Dear lovely readers,

This chapter holds the heart of this story. It will seem short because of the revelations of thick emotions but its a really important chapter from the Royal Alpha's prespective. This chapter will show you the continuation of the previous chapter.

I hope you will enjoy this reading session.

Make sure to keep pillows, because pillows are the best companions.

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A staggered breath fell out of Jungkook's lips when he placed his face close to the Alpha's shoulder. The cloak of the Alpha was still wrapped around him, wafting the scent of sandalwood. But his nostrils flared and surpassed the boundary of his collarbones before inhaling the scent from the treasured spot.

He was aware of the Alpha's hold around his waist so he loosened up his own and slithered his hands above the Alpha's shoulder. These stretched hands provided Jungkook with some more space to finish in between their bodies. His shirt once again skidded above, leaving the waist and ribs bare to the surroundings.

Taehyung enclosed his arm around the bare skin, covering it with the loose scuffles of his sleeves. He noticed the change in the omega's breaths, mild sighs and slow inhales. He watched how the omega nuzzled his face in his neck before wrapping his hands tightly around his shoulders.

The Alpha held the slacked body against his own, still standing on the threshold of the hanok. His grey eyes roamed around the premises of the mountain before one of his hands tightened its hold on the hips of the omega. He used the coiled arm to hoist the omega, and jostled his body upward till their torsos slumped together as he stepped inside the chamber.

Jungkook's feet hovered above the front calves of the Alpha, his body rising, giving him more expanse to embrace the shoulders. He was trying his best to feel some dignity or some shame or some esteem but as if the mere smile of the Alpha had outshined all of his values when he buried them behind his closed eyes.

Their hairs were still damp from the bath, his own sprawled against his back and some tresses coiled on his shoulders. He held his breath when he felt the Alpha closing the door behind them.

The Alpha looked above the left shoulder of the omega and finally, the interior of the chamber attracted his attention. The hanok wasn't big or too small, a collectively defined place containing some armour in the corner and holding a few wooden chests in the other. Away from the four walls of the chamber, a double mattress was placed at the centre on a wooden plank, covered with cotton sheets.

A wooden table with cushions was placed just beneath the window, the palate of the table holds some reports and books. Beside the table, a large pot of water was occupying the space. Three flambeaus were illuminating the whole chamber conjointly, two at the front door and one beside the bed. The floor was made with mud and bricks, a clean and carefully crafted chamber that had Taehyung in a trance for the moments to come.

He discarded his shoes slowly, not wanting to spoil something that the omega had prepared so diligently. Removing his shoes while hoisting the omega in his arms results in a decrement in the Alpha's height. Now his nose was pressed into the omega's left shoulder and the faint wetness of pine flattened his eyes even before he could take some whiffs of the air. His nose runs from the omega's shoulder to the joint junction of his neck, forcing his eyes to close in between the dark red tresses.

Two bodies were standing in the middle of the chamber, wafting the image of one soul. If one would dare to express this moment, he would take an example of an ocean and an adamant glacier.

A Glacier that once was standing in the abandoned calmness… was now enveloped by the arms of a vast ocean. The ocean who accepts every falling iceberg of the glacier, tiny or big, flat or sharp right into his arms. The ocean who accepts the melting of pure ice till its pureness emerges and spreads in its deepest part. And that abandoned Glacier? He can't stop his falling icebergs anymore. He can't stop the parts of him that surge forward to grab those arms so he won't be left abandoned… once again. It's like a fresh breath as if the ocean was buoying up all of his burden, providing a sense of liberation.

If one can express the image of two bodies like this then how difficult it would be to realise who among them bears the tranquillity of the ocean and who among them has started to shed his pieces of calmness one by one.

The world of affection between two bodies doesn't depend on the speeches of the mind. It doesn't depend on the racing thoughts of wrong or right, when their hearts are coiling around each other's scent. It actually depends on the unbearable grip of the Alpha around his mate, and it actually depends on the soft gasp of the omega as he curled his fingers over the ruffled collars.

