New Beginnings (Taekook)
The Accident
It was a very mild, dry summer day in Taebaek, South Korea. The sun was shining, and only a few puffy clouds were in the sky. Taehyung and his friends were cruising through the mountains going at a speed appropriate for the vast turns and rough terrain. Nothing like taking Bogum’s Jeep out and putting in some off-road miles.
It was a 2022 bright red Jeep Wrangler, 4 doors. His parents had bought it for him as a 17th birthday present.
The Park’s were pretty well off. They owned one of the top shoe making companies in South Korea. Also they were the leaders of one of the biggest and most sought out packs in South Korea too.
It had been a tradition of theirs since last summer. They’d take it up to the Taebaek Mountains early in the morning and cruise around. They were always trying to find new places to explore. Once they’d pick a destination they’d usually get out and hike, then have lunch somewhere on the trail.
Taehyung loved the Taebaek mountains. He’d always been a nature lover. So any chance he could get he’d make their group go.
He looked out his window feeling the soft breeze of the mountain air. It was always a few degrees chiller in the mountains, so summertime was the best time to go.
He could see for miles if he looked far, even see their city. There was nothing prettier to look at. Taehyung had fallen in love with all that he could see, wanting to one day explore every inch of South Korea.
Taehyung was seated in the passenger seat, Bogum the driver. If he looked behind him he’d find his other three companion’s, Jimin, Jungkook, and Jin, with equal looks of pure joy on their faces.
Park Jimin
What area should we stop at today? (Asking from the middle seat.)
He’d always get stuck in the middle seeing as Jungkook and Jin were rather big. Both were members of their high-school football team.
Park Bogum
I heard people love the Hambaeksan trail, we might as well try it out. (Smiling at Jimin in the rear view mirror.)
Taehyung looked over at his boyfriend and smiled softly to himself. God what did he do to deserve such a man.
Bogum was every girl’s or boy’s dream. His hair was jet black and softly swooped over his forehead. His dark blue eyes could capture any soul that dared to look upon them. And his body, oh his body was immaculate, though it had to be seeing as he was the future Alpha Leader of the Moonshine Pack. Which he’d be sworn into once he turned eighteen.
There were a total of around 10 different packs in South Korea. They spread throughout the entire country, their main goals were to keep each other safe, and the area around them safe. Moonshine being the biggest.
Packs consisted of not only werewolves, but also vampires, witches, fairy’s, etc. All species got along.
The world consisted of 3 things. Everyone was divided into two genders, male or female. From there everyone supernatural or not had a designated sub-sex, also known as Alpha, Beta, or Omega. Then if you were lucky you also were born with a supernatural element, whether that be werewolf, vampire, fairy, etc. or just human.
Omega’s males were special as they had the ability to produce a child with their mate, but only with their mate. Alpha’s could be mates with other Alpha’s, Beta’s, or Omega’s, but most of the time an Alpha would be fated with an Omega. Beta's are the same as they could be mated to other Beta’s, Alpha’s, or Omega’s. But Omega’s could only be fated with Alpha’s or Beta’s.
Taehyung was a human Omega male. Bogum, an Alpha male werewolf. Jungkook was also an Alpha male werewolf. Jin, a Beta male werewolf, and Jimin, an Omega male werewolf.
Bogum was to inherit the title of Alpha Leader of the Moonshine Pack from his father when he turned eighteen. Alpha Leaders were usually a lineage thing, inherited from a family. Sometimes the main family changed if no one from the Alpha Leader’s family could take on the role. It then went to the second in command’s family.
Jungkook’s father was the second in command, so Jungkook would be Bogum’s second in command when he took over. Taehyung’s father was the third in command, so Jin was Bogum’s third in command when he took over. Ranking wasn’t determined by your sub-sex, but by the role you played in pack ranking. When an heir to one of those positions would be born, their wolf would automatically outrank everyone else lower than them.
In turn as Bogum’s mate, Taehyung would become the second Leader of the Moonshine Pack. Leaders could be any species, they just had to be an Alpha, hence the title Alpha Leader. Second and Third in commands could also be any species and any sub-sex.
