gently grabbing his arm to steady him. "Yes, yes, we'll go," she murmured, her tone softening. She slipped an arm around him, supporting his weight. But just as she turned to leave, her gaze snapped back to Hana, and the bitterness returned in an instant. "I'm leaving,

but don't think this is over," she said sharply. "Everyone will know what kind of family you are. Low class," she hissed, her eyes landing on Taehyung with venom. "Raising an omega son like that? Disgusting." Hana's jaw clenched, and her hands curled into fists at her sides.

But seeing Jihoon's pale, unsteady figure, she forced herself to swallow her anger. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Jihoon," she said, her gaze softening as it met his. "Take your mother and go." She paused, her eyes lingering on his face. Seeing the cuts and bruises

left unattended, she shook her head, her chest tightening. Not even taking care of his wounds, she thought. Then, with a gentler tone, she added, "you need to see a physician. Please, for your health." Jihoon nodded weakly, his eyes tired. "Mom, please. Let's just go. For me."

Mrs. Park hesitated, then nodded, her shoulders slumping as she looked back at Hana one last time. "There's still time to fix this," she said, her voice cold. "Break his engagement. Let him be with that monster of an alpha. At least then, maybe he'll stop behaving like one."

Hana didn't move, her expression hardening, but she didn't respond. She wasn't about to engage in any more of this if it meant Mrs. Park would finally leave. After a few seconds of tense silence, Mrs. Park abruptly turned around, pulling Jihoon with her out of their front door.

The room was dead silent after Mrs. Park left. Taehyung stood there, frozen, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. His eyes stayed glued to the door, but it was clear his mind was somewhere far away, caught up in thoughts that wouldn't settle.

Hana let out a heavy sigh, breaking the silence. "I feel bad for Jihoon, I really do, but his mother…" She shook her head, her frustration showing. "That woman is impossible. She doesn't know how to have a conversation without causing a scene."

She turned to face Jin and Taehyung. "And listen, you two—stay away from Jihoon for now. It's not his fault, I get that. Jihoon's a good kid. But his mother? She's always looking for someone to blame, and I don't want her coming back here and making this mess any worse. Got it?"

Jin nodded, though his focus kept shifting to Taehyung, who hadn't budged or said a single word. Taehyung just stood there like a statue, staring at the door as if he expected something—or someone—to walk back through it. His eyes were red, and the empty expression on his

face made Jin's stomach twist with worry. "Taehyung," Jin called gently, stepping closer to him. "Hey, come on. We still have to finish making the gloves, remember?" But Taehyung didn't move, didn't even blink. His arms hung limply at his sides, and it was like he hadn't

heard a word Jin said. Hana frowned, turning fully to see him. She cupped his face gently, her thumb wiping away a tear. "Baby, let's go inside," she said softly. "You don't need to think about this anymore." But still Taehyung was not saying anything.

Hana's brows furrowed in concern, and this time, she raised her voice a little. "Taehyung. Are you listening to me?" And finally, he blinked. His red, watery eyes slowly turned to meet hers, and his lips quivered as if he was struggling to find the right words.

"Mom…" he whispered, his voice so faint it was almost lost in the room. "What is it, baby?" Hana asked, her worry deepening. Taehyung's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, his voice rough. "I think I need to meet him."

Jin, who thought that Taehyung was talking about Jihoon, immediately said, "Taehyung, no! You're not meeting Jihoon. That's not a good idea." Hana quickly nodded in agreement, "Jin is right. You don't need to see him—not to say sorry or for anything else."

Taehyung shook his head, his jaw tightening. When he spoke again, his voice was harder, sharper. "I'm not talking about Jihoon," he gritted out. "I'm talking about Jeon Jungkook." Both Hana and Jin stared at him like he'd lost his mind.

"Taehyung, no." There was a sharp warning in Hana's voice, "There's no reason for you to talk to him. Your dad will handle it, okay? You don't need to get involved with him more and more." Jin nodded. "Yeah, Tae. Don't stress about this. Mrs. Park is just overreacting—"

"Just Overreacting?" Taehyung snapped, turning to Jin, his face full of anger. "Didn't you see Jihoon's face? He was covered in blood! Don't tell me this isn't my fault! because It is!" "No, it is not your fau—" Jin started to say, but Taehyung cut him off.

"It is my fault!" he yelled, his voice breaking. "Jungkook wants me, he wants to marry me. He wants to mate me, but he's not getting what he wants, so now he's hurting anyone I talk to. First, it was Jihoon. Who's next? Seojoon? My other friends? My family?"

