Jungkook took a shaky breath and nodded, but his face remained pale, his hands clenched into fists.
"I'll walk the doctor out," Taehyung said softly, giving Jungkook a moment to himself as he gestured toward the door.
The doctor gave Jungkook a small nod before following Taehyung. Once the door was closed, Taehyung turned and began making his way back upstairs.
As he climbed, his steps slowed when he spotted Jungkook sitting on the staircase, his head buried in his hands.
Taehyung hesitated, unsure if he should say something. He had seen Jungkook strong and composed, the alpha who rarely let his emotions show. But now, Jungkook looked so broken, and Taehyung couldn't just walk away.
He quietly approached, sitting down beside him.
"Mr. Jeon," Taehyung began softly, "Jaybum's fever is already down. He just needs rest. He'll be alright, don't worry."
Jungkook shook his head and turned to Taehyung, his eyes red and glassy, though no tears had fallen. "It's all my fault,"
Jungkook whispered, his voice trembling. "If I hadn't taken him out in the rain...What a bad father i am " He trailed off, his hand running through his hair roughly.
"You're not a bad father," Taehyung said firmly, cutting through Jungkook's guilt.
Jungkook's voice broke as he murmured, "I'm the worst father. How could I let this happen? I can't even protect him."
Taehyung reached out hesitantly, his hand resting lightly on Jungkook's shoulder. "Mr. Jeon, you did what any loving father would do.
After Jaybum gets better, he'll forget about the fever, but the memory of how much fun he had in the rain with you? That will stay with him forever. You gave him a moment of happiness he'll cherish."
Jungkook closed his eyes tightly, but the tears he'd held back for so long finally began to fall. "Taehyung..." he choked out, his voice breaking.
Taehyung didn't say anything more. He simply moved closer, "You're not failing Jaybum," Taehyung whispered as he rubbed Jungkook's back soothingly. "You're the best father he could ever have."
"and besides, he's your son! Just as strong as you. I bet he'll get better in no time" Taehyung said trying to cheer up the mood.
But when the next words came out of Jungkook's mouth he was left speechless.
"Jaybum isn't my biological son, Tae," Jungkook confessed, Jungkook took another shaky breath, his voice barely above a whisper as he spoke. "He's not my son, Taehyung... he's my brother's. Jay was my older brother."
Taehyung blinked in surprise but stayed silent, his gaze fixed on Jungkook, who was struggling to hold back the storm of emotions threatening to consume him.
"After our father died when I was young," Jungkook continued, his voice thick with emotion, "Jay practically became my father. He taught me everything, protected me, and made sure I was never alone. He was my everything."
Taehyung could feel the weight of those words, the love and admiration Jungkook had for his brother, and his chest tightened in sympathy.
"When Jay was 24, he found his mate," Jungkook said, his lips curling into the faintest, bittersweet smile. "They were perfect together. I'd never seen him so happy. And when his mate became pregnant with Jaybum..." He paused, his voice cracking. "It was the happiest I'd ever seen him. He couldn't stop smiling."
Taehyung watched as Jungkook's hands trembled slightly, his fists clenching as he tried to steady himself.
"But everything changed the night Jaybum was born," Jungkook whispered, his jaw tightening, his voice low and filled with pain. "Her ex-lover... a vampire... wasn't happy about their bond or Jaybum's birth.
He attacked our pack that very night."
Jungkook's words came out like a confession, each syllable heavier than the last. His eyes glistened with tears that he could no longer hold back.
"My brother..." Jungkook's voice broke, and his shoulders shook as he let out a shaky breath. "He died in my arms, Tae. He... he died protecting his mate and his son. And his mate... she didn't survive either."
Taehyung felt his throat tighten, his own eyes beginning to sting.
He wanted to say something, anything,"That day, I swore I'd protect Jaybum no matter what. I promised to raise him as my own, to give him the life Jay and his mate couldn't." Jungkook's voice broke as he looked at Taehyung, his eyes filled with anguish.
"But I've failed him so many times. I couldn't even protect him from a fever..."
Before Jungkook could say more, Taehyung reached out and pulled him into a hug. "You haven't failed him, Jungkook. You've done more for Jaybum than anyone else could. You've given him love, safety, and a father's care. He's lucky to have you."
Jungkook buried his face in Taehyung's shoulder, his tears soaking into the fabric of Taehyung's shirt.
Taehyung gently rubbed his back, his touch comforting and steady.
As Jungkook pulled away from Taehyung, his eyes red and puffy, Taehyung hesitated for a moment before speaking. His voice was soft but firm. "Is that why you hate vampires?"
Jungkook nodded, the bitterness in his expression evident. "They're the worst," he muttered, his teeth gritting at the memory of his brother's tragic end.
Taehyung leaned forward slightly, his tone gentle but steady. "Mr. Jeon, I know what happened to you was horrible. It's something no one should have to endure. But... you can't hate an entire species just because of one individual's actions."
Jungkook chuckled. "If you felt what I felt," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion,
Taehyung smiled faintly, but there was a sorrow in it, a pain that Jungkook didn't immediately understand. "I *have* been there, Mr. Jeon," Taehyung said softly, his words heavy with meaning. Years ago..., my parents were killed by werewolves-trueblooded, to be precise."
Jungkook's eyes widened in shock. "What?" he asked, his voice barely audible.
Taehyung's smile grew sadder, but he kept his composure. "It happened because of a clash between packs. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time, caught in the crossfire. I lost them because of that. But..."
He paused, meeting Jungkook's gaze. "That doesn't mean I hate all werewolves. Yes, I fought with you about it... but it was *you* who started it."
A faint chuckle escaped Taehyung as he added, "I might have hated you, but not your entire species."
Jungkook stared at him, the weight of Taehyung's words sinking in. For the first time, he realized how unfair he'd been in his hatred, how he'd let his pain fester into something that blinded him.
"I'm..." Jungkook began, He took a deep breath, his eyes softening as he looked at Taehyung. "I'm sorry. I was rude to you, all the time."
Taehyung's smile softly and said, "And... I apologize too. I wasn't any better."
A brief silence settled between them, the air lighter than before, as if a weight had been lifted from both their hearts.
Before Jungkook could reply, a small voice interrupted them from the top of the stairs.
"Dadda, what are you guys doing here? Don't tell me you're playing without me!" Jaybum stood there, his hands on his hips, attempting to look stern but only managing to look adorable.
Both Jungkook and Taehyung turned toward him, their somber expressions softening immediately. Jungkook quickly stood and walked up the stairs to scoop Jaybum into his arms.
"How could we even think of playing without you, my little king?" Jungkook teased, pressing a kiss to Jaybum's forehead.
Jaybum giggled but tried to keep his "serious" face. "You better not, or I'll make you both my servants forever!"
"Oh no, Lord Jaybum," Taehyung chimed in dramatically, bowing low. "Please forgive us! We'll do anything you command, your majesty!"
Jaybum burst into laughter at Taehyung's antics, his earlier sickness seemingly forgotten in the warmth of the moment.
"Well then," Jaybum said, still giggling, "you both have to play with me now!"
"As you wish, my king," Taehyung replied with an exaggerated bow, making Jaybum laugh even harder.
Jungkook smiled, his heart lighter as he held his son close.
For a moment, all the pain and guilt faded, replaced by the sound of Jaybum's laughter and the warmth of Taehyung's comforting presence.