"i am, trust me" namjoon chuckled. "I found it like that too. When I needed to protect myself the most I happened to turn into a bear and scare off anyone who wanted to harm me, everyone got experiences like that where they find out their true strengths. you will too."

"Yes! he is right Tae, so don't worry '' jimin smiled and swung and arm around taehyung. "there is not time to even think, were here. we gotta hide before they get here."

"Let's get as close as possible to the cliff, there seokjin will go with jungkook, we better be close knowing he will take a group of hunters with them.

"Joon, why did you come along? you don't fight right?"

"I do, when it's necessary. and protecting a friend is important. fight is the only option here"

"i see.." the three hid in their spots Namjoon staying with taehyung for extra protection, jimin can stand his own in a fight. He was more familiar and skilled in using his powers and cat form. Taehyung still had to find his own. Which will have to happen now or else this will turn out really bad.

-

After a long wait they finally heard songs, and a group of people was walking through the forest path. in front a familiar tall man dressed in his long coat as usual. His steps were determined and fast. But Taehyung quickly lost interest in him when he saw a man being practically dragged forward. two hunters kept the man up as they supported him in following seokjin. taehyung reconised him right away. even if he looked like he had been ran over by a truck he still reconised him.

"Jungkook" taehyung said shocked to see the state the raven was in, he got up in a worry but namjoon yanked him back down.

"stay here, dont be stupid" namjoon hissed at him warningly. "they will kill us if you spoil the plan"

"Sorry" taehyung sat back down and looked at jungkook who was thrown in front of seokjin's feet at the cliff. his body moving barely, but he got himself to look up. His eyes didn't look at seokjin but they turned to glance at taehyung. Even if the other was far away he senses his presence, he felt his mate was nearby. giving his body strength to get through this and not give into the pain. He sat up making seokjin grin.

"you're quite persistent i give you that. would be fun to fight you if you weren't sick and weak" soekjin chuckled and took off his coat summoning his tentacles that grew from his back and sides moving over the ground around him. "tonight we will have one opponent less, this will be the end of the black raven."

"seokjin..you don't have to do this. join us. stop killing those innocent people....don't become the monster those bullies said you were, don't ruin what you can have-"

"stop talking!" Seokjin shouted his eyes showing anger but also...hurt.

"you're hurting, I can see it. so stop this nonsense, you don't want this. I can see it!" Jungkook shouted back but Seokjin didn't want to listen. He smacked the raven across the face and raised him by the neck using a tentacle making the raven's legs dangle in the air trying to find a foothold.

"dont talk to me, just shut up!"

"sir.." hoseok said looking at the raven shifter a little worried. Hoseok wasnt a fan of all this killing but he wanted the city to become safe. and he can't go against seokjin. He will meet the same fate if he even disagrees on something little. He was just serving the boss. "don't do rash things now, we have to stick to the plan"

"right... let's continue where we got distracted" soekjin said, calming himself down. He released the grip, dropping Jungkook on the ground who gasped for air. "Now, bring me the knife, '' Seokjin said. A hunter came forward holding a ruby carved knife. the weapon that carried enough poison to kill someone heartless. Jungkook's eyes widened and he backed away with his legs but he couldn't move far as someone was blocking his way back. "don't try to run, you're all alone, just accept your end Jungkook"

"i won't, not until i'm still breathing"

"i admire your strength after all you've been through, people can learn from you" seokjin walked forward with the knife using one tentacle to hold the knife, not wanting to get too close to jungkook. he haven't seen jungkook full power so he didn't want to get too close to him and risk getting hurt. he had already lost enough of himself. Enough to make him not want to shift ever again. no one needed to see the monster he was, the monster people wanted him to be and he began to believe.

"think about it, seokjin," Jungkook said. "thats all im gonna say"

Seokjin stared at him, gripping the knife tighter, this little thing made Jungkook see the hesitation. Seokjin wasn't sure about this anymore, seokjin had his doubts. He was starting to see what Jungkook was telling him. Even if he didn't want to listen, he ended up hearing it all and it was wandering in his head.

Seokjin shook his head and raised the tentacle ready to stab the demon and throw him off the cliff, but then from the bushes people showed up making his eyes widen in shock and took a few steps back. "whats this!?"