Alpha Leader’s mate/spouse once mated would then be sworn in as the other Leader of the pack no matter their sub-sex or species. Taehyung would be considered the Omega Leader once he and Bogum mated.
Bogum was everything Taehyung had ever wanted. But how naive can a person be to think that it can't be taken away from them in a second.
Taehyung had thought they were probably going a little faster than they should have been. But school had just ended, summer was just beginning, and they were all excited and on a high. So if they had been going faster than they should, well no one said anything.
Taehyung trusted his mate though. He knew Bogum would never do anything to put them in harm's way.
Taehyung's thoughts faded to the back of his mind and he was wrapped back into the sounds around him. Never Let You Go, by Third Eye Blind played on the radio. The wind was whipping around him and he closed his eyes, relaxing to the steady drum of the music.
Park Bogum
I'll never let you go, I'll never let ya turn around your back on each other. (Turning over to look at Taehyung with his deep blue eyes.)
Sensing eyes on him, Taehyung opened his eyes and turned to look at Bogum. A huge boxy smile came onto his face as the wind ran through his dark brown hair.
It was like time had stopped, and this moment was everything. Taehyung could have stayed staring into those deep sea eyes forever.
The song playing was their song. When Bogum had first told him he thought Taehyung was his mate he was scared. Mostly because Bogum hadn't had his 18th birthday yet, and didn't feel the pull.
All species had a mate. This person was meant for them in and out. The person wouldn’t feel the pull of their mate until their 18th birthday. There was no structure to who could be who’s mate, it was left up to the fates.
So what if Bogum was wrong and Taehyung wasn't his mate?
As they started dating more and more Bogum had said he’d felt something. He hadn’t really known what exactly but when he asked his parents they said it sounded like a mate pull.
No it wasn’t the actual mate pull, but maybe Bogum’s wolf was so strong that he could feel his mate even before his eighteenth birthday. Bogum had told Taehyung that he felt like Taehyung was his mate, and well that had been enough for Taehyung.
Taehyung had felt something too, but he also wasn’t sure what it was. But it felt like Bogum was also his mate.
Bogum would play this song for him as a reminder that he was never going to let Taehyung go. If for some reason Taehyung wasn't his mate, Bogum had said he wouldn't look for them. That Taehyung was everything he wanted.
The song continued on and Taehyung turned around to look back at his friends. Jimin was jamming along with Bogum singing every word. His short blonde hair was flying all around, the wind taking a toll on it. His bright brown eyes were full of life and Taehyung knew at that moment Jimin had never been happier.
Jimin was having a rough time at home. His mom had passed away about six months prior, and his dad was taking it pretty hard. But Taehyung thought this was one of the first times he’d seen him smile in awhile.
Jin, god love him considering he was Taehyung’s elder brother and he had too, was doing his stupid car dance. But it was making Jimin laugh so it didn’t bother him too much.
Taehyung found it weird sometimes having a brother who was also best friends with your boyfriend. That’s kinda how Taehyung and Bogum first got introduced. Bogum, Jungkook, and Jin all played on the high-school football team.
Jeon Jungkook, Bogum’s best friend, was sitting in the back seemingly staring off into the distance. His dark black hair was parted down the middle and hung slightly off to the sides. The first thing Taehyung had ever noticed about Jungkook were his eyes. They looked like gloomy skies on a stormy day. But they were so beautiful, and didn't give you the fear that a storm would. They gave you a sense of safety, and that Jungkook would always be there.
Taehyung was sure Jungkook was nervous about his birthday coming up. He was turning eighteen and was about to find out who his mate was. Taehyung was sure he was nervous, excited, and just had a lot to think about.
Bogum would know if Taehyung was his mate in two more months. It was getting close and they hadn't really talked much about how close it was getting. But Taehyung knew he was his mate, so he had nothing to worry about.
Kim Taehyung
Jungkook! (Screaming over the music.)
He watched as the boy flinched and looked over to Taehyung. His eyes held Taehyung’s gaze.
Kim Taehyung
Stop worrying about your birthday and have funnn. (Giving him his one hundred watt boxy smile hoping Jungkook would let loose a little.)
A loud horn stopped Jungkook’s answer. Taehyung whipped his head around back to the front. When he said time stopped earlier, he was wrong. But at that moment he wanted nothing more than to turn and run. But he couldn't, none of them could.
