7 | SPAWN
So-Hyun requested for Jungkook to gather all of his closest, most trusted followers in one room as she was about to tell them what she knows about shape shifters.
Within one hour, the small meeting room in the training ground was packed. Those in the room were:
* Jungkook
* Taehyung
* Namjoon
* Jinyoung
* Yoo-Jung
* Minkyu
* Yoongi
* Hoseok
* Bogum
* Jackson
* Jimin
* So-Hyun
"I called for this meeting as we found out something very important about Chang Wook. According to Suno, he's a shapeshifter so it would be easy for him to deceive us. So, So-Hyun noona is here to share with us a solution to our problem." Jungkook said.
"Hi guys. Before we proceed, can I please ask everyone to form a circle around me?" So-Hyun said and they all followed, leaving her at the center.
Once they were all in position, So-Hyun took out a compass which she borrowed from Jungkook earlier. She placed it on her palm, closed her eyes and started chanting. A few seconds later, she opened her eyes and looked at the arrow on the compass. It just kept on turning, not stopping at all. This made So-Hyun smile and place the compass inside her pocket.
"Okay, let's start!" So-Hyun said.
"Um, noona, may I ask about what you just did?" Hoseok asked.
"Oh, I used the compass to find out if everyone in the room is legit. We don't want any shapeshifters present, right?" So-Hyun said, winking at Hoseok who blushed at her action.
"Dude, chill. You just blushed after calling her noona. There's something cringy about that." Yoongi whispered to Hoseok.
"Oh, shut up. It could be a fitting pet name, you know. She's so cool." Hoseok whispered back.
"You're sick." Yoongi said.
"Says the one who calls Jimin "hyung" in bed." Hoseok said, making the older glare at him.
"Guys, focus!" Jimin snapped.
"So, as I was saying, shapeshifters are difficult to spot, especially for werewolves. For witches and hybrids like me and Taehyung, however, a spell can easily reveal their presence. To help address the problem, Taeh and I can help cast a revelation spell on gloves or scarves that you can bring with you all the time. You just have to use that garment to touch the target to reveal his or her true form." So-Hyun said.
"But that means we have to be in close contact. What if we're in battle?" Yoongi asked.
"That's where me, Taehyung AND Jungkook can come in." So-Hyun said.
"Jungkook? But, he's neither a witch or a hybrid." Hoseok asked.
"Since he is marked by Taehyung, Taeh can share his abilities with him and vice versa. We will be your eyes when it comes to that." So-Hyun said.
"Jungkook, how come Alpha Ji-Cheol is not here?" Bogum asked.
"He was very hesitant to believe that Chang Wook was responsible for his brother's death, despite the fact that I myself saw how he did it. I still don't understand why, but at this point, I just don't want to risk him getting in the way." Jungkook said.
"Have you ever asked him why he thinks otherwise though? I mean, we all know that Alpha Ji-Cheol has always been very objective, discerning good from the bad." Bogum said.
"I know that, Bogum. But, for some reason, he always protected my cousin." Jungkook said.
Taehyung thought about what Jungkook said and furrowed his brows. Something ticked inside his head and he felt goosebumps all over his body. So-hyun noticed as they were right beside each other.
"Taehyung are you okay?" So-Hyun asked.
"Y-yeah, I'm okay. I'll tell you about it later. Let's just finish the meeting first." Taehyung said.
The meeting continued, but Taehyung's mind was somewhere else. He decided to do something without anyone's knowledge. He controlled his astral body once again and found his other self back at the pack house, at Jungkook's room.
He slowly walked towards the door to avoid the wooden floors from creaking. Upon reaching the door, he placed his ear on it and listened intently to any sound. When he couldn't hear any, he turned the doorknob and unhurriedly stepped out.
The pack house was so silent that Taehyung found it strange.
The house never had a pin drop silence as much as it has now. Taehyung thought.
Taehyung, I have a bad feeling about this. We should leave. Tannie urged him.
Not until I find out what I came here for.
Aish! You promised Jungkook that you will
not make a move by yourself and here you are breaking that promise.
Technically, I'm not alone and I'm still beside him. At least, my other self.
And, you honestly believe that reasoning will justify your actions?! Come on, Taehyung. You're going in blind on this.
Sssh, Tannie. You're distracting me. I need to do this for everyone. I'm the root of the problem so the least I can do is be the one to find a solution.
Just please be careful.
Taehyung went down the stairs all the way to the living room and sat down, cross legged, at the center of the room. He took out the compass from his pocket which So-Hyun handed him earlier that day. The alpha witch taught him the chant so Taehyung decided to try it himself.
