Moonlit Shadows

The Best Is Yet To Come

"Excuse me? You're what?"

Jaci watched Jungkook's jaw muscles flexed as he clenched his teeth together.

Hoseok smiled stiffly and shrugged. "I received an offer from Zephyr that I couldn't refuse. And I think the kids and I need a fresh start."

Hoseok leaned back against the sofa and left his hands folded in his lap.

"You belong here. If it's the house you can have it. Jaci and I can live somewhere else. But Hyung, this is your home." Jungkook's expression softened as he pleaded with Hoseok. Leaning forward he studied the former Alpha intently.

Hoseok slowly nodded. "Yes, this will always be our home. But I think it's time the kids and I made a new home that's just ours. Their mother is gone and I think being in a place that isn't a constant reminder will help us all heal."

"Does this mean you're headed back to England?" asked Jaci.

Hoseok nodded. "Yes. Zephyr is giving us an adequate cottage in the countryside. The village is entirely populated with werewolves so the kids will be with our own kind in school and surrounded by our kind when they're out and about."

Jaci nodded thoughtfully and her eyes skirted to Jungkook. He looked lost in troubled thoughts. His brow was furrowed and his leg began to bounce up and down at a rapid rate. His gaze was now glued to the floor as if he was looking through each strand of the carpet.

Hoseok could feel the tension in the air and he tried to diffuse the situation with the ticking time bomb that was seated in the large chair.

"Jungkook," he said softly, using the Alpha's name instead of his title. "This isn't because I can't serve under you. This has nothing to do with you being the new Alpha."

Jungkook's eyes narrowed as they locked onto Hoseok. "I can't help but feel like it does."

Hoseok's head lowered and now he was the one staring at the floor. His hands clasped and released each other as he worked out what he wanted to say. Finally, his mouth opened and words came spilling out.

"It has everything to do with Ga-Eun, our dreams, and the future my children have. My wife wanted to make a better world for our kids. I'm wasting her research if I just sit here and file it away and do nothing with it. As much as Zephyr isn't my favorite person, he is extremely intelligent and the research Ga-Eun left behind needs to be used. And to be even more honest, she and I wanted to live abroad eventually anyway. She always wanted our kids to experience other cultures. I'm just trying to honor her memory, Kook."

Jungkook's eyes shifted away from the former Alpha and tears threatened to spill down his cheeks. He had no right to keep Hoseok here just because this was where he had always been. He wasn't asking too much to be able to move somewhere and do something different for a while. Afterall, Ga-Eun's essence could still be felt all over the pack grounds.

"You may go," said Jungkook, his voice cracking as emotion clouded his tone.

Hoseok smiled regretfully and stood to his feet. He held his hand out to Jungkook who looked up with a puzzled expression.

"C'mon up here and give me a hug," said Hoseok, his smile growing wider.

Jungkook begrudgingly complied and fussed as Hoseok pulled him into a tight hug. Slowly Jungkook's arms found their way around Hoseok's torso and the two brothers clung tightly to one another.

"You were supposed to be here by my side to help guide me," Jungkook said in a cracked whisper.

Hoseok gripped the younger Alpha tighter. "You're already a great Alpha, Jungkook. You just needed someone to help you see that. And you already married her. Also, if you get out of line, Jimin will be here to whip you into shape."