Have you ever seen a movie where the world just stops. Everything suddenly freezes and moves in slow motion, but the song playing in the background keeps going. That’s exactly what had happened.
They rolled four times, bodies being flung from the car. When it finally stopped Nolan sat there, eyes wide and the world frozen while, ‘Never Let You Go’ played on like nothing had even happened.
Waking Up
Actions often led to certain consequences, whether they be good or bad. We all have a choice in the matter of what actions we choose to take. Oftentimes we don’t know, or even understand the consequences of our actions. We find out later that maybe that small little thing we had decided to do on a whim caused the end of the world. Okay, maybe that was a little too dramatic, but you get it.
Taehyung had experienced this first hand, not the world ending, well maybe it seemed like it had to him.
Taehyung awoke from his sleeping state. He felt groggy and almost unattached from his body. He felt like he had just been run over by a semi-truck. And well maybe he had, he couldn’t remember exactly.
He was too tired to open his eyes, feeling like maybe he should just close them again and let sleep overtake him. But he felt a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something was urging him to open his eyes. Well actually it wasn’t something, but someone.
Taehyung’s eyes flew open, a dark haze filling his vision. He tried blinking it away, his vision slowly starting to clear. As he regained consciousness he was finally able to process his surroundings.
A consistent loud beeping was coming from his right side, it was rhythmic and kept a steady beat. But as his consciousness came back, and he realized he didn’t recognize his surroundings the beeping speed picked up.
She sounded hopeful, but also had a hint of sorrow to it. He blinked his eyes a couple more time, and the haziness fully subsided.
He looked around noticing he was in a hospital room. Towards the front of the room the hospital door closed shut. He had the room all to himself. He noticed it was just his mother and father in the room with him, whoever his nurse was wasn’t currently there.
He took in the hospital bed that he was currently laid upon. The sheets were covering up to his mid chest, his arms and legs underneath. The IV pump next to him pumping into his IV with who knows what in it.
He slowly took in the fact that his chest was aching. He slowly used the arm with the IV in it to pull the covers up. A huge bandage was wrapped around his chest. When he took in an inaudible gasp he winced at the pain in his chest.
He lifted the blanket on top of him more to see the rest of the damage. His right leg was also throbbing in pain. A dark blue cast encompassed it, a tall tale sign that it was broken.
He closed his eyes for a second, the memories flooding in like an incoming storm on a coastal beach. He squeezed his eyes tight, willing the images to go away. He didn’t want to remember the music playing in the background as he watched a car crash into the side of his boyfriend’s Jeep.
He was in a car accident. Oh my gosh, Jimin, Jin, and Jungkook, he thought. Were they okay? Bogum? Was Bogum okay? The car had hit his side.
Taehyung could hear the heart monitor speeding up again as he began to panic. A soft hand took his, and he turned his head over to see his mother. Her eyes were red and puffy like she had been crying.
Kim Taehyung
Mom? (Soft tone.)
He needed her to explain what was going on. She took his hand into both of hers and squeezed tightly.
Kim Hyunjoo
Would you go get the nurse? (Asking her husband, her gaze not once leaving Taehyung’s.)
Taehyung watched his father get up. His head was throbbing too and he could only use his eyes to track his father’s movements. He reached his hand up to touch his head noting the bandage there.
He felt so drowsy, he didn’t want to keep his eyes open. He didn’t want to face whatever it was he was about to face. But he also needed to know what happened. He had to know if Bogum, Jimin, Jin, and Jungkook were okay.
Before he could ask though his father, Kim Reawon, walked back in with a nurse and doctor. The nurse had blonde hair that she kept up in a ponytail, her scrubs were an awful green color. The doctor had on the same scrubs, but he was wearing a stark white coat on top.
The doctor stepped forward, shining a very bright white light into Taehyung’s eyes. Taehyung moved away from it, the brightness hurting his eyes.
Doctor
Pupils are still dilated. Can you please state your name and the date of today? (Stepping back and putting away the light.)
Taehyung was thankful for that as he didn’t appreciate it.