He placed the compass on the palm of his right hand, closed his eyes amd started to chant. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and found the arrow of the compass turn slowly. His eyes widened when the arrow suddenly stopped...pointing at his back.
Taehyung felt the hair on his nape stand up as he felt a warm breath touch his skin. He immediately sprang forward to stay away from whoever was behind him. He then abruptly turned around to look at the person with his glowing purple eyes and angry features.
"I knew it, you're not the real Alpha Ji-Cheol. Who are you and what did you do to him and Chang Wook hyung?" Taehyung asked.
"Feisty. Just the way I like it." The man said.
"I asked you a question so I expect an answer." Taehyung said as he gritted his teeth.
"Tsk tsk. That's not the way to talk to your future alpha, Kim Taehyung."
Taehyung smirked. "What an imagination you've got there. I already have an alpha...my DESTINED mate and I will do everything in my power to keep it that way."
"Your alpha will die on my hands and you will be mine. Now, kneel." The man said as he stared at Taehyung with wide eyes, attempting to control the omega.
Taehyung felt his knees weaken, but his other self held on Jungkook's arm. All of a sudden, he felt a surge of energy and was able to regain his balance.
The man's eyes widened. He looked confused as to why Taehyung wasn't affected.
"I will never let you have control over me. Now, let me introduce you to my one and only mate." Taehyung said as he closed his eyes.
In a few seconds, Jungkook appeared beside him.
"Taeh, what the...why am I here? Appa? What's going on?" Jungkook asked, looking confused.
Upon seeing Jungkook, the man's eyes turned red and was about to attack Jungkook when Taehyung raised both his hands and threw him across the room.
"Kook, he's not your appa! Shift, now!" Taehyung yelled.
Jungkook shifted at once and Jk immediately took over. Right then and there, the man shifted as well and to Taehyung's surprise, he didn't shift into a wolf, but to a huge lion.
Despite it, Jungkook didn't back down and walked towards the lion which was bigger and looking fiercer than his wolf. Taehyung knew that he had to do something fast.
He felt a very strong energy force inside him so he didn't waste any second and mentally transferred it to Jungkook, augmenting the latter's agility, speed, strength and toughness.
To add to that, he created an illusion to confuse the evil alpha by making Jungkook appear that he turned into a lion as well...a much bigger one to be exact.
Jungkook roared at the lion in front of him, as he continued to walk closer. The latter stepped backwards as the trueblood alpha moved forward...daunting red eyes staring at him. The evil alpha was completely confused and intimidated by the size of the trueblood in front of him so he ran off to the lanai door all the way to the woods.
Jungkook was determined to run after him, but Taehyung stopped him.
"Jungkook, that's enough please. Once you step in the forest, we don't know what's waiting for you out there." Taehyung pleaded.
JK turned his head to Taehyung and growled — not agreeing with his luna.
"Listen to me, Jungkook. We know now that your father and Chang Wook hyung are not the culprits so that means we have to know what happened to them. We have to think and plan wisely." Taehyung said.
Jungkook immediately shifted back to his human form after he heard what Taehyung said...anger still apparent in his eyes.
"Think and plan, wisely, Taeh??? What were you even doing here by yourself?!?" Jungkook yelled and Taehyung was taken aback. He has never experienced being at the receiving end of the trueblood's rage before.
"I'm sorry okay? I found a window of opportunity and I took it. I can handle myself, Jungkook can't you trust me enough to do that?" Taehyung yelled back.
"I never doubted that you could. I just never expected that you'd break a promise just like that and be so reckless like you are now." Jungkook said looking at Taehyung blankly. "Now, take us back to the training ground."
"Jung-"
"NOW!" Jungkook shouted making The younger flinch.
Taehyung looked down and felt tears stinging his eyes. He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened it, they're back to their physical bodies at the meeting room. The two were surprised to see everyone crowding beside them, with Yoongi shaking Jungkook's body.
The trueblood alpha's body suddenly jolted and he swiped away Yoongi's hand as he stormed out of the room. On the one hand, Taehyung started to burst out crying seeing Jungkook so mad at him.
"Taehyung! What happened son?" Namjoon asked but the latter kept sobbing.
So-Hyun held Taehyung's hand and saw a flashback of what transpired at the pack house. She gasped and covered her mouth in shock.
"What is it, noona?" Yoo Jung asked.
"Lee Rang." So-Hyun mumbled.
"Who?" Minkyu asked.