Taehyung took a step ahead, their eyes were still closed and the Alpha was walking so surely as if he had the details of the chamber memorised already. His steps were slow but with each step, he could feel the resilient tugs on his collars. The tugs were from the omega who wanted him to stop walking, the reason remains unsaid but it was enough for Taehyung to open his eyes and divert his gaze.

“Have you not liked the present for my forgiveness?” Taehyung asked as he stood, pressing the calves of the omega to the edge of the mattress. With the utmost careful notions of his arms, the Alpha loosened up his hold till the omega stood on the floor.

Jungkook opened his eyes dejectedly, face still hidden in the Alpha's shoulder, “Who said that?” It wasn't Jungkook's fault for not knowing about his surroundings anymore. His mind, and his heart both were swirling with his body, it's hard to remember if he had said something like this or not. He wished he hadn't because that's not the truth. At all.

Taehyung kept standing while holding the omega against his body, “Your eyes. Your falling smile.” His gaze moved from the omega's shoulder till his eyes caught a bunch of tresses coiled under the omega's cheek.

Jungkook felt the warm breath falling over his flushed cheek, turning his fist white around the Alpha's collars. His body was still secured under the confines of the strong arms, after all, he couldn't comprehend when and how his body got drained of all kinds of strength. But he needs to talk, he needs to tell his mate that what he had assumed or read is very very wrong.

With one slow inhale, Jungkook opened his eyes, recognising the sharp jaw of the Alpha right away. His mate was looking at him, his coherent gaze sending sparks all over his face. He looked up and raised his head till his face mirrored the Alpha. He gulped to check his throat before speaking, “ You may have read them wrong. Your smile…is the most cherished reward of mine.”

The Alpha raised his one hand and separated the wet tresses from the omega's cheek one by one. He could see the dull gaze of the omega, heavy eyelids trying hard to flutter and occupy a wide space but the omega was failing again and again.

“Was it a smile?” He couldn't help but ask the omega because it's been ages for the Alpha to practise this feature of his face.

Jungkook tilted his head towards the touch when the Alpha tucked the tresses behind his ear and looked at him, “A beautiful one.”

Their eyes met again and Taehyung read the affirmation in the halfway-opened eyes of the omega. He hadn't seen him this exhausted before, “How many territorial rounds have you performed today?” He had to ask because he could see the dizziness in the way the omega closed his eyes again.

He moved his hand away from the omega's cheek. However, he didn't stop gliding it over his ear. Its motions continued as the Alpha brought his hand a bit lower till it reached the bare ribs of the omega. His fingertips caught the raised flares of the shirt before yanking it down. The back of that hand touched the omega's hips and Taehyung used that touch to push him back.

Jungkook was solely standing because of his grip around the Alpha's collars and his mate's arms holding his waist. So when he felt the push on his left hip, he tightened his grip once again.

Now, the Alpha was handling a half sleepy Luna in his arms who seemed to have drained all of his strength but his fists. He pushed at his hips again but the omega didn't budge from his position, “ I asked how many territorial rounds you have performed today.”

Jungkook's eyes weren't open but the irises were moving behind his eyelids as he answered slowly after registering the question, “Three.”

The Alpha closed his lips from the end and poked his cheeks with his tongue, “Why?” Instead of pushing the hip again, this time, Taehyung grabbed the waist and pressed him down till he made the omega sit on the bed.

“You have exhausted yourself.” Taehyung stated as he took a seat on the bed beside the omega, “ How would I leave the territories in your care if you will be this exhausted every day? One round was enough.”

Jungkook hugged himself with his own hands and pushed his eyes open before looking down, “ It was my first time. I didn't want to disappoint you.”

Taehyung placed his one hand behind the omega, palm spreading on the cotton sheets. His body inclined forward just so he could feed some words to the floating mind of the omega, “ Nothing has ever disappointed me more than your negligence towards yourself. Even if we are immortals, we are living entities. All living entities have some crucial needs to survive, you can't ignore them.”

I didn't want to eat without you. Jungkook wanted to say but when he looked up and found the Alpha breathing so close to his face, his stomach flipped forward and surged to meet with his lungs.

