Fallen (Book 2 of Rise and Fall)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Hoseok has gone mad as days passed by without seeing Jimin, and there's no source of any human blood around the area—the only food that he drank was blood from animals, though it wasn't enough but it could still leave Hoseok with a little strength.

Questions rises in his mind, such as did Jimin leave him? Did someone took him? Or did Jimin go back to the palace? The last question was very much convincing yet risky. Jimin is a Duke, there's no way that he'll be taken despite being weak, right?

So pretty sure, Hoseok made his way towards the Palace—not caring if Namjoon will see him or not. He just needed to see if Jimin was okay, and he will protect him at all cost. Jimin was the only one left for him, and if Hoseok will lose him too, he doesn't know what to do.

Though he was hesitating to go back, he still went to the Palace, and to his surprise, no one was there. The palace was quiet with no one around, not a single guard was stationed at the back of the palace where he planned to enter. And when he was about to, a familiar voice called him from behind.

"Hoseok?" He turned around to face that person, and when he did, his once pale skin turned even more pale when he saw someone he knew too much. His eyes widened, heart beats faster and his breath hitched at the sight in front of him.

"Caroline?"

"Hoseok?" The woman repeated, a look a of surprise written on her face.

"What are you doing here, Caroline?" Hoseok took a step back, shocked by her sudden presence.

"I'm here to help Taehyung..." Caroline cleared her throat, feeling the awkwardness surrounding the two of them.

There wasn't anyone around, not a single person was at the back of the Palace except the two of them. And they would never have thought that they would meet again in the same place they met months ago.

"It's been more than 4 months since I last seen you." Caroline broke the eerie silence, fidgeting her fingers.

It was true. It's been four months since the two have seen each other—in the same place they are now.

And even with that span of four months, Hoseok can still feel the love overflowing his body again as soon as he laid his eyes at the woman he set his heart to from the very start.

Hoseok gulped, blinking twice and still unable to process anything. But what made him confused as to why Caroline answered him with her helping Taehyung.

"Taehyung? What about Taehyung?" Hoseok took a deep breath, anxiety filled him with anticipation. "Is he still alive? What happened—"

But then screams could be hear from afar making the two of them snapped their head towards the palace. Hoseok only then realised what was going on. His jaw dropped in disbelief.

"You attacked the palace?" Caroline nodded, hesitantly making Hoseok's jaw clenched.

"W-Why?" Hoseok's lips dried, throat became raspy. He doesn't have any idea why, but the thought of someone so important to her is inside the palace, he was frightened. He wanted to tell her that someone is out there—that Seokjin is inside the palace.

If they attack the palace now, he would be killed as well—Seokjin, Caroline's love of her life, would be killed.

"It's because people are suffering under Namjoon's rule already." Caroline sighed, telling the truth.

Hoseok looked at her, astonished before he snorted, and little tears forming on his eyes. "After—"

He cut himself off as he laughed bitterly, amazed by how Caroline was being like this. "After what you did to your own race? You now cared for other races?"

"What are you talking about?" Caroline was taken aback by his words, demented as to what he was implying.

The Duke stopped laughing, sending a piercing gaze at the she-wolf as he took a step forward. "The murder at the Grand Ball."

Caroline froze—heart fastened wildly. Hoseok spat bitterly. "You were the one who caused your race to suffer."

The she-wolf furrowed her eyebrows, not daring to avoid the cold gaze Hoseok was giving her.

"It's not like you weren't helping back then!" Caroline snarled making the Duke felt his blood boiled at the thought of what he did just for her.

Caroline wanted to challenged the Duke, stepping forward—facing each other with firing glares shot.

"Now tell me Hoseok," she paused, crossing her arms over her chest. "I know you hated betrayals."

She added, with a smirk. "Tell me, why did you helped me back then if you didn't even want it?"

Hoseok leaned away, not leaving her gaze as he mentally admitted that this woman made him back down in defeat. She has Jung Hoseok wrapped around her little finger.

He wanted to scream the feelings he has right now as he recalled the reason why he gave up that day when they talked, and let himself have her way.

It's because he was in love with her.

He was a foolish man for falling in love with someone who doesn't even love him. A man who was dumbly been struck by a woman who has her heart taken by someone else. A man so stuck with his unrequited love for a thousand years to a woman who was taken by his own best friend.

Hoseok wanted to shout his feelings for her but he was tongue tied. He couldn't talk, the woman made him breathless.

Caroline rolled her eyes, scoffing. "You couldn't even tell me the reason."

Hoseok gulped down his saliva, letting the woman grumble, and let his heart be crumpled by her words.

"You, yourself betrays people too, Hoseok. You betrayed Taehyung by helping me, you were the one who initiated and triggered Taehyung to kill all the werewolves!"

Hoseok held back his tears as he eyed the woman he loved.

"It was you who helped me." She spits out.

[FLASHBACK]

"Hoseok-ah..." Her voice resonated the area as he looked back to see her.

His eyes widened—the woman who appeared in front of him was the same woman who made his heart beat for the first time. It was the same woman who he longed to see for a thousand years already.

He was breathless as the woman got near him. "Caroline?"

"It's been a long time, huh?" Hoseok nodded, agreeing. He exhaled, eyes staring at those beautiful eyes—remembering something when silence filled the area.

"Caroline..." He smiled, excited to tell her a good news that could make his beloved smile as well—even if it hurts him, but if she will smile, everything will be okay.

"Caroline, about Jin hyung—"

"Look, Hobi." Caroline whimpered, her voice cracked, and didn't even hear Hoseok's words. That's when Hoseok noticed the facial expression she has. It was unreadable and lifeless.

"I need a favor."

Hoseok's eyebrows knotted. "What favor?"

"I know you are a Duke," She trailed off. "I saw you back then with someone who introduced himself as a King at someone's pack. I was there and only then I realized you were a Duke."

She pressed her lips into thin line. "I didn't care about the vampire kingdom, so I didn't mind knowing the King and Dukes."

"You knew?" Hoseok's breath hitched. He didn't expect for Caroline to know since Duke's has never let anyone see their faces except for the official reporters of the palace, those maids, and those who needed to see them.

And if there happens to be an interview, their faces would be blurred as to avoid any danger towards the Royal Family and Dukes.

She smiled weakly. "And I'm glad you're a Duke."

"Why?"

That's how the two spent their time having a conversation about her killing someone at the Grand Ball. And Hoseok being the fool, he believed everything, and just let Caroline control him.

"You were the one who killed the vampire last night?" Caroline nodded, eyes dropping to the ground in shame.

"W-Why?" Hoseok stammered, completely melted at the beautiful scene.

"Because I had to protect someone." Caroline replied with sorrow. "So please help me. Tell Taehyung about the case, and discuss with him about killing the entire werewolf race."

[END OF FLASHBACK]

And even 'til now, Hoseok doesn't have any idea as to why she took action of asking him to kill her own race.

"Tía!" someone called Caroline making her jerked her head away towards the forest, and when she looked back in front again,

Hoseok was already gone.