A Game of Fate

Taehyung stood frozen, his pulse hammering in his ears as he stared at Jeon Jae-hyun.

The third Jeon brother exuded an aura of cold detachment, his sharp gaze sweeping over the room like he had better things to do than deal with his unruly brothers.

And yet…

That same gaze lingered on Taehyung.

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Jae-hyun’s eyes before he sighed, adjusting the cuffs of his neatly pressed shirt. “Jungguk, get out of his bed.”

Jungguk, still curled up in Taehyung’s blankets, grinned. “Make me.”

Jae-hyun’s gaze darkened. “Don’t tempt me.”

For a moment, tension crackled in the air. Taehyung knew that Jae-hyun wasn’t as passive as he seemed. Despite his obsession with books and hygiene, he had a dangerous side—one that could make even Jungguk obey.

In his past life, Jae-hyun had been ruthless.

Cold. Unshakable. And when he wanted something…

He didn’t stop until it was his.

But that was years after the apocalypse. Right now, they were still normal—at least, as normal as the Jeon brothers could be.

Which meant Taehyung had the upper hand.

For now.

“Fine, fine,” Jungguk finally sighed, stretching lazily before rolling off the bed. “You’re all so boring in the morning.”

Taehyung scoffed. He barely avoided getting strangled in his sleep, and this brat wanted excitement?

Jae-hyun simply gave a satisfied nod before turning his gaze back to Taehyung.

“You look pale,” he stated. “Did you sleep well?”

Lies.

Jae-hyun wasn’t concerned about his health. He was observing. Calculating. Looking for something off.

And Taehyung couldn’t afford to slip up.

He forced a casual smile. “Yeah, just had a weird dream.”

Jae-hyun hummed, clearly unconvinced. “Hn. Dreams are a reflection of the subconscious. Perhaps there’s something you need to confront.”

Yeah. Like the fact that I was literally murdered by a zombie in my past life.

Taehyung held back a bitter laugh. “Maybe.”

Jungkook, who had been silently watching, suddenly stepped forward, tilting his head slightly. “You really do seem different today.”

The way he studied Taehyung made his skin prickle.

He knew this look. The Jeon brothers weren’t just powerful—they were predators. Even before the apocalypse, they had ruled over everything—the underworld, the business world, the military.

And Taehyung?

He had been their exception.

Their obsession.

Their one weakness.

Not that he had realized it back then.

This time, he did.

And he refused to be caught in their web again.

He took a slow breath, forcing himself to relax. He needed to act normal. Not too distant, not too close. If they got even the slightest hint that he was hiding something…

They wouldn’t stop until they had him figured out.

Taehyung rolled his eyes playfully. “Maybe you guys are just overthinking.” He stretched his arms and sighed. “I’m starving. Let’s go eat before I collapse.”

Jungkook and Jae-hyun exchanged glances, but Jungguk was already moving. “Finally! If we waited any longer, I’d have to start eating Jungkook.”

Jungkook smirked. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Watch me.”

Jae-hyun sighed, already regretting being in the same space as them.

Taehyung, however, just watched them.

The three brothers, alive and whole.

He still had time.

One year before the apocalypse.

One year to change everything.

This time, he would survive.

And more than that…

He would win.