Taehyung kept leaning forward, palm sliding forward on the sheets behind the omega's back. Jungkook moved back, supporting one hand on the pillow but the Alpha didn't seem to be stopping at some point. He kept leaning forward, their eyes reflecting warmth for each other. The Alpha's eyes dilated enormously with the motion till the omega's head hit the pillow and a soft sigh left his lips.

“I haven't assumed you to be this careless, Your Grace.” The Alpha commented.

Jungkook's eyes weren't closed but they weren't fully open either when his fingers fiddled with the hem of his shirt, looking away from the hovering Alpha as he whispered,“ I wasn't careless. Not too much. I was just busy.” A lie. He pressed his lips together when he realised he was denying an obvious fact. Face flushed when he admitted, “ I won't be careless from now on.”

Taehyung pulled back to give some space to the omega and helped him to put his legs on the bed but he didn't change the position where he was sitting beside the omega, hips brushing with the omega's lying waist now.

“Kenji said about the renovation of the Hanok. Are you satisfied with the outcome?” Taehyung asked or tried to indulge the omega in a conversation so that he could drain the remnants of his leftover energy and make the omega sleep because tomorrow would be another day of patrolling inside and around the territory.

However, the name of the person ignited the omega's eyes more, “ Don't let me start on the headache he has given today!”

The Alpha was perplexed to see such a reaction from the omega, “What did he do?” He asked as if he was waiting to hear the words from the ongea. He doesn't realise that his palm is still flattened on the sheets, now caging the omega in between. Taehyung put one of his ankles above the other knee and let his one leg rest on the bed.

“I had asked clearly that the wooden window should be created on the left side of the chamber but he argued that the opposite should be done and ordered the soldiers to break down the wall of the right side for the window. I would have told him that Winters is about to begin and we are on a mountain and here the wind spirals in a short time so a window on the left side would be better because the waterfall flows on the right side and the chilly breeze would become a hazard but I hadn't had much energy left in me to argue.”

The omega kept talking and Taehyung listened to the full explanation without letting his eyes blink for a moment. He watched how the omega spoke, supporting a frown on his upper lip. He doesn't quite comprehend where the thought comes from but the talking of the omega feels like the rustling of the leaves on a rainy day and Taehyung wants to pick these leaves right from his lips and place a wide stretching smile instead. He doesn't want the omega to stop talking. No. But he wants that frown to wither away.

So when the omega looked at him with wide eyes and open lips, he blinked finally with an affirmative nod, “That's so idiotic of him.”

“Of course!” Jungkook knows he has started to exaggerate the argument but he still feels offended by it.

“You didn't argue for your right? The excuse doesn't settle well with your voice. It's your chamber, you should have put your foot down as well.” Taehyung said as his head tilted towards a side, watching the omega with curious eyes.

Jungkook shook his head, “As if he listens to anyone. I don't know why but the soldiers were swooning over him. And During the territorial rounds, I might have  shown some attitude to him so I let him win the argument.” He looked at the Alpha with a slanted gaze and waited for the Alpha to ask him about what kind of attitude he had shown or how they dealt with the responsibilities of territories while indulging in constant arguments.

But the Royal Alpha put his elbow on his knee instead and rested a finger under his earlobe as he stared right into his eyes before asking, “ Do you want me to change the location of the window?”

Jungkook's fingers trembled around the hem of his shirt and he had to quickly hide them in a fist before speaking urgently, “ No. We can do that once the clouds of the war wither. Now it's not very important.”

Taehyung looked towards the window, the faint sound of thunder was crossing the sill of the window. Jungkook caught his lingering gaze and asked with a heavy heart, “ Will you be going for the final territorial round?”

Taehyung moved his gaze towards the omega again, “ Yes, however, it will be a short journey as the Empress has already accomplished the hard work.” His eyes were genuine, appreciating Luna earnestly.

Jungkook didn't want to show but the flush on his cheeks gave away the sharp thumping of his heart. He tried to move the conversation from himself as he is not good with his heart nowadays, “ How are the people in Western Land? Have they appeared satisfied, less fearful of our arrival?”

