Taehyung
I looked at Alina who was sleeping peacefully in our bed. Jimin was with Jungkook, Hoseok with Yoongi and Jin with Namjoon. Minho and Soraya were also sleeping in their room. I looked over at the clock which marked four o’clock in the morning. Even though I felt completely drained and exhausted, I could not sleep – not with the haunting thoughts lingering in my mind.
I sighed as I carefully got out of bed. Alina groaned slightly as she turned around and grabbed my pillow. She hugged it tightly, pressing her face into it almost as if she was subconsciously sniffing for my scent. I smiled as I grabbed the blanket and pulled it to cover her. I leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the head before I went to kids’ room.
I opened the door as quietly as possible. Their nightlamp was on, making the room seem like it was flooded by moons and stars. I smiled as I saw Soraya clutching to Minho as they slept. Minho had his arms around her protectively and I could not help but feel proud. I walked inside and pulled the blanket to cover them. I leaned in and kissed each of their foreheads before I headed out and closed the door just as quietly as I had opened it. I walked to the living room and opened the balcony, stepping outside, welcoming the cold air.
I looked at the moon which was shining brightly. The stars looked absolutely stunning tonight. There was a sense of peace and tranquillity, contrasting to the feelings I had felt earlier. My mind went back to the moment we had realized something was wrong. We had dropped everything and ran towards our home. All through the way, I kept thinking of all the bad possibilities but nothing prepared me for what I saw.
I still could not shake off the images of Alex being dead and my mates being hurt. Alina had gotten the worst of it and she would have died too if it wasn’t for Soraya. I was proud of her but I could not help but feel burdened by the thought that she had to even witness that, much less use her power to save her mother and sibling. She probably didn’t even realize she was doing it, but rather it was a subconscious emotional response.
Then there was the other heartbreak – the moment I realized Taehyung had been taken. It felt like my whole world had stopped spinning. I felt frozen or like I had been shot in the heart. Everything around me just…stopped. When we had arrived there, I felt so many emotions. Worry, anxiety, fear, hatred and rage. Seeing my son tied like that made me feel so much rage that I felt like I was going to explode. I did not want to fight my father but he left me no choice. My father or not, I was not going to let him hurt my son.
Yet, a part of me feels guilty for killing him. Yes, it was to save Yoongi and no, I would not do anything differently. If I had to choose between Yoongi or my father, I would always choose Yoongi, without hesitation or second thoughts. I knew I did the right thing, yet, I still felt like I committed a crime – a sin. A son who killed his own father – even if that same father had done nothing but abuse him, torture him and hurt him and his family. Even if I tried to convince myself that I did it to save and protect my family.
‘Babe?’ I heard a soft voice calling. I jumped, not having heard her coming in. I turned around to see Alina walking into the balcony with the blanket wrapped around her.
‘Baby what are you doing here? You’re going to catch a cold,’ I said as I pulled her close to me. I made sure the blanket was wrapped completely around her while I placed my arms around her, to keep her warm.
‘Not when I have you to keep me warm,’ she said with a chuckle. She placed her hand on my chest and smiled. ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked and I sighed. I did not want to worry her but I also knew not talking to her would make her worry more.
‘It’s nothing princess, I just…I couldn’t sleep, too many thoughts,’ I said and she nodded in understanding.
‘I know baby. I would be lying if I said I didn’t get any,’ she said. ‘It’s over now but it will take time to get over it,’ she said and I nodded.
‘I don’t know if I will. I killed him Alina. I killed my father,’ I said as I felt my eyes starting to burn while I tried to keep the tears from falling.
‘You didn’t have a choice Taehyungie,’ she said, cupping my cheeks. ‘I have killed before – hunters and vampires. I never took pleasure in it but if it meant protecting our family or innocent people, then I would do it,’ she said.
‘I know and I’m proud of you for that and I know I did the right thing. It’s just he wasn’t some stranger you know?’ I asked and she nodded.
