The dark curtains in the little one's room blocked most of the sunlight that had been pouring in since the morning. It didn't matter either way. It was a known fact that Jungkook couldn't be woken up from his slumber, unless his alpha was the one trying to wake him. Jungkook was curled into himself, the blankets tight around him as if he was a caterpillar in a cocoon, his bed warm and welcoming for more sleep.

He didn't want to wake up. Though his brain was starting to kick into gear, his eyelids were heavy, and he could barely move his limbs. He sunk further into the mattress, melting into the comforting heat. His ears twitched at the sounds of water boiling downstairs, and he groaned at the television playing in the background. It was the familiar tune of the Friends' theme song that was never skipped in this house - thanks to Namjoon's obsession over the show.

When his groan disappeared into the air, a pair of voices were heard downstairs.

"The little one woke up."

"I can hear that." Jungkook's ear twitched. Namjoon sounded a tad annoyed with the borderwalker's obvious statement. It would probably take a long time before Namjoon got used to the borderwalker's presence. "I'll go get him."

"He sounds like he is in pain."

"He's not. It's just his ass not wanting to get out of bed."

Hmph, rude. Jungkook pursed his lip, his eyes still closed and his limbs still sinking.

"Do you not think you should let him rest? He has had a tough night."

"Every full moon is a tough night."

Ouch.

"Does he get the barrel of a gun l pressed to his head every full moon?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

The borderwalker was on dangerous terrain. Namjoon's remark had a bite to it.

"Your beta is clearly still tired from yesterday. Why will you not let him rest? It is almost night again either way."

"He needs to eat to gain some energy and he needs to be hydrated. You might not know how this works but I do. He's been part of my pack for two years now and I know how to handle him."

Nothing was said after that.

In the back of his mind, Jungkook wished that Namjoon had just listened to the borderwalker, as he really did not want to wake up. He just wanted to sleep, and ignore his dry mouth, aching stomach, and throbbing wrists. He just wanted to forget about the events of the day before, the hunter and the near-death experience. He just wanted to close his eyes and ignore it all for a little longer, rest a little longer before he had to face it all.

The phantom pain around his wrists worsened, reminding him of the chains cutting into his veins the day before, leaving warm trails of blood coursing down his hands. As the feeling intensified, the memory of the metal gun barrel pressed against his skull slowly took over, sending him into a blind panic.

He gasped, but no oxygen seemed to enter his lungs.

He gasped again and waited for the sweet oxygen to fill his body. But he couldn't breathe. He couldn't see. Why couldn't he do anything?

Through the ringing in his ears, he could hear footsteps hurrying up the stairs, the stomping sound reverberating in the air. Jungkook tried clawing his way out of the restrictive blankets, fighting against them as if they were holding him prisoner.

He was right back there, tied to the tree. From the corner of his vision, he could see an arm being lifted, before a gun was pointing at him. The smooth barrel of a shotgun, only a few feet away, glinting in the bright light of a full moon. A face smirked from behind the weapon, the expression feral in an oddly human way.

"What do we have here?" Her voice, echoing in his ears, cut off his air supply, making his body choke on nothing. "Did someone leave me a present?"

He pulled against his restraints, the sheets around him ripping from his claws.

"Jungkook!"

The lady disappeared as Namjoon barreled inside, followed directly by the borderwalker. Jungkook's body spasmed the second the alpha closed his arms around him, using his own weight to hold him down until he calmed down. The borderwalker stood by the door, unsure of whether or not to step closer.

"Easy there Jungkook, it's okay, you're okay", Namjoon whispered soothingly, feeling the body fight against him, shaking and trembling with each breath. Jungkook's eyes were wide open and tears had started leaking down his face, dripping onto his pillow case. "It's okay cub, it's all fine. You're here, you're with me."

The borderwalker bowed his head and quietly left the room, knowing full well that Jungkook was in capable hands. Jungkook gasped for breath, reaching out in that direction instinctively, as he felt the room become emptier.Namjoon snapped his gaze to the door and yelled, "Borderwalker!"

The creature appeared back into the room in seconds, face still expressing nothing, but worried nonetheless, his quick movement betraying any feelings he might have had. "C'mere." Namjoon nodded his head to a spot on the bed. "I think he needs you here."

The creature sent him a look and Namjoon replied with his own look that said; "I don't know why either."

Jungkook's body, still pressed down by Namjoon's weight, wasn't trembling any longer now, or fighting against his alpha's hold. Slowly but surely, he began to take deep, trembling breaths. His eyes were closed now, though tears still leaked from them. Namjoon lifted his chest when he felt that the beta had calmed down, and Jungkook was breathing fine.

