Chapter Text
"They look good together, don't they?" a familiar voice startles Hoseok. He looks behind him and sees Wooshik looking incredibly handsome. It appears that Wooshik made an effort to dress to impress before coming to the wedding.
He follows Wooshik's gaze. Wooshik is looking at Jungkook and Taehyung, who are dancing and smiling at each other. The scene is so sweet and heartwarming. Hoseok feels a twinge of envy towards his best friend. Jungkook has found himself a beautiful and kindhearted mate.

"Would you like to dance, sunshine?" Wooshik asks, offering his hand to Hoseok and pulling him out of his stupor. The beta doctor smiles and accepts his hand. Wooshik helps him up, and they both walk towards the dance floor.
The music changes to something romantic. Wooshik places his hands around Hoseok's waist, while the latter's hands rest on his shoulders. They harmoniously sway their bodies, their eyes conveying deep feelings for each other. Hoseok leans closer to Wooshik's neck, inhaling the calming scent of the rainforest. Wooshik allows him as he pulls the doctor closer, closing the gap between their bodies. Hoseok looks up, his breath hitching, and sees Wooshik with a warm smile on his face. Hoseok swears he looks like an angel right now. If only the beta doctor knew that behind that innocent face hides another side of Wooshik, the side he dreads the most.

"C-Can I kiss you, my sunshine?" Wooshik asks, meeting his gaze.
Hoseok, overwhelmed, tries to speak but words refuse to come out of his throat. The thrumming of his heart mutes his words so he just nods. Wooshik cups his chin and leans closer, capturing Hoseok's lips with his own. As their lips touch, Hoseok feels the spark of their connection. They deepen the kiss, everything becomes a blur, nothing seems to matter except the blissful feeling of finally satiating the desire to show how much they crave this, how much their hearts yearn for each other.
Taehyung and Jungkook glance at their friends who are kissing as if they are the only ones there, unmindful of the teasing gaze their friends are throwing their way. Jungkook is happy that his Hoseok hyung seemed to finally relented and given love a chance. Taehyung is happy too, but he can't help but be worried for them, especially for Wooshik. Jungkook senses Taehyung's turmoil. "Tae, are you okay?" He asks the omega, who looks up to meet his eyes. The newlywed pair is seated at their table, resting after their first dance.
"I'm worried for them. You also know about Wooshik's curse, right? I told him to come clean and show Hoseok hyung his snake form but he refused. He said to give him more time. I'm afraid that if they have already fallen deeply in love, the revelation would cause them more pain. Wooshik doesn't deserve to bear that curse. He’s the kindest person I know. I still feel guilty. If I hadn't left him to protect you in that cave, he wouldn't have encountered that deity and been cursed,” he whispered softly. Luna has shared with him everything about their past and relationship with Endymion through their connection, so he’s also aware of Wooshik and the deity who cursed his friend.
Jungkook hugs him, running his hand gently on the omega's back. "I understand your fears but you have to believe in the power of love. There's a saying: Love conquers all. Maybe Hoseok hyung is the one who will break Wooshik's curse."
Taehyung feels a wave of relief wash over him with Jungkook's words. "I hope so. What about you? What are we going to do with your curse? Your wolf has to wake up before Kihyun takes over the head alpha position. This pack will be doomed if Kihyun becomes its leader. If only Luna knows how to break the curse. We will do anything for you and your wolf."
"Thank you, Tae but let's not think about it right now. This is our special day," Jungkook murmurs, leaning in to kiss Taehyung on the forehead.
Just then, Namjin and Yoonmin join their table. "The head alpha talked to me earlier," Namjoon starts, settling in the chair beside Jin. "He wants to hold a competition and whoever wins will be the next head alpha," Namjoon discloses to his bewildered friends.
"Kihyun will be furious if he learns about it," Jin comments, looking at Taehyung and Jungkook. "He has been preparing all his life to succeed Head Alpha Junseo. Luna Hira won't accept it either. That crazy greedy woman wants everything for herself and her son."
"Well, they don't have a choice if the head alpha already made his decision. What will happen next, Joon? Are you competing for the position?" Yoongi asks the taller alpha.

"I will. I can't let Kihyun get the position without a fight. Obsidian's fate and the lives of our pack members are on the line. I can't let a vile wolf like Kihyun lead us," Namjoon replies with firm resolve. He looks at Jungkook. "You should compete too. There will be three categories: hunting, weapons and physical combat. Let's train together. There will be a week's interval between each category."