Kim Taehyung
Um Kim Taehyung, and it's June 2nd, 2022. (Recalling the date, but he thinks that might have been yesterday's date.)
So it was actually probably the 3rd, but he had no idea.
Doctor
Okay good, it’s actually the 5th. You were in an accident, do you remember that?
The doctor slowly removed his blanket and started checking the bandages on his ribs and his cast. He then checked out the bandages on Taehyung’s head.
Kim Taehyung
Yes. (Voice low voice.)
He didn’t want to remember it.
Doctor
Okay good. I’m not going to sugar coat it Taehyung. You were in a bad accident and with your injuries we put you into a medical coma for about four days to help you recover. You had a pretty bad brain bleed but we were able to keep it under control. You have a concussion, four broken ribs, and a broken leg. (A stern look on his face.)
Doctor
We want to watch your concussion and bleed for a couple more days, but once we deem that okay you are free to go home. It will take around six weeks for your leg and ribs to heal. You need to rest and take it easy.
Doctor
You're incredibly lucky Taehyung. As a human you have a slower recovery time. You are lucky it isn’t any worse.
Taehyung took the information in. He thought it concerning that he had a brain bleed, but the doctor had seemed to think they had it under control. He wasn’t too happy about resting though. His summer would be full of sitting and laying around healing, not the ideal summer.
Doctor
Sung Woo is going to finish up your check up and we'll take you in for another CT scan to look at your brain. Any questions? (Jotting something down on the clipboard he had brought in with him.)
Doctor
(Features unchanging.) I’ll let your parents fill you in.
He left the room, leaving Taehyung with his his parents and the nurse.
The nurse started checking the rest of his body going into more detail then the doctor had. She changed the bandage on his head. It was not the most pleasant of feelings. She then gave him some painkillers to help.
Nurse
I’m going to make sure we have access to the CT scan. I will be right back. (Leaving him in the room with his mother and father only.)
Kim Taehyung
Where are the other’s, are they okay?
His mother sighed loudly and sat down on the bed next to his injured leg. His father pulled up a chair next to her. Tears were forming in his mother’s eyes and Taehyung feared for the life of his friends. They wouldn't be acting like this if everyone was okay.
Kim Hyunjoo
Jimin is fine, a few cuts and bruises. He healed fast, he’s lucky to be a werewolf. Same with Jungkook, though he did have a few broken bones but they all healed. Your brother was a little worse. He broke his arm and had some internal bleeding but they stopped it. He’s healing quickly now, his accelerated healing having kicked in. (Avoiding his eyes after she finished her sentence.)
They were all fine, being werewolves helped with that. Taehyung was relieved to hear the news. But she hadn't said anything about Bogum. His heart dropped in my chest.
Kim Taehyung
What about Bogum?
He already had and inkling what she was going to say.
The room felt stuffy all of a sudden, and Taehyung felt as though he couldn’t breathe. He knew, he knew what was coming and he didn’t want her to say it.
His chest started heaving and the beeping quicked on the monitor. He felt like he was suffocating. His chest was aching in pain from his rapid breaths.
Kim Hyunjoo
Sweetie calm down! (Grabbing his hand and trying to sooth him.)
She hadn’t even told him anything yet, but she knew he knew.
He tried to control his breathing but he couldn’t. Tears started to form in his eyes and soon they were breaking the surface cascading down his cheeks.
Kim Taehyung
Please, please mom no. (Begging her.)
He begged her for what he did not know. What was he begging for? For her not to tell the truth, to not say it. But he knew she had to. It was reality, he couldn’t run from it no matter how much he wanted to.
His mom looked over at his dad both sharing equal looks of heartbreak for their son.
Kim Raewon
I’m so sorry sweetie, but Bogum didn't make it.
His father was the on to break the news. He was stronger than his mother, she couldn’t break her son’s heart like that.
With those words something inside Taehyung broke, it physically snapped. Nothing had ever caused him more pain in this world than those few words.
Funeral (Part 1)
Actions, actions had consequences and sometimes those consequences could be as dramatic as the end of the world. To Taehyung it had been.
What had been the start to a great summer with his loved ones, had turned into one of the worst days of Taehyung’s life. He couldn’t change it no matter how many nights he would stay awake wishing just that.