The border walker was sitting on the other side of the bed, watching Jungkook's right hand move until it came in contact with the side of his leg. He hesitated, then tentatively reached out to place his hand on top of Jungkook's, aware of the daggers Namjoon was sending him.

Namjoon couldn't believe Jungkook had actually found comfort in the borderwalker's presence. The dangerous creature, that could lead humans to the afterlife, could transform into wildlife when needed, a creature that was declared to find companionship in no one but itself, was holding onto Jungkook's hand as if he was the beta's lifeline.

Maybe that night had changed something.

Jungkook would have been dead if the borderwalker hadn't shown up. Namjoon would have found his beta with his brains blown out, and the alpha might have faced the same demise. The borderwalker had countered that fate. Because of his presence, they were both safely in bed, though Jungkook was clearly still traumatized by the events of the night.

Namjoon made a promise to himself to never leave the beta alone during a full moon again.

"Do you need anything?" He found himself asking, wondering if Jungkook felt like eating or drinking. "I made some chamomile tea."

Jungkook nodded, and finally said, "Thank you, that'd be nice." He still hadn't opened his eyes but that was fine. Maybe he'd fall back asleep so that he could rest some more. It was ironic how Namjoon had downplayed that night so much, and had almost wanted to drag Jungkook's ass out of bed.

While Namjoon was gone to grab a cup of tea, the borderwalker decided to speak. "Are you alright?"

Jungkook cracked open his eyes and managed a small smile . "I don't know what happened."

The borderwalker watched Jungkook's smaller pale hand slip into his. He wondered how the hunter could have shot him in cold blood, when the boy looked so frail and defenseless as he laid on the soft crumpled sheets. The boy's black hair was a stark contrast against the innocent white. "You went through a traumatic event yesterday. It is normal to be shaken by that."

Jungkook nodded, but didn't reply. The borderwalker then decided to speak again. "I have decided on a name for myself."

Jungkook squeezed the hand that was holding his in excitement and grinned, eyes wide open. "Really? What is it?"

"I flipped through some books and decided on the name Kim Taehyung," he said, "I understand that Kim is a very common last name in this country."

"It's Namjoon's last name as well," Jungkook explained, "So it's indeed a good fit. Taehyung... it sounds nice. I can call you Taehyungie!"

"Or you don't," Namjoon said from where he stood in the doorway, "Don't forget you're talking to a powerful creature that has lived for hundreds or thousands of years." He sat down on his previous spot on the bed and handed Jungkook his tea. The beta took it with a grateful smile, as he received a kiss on his forehead by the alpha.

"Oh, right," Jungkook's cheeks colored a light pink. He made eye contact with the borderwalker, "I can call you hyung as well."

"It is all fine with me," Taehyung's hand had now been released by the beta and he rested both hands on his thighs, making himself ready to leave, "I will now resume watching that Friendship show you had put on for me. I am curious about this Chandler character and this thing they call humor." Taehyung got up from the bed, deciding the two wolves needed time alone.

Jungkook waved him goodbye, as Namjoon waited for him to be gone. As soon as he had closed the door behind him, Namjoon turned back to face his beta.

"I want to apologize, Jungkook."

The beta had just taken a sip of tea, and was taken aback by the words. "Apologize? What are you apologizing for?" He winced at the hot liquid burning his tongue and immediately got a worried look from Namjoon, who took the cup back and started blowing on it.

"I wanted to apologize for leaving you alone and for downplaying what happened yesterday." When he figured the tea had cooled down, he handed it back to the now frowning beta who sent a look as if to say I'm not a child. Namjoon ignored the look. "I should have realized what you went through was very similar to how we met. Only now, I couldn't save you."

"Namjoon," Jungkook's voice was soft and a hint of pain was laced in his words, "It was not your fault. Even if you had been there, we could have both been killed. It was just an unlucky situation."

"I would have rather died saving you than rely on the help of some creature." The sentence contained so much venom it almost scared Jungkook. He couldn't believe how Namjoon felt about the situation. Then again, he wasn't an alpha, and knew nothing about the pride and duties that came with it. "I failed you, as your alpha."

"You did not", Jungkook refused to listen, "You can't protect me from everything in the world."

"I should be!" Namjoon's fist came down upon the mattress, and Jungkook jumped, almost dropping his cup, and spilling lukewarm tea over his hands. He hissed at the feeling but was glad it wasn't hot enough to burn him. Namjoon jumped up and quickly started apologizing, taking the cup, and leaving the room in a state of utmost embarrassment.

Jungkook sighed and wiped his wet hand on the sheets. Things had gotten a lot more complicated, after so many years. He hoped it wasn't the start of something.

Now I'm going to eat a salad and then make my mom two birthday cakes cause she deserves everything in the world 🥗🎂