‘He was your biological father but that does not make him father of the year Taehyung. He abused you and treated you wrong. He never showed you love and affection or care. He always treated you in a way that trained you to become a fighter for him and nothing more but luckily, you broke away from that,’ she said and I nodded.
‘Do you remember the first time you were pregnant?’ I asked as I placed my hands on her belly. She nodded and smiled.
‘I do. You were so scared. You were scared to touch me because you feared you’d hurt me or the baby but even more so, you were terrified you’d be a horrible father,’ she said.
‘I was scared, terrified even that I could be like my own father,’ I said but she shook her head.
‘You’re so far from that Taehyungie. You’re the perfect dad for Minho and Soraya and for our little one who is still growing,’ she said while I rubbed at her belly. ‘They’re lucky to have you Taehyungie and they love you, hell, they adore you,’ she said and I nodded.
‘I hope to make them proud of me and that you would never, never feel the way I felt growing up,’ I said.
‘Well I can assure you that you are doing a great job,’ she said. ‘What happened today, that isn’t on you,’ she said.
I sighed as I shook my head. She may not be able to communicate with me through the mind link but it was still as if she could read my inner thoughts.
‘I still feel like it is my fault Alina. He came to our home because of me. He hurt you, Huening Kai, Jimin, Hoseok and Jungkook because he wanted me. He took Minho because he wanted me. I might be able to forgive myself for that because you’re all safe here in my arms now but he killed…he killed Alex, Alina,’ I said, the tears finally giving in.
‘I know. I know it’s hard and it’s unfair. It’s cruel and vile, especially because he was still a kid, but it’s still does not make it your fault. We could have never known what was going to happen. You did your best to protect all of our pack but it’s not your fault,’ she said.
I sighed and said nothing but she allowed me to have the silence. Instead, she huddled into me and rested her head against my chest. I rubbed her back, wanting to make sure she was warm. I felt her calming down, almost falling asleep until we heard a scream. Alina quickly pulled away from me, looking worried. ‘Minho,’ she whispered as we both took off in a hurried pace.
We saw the others in the corridor as we all hurried to the kids’ room. I opened the door and rushed inside to find Minho crying while Soraya kept patting his thigh. ‘Shh oppa…oppa pwease don’t cry,’ Soraya said, tearing up herself. I rushed towards Minho as I took him in my arms and sat on the bed. Soraya was quick to climb onto my lap, not wanting to let go of her brother.
‘Shh what’s wrong Minhoni hmm?’ I asked as I rubbed his back. He was sniffing, trying to calm down.
‘Bad dream Papa. I had a bad dream,’ he said.
‘Oh baby,’ I said as I hugged him tighter. Alina sat down on the bed, her eyes becoming teary as well. ‘It’s okay sweetie, you’re safe here,’ I said.
‘How about I’ll go make you some hot cocoa with marshmallows hmm?’ Jin asked. Minho perked his head up and nodded sheepishly.
‘That sounds good Papa,’ Minho said. Jin smiled and came to give him a kiss. I watched as Jin left to the kitchen with Namjoon following behind him.
‘Oppa you okay?’ Soraya asked. Minho smiled and nodded.
‘Sorry for giving you a fright,’ Minho said to which Soraya just giggled. She jumped on me and hugged him tightly.
‘That’s okay Oppa because I still love you,’ she said, squeezing him so hard that I thought he might just snap. Minho laughed and hugged her once more.
‘What about if we watch a Disney movie and we all cuddle together hmm?’ Jimin asked as he sat on the bed and kissed Minho’s feet.
‘Hmm that does sound like a good idea Papa Jimin,’ Alina said with a smile but I knew that behind that smile there was also a lot of worry.
‘Can we watch Lilo and Stitch please?’ Minho asked. I smiled, knowing he was asking for that because it was Soraya’s favourite movie.
‘Ohana!’ Soraya yelled as she clapped excitedly.
‘That’s right baby. Ohana. Do you remember what Ohana means?’ Jungkook asked.
‘It means family!!’ she replied just as excitedly as before.
‘And family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.’ Hoseok said with a smile as he quoted the movie.