No he was stuck here in this new reality.
He fixed his tie and ran his fingers through his hair looking at the ghost of himself in the mirror. His brown locks were a lot longer now, he hadn’t had the motivation to go get a haircut. His brown eyes no longer held any sense of happiness or warmth. Just two dull and dry pools of brown. They used to be a deep dark chocolate color, but now they almost seemed like an odd tan.
He turned away from the mirror and took a deep breath.
Kim Taehyung
*You can do this Taehyung.*
He was trying to give himself a pep-talk. In reality he could not do this, and he was dreading doing this.
He stood there staring in the mirror for another good ten minutes. How did one find the courage to face the worst thing they could ever fathom facing? Taehyung just couldn’t wrap his head around any of this.
He took another deep breath before exiting the church bathroom. He looked down at the boot that took up most of his left leg. It was a constant reminder of the accident for him. It served as his scar from that day.
Waiting for him outside the bathroom doors were his mom, dad, and his brother. They were all looking at him curiously. I’m sure they were all waiting for him to just burst out into tears. He knew it would happen eventually, so at least they were preparing themselves.
He held back the tears though wanting to be brave. He needed to be brave, if not for his sake for his brother’s. He wasn’t the only one that lost someone they loved that day.
He walked over to them, his father’s putting a light hand on his upper back trying to console him. Taehyung welcomed the warm touch of his father. He honestly needed the support right now.
He took his mom's hand and they walked over to the pew taking their seats in the front row.
When looked down the aisle he saw Jimin and Jungkook already seated. They both looked up when they felt his presence. He walked down the aisle not having to go too far and sat next to Jimin. Both of their families were behind them. Taehyung’s parents, going to sit with them while Jin sat next to Taehyung.
Jimin took Taehyung’s hand into his and squeezed it lightly as if telling the other he was here for him. Taehyung looked over at him and he watched as tears leaked from his eyes. He knew he was trying to hold it in, but failing. Taehyung gave him a sad smile and squeezed his hand back.
He was forever grateful for his best friend. Jimin had been his rock the last few weeks as they prepared for the funeral. The funeral he never thought he’d witness.
It gave him a sense of calm knowing he wasn’t the only one affected by this as much as it pained him to say it. He was happy it hadn’t just been him and Bogum in that Jeep that day. Because had it been, then he didn’t have anyone going through the same pain as he was. The others weren’t there. They didn’t understand, but Jin, Jimin, and Jungkook did.
Taehyung looked over to Jungkook but the boy wasn’t sparring him a glance. He kept his eyes forward looking directly at the casket of his dead best friend. He felt so bad for him, the funeral had landed on his birthday. The day he laid his best friend to rest was also the day he was supposed to find his mate.
Taehyung thought it ironic that they had the funeral in a church. What God would take away such an innocent soul before their time. Taehyung didn’t accept it was Bogum’s time. He was too young, he still had so much more life to live.
They were going to mate, get married, and start a family. And God had taken that all away from him. He didn’t love this God, no he hated him for taking the only thing he ever loved from him.
Taehyung’s eyes followed Jungkook’s as he stared at the open faced casket. He flinched away when he saw the familiar looking peaceful face. He wasn’t ready, he couldn’t look at him yet.
Jimin was also holding Jungkook’s hand and a slight twinge in Taehyung’s heart made him pause for half a second. What was that? But then he ignored it. He didn't have time to even think about why it even happened. It didn’t even matter. What mattered was the boy that was being laid to rest in front of him.
He turned to his right to see the two people he was hoping not to see. The two people he knew who were taking this moment in, and it tearing them apart.
He could see the red eyes and tear streaked cheeks of Bogum’s mother. He flinched away, it all seeming too real.
He turned away knowing if he kept looking any longer he would burst out into tears. He had already had a breakdown the second he had laid eyes on the Park’s, hence why he was in the bathroom. He knew it was just the beginning too.
They hadn’t even started the ceremony yet. He hadn’t even been called forward to speak about Bogum. And he hadn’t even had to make the journey to look into the casket and see the sleeping face of his dead boyfriend.
He took a deep breath in prepping himself as the priest took the stand.
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