Tainted Fate (Chanjin/Hyunchan)

Chapter 43

(Credits to the rightful owners.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FELLOW STAYS! TIME OUT was the best gift ever. We truely are the luckiest fandom😭🥺❤

Chan P.O.V

When I usually hug my mate, it was Hyunjin's tendancy to sink his face in my neck if he felt elated. And on the other hand, if he was tensed he would rest his head on my chest, to listen to my heartbeats.

But in this moment he just sat straight, he didn't lean in to my touch like he would every other time. His body felt almost stiff in my arms.

The rain seemed to become heavier and heavier with every passing second and the sound of thunder was getting wilder as well. I knew it wasn't safe to stay near so many tall trees being at risk of lightening strikes. So, I reluctantly pulled away from Hyunjin after what felt like hours.

It was dark but I could still make out his eyes, which once again wouldn't meet mine. The raindrops had almost wiped away all the blood from his face and I could sense my wolf getting extremely agitated seeing the deep wound on my lovely mate's forehead. A shaky sigh escaped my mouth as the thought of getting Hyunjin to the infirmary as soon as possible occupied all the previous queries in my head.

I quickly got up as I turned to our brothers, who had returned after burying the poor horse from earlier under the damp forest grass. I told them to tranform into their wolves. It would be easier and faster for us to travel since we don't have our horses. I looked at Hyunjin again to see that he was still sitting on the ground with his head hung low. Shiver shook his drenced body almost unnoticeably a couple of times.

"Hey. Let's go home. Don't want you to catch a cold pup." I said to him softly as I crouched down.

I could sense that for some reason he was unwilling to leave this place but he didn't protest when I held his shoulders and helped him back on his feet. Actually he didn't say anything at all. My hand brushed over the collar of his shirt and it seemed to be was somewhat torn. I couldn't see it properly in the dark and heavy rain. And before I could directly enquire him about that I was interrupted.

"Hyung!" Changbin mindlinked me as I heard shuffling in the background, indicating that the rest had tranformed.

"Hyunjin, we will have to change into our wolves now. Is that okay with you?"

Yet again he didn't respond. Not verbally. It seemed like he was contemplating something as he shut his eyes for a moment. He took out what appeared to be a little box from his pocket and held it in his mouth between his teeth. Then suddenly he leaped forward taking the shape of his elegant white wolf as his clothes tore apart into pieces.

I transformed into my wolf form as well and moved to the front to lead the pack. We began our journey back to the palace. I could feel the muscles of one of my forelimbs contracting painfully due to the silver wound. I knew it was not suitable to transform when one is injured anyway but I couldn't be concerned about that now. Not when my mind automatically drifted to that one person.

I kept my gaze on Hyunjin through the corner of my eyes on the entire way. My wolf eyes helped me see much better in that environment. And I noticed that as he ran with the same box clenched between his fangs, his eyes, which possessed the hue of the deepest oceans, which held galaxies of stars within them, now they seemed to be lacking the usual sparkle.

I felt a tug in my heart for reasons I couldn't fully comprehend. I needed to have a proper conversation with him. But that had to wait till we reached home. However, the thing is I was not only getting impatient but also strangely anxious.

Soon the palace gates came to our vision. My eomma and appa as well as Hyunjin's parents were about to mount their horses with several soldiers lining up behind them with their weapons. I also noticed an unfamiliar man with grey hair and a walking stick in his hand, standing right next to the my appa. His grey eyes held a subtle tint of purple in them indicating his beta self.