"Jimin, get Jungkook!" Namjoon shouted while he was being followed by a very scared Taehyung who tried to hide his fear by putting on a 'mean face'. jungkook looked at him worried but also hopeful. this was their change, and the last chance they will ever get.

Jimin gave a nod and fought his way to his friend, dodging all the hunters' attack and blocking their way to jungkook. protecting the raven. "hello Jungkook!" he said cheerfully with a big smile. "how was your vacation?"

"it was absolute shit" jungkook joked back and handed jimin his arms when the cat kneeled down. breaking the chains with his powers hissing when he accidentally touched the emerald lining. He nibbled his thumb cutely before breaking Jungkook's neck chains as well. relieving Jungkook of the burning pain. red marks were seen around his neck and wrists. "thanks"

"go away from the cliff, can you walk?" Jimin asked. Jungkook waved him off nodding. no he couldn't quite walk but he would push himself through it, it was necessary. He can burden the others with him. they were only with three of them, they didn't have this strength here. Suddenly they heard a loud scream.

"Taehyung watch it!" Namjoon said seeing a hunter attack taehyung from the back. the raven yelped in fear and extended his hand. it touched the human whose eyes widened. his hand was sinking into the man's chest who let out a painful scream. Taehyung gasped seeing the man fall down limply. His body was pale and drained. Taehyung's hand was glowing a white color before turning back to normal.

"i....i killed someone"

"holy shit!'' Jimin shouted from a distance, giving big thumbs up at him excitedly while he ran around the hunter who was attacking him. even in a deadly fight he didn't forget to show his friend some support.

"i-i....'' Taehyung wanted to scream and shake his head but that change was something he didn't get as she had to defend himself once more. but now the action went on its own. It was really like namjoon said. Once you need it the most you will know what to do.

"you're doing good. Seokjin is there, he's hiding." Namjoon said seeing seokjin stand near the cliff with three guards surrounding him.

Taehyung and namjoon ran towards the leader whose eyes widened and he pointed at taehyung. "don't let him near me!!"

The hunters grabbed their weapons and attacked like their boss said.

but they didn't dare to attack taehyung so when the raven charged at them with this fake but convincing confidence they jumped out of the way in a panic. Soekjin cursed at them and took off his coat, dumping it on the ground to summon his tentacles. Grabbing the knives that were tied around his thigh and throwing them at the attackers.

"You have to die, raven," Soekjin said, one of the tentacles around his own arm holding the ruby knife. the weapon that can kill the raven instantly.

"I won't die here, '' Taehyung said as he circled around seokjin. Namjoon had taken the task of fighting off the three hunters of before making sure nothing can interrupt the two.

"don't be so sure of this, you're just a kid."

"i may be young but i can do more than you think. I have to stop you. I can't let them all die, Soekjin" taehyung said. He didn't do this because he wanted to, but because it was needed. who else will protect the shifters, he was the one to do this, so he had to walk his role and put and stop this crazy organization.

"you have no idea who you're up against!" Seokjin shouted and his tentacles went for taehyung. but the raven jumped aside quickly. but more came, sadly an octopus didn't have just one, but many more. He yelped in shock when he felt one wrap around his waist pulling him closer to seokjin.

"let me go!" he shouted and grabbed the tentacle in his hands. his hands began to glow and seokjin let out a scream, his tentacle went limp and wrinkled up like it got burned and dried.

"NO!" Seokjin looked at his tentacle in pain and hurt. He lost once more a part of himself. it hurted every time more and more to see yourself being taken from your arms. "you! stay away!" he backed away when he saw Taehyung walk closer. a new confidence inside of him. The three friends had fought off the hunters and were catching their breaths. eyes focused on taehyung who was nearing seokjin on the cliff. this was it, this should be the moment. "stay back! I don't want to die... I don't want to feel pain!"

Taehyung was confused by what seokjin was saying. the man didn't seem to be really here anymore like he was in a daze. something switched , he looked different. his cold appearance changed into a scared one.

"No no, stop! don't come closer!!" Seokjin took another step back but then panicked shouts came his way, but it was too late. his feet lost their ground and he stumbled back, falling off the cliff into the dark pit.

