Chapter 37: A Leader’s Pride

A sharp knock on the door pulled Taehyung from his slumber. His golden eyes blinked open, adjusting to the dim glow of the moon filtering through the chamber windows. With a sigh, he untangled himself from the warmth beside him and sat up, running a hand through his tousled hair.

"Enter," he called out, his voice still heavy with sleep.

The door creaked open, revealing a guard standing respectfully outside. "Alpha, the dining hall is prepared. Dinner will be served soon."

Taehyung nodded, dismissing the guard before turning his gaze to the still-sleeping figure next to him. A smirk tugged at his lips. Jungkook lay sprawled on the bed, his chest rising and falling steadily, his lips slightly parted. The sight was almost too tempting to disturb, but Taehyung leaned down, brushing his nose against Jungkook's cheek before whispering, "Wake up, baby. It's time for dinner."

Jungkook stirred with a soft groan, swatting lazily in Taehyung's direction before blinking up at him. "Five more minutes."

Taehyung chuckled. "If we're late, Namjoon-hyung might just send a patrol after us."

Jungkook huffed but finally sat up, rubbing his eyes before letting Taehyung pull him to his feet. Together, they made their way to the dining hall, their fingers brushing occasionally as they walked through the grand corridors of the packhouse.

Inside the dining hall, the atmosphere was warm, filled with the rich scents of roasted meat, fresh bread, and seasoned vegetables. Everyone was gathered—Namjoon and Jin seated at the head of the table, Yoongi and Hoseok side by side, and Jimin grinning at them the moment they entered.

"Ah, the royal couple finally decided to join us," Jimin teased, earning a snort from Jungkook and a smirk from Taehyung.

They took their seats, and as the meal began, the conversation shifted toward the pack's affairs. Namjoon detailed how things had progressed during Taehyung's absence, explaining the challenges they had faced and how Jungkook had stepped up in every way expected of a Luna.

"He handled everything remarkably well," Namjoon acknowledged, nodding toward Jungkook. "The pack remained stable, disputes were handled efficiently, and our alliances are intact. Even the patrol teams followed his orders without hesitation."

Jungkook's cheeks tinted slightly at the praise, though he kept his expression composed. Taehyung, however, leaned back in his chair, a proud smile forming on his lips as he glanced at his mate.

"I never doubted him," Taehyung said, his voice firm, filled with admiration. "He was born for this."

Jungkook met his gaze, and for a moment, everything else faded. There was no teasing, no resistance—just the quiet understanding of two souls bound together by fate and choice.

Namjoon cleared his throat, pulling their attention back to the discussion. "The witches will arrive tomorrow. They'll begin preparations for your wolf awakening, Taehyung. We should all be prepared."

Jin set his utensils down, a solemn look crossing his face. "Speaking of the witches, they've already sent word about our true enemy—Trueblood Alpha Cha Woosik."

The room fell silent, tension thick in the air.

"Cha Woosik?" Hoseok echoed, his brow furrowed. "That name alone sounds ominous."

"It is," Namjoon confirmed. "The Moon Goddess created Trueblood Alphas to be the ultimate protectors of werewolves—supreme beings. But Woosik was the only one to ever exist, and instead of protecting wolves, he sought to control them. He enslaved every pack, tortured them, made them bow to his rule."

Jungkook's hands trembled slightly, and Taehyung immediately took note.

Namjoon continued, "Wolves prayed to the Moon Goddess for salvation, and she answered by creating the most beautiful, kind, and powerful being—a Trueblood Omega. That omega was Jeon Jungkook."

Everyone turned to Jungkook, who lowered his gaze, memories he had tried to suppress resurfacing.

"A child born from a Trueblood Omega would be majestic, powerful, and, most importantly, kind," Namjoon explained. "The Goddess intended for that child to end Woosik's tyranny. But before Jungkook could even reach his mating age, he was enslaved by Woosik himself."

Taehyung clenched his fists, anger surging within him.

Jin spoke softly, "But fate didn't abandon him. Kim Vante, a powerful alpha, found his true mate in Jungkook. He swore to protect him and, with the help of witches and his small but loyal pack, he fought against Woosik. He managed to seal him away with powerful magic—but at the cost of his own life."

Jungkook's breath hitched as he looked at Taehyung, eyes searching, almost pleading.

"Before dying, Vante made a promise to his mate," Namjoon said, voice steady. "That he would return to him. And he did—reborn as Kim Taehyung."

The room was suffocatingly silent. Jungkook swallowed hard, his emotions too tangled to untangle.

"The witches believe Woosik's seal is weakening," Namjoon added. "Your wolf, Taehyung, is still sealed away, and we must awaken it before Woosik does. Because if he rises again before you're at full strength, we may not be able to stop him this time."

Jungkook gritted his teeth. "Then we don't waste time. We prepare now."

A slow smirk spread across Taehyung's lips. "Exactly. And when he comes, we'll show him why the Blood Moon Pack bows to no one."

Jimin exhaled sharply trying hard not to cry. "Well, V is back to us and we are not letting my bestie leave us again. " he tried to lighten the tension, but the weight of the coming storm hung over them all.

Taehyung knew this was just the beginning. But with Jungkook at his side, with his family standing strong, they would face whatever came their way because this was their pack. Their destiny and no ancient evil would take that from them.