He took a shaky breath, his heart hammering in his chest. "No, I can't let that happen. I won't." Hana and Jin exchanged a quiet look, both of them worried. Jin mumbled, "Tell him to stop thinking about Jungkook." Hana nodded, then turned back to Taehyung,

her hands gently resting on his shoulders. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her son down. "Taehyung, look at me," she said softly. Taehyung's eyes locked onto hers. "I know you're angry right now, and you have every right to be. After hearing Mrs. Park, I'd be upset too.

Keeping those feelings inside isn't healthy. But," she added, her tone shifting, "making decisions in the heat of the moment can be dangerous." She reached up, cupping his cheek in her hand, and continued. "I'm your mother, Tae. I just want you to be safe. Please, don't go to

meet him. Don't do anything rash. Okay?" But Taehyung wasn't backing down. He shook his head, pushing her hand gently off his cheek. "No, Mom. If I don't face him, it's never going to stop. He'll just keep hurting people, and I can't let that happen. I don't have a choice.

I need to meet him." Hana just stared at Taehyung for a moment, then shook her head and sighed. "You won't listen to me," she said, her voice filled with frustration. "Okay, then talk to your dad. You'll see how he will react when he hears you want to meet that alpha."

Taehyung quickly asked, "You're not going to tell him, are you?" "I tell him everything, Tae, and I'll tell him this too," Hana replied. "So, it's your choice. Either you don't meet Jungkook, or you risk making your dad angry." "Mom, why are you like this?!" Taehyung pleaded.

"I just want to clear things up with him. Everything's happening because of me. I just want peace." But Hana didn't stick around to argue. She started walking away, "We can handle things with you, Tae. We're not weak. Just don't do anything that'll make us even more upset."

She walked into the kitchen without looking back. Taehyung stood there, watching her go. His chest felt tight, like everything was crashing down on him. He turned to Jin, who had been quietly watching the whole thing. "Hyung, please," Taehyung said softly,

his voice filled with sadness, "please. I just want to make things right. I can't stand hearing people talk badly about you all. Mrs. Park said something today, and tomorrow it could be someone else. I don't want that for you. I can't bear it."

wrapping his arm around Taehyung's shoulders. "I know, Tae. I know you're worried about us," he said, his voice soothing. "But we're family. And family sticks together. We're not going to put you at risk, especially knowing that Jungkook wants you as his mate.

That won't happen. We won't let you be in danger." Taehyung buried his face in Jin's neck, feeling the comfort of his presence but still battling his own thoughts. "Jungkook won't... do anything to me," he murmured, as if testing the words on his tongue.

Jin paused after hearing Taehyung. Then he pulled back from the hug, studying Taehyung closely. "You really think Jungkook won't do anything to you?" he asked, searching Taehyung's face. Taehyung hesitated before nodding slowly. "Yes… but he'll do anything to others, hyung.

That's what I'm worried about. He doesn't care about anyone. He's dangerous to everyone else." Jin studied Taehyung for a moment, like he was searching for something, before his expression shifted. He gently ran his hand through Taehyung's hair. "Tae… it seems like there is

something you are not aware off." Taehyung blinked, caught off guard. "What?" Jin shook his head, sighing softly. "Nothing. Just… don't let yourself get crushed in the storm, okay?"

Taehyung furrowed his brow, confused. "Crushed in the storm?" Jin nodded solemnly. "Yeah. You're going to get caught in it, but don't let it break you."

That evening, the Kim family sat around the dining table, enjoying dinner. Taehyung was feeling better, and he knew his mother had decided not to bring up the earlier incident with his dad—at least not for now. Still, he had a nagging feeling she might mention it the next day.

He sighed softly, his thoughts drifting to other things—mainly how he could meet that menacing alpha without stirring up more trouble." "So, anything you want to tell me?" The sudden voice broke him out of his haze. He looked up, startled, to see his dad watching him closely.

Swallowing nervously, Taehyung forced a small chuckle, setting his chopsticks down. "Me? No, not really," he replied, trying to sound casual. "It was all boring today—nothing much to tell you, Dad." He glanced at Jin, then at his mom, before looking back at his dad-

with a convincing smile. Daehyun studied him for a moment but seemed to buy it, nodding before returning to his food. Taehyung exhaled in relief, though his eyes caught his mom's. She shook her head slightly, a look of disappointment on her face, as if silently saying,

You're not off the hook yet. Taehyung lowered his gaze to his plate, guilt nibbling at him, but he pushed it aside. He still wanted to meet Jungkook—to stop him from making other's lives miserable.

The rest of the dinner passed mostly with Daehyun and Hana having their usual conversations, with Jin and Taehyung chiming in occasionally. After dinner, Daehyun retired to his room, Hana headed to the kitchen to clean up, and Taehyung and Jin found themselves lounging on the