"No!" Jungkook jolted up from the ground where he was resting. He saw how seokjin fell down, taehyung standing there in shock and confusion.

"oh shit" jimin said and chuckled. "i don't know what to think of this but....it was easier than i thought"

"Taehyung, get away from there!" Namjoon shouted, rushing to the boy and quickly pulling him from the edge when a huge tentacle reached up into the sky. flopping onto the cliff edge, more appeared. wiggling over the ground and holding onto trees. pulling a heavy height up from the dark pit. Everyone's eyes looked in horror how an enormous Octopus crawled over the edge. slime and water coming out of the creature's suckers. taking hold of the ground and anything it touched. It made a strange noise when its eye opened and it looked at the group.

"What the fuck is that!!!?" Jimin said, backing away from the huge creature that was like ten times his size. this wasn't how big an octopus should be. This was food for three whole years.

"Seokjin.." Jungkook said seeing the octopus was missing three tentacles. two were cut off and the other was burned and drained by taehyung just now, laying there motionless on the ground behind the octopus.

The octopus looked angry as it began breaking the trees and other things around him. When one tentacle swung across the area, Taehyung and Namjoon quickly fell to the ground watching it swing over them. But it also came back and it hit Taehyung who was being pushed over the ground with the tentacle in his face. He hit the tree and the tentacle was going to crush him. but taehyung wasn't going to give up and he placed his hands on the slippery skin using his power to burn it again. The octopus let out a screeching sound and retracted the tentacle had now burn marks where taehyung had touched. looking like an infection.

Jungkook looked at taehyung who was bent over panting.

"Taehyung needs support! its wearing him out!" he said, jimin nodded and hurried to taehyung who seemed exhausted.

"I need to finish it. '' Taehyung said and Jimin nodded, helping him towards the octopus who seemed to be crawling away from Taehyung while crushing everything around him with force. Taehyung grabbed another tentacle and did it again, hearing another screech and it moved away from him, loud thudding noises were heard when his tentacled hit the ground to pull him further over the ground.

But then he didn't see it coming. a big tentacle swung over the ground sweeping the two of their feet. Taehyung was thrown somewhere between the trees and Jimin rolled over the ground. this was getting out of hand. Taehyung was getting too exhausted to focus. this wasn't going to work...

Jungkook saw the creature move towards the place taehyung was laying on the ground and he got up. removing Namjoon's hand on his shoulder he stepped forward a few times before taking a deep breath closing his eyes. Calling upon his powers one last time he shifted. but not into a regular raven. but into his true form...

(see image above)

a huge black raven with ghost-like feathers, its bright purple eyes staring at the creature. He was bigger than the trees. his wings spread and he let out a high pitched caw making everyone else cover their ears and faces retort into pain. As soon as he did that, Jungkook shifted back by force and fell on his knees, half of his face was tainted with black bleeding cracks. one eye clouded by blood. but it worked. the octopus seems to back away and fall silent. no longer moving to taehyung who slowly pushed himself up holding his head with one hand.

"Seokjin stop....i know you're hurting" jungkook shouted now having its attention. "i know you're scared"

the octopus slowed his movements one of its eyes staring at jungkook. "Please stop. this isn't right, you know it. Come with us. you don't have to be cared anymore, your past is gone. you can start over"

The octopus stopped moving completely. blinking once as it looked at jungkook. The raven thought he had done it and stepped close but then the octopus raised a tentacle ready to crush jungkook who backed away shocked. but before the tentacle could touch Jungkook it disappeared. the octopus shrunk until it was gone, turning back into seokjin who sat on his knees bent over holding his head.

"I'm sorry....I'm sorry" he said softly. "Just kill me now....make it stop. They keep talking to me!"

"Seokjin.." Jungkook said looking at the man who now showed his true self. He was stuck in the past, in his old self who was bullied and harmed.

"I'm sorry...I don't deserve life.."

Taehyung had collected himself and walked slowly towards the scene looking at Jungkook who looked worse than before. He was about to walk to Jungkook and help him but the raven shook his head pointing with a shaky hand to Soekjin's kneeling figure. Taehyung hesitated but if this is what Jungkook wants then he will do it. so he kneeled next to the crying man and touched his shoulder. Seokjin flinched away in shock.