"Lee Rang. He is the son of the Dark Moon pack's mad alpha king Lee Joong-gu. Joong-gu was the destined mate of Taehyung's mother and was the one responsible for killing her and my oppa — Taeh's father. He was posing as alpha Ji-Cheol all along." So-Hyun said.
"How come I never heard of him before?" Namjoon asked.
"The tale's well-known in the hybrid world, Oppa. Not so much in yours.
After Taeh's parents died, Joong-Gu was said to have met with evil witches from Hadong. It was believed that he made a deal with them, but nobody knows exactly what that that deal entailed. He was gone for
more than three months and when he came back, he wasn't alone. He was accompanied by a new mate — a witch who was two months pregnant with his child.
Seven months later, the witch gave birth to a hybrid boy which he named Rang. The witch died during child birth, leaving the king mateless once again. So, Joong-Gu raised Rang alone and treated him like an alpha in training more than a son. He kinda made a duplicate of himself through the younger alpha. So, I won't be surprised if Rang's main purpose in life is to avenge his appa and be the most powerful alpha hybrid there is.
When Rang turned 15, Joong-Gu suddenly changed. He became weaker and bed-ridden. Rumors spread saying that his soul was transferred to Rang. I won't be surprised though, as black magic was involved all along. That could be part of his plan. Rang became the acting head alpha from then on. He acted very much like his father.
I actually saw him once as he and some soldiers went to our pack. Eomma and I kept our distance and observed him from afar. That was a few months before I left for the university to see you, Taehyung.
He came looking for his mate, but back then I didn't know who he was and who he was referring to. When they left, eomma told me who he was as she had the gift of clairvoyance. We just didn't realize that the mate he was referring to was you, Taehyung." So-Hyun narrated.
"You met him, son?" Namjoon asked.
Taehyung nodded and relayed everything.
"Now I understand why Jungkook was so mad at you. You shouldn't have gone there alone, Taeh. What were you thinking?!" Namjoon asked in a loud voice.
"I just wanted to help. You're all going through this because of me. That's the least I can do." Taehyung said.
"The most you can do for us is to stay safe, Taehyung. Let me remind you that you're our future luna. You have a responsibility to your pack and we are all here to protect you which is our duty in return. Putting your life at risk was a careless move even if you meant well." Yoongi said.
"I'm really sorry. Yes, I realize now that it was a reckless move, especially when I brought Jungkook there. I wasn't thinking straight. If I wasn't able to stop him running after Rang then he would've been in trouble. I just…I just wanted answers and find out who we're really up against. And, now we know, so what do we do? I have a feeling that they have alpha Ji-Cheol and Chang Wook hyung. I know they're still alive somewhere." Taehyung said.
"We have to wait for instructions from Jungkook. For now, I suggest you give him space, Taehyung. Jungkook tend to say and do things he doesn't mean when he's mad. He has to cool down first." Yoongi said and Taehyung just sighed.
"Hey, he will come around, Taehyung. In the meantime, do you want to stay with me and Yoongi first? We have a guest room at home. Just for tonight. I can lend you my clothes too." Jimin said.
"Thank you, Jimin. Um, if it's not too much to ask, can you also accompany me to the mall? Jungkook was supposed to come with me, Yoo-Jung and Minkyu to buy some clothes as we lost everything in the fire. I don't think he'd want to come after what happened and there's no other time to do this, but now." Tarhyung said.
"Sure! It would be my pleasure." Jimin said.
"Can I come too? I can bring my car." Bogum asked.
"Hoseok, Jackson and I will come too to guard you." Yoongi said, looking at Taehyung.
"Thank you, hyung." Taehyung said.
"Just be quick, kids, okay? Go straight to the pack house right after, Yoo-Jung and Minkyu. Taehyung, stay indoors with Jimin and Yoongi. No going out and none of this thoughtless actions please.
So-Hyun, can you come with me and Jinyoung to the pack house? I think we need a protection spell to be casted on the house. I called Jin and it's a good thing that he and Luna Shin-Hye were with Go-Eun when Rang went to the pack house. I asked them to stay at the hospital first as it would be safer for them there."
"Of course, Namjoon oppa. I can do that." So-Hyun said.
"Let's go now so you can finish shopping early." Hoseok said.
They all left the training grounds, anxious and afraid for their head alpha and Chang Wook's lives. As for Taehyung, while he had the same thought at the back of his mind, all he wants to do is find Jungkook and apologize.
Oh, how he regretted his actions, but at the same time, was all fired up to face Rang again. Next time, Taehyung promised himself that he will not hold back and give the evil alpha the retribution he deserves.