“You can meet them tomorrow in the morning. From there, Jimin will be accompanying you to Gigeré forest while I will be around the posts of Lavin. People of Western Land are warm, a bit feared and very much cordial but you don't have to agree with all of their requests.”

The answer made Jungkook a bit confused because the man sitting in front of him is the admirer of his people who can do anything to please their wishes but here he was getting advised to do the opposite, “What happened? I mean, have they made any unacceptable requests?”

“Not really,” Taehyung replied.

“Then why this abrupt advice?”

Taehyung knows the omega won't be satisfied until he gets the answer to his curiosity so he explains, “ They asked me to eat dinner with them which is normal, people often want to share their meals with their Emperor but it irked me when they start forcing me even after my humble declination.” He said after choosing his words more specifically but his jaw ticked when a frown again appeared on the omega's lips.

“Why would they force you? And… Why did you deny it?” Jungkook asked, catching the moving gaze of the Alpha in one place.

“I didn't have an appetite.” The answer was simple, words were even more simple and if Jungkook hadn't learnt to read the eyes of the Alpha he would have believed him too. But a shy smile covered his lips when he read the truth, hidden behind those wide grey eyes.

Taehyung looked down when blood surged forward and a sudden warmth covered his face. He retreated his elbow from his knee and put his ankle on the floor. He was ready to leave the chamber when Jungkook placed his palm onto the Alpha's spread palm beside him.

“Have we received any answer from Strays?” Jungkook asked the Alpha. He had felt the synergy of the Alpha's body and he wasn't ready for the end of their night. Just yet. So he stopped him with the first question that came into his mind.

“Not yet,” Taehyung replied but he didn't move his hand from its position. He is staying for some more moments.

“Why are they delaying their response?” Because if Jungkook isn't wrong, Strays were asking for the war themselves so now when all the norms of the war are ready to be followed, why this sudden delation?

The Royal Alpha rested his knee on the mattress once again, “There could be many reasons behind it.”

“If I ask for some of them, what could they be?”

Taehyung always left amazed by the way Luna's curiosity ran deeper than necessary, “They must not have expected that the Royals would actually come here and now need time to prepare more. Or they are waiting to accomplish some of their strategies or they could be conspiring something behind our backs.”

Unconscious to the notions of his body, Jungkook was unaware of his fingers which were caressing the knuckles of the Alpha's hand absentmindedly.

But the Royal Alpha was aware, very much aware of the torrents in his bloody veins that were striking at the centre of his heart with each caress. He kept his features unmoved when the omega asked another question, “ Have you encountered Strays before? What kind of mindset do they hold, Alpha?”

“Strays are sinners. Their beliefs force them to think that the reason behind the Royal family's prestige, wealth and loyalty is only because of our direct link with the Moon Goddess. According to their perspective, she showers gems on the land of Eclipse and protects us with her bare hands.” Taehyung said as he focused on the omega's face, ignoring the fingers that were now coiling around the threads of his cuffs.

“What? How foolish this is!” The surprise was evident in Jungkook's eyes and it ushered the Alpha to elaborate more and more.

“It is. They think like that or at least used to when I encountered them a hundred years ago. Their ancestors have fed them baffled stories from the start. And at the end of each such story, they conquer their enemy, which is us.”

“Does that mean they know that Royals are immortal?” Jungkook asked as his back shifted and head tilted on the pillow, hairs covering a small cushion beneath them.

“Their ancestors do. And the probability of Strays knowing about it is high too but being the enemies of the Royals for centuries comes with some disadvantages as well,” His gaze flicked from Luna's face to his sprawled hairs before flickering back to his eyes, “ No one believes them.”

Jungkook sighed with confused eyes, “How could all of them be brainwashed to such a point that they think Moon Goddess appears on the earth for us? It is mentioned in the holy books of werewolves that she communicates and sends messages through the moon or the spiritual witches but no one has ever seen her.” He said with all the knowledge that he has gathered throughout his life, through books and through the stories of his Ajumma used to narrate him. But then his eyes landed on the Alpha who was now looking down, clearly engaged in some thoughts.