"no no"

"I'm not going to hurt you," Taehyung said, trying not to sit on top of the man's tentacles that came from its back in defense. "I will help" the white raven held the other and closed his eyes, his hands glowing a bright white color. Seokjin gasped when he felt a warm flow go through him and saw his cut tentacles grow back. giving him his eight arms back on his body.

"There..." Taehyung smiled and stood up but swayed to the side. luckily namjoon saw it coming and he caught him before he could fall. getting a thankful smile from taehyung.

"t-thank you......but why...i don't deserve this. you should have killed me"

"you can change, like Jungkook said. move on from the past. begin a new life.'' Namjoon said seeking for Jungkook who was in no state of speaking. now laying on the ground next to jimin who seemed to be panicking internally.

"Are you really giving me this choice, after all that I've done?"

Namjoon nodded. "do the right thing seokjin."

"i-i will, thank you so much....i-i will try my best. I'm so sorry. i will find a way to make it up to you"

"Just protect our kind, that's all we need, stop your organization. let it go"

"I will" Soekjin said and wiped his tears off. these men were right, he shouldn't be doing this. it made no sense. Seokjin did all this just because he was hurting. He didn't see it. he didn't realize his actions. but they made him look at himself and he realized all he had done was wrong.

"uhm guys...we have a problem," Jimin said. The sound in his voice alarmed Taehyung who got out of Namjoon's hold and ran towards Jungkook who was lying on the ground. the cracks on his face spread. his eyes were open but he wasn't moving.

"jungkook?" Taehyung said, shaking the man. But Jungkook didn't reply. He just laid there limply. being shaken around without moving himself. "jungkook! wake up!" Taehyung shouted and shook him harder but Jungkook was limp, his chest didn't rise. He wasn't breathing. "What's wrong with him, please help!"

"He's......dead..." namjoon said shocked, he didn't notice jungkook's state earlier when he used his strength. he heard jungkook speak. he thought he was fine, ut it was a lie from jungkook ho had silently laid back down and accepted the darkened that pulled at him. not letting anyone know.

"No! no! this can't be happening!!!'' Taehyung shook the other more violently while crying. teardrops falling on jungkook's face mixing with the blood that rolled out of the cracks. "Jungkook!!"

"tae"

"back off!" Taehyung snapped at Jimin who touched his shoulder.

"S-sorry:" Jimin looked down, taking a few steps back with teary eyes. "what do we do...."

" I don't know... this time I really don't know," Namjoon sighed. But then he noticed something a white light came from his side and he turned his head quickly. seeing taehyung placed on jungkook's chest and they were glowing. along with taehyung eyes which glowed brightly. "No, 'Tae don't do this!" he said and rushed to them but there was a force field that knocked him back. "taehyung stop! you're going to kill yourself!!"

Namjoon tried again but he couldn't get close to him so he looked worried at the boy who was literally sacrificing himself for jungkook. his hands slowly stopped glowing and he fell sideways on the ground limply.

"Taehyung!" Namjoon stood up and looked at the boy checking on him. as he did this he heard jungkook cough and jolt up, his hands feeling over his body in shock.

"what? What happened? how?" Jungkook said feeling his face and arm were not cracked. his arm was all healed and natural, so was his face. Jungkook was...normal again. "ho-....no.. he didn't....did he?" Jungkook saw Taehyung who laid next to him and worry began to rise inside of him. but then Taehyung's eyes fluttered open and he groaned moving up in a sitting position.

"impossible...." Namjoon whispered looking at Taehyung, who just woke up again. "how..."

"my head......JUNGKOOK!!" Taehyung forgot about his exhaustion and headache when he saw jungkook. he jumped off the ground and fell into the raven's arm kissing him.

"shouldn't he be dead?" Jimin said confused and looked at namjoon.

"he should indeed....i guess he's stronger than we thought he was..." namjoon chuckled. "this kid if full of surprises''

---

thank you for reading this long ass chapter. hope to see you in ne next one. its going to end soon!

🌼🌼🌼