The alpha's first night without the omega felt like the equivalent of Taehyung's fifth.

He couldn't get out of bed. He didn't stand up to grab something to eat or drink, he couldn't sleep. He stared at the wall, heavy and painful breaths left him.

Was he really that bad of a mate?

Why did the omega leave him?

Why doesn't his omega desire him?

His wolf whimpered, he crumbled up in bed.

The second, third, fourth and fifth day passed by and when the sixth day came along, the alpha looked and felt like a corpse.

He stood up only for the bare necessities, going back to bed immediately after.

His hands clutched onto the clothes he found in the woods that still held the omega's scent, his nose buried deep within them.

He missed him.

He missed him so much.

And it hurt so much to know that he wasn't missed.

The omega had wanted nothing more than to get away from him the entire time. At first, he thought he just needed some time─ but after all the memories they made, the smiles they shared, were all of those moments fake?

They certainly didn't feel like it. But then, why did the omega still run away from him?

Is he such a bad alpha that even his destined mate wanted to abandon him?

A tear slips past his eye, wetting the pillow. His body trembles vigorously, his teeth clenched hard together.

His own home didn't feel like home anymore now that it lacked his omega. His turned into a person, not a small building.

"Pup.." He whispers, devasted.

He lost him.

If only he could turn back time, what could he have done better? He would've done anything. Literally anything, if it meant the omega would like him as a mate.

He even blocked the mind link. He can't reach him anymore. It's just him with his thoughts now, lonelier than ever before.

He shuts his eyes tight, trying to re-live the moments he shared with Taehyung, wanting to stay in them forever.

────

Taehyung lost it. His wolf went insane, feeling like it was dying.

"It hurts, Jiminie, please make it stop!" He wails, feeling disconnected from himself, his wolf, the earth─ everything.

Everything is wrong. Nothing feels like it should.

"I can't help you, Tae, no matter how hard I wish, I can't! I don't know what's going on with you, neither does Yoongi. What hurts, Tae? Tell me.." The other omega sat by his best friend's side, trying to swallow back the lump in his throat but failing miserably.

"I─ I don't know I.. All I know is─
alpha.. N─need alpha─" His words come out slurred, half from himself and half from his wolf.

Jimin looks over at Yoongi, sighing. "Tae, look at me, look at me. Regain control of your wolf just for a second, please! I need you to register this clearly,"

Taehyung tries his utter best, only being able to keep it up long enough until his best friend finished talking.

"Think about your options very clearly, alright? Think about why you wanted to get away from the pure blood. Consider all your choices, re-consider those you've made. If you are certain by tomorrow, Yoongi and I will help you get back to the alpha, alright? But once we do, you won't get back out of there. You'll be a rogue."

Taehyung nods, sweat rolling down his forehead from the withdrawal signs.

Eventually the other males take their leave and the omega stands up, stumbling over to grab the fur coat and walking back towards the bed, hiding himself under it and trying to take in the last bits of Jeongguk's scent.

"Alpha.." He whispers, almost inaudibly.

Why was he so stupid?
Why did he do it?

Tears roll down his cheeks, he sobs out, tugging on his own hair.

Everything felt fogged, clouded─ he couldn't think straight anymore. Everything is wrong.

This wasn't normal. He has never heard of wolves experiencing such heavy withdrawal effects before, why is this happening to him?

He would've never thought he'd ever cry because he misses a higher-ranked, a pure blood. Yet there he is.

He sniffles, sitting up. Leaning against the headboard, he debated on whether to unblock their shared mind link.

His wolf wants nothing more than that; but Taehyung isn't so sure. What would he even say to him?

The alpha is probably pissed. And for good reason.

Taehyung shakes his head, knowing that Jeongguk probably never wants to see him again.

Yes, no, yes, no, yes, no... maybe? It kept going on and on.

In the end, he couldn't resist the temptation. So with that, he took a shaky deep breath.

<Alpha...

It probably came out as a mere whisper. Taehyung wouldn't be surprised if the alpha didn't even hear him, or thinks he's being delusional.

<Please forgive me, alpha. I'm begging you. I'll return to you tomorrow, I'll never leave your side again, I promise! Please forgive me!

Silence.

Goosebumps spread all over his body, a cold rush made the hairs on his neck stand up straight. Opening the mind link fully, he gasped softly─ almost feeling back in touch with the other.

<I know I'm not worthy of your forgiveness.. but please give me another shot, I promise you, you won't regret it. I'll do anything. Literally anything, please, alpha..

His wolf was full on trying to reconnect now, it wasn't Taehyung linking him anymore.

But all he got in return was deadly silence.

His wolf wails, more tears flooding out of him.

He knew he wasn't going to get a response, he wasn't worth it. But now that the alpha actually confirmed those thoughts by simply not responding, he felt like his world crumbles down at his feet.

Suddenly memories of the first night they met vividly came to life. The very first time he had ever glanced into Jeongguk's eyes.

The way he picked up on his scent, the way he felt─

Their wolves had imprinted on one another at first glance. Something that only happens to true, destined mates.

'We're destined,'

The alpha had told him, yet he didn't listen.

'If you escape, you'll not like the consequences,'

And suddenly, it all made sense.