Taehyung
He hadn't meant to stay.
But he couldn't leave.
Jungkook was asleep in his arms—barely breathing, lips parted, skin glowing like candlelight under Taehyung's sheets.
He was soft.
And Taehyung was not.
He traced the curve of Jungkook's collarbone with his eyes, not touching.
Couldn't.
Wouldn't.
Because if he did…
He wouldn't stop.
He swallowed hard. Shut his eyes. Tried to forget how good it felt to be needed again. How warm the boy had sighed when he whispered his name.
"Taehyung… stay."
He had.
And now it was morning.
Sunlight spilled into the room like guilt.
He carefully untangled himself from Jungkook's body, heart screaming at him not to go.
But he had to.
Before he ruined him.
Jungkook
He woke up alone.
But the scent was still there.
The warmth still lingered in the mattress. The outline of Taehyung's arm across the pillow. The tiniest imprint of his kiss on Jungkook's temple.
He touched it, lips parting, heart aching.
"He stayed."
But it didn't mean anything… right?
He got up.
Showered.
And almost forgot—until he found the mirror.
The bite mark.
Right below his jaw.
Small. Faint. Barely visible.
But it was there.
He bit me.
Jungkook's breath caught.
He wasn't afraid.
He was… trembling.
Not because of fear.
Because of need.
Because the worst part was—
He wanted more.
Downstairs, the house was too quiet.
Minho was gone.
Which only made the sudden knock on the front door all the more jarring.
Jungkook opened it without thinking.
And instantly regretted it.
Namjoon.
His brother.
Looking tired. Wet from the rain. And angry.
"You're really here," Namjoon said. "I thought I was being paranoid."
"Hyung—"
"Do you know what he is, Jungkook?" Namjoon hissed. "Do you know what you're walking into?"
Jungkook's eyes narrowed. "Don't talk like that."
Namjoon shoved past him.
"He's dangerous."
"He saved me."
"No. He claimed you."
Jungkook froze.
"I saw the bite. You think I wouldn't notice? You're mine, Kookie. I raised you. I protected you. And now some monster thinks he can put his mark on you—"
"I wanted it!" Jungkook snapped.
Silence.
Then—
A slow clap from the hallway.
Taehyung.
Leaning against the doorframe, half-buttoned shirt, dark eyes flickering between them.
"You're early," he murmured, ignoring Namjoon completely. "I expected you tomorrow."
Namjoon's fists clenched. "You need to back off."
Taehyung just smiled.
"I already bit him."
"You what?!"
"You heard me," Taehyung said calmly, stepping closer. "It was soft. Gentle. I could've gone deeper. Marked him forever."
He looked straight at Jungkook.
"But I didn't."
Namjoon moved fast.
Too fast.
But Taehyung was faster.
In a flash, he had Namjoon pinned against the wall, a dagger pressed to his neck—not steel.
Silver.
"Back off, hyung," Taehyung whispered, voice velvet-soft and venom-slick. "You had your chance to protect him. Now he's mine."
Namjoon growled, eyes burning. "He's not a toy."
"No." Taehyung looked at Jungkook. "He's my salvation."
Then—
He kissed him.
In front of his brother.
Slow. Deep. Possessive.
Jungkook gasped.
But didn't stop him.
Because that bite?
That kiss?
That claim?
It felt like freedom.