"Jungkook could very well excel in the hunting and weapons categories but I doubt it with physical combat. His wolf is dormant. He's as good as a human," Jimin points out the obvious. "I mean no offense, just stating facts. If only you had Tae's power and strength, physical combat would be a piece of cake for you," he says, feeling extremely proud of his best friend.
"Wait, are you saying Tae can defeat an alpha, an alpha like Kihyun?" Jin incredulously asks, his eyes wide in disbelief because alphas are the strongest wolves and omegas like them are the weakest in terms of physical strength.
"You should have seen how he obliterated the rogues that attacked us without even touching them. He killed them with a wave of his hand," Yoongi confirms Jimin's words.
"If you're that powerful, can you make Jungkook's wolf wake up so that he'll have a better chance against Kihyun? Jungkook is the rightful heir, but since his wolf is dormant, the head alpha can't give him the position," Namjoon looks at Taehyung with hopeful eyes.
"I'm cursed," Jungkook chimes in before Taehyung can respond to Namjoon. "A powerful witch placed a curse on me when I was born."
"It's true, and even though I have Luna, the wolf of the moon goddess, the most powerful wolf inside me, I still can't undo Jungkook's curse. The witch also tied her life to the curse, making it impossible for me to kill her even if I wanted to. Only she knows how to break it. But I won't give up until I find a way to reverse the curse," Taehyung replies, his eyes flickering from hazel to purple.
Jin and Namjoon's jaws drop, their eyes bulging in their sockets at what they had just heard. "Your wolf is Luna-Selene's wolf? How?" Namjoon utters in disbelief.
"My wolf sacrificed his life so I could live even for a few minutes after we were born. Luna replaced my dead wolf, and because of her, I'm alive," Taehyung explains.
After recovering from the shock, Jin opens his mouth to speak. "But why would Selene's wolf come down here when she belongs up there in the gods' realms? Why would she exchange the comfort of her realm with our pack just to save Tae?" Jin asks, unable to believe that a god would come down to the mortal world just to save an insignificant werewolf, and a barren one at that. She also chose Tae over Selene, a powerful goddess. It doesn't make sense.
"Because she followed her lover here to Obsidian," Jungkook answers for Taehyung.
"Lover?" Namjoon asks with a frown. "Do you mean Endymion? Endymion is here. Wow! I would love to meet him," He says, his eyes twinkling with excitement.
"Demon, who?" Jin asks, exasperated by Namjoon's giddy expression. His mate acts like he’s fangirling over that Demon guy or whatever his name is. He’s not jealous, of course, because he's worldwide handsome and he believes no one can be more handsome than him. But Namjoon's next words catch him off guard, causing his mouth to open and close like a fish.
"Endymion, not Demon. He was the most handsome human to ever live, so much so that even the gods were said to be envious of his looks," Namjoon replies with dreamy eyes, his chin resting on his palm. "Do you know that he fathered 50 daughters with Selene/Luna?"
Jungkook chokes on his drink as a blush creeps across Taehyung's face.
"Fifty, damn! I was right all along, the gods and goddesses are horny all the time. Sex must be their favorite pastime," Jimin mischievously smirks while Taehyung's purple orbs sharply glares at him.
Yoongi wraps a protective arm around Jimin when he notices Taehyung's deathly glare. "Chim, don't taunt his wolf or she might turn our kitty into a toad. If that happens, I’ll leave the bug hunting to you alone to feed our baby toad."
"Yuck, I wouldn't dream of it! Please don't turn our little kitty into a toad. Forgive me, Luna, your highness, your awesomeness, your gorgeousness. I won't say it again even if it's the truth," Jimin laughs, almost falling from his chair.
Their friends also laugh at that. When the laughter dies down, Namjoon asks again, "But seriously, do you know where Endymion is? Is he really here in Obsidian?"
Jungkook awkwardly scratches his neck. "Uhm, he has become my wolf."
"Huh, really?! That explains Jungkook's exceptionally good looks," Namjoon comments but shrinks in his seat when Taehyung/Luna snarls at him.
Namjoon raises both hands in surrender. "Don't be jealous of me, Tae. I'm not going to snatch Jungkook from you. Ew, I'm not into incest, and I have a gorgeous mate beside me. I'm just curious because I love to read about gods and goddesses," Namjoon explains. "And it actually makes sense how the witch was able to use Endymion's essence to curse Jungkook's wolf into a deep slumber. Endymion was asleep most of the time because he chose it to preserve his youth and beauty."
"Is there really no way to know how to break the curse?" asks Jimin.
Taehyung shakes his head. "Even Selene doesn't know how to undo the curse." He answers with downcast eyes. Jungkook squeezes his hand to comfort him.
"But you still have to compete, Jungkook. Don't let Kihyun take your birthright. You are supposed to be the next head alpha. Don't give it up without a fight. I will help you train for the competition," Namjoon urges his cousin.
"Kihyun will shred him to pieces, Namjoon hyung. Without his alpha, Jungkook can't defeat Kihyun. And I'm not allowed to use my powers to help him. That would be cheating. The highest god will punish me by imprisoning me with Kronos in Tartarus," Taehyung replies dejectedly.
"Jungkook should try, and if in physical combat he feels that he's at a disadvantage, he can concede," Jin gives his opinion.
"I agreed with Namjoon and Jin, Tae. We can't let Kihyun lead your pack," Yoongi cuts in.
Jungkook and Taehyung look at each other, weighing the pros and cons of their friends' suggestions. Jungkook wants to try but Taehyung is anxious for him.
After a while, Hoseok joins them, alone. Wooshik is nowhere in sight, and Taehyung assumes that the male has bolted out again. His time being human for the day is up and he probably goes back to the forest to hide his transformation.
"Where's your lover boy? I just saw you and him eating each other's faces a while ago," Jin asks Hoseok with a teasing grin.
"He has Cinderella syndrome. I'm honestly frustrated. We can't even spend a day together because he has to run off to god knows where," Hoseok responds with a deep sigh.
"Oh, are you perhaps falling in love with him? Are you going to finally break your vow of celibacy?" Jimin inquires, moving his eyebrows up and down.
"He is nice, fun to be with and caring. I'm starting to like him. But his constant disappearance is bothering me. What if I accept him to be my mate and he leaves and never comes back like I don't matter to him?" Hoseok voices his worries.
"What if he's also cursed like Jungkook? What if he's hiding something that would make you abhor him?" Namjoon asks after analyzing Wooshik's behavior.
Hoseok turns his attention to Taehyung. "Well, is he? He's your friend. Do you know if he's cursed like Kook?"
"He is." Jungkook drops the bomb. Hoseok stares at him as if he has grown two horns.
"Is his wolf also dormant like yours?" Hoseok asks him.
"No, Wooshik has no wolf. He was born a human just like Endymion," Taehyung responds, meeting Hoseok's wide eyes.
"Do you know why he always disappears on me? Why does he always run as if rogues are chasing him?" Hoseok asks again.
"Do you love him, Hoseok hyung? Wooshik has two forms. Can you accept both?" Taehyung gazes back at him.
"What is his other form? Does he become a monster or something?" Hoseok's voice quivers. What if Wooshik is the beast in Beauty and the Beast? Hoseok knows he himself is beautiful and he wouldn't mind being called Beauty, but can he really accept it if Wooshik turns out to be the beast, his beast? "Does he turn into a beast like in the fairy tale?"
Taehyung chuckles at that. "I can't tell you that. You should wait until Wooshik is ready to show you his other form." The omega looks suddenly sombre and pensive. "Hoseok hyung, please try to be understanding towards Woo. He has suffered enough, all he's asking for is a little love, a little empathy because none of this is his fault. He was a victim, hyung."
"That bad, huh?! Is Wooshik's other form really terrifying?" Hoseok waits for Taehyung to answer him.
"It's for Wooshik to show you and for you to judge," Taehyung vaguely replies.
🪷
Their guests have already left, and the couple retire to their bedroom. Jungkook grabs a shirt and a pair of sweatpants from the closet before he steps out of the bedroom to shower in the other bathroom while Taehyung uses the bathroom in their room.
When he comes back to their room, he finds Taehyung already seated on their bed waiting for him.
"Do you want to compete for the head alpha position?" Taehyung asks, moving a little to the side so Jungkook can sit beside him.
Jungkook sits on the bed, pulling Taehyung closer to him. His hand remains around the omega's waist as he leans their backs against the headboard. Taehyung rests his head on Jungkook's chest. "I want to compete. I want to show our pack mates that I'm not useless and weak. I know you're worried but I promise to be careful. I will train hard with Namjoon hyung." Jungkook replies as he kisses Taehyung on the cheek, leaving Taehyung feeling helpless. He has the most powerful wolf, but he can't help his husband. What if Kihyun kills Jungkook? The thought of losing Jungkook is unbearable and very painful. Despite his fears, he knows he needs to support Jungkook's decision and see how it goes.