to his newly assigned office. His steps were calculated, his senses heightened. Every fiber of his being screamed that he was close—so agonizingly close—to his alpha. And yet, Taehyung was nothing like the mate he had left behind in the past.

He had expected resistance, but seeing the cold, detached version of his alpha had shaken something deep within him. Taehyung's gaze had held no warmth, no recognition—only suspicion and dominance, like a predator surveying its prey. Jungkook clenched his fists. He wasn't here to give up.

As he turned a corner, a voice called out behind him.

"You must be the new recruit."

Jungkook halted, quickly masking his surprise. He turned around to face a man leaning lazily against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. His sharp eyes held a dangerous glint, yet there was no immediate hostility in his demeanor.

Min Yoongi.

Jungkook knew who he was before even hearing his name. The lone alpha had no pack, no alliances, but he wasn't someone to be underestimated. Jungkook had heard whispers about him over the years—a ghost among humans, a wolf who had learned how to blend in.

"And you must be my welcoming committee," Jungkook said smoothly, offering a polite nod.

Yoongi smirked. "Something like that. Kim Taehyung doesn't hire just anyone. What makes you special?"

Jungkook tilted his head slightly. "You tell me."

Yoongi's smirk didn't falter, but his gaze sharpened. He was assessing him, peeling away the layers Jungkook had carefully crafted.

"You move too smoothly for a human," Yoongi finally said, pushing off the wall. "You watch your surroundings like a predator. People like that have secrets."

Jungkook chuckled, stepping closer. "And what about you? A lone alpha living between humans? That doesn't seem very ordinary either."

Yoongi's amusement faded just slightly, enough for Jungkook to know he had hit a nerve. Good.

"You're different," Yoongi muttered under his breath, almost as if speaking to himself. His eyes flickered gold for just a second before he turned away. "Be careful, Jeon Jungkook. This world doesn't take kindly to those who don't belong."

Before Jungkook could reply, Yoongi disappeared down the hallway, his presence vanishing like a shadow.

Kim Taehyung's Office

Sitting at his desk, Taehyung scrolled through Jungkook's records. Something wasn't right about him. His instincts were sharper than most, honed from years of ruling both the corporate world and the underworld. And Jeon Jungkook? He was too perfect. His background was clean, too clean.

Taehyung hated things he couldn't control or predict.

Reaching for his whiskey glass, he leaned back, letting the liquid burn his throat as he thought. The moment Jungkook had stepped into his office, he had felt something—a strange pull, a familiarity he couldn't explain. It unsettled him.

A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Come in."

One of his trusted men entered, bowing slightly. "Sir, we have new intel on the recent infiltration attempts."

Taehyung's gaze darkened. "Report."

"We've eliminated two spies attempting to gain access to our network. Both were highly trained, but no identifiable affiliations. It's like they didn't exist."

Taehyung's grip on his glass tightened. He already had enemies in the business world, but this felt different. More dangerous. He had the unsettling feeling that something bigger was coming.

Something unseen.

And somehow, he felt Jeon Jungkook was right in the middle of it all.

In the shadows of the city, danger lurked. Spies moved in silence, and an ancient power was stirring, waiting for the right moment to strike.

And in the center of it all stood Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook—two souls bound by fate, yet separated by time.

Only time would tell if they would find their way back to each other… or if the darkness would consume them first.