Chapter 14: The Darkness That Lurks

                                    

                                          
Seokjin walked along the dimly lit path as the last rays of the sun disappeared behind the mountains, casting the streets into twilight. The marketplace was far behind him now, and he had decided to make his way back to the palace, the uneasy feeling in his chest growing stronger with every step. The streets were becoming eerily quiet, and as he hurried his pace, he couldn't shake the sense that something was terribly wrong.
Soon, Seokjin felt a presence—no, three presences—looming behind him. His heart raced, and he turned his head slightly, catching sight of three men approaching, their figures shadowed in the dusk. They moved with a strange, predatory grace, their eyes gleaming unnaturally. Seokjin's breath caught in his throat as he felt their intent radiating off them, thick and suffocating.
The men closed in, their movements quick and decisive, as if they were drawn to Seokjin's very presence. Their souls had long since lost control of themselves, blinded by desire and the need to overpower and conquer whatever stood in their path. The one leading the group was tall with a cruel smile, and his eyes flashed with hunger as he set his sights on Seokjin.
"Where are you going, beautiful?" the man asked, his voice dripping with malice.
Seokjin's feet stilled for a moment, panic paralyzing him as he took in their menacing stances. His instincts screamed at him to flee, but before he could move, one of the men grabbed his wrist tightly.
"I—I'm just passing through," Seokjin stammered, his voice shaking. He tried to pull his arm free, but the grip tightened.
The leader chuckled darkly, stepping closer to Seokjin, his face mere inches from his. "Oh, we'll let you pass... after we've had our fun."
Panic surged through Seokjin as they began dragging him off the road and into the shadows of a narrow alley, where no one could see or hear him. His heart pounded in his chest, terror engulfing him.
"No, please! Let me go!" Seokjin pleaded, his voice rising with desperation. He struggled, but the men were stronger, their souls too corrupted to feel anything but their own twisted desires.
"Keep quiet," one of them snarled, yanking Seokjin's arm so hard he gasped in pain.
They pushed him into a secluded shed, locking the door behind them. The space was cramped, damp, and dark. Seokjin's breath quickened as the reality of his situation sank in. One of the men pushed him down, pinning him by the shoulders, while another gripped his legs to stop him from thrashing. Seokjin's fear reached its peak, his vision blurring with tears.
Far away in the palace, Namjoon felt something shift deep within him. It wasn't a conscious thought, more like a sharp tug on his emotions—a flare of fear, but it wasn't his own. His hand moved to his wrist, where he had placed a temporary tattoo on Seokjin's skin weeks ago, a discreet magical mark that allowed him to feel Seokjin's emotions at a distance. And now, that mark burned with Seokjin's fear.
Namjoon's heart raced as the sensation coursed through him, the urgency unmistakable. Something was wrong—very wrong. He didn't know where Seokjin was, but he could feel the terror radiating from him. Without a second thought, Namjoon teleported, focusing on Seokjin's energy. His mate was in danger, and nothing would stop him from getting to him.
Back in the palace, Yoongi, Jimin, and Taehyung had arrived. Namjoon's mother, the Queen Mother, immediately recognized the situation Jimin was in. The chamber reserved for heats and ruts was prepared swiftly. The chamber, designed to isolate anyone undergoing such intense experiences, was fortified by ancient magic. Invisible soldiers, immune to the scent of heat or rut, guarded the room. The walls were enchanted to keep any sound—be it cries, screams, or moans—contained. No one outside would know what was happening within.