Jungkook tried to recall all of his words and that's when his mind provided him with some memories of the past. The Alpha's past mate was a moonchild. He doesn't know how they met and he swears on the Moon goddess, he doesn't want to know this part but is it possible that the Alpha may have met the goddess before?

“Have you seen her?” He asked slowly, not wanting to disturb their peace by mentioning the past.

The Royal Alpha's eyes locked with him once again, his tied bun was crumbling down, upheld with loosened tresses. One of them fell over his forehead when the Alpha straightened his face and answered, “ Only a handful of times. But the meetings weren't held in this realm.”

Jungkook's heart slowed down when he felt the calm pheromones wafting in the air. It was the faintest whiff of sandalwood but with the cold breeze of the night, it shook the omega with shivers all around his body. In the soothing aroma of his mate, Jungkook refused to bring the talks of the past, “ It's still exceptional. Now that the ancestors are dead, shouldn't they feel a bit of freedom to learn and explore the world by themselves?”

“Nothing comes easy or says showered upon people till they don't work hard for it, Luna. But Strays have an entirely different theory about how to spend their lives. Their ancestors found the easiest way to earn them the resources they could need.” Taehyung said and his lips parted in the middle when he felt a nail scratching at the back of his wrist.

Oblivious to his actions, Jungkook's body sagged into the pillows as he looked at the Alpha with hazy eyes, “How? Witches?”

Taehyung pushed his hair back and the rubber band finally failed to protect the falling tresses and tumbled down the floor. The Royal Alpha pushed the hairs behind his nape and nodded his head, “ Yes. Witches are necessary for the society of werewolves, a relationship that depends on each other for survival because they are the ultimate linker and provider when we face the wrath of nature. And we give them protection in return.”

Jungkook agreed with the Alpha instantly, with each puff of his inhale his eyes forced to close the eyelids but his stubborn heart wasn't ready to let the scenery of his mate elope in the darkness, “ But how did they lure the witches to work for them?”

It was absurd how the Alpha was answering the omega's questions one by one. Because one can see the omega had fallen in the trance of sleep and was still questioning with dull eyes but to the opposite of the omega, Taehyung's wide eyes were answering the questions with calm breaths.

“The Monarchy of witches has been extinct since the beginning. Until now we don't have accurate texts to know how many of them exist in this world. Above 1700 years on this earth and I have only met one, Ella. She has apprentices, a whole village under her but I have never seen them. She used to come to the forests of the Eclipse to train us or invite us to her shop but we were never invited to her home.”

Taehyung exhaled a low sigh when the omega's eyes fell shut completely but his lips ticked upwards when those teefs of the omega peeked as he spoke again, “ The Former Alpha must have seen her village.”

“He used to live among them for sixteen years. He must have. However, Ella knows the consequences of supporting Strays so I can assure that she won't be helping them anyhow.” The Royal Alpha heard closely as the breathing of the omega slowed down in the calm ambiance of the chamber, “But it could be the witches who were loyal to my great grandfather during his downfall.”

Taehyung decided to not read the calmness of the omega as the result of his calming pheromones but then his eyes found the omega moving his nape on the pillow till his face tilted and nose got buried in the robe which was wrapped around his shoulders.

Buried in his robe.

His scent.

The Royal Alpha let his breath fall out in between the soaring thunders of the cloud and wished the omega a peaceful night but before he could even move to untangle his hand from beneath the omega, Jungkook spoke again, “ It's disgusting actually. How that old man was ready to accept the witches as his slaves but refused to accept Ella as his mate.”

The words were slurred but carried enough proof that the omega was still conscious or at least his mouth is.

“The entire pack of Strays follows the rules of his ancient dynasty. Now it's not hard to envision what kind of mindset they bear in their life.” Taehyung lowered his voice when he answered.

The silence bears the sentiments of the Royal couple which are exceptionally louder than the reverberation of the outside sky but Taehyung tries to hold the thread a bit softly this time. He kept sitting in the silence for a few moments till he was certain that his ears heard no spikes in the omega's heartbeat.

“Jungkook?” He called the omega with a whispered voice. The name fell out of his lips mellifluously, his gaze admired the omega when his eyes struggled behind the eyelids before fluttering them open in a daze.

“I thought you slept.”

Jungkook's tongue peeked out to wet his lower lip with a slow inhale, “Should I not be?”

“You should be.” Taehyung declined the wishes of the omega immediately, he would rather find the omega asleep when he returns from his rounds than waiting for his arrival.

The omega's upper lip fluffed up when he huffed with another slurred sigh, “You must be waiting for me to fall asleep so you can finally step out to fulfil your responsibilities. Aren't you?” The underlined longing, accusation and sadness aligned with the slurred words of the omega left Taehyung's throat utterly dry.

His body moved forward, leaning down till his torso hovered above the omega, their faces aligned when the Royal Alpha spoke again, “The sooner I will go, the sooner I will be coming back too.”

“Liar. Once you reach in between the soldiers, you will forget about me.”

“That's not possible.” Taehyung denied, lips jutting at the bafflement of the sleepy omega. His free hand comes forward and lets the back of his fingers touch the supple cheek of the omega who failed miserably against the warm touch and closed his eyes once again.

“I don’ trust you.” Jungkook said or maybe he thought loudly in his mind, he wasn't aware if his lips moved to form the words or not.

“I will return to you. Aren't you my soldier too?” Taehyung gave his thoughts enough freedom to keep caressing the cheek of the omega.

Jungkook bluffed, his cheeks rising with the corner of his lips, “Am I? Really?”

“Yes. Though A tired one, I want you to gain your energy before the next dawn arrives.”

With a smile on his lips, Jungkook's mind couldn't hear the Alpha any longer. His entire body gave up the fight with each soft caress against his cheek. With the remaining strength of his body, he wished to see his mate again in the morning.

Taehyung stared at the omega till the pressed cheek against his fingers became pulpy, slow puffs wafting in the air but the Alpha had to call his name once again, “Jungkook?”

However, this time the omega didn't show any movement, and kept lying on the bed lifelessly. Hidden behind the curtains of the eyelids, the omega's eyes were finally relaxed. So Taehyung didn't hesitate when he turned his hand and cupped the omega's face in his palm, thumb rising to trace the nasal bone from one side to another.

His thumb glided across the other cheek of the omega and squeezed the cheeks in between his fingers and thumb. The Empress's lips parted, showing the teefs behind the two pillowy shadows, “A groggy rabbit you are. Grabbit?”

The Alpha teased the sleepy omega, eyes tracing his face with a warm gaze. He plucked at his cheeks before leaving them falling around the face.

Taehyung pulled back when the wolf inside him started to howl for the unfinished duties, he had trained him like that so his unmuted partner wasn't at fault. He pushed his hair back and twisted his legs to stand up from the bed when he felt a tug at his sleeves.

The omega had all of his fingers tangled around the laces of his cuffs. The laces were twisted in between his fingers in such a way that there is no way that Taehyung could untangle them in a single night. He kept sitting there for a while as he eyed the grip of the omega, so unmoved and so enduring.

His hand raised and reached in between his chest but instead of caressing his scar in between his pecs, Taehyung plucked open the knots of his ruffled shirt. One by one he opened the two buttons that reached down to the hem of the shirt and pushed the shirt down his shoulders. He discarded the shirt completely while paying the utmost care with squeezing his hand out of the tangled cuffs.

Jungkook's fingers were still clutching the laces in between his knuckles but the shirt was no longer worn by his mate. It laid on his waist like an abandoned cloth when Taehyung stood up and took a step away from the bed. This bare chest was glistening with golden hue due to the illuminated flambeau beside the bed.

He took another step back, finally raking his eyes away from the sleeping omega and took out a robe from his wooden closet. Soon a black robe covered his shoulders and chest as the Alpha tied the knot in the middle.

He didn't look back at the omega when he opened the doors of the chambers and stepped out of it before closing them again. Heart palpitating with a wish to return soon but the thoughts of conquering the territories spread cyclic energy to all of his bones, refusing him to look back and get tied to those enchanting eyes again.

~

When the Royal Alpha reached at the highest altitude of Chinra, his eyes could see the outlines of the enemies’ pack or say the pack of his once old relatives. The breeze of the midnight has turned cold as the group of wolves blows steam through their nostrils. They are patrolling the territories, fulfilling the duties as per the orders of their Luna.

Taehyung squinted his eyes, watching the wafting smoke from the small chimneys of Strays. They seem to be preparing for the winters, warm hanoks for the newborn pups and preserving the drinking water. A wise decision. But the sudden care towards the omegas of their pack irked some concern in his mind.

The chilly wind couldn't hinder his gaze from analysing the borders thoroughly, black robe flowing back along with the open hairs. When his eyes found nothing suspicious, Taehyung stepped down from the cliff and sat on an inclined rock. The wolves kept patrolling the areas in different patterns, some covering the path of Chinra while some going as far as the territories of Mosnic.

The Royal Alpha was observing their movements when his mind reeled him back by a few hours. His eyes started to turn chapters after chapters of his life that were coloured with black ink. A shade of black that now resembles the colour of the omega's eyes. He can still recall those eyes when he had noticed that gaze for the first time.

The gaze carried the yearning, yearnings of centuries, reflecting the pain that Taehyung had suffered all of his life. Those eyes, holding such pain, was the sole reason that he was convinced of his identity as Hwan. After all, who else would carry such pain?

But he was proved wrong when he watched that gaze changing the aspects of pain day by day. He found the gaze carrying different pains, different yearnings and different admirations, providing a whole other meaning to the feelings he bears for the omega.

And now with this midnight, after 469 days, here he was, sitting far away from the Empress but the sensations he feels in his absence seems so so close. Taehyung chewed the insides of his lower lip as he looked towards the direction that holds the path which could lead him back to his chamber. But instead of compelling over the thoughts of his beating organ, Taehyung fell for his mind once again.

Doesn't help.

Because as soon as he closed his eyes, a plethora of images flashed behind his eyelids, images of a specific face. The images of those eyes hold different expressions, sometimes reflecting curiosity or sometimes his slanted eyes showing dreadful glares. His hand came up and let his fingers tread in between thick locks, he groaned in tiredness when his head fell back along with the fingers.

Tiredness?

Such emotion never existed before.

So why now?

What changed?

Taehyung opened his eyes and blinked away the images that were intruding his thoughts. But… how would he keep this void hidden from his own soul? How would he accept that in the absence of the omega, he misses his questionable thoughts, his honest replies, his elaboration of daydreams, his warm sighs and as if it wasn't embarrassing before when he even missed the air surrounding the tresses of the omega.

Sweet Pines.

The Royal Alpha jumped down the rock and started to walk along with the retreating wolves. They are going back to the premises of Chinra and from there they will run alongside the shores of Lavin. Alpha walked with his hands clasped in fists, brushing off the rendering thoughts about the omega.

He failed.

Because his nostrils flared as soon as they stepped down the peak and turned towards the opposite direction from their hanok. He let the wolves run past him to behold their duties but Taehyung couldn't lift his feet to follow them, even one step felt like a burden on his chest. How many more steps should he take? Hasn’t he ignored the omega enough to still avoid his wishes like that? Although the omega didn't say it out loud, the wish was written on his lips. He wanted Taehyung to sit with him, to talk to him, to just…stay with him. His brows creased in concern when his face looked over the bridge that will take him towards the asleep omega.

Care.

Wasn't this word awarded to his blemished thoughts? Care. The emotion he feels towards the people that holds deep significance in his life. Care. That he feels towards his mother, brother and now the Empress as well. But how could a small emotion such as care define the burning of his heart when he looks at the omega.

During the bath when the omega rested his face on his shoulder and coiled his arms towards him, why would the poison of the scar felt melting away?

And the Empress?

It still leaves Taehyung speechless how a person made up of flesh and bones could melt over his chest like that, as if his arms turned into water and body would sway away if he wouldn't have caught his waist.
Shouldn't he be afraid of touching an Alpha like that? Mate or not, the breed of the Alpha is untrustful itself.

“Do you feel afraid before touching the Empress?”  Van asked, pushing the Alpha more into his thoughts.

“Why would I feel afraid? From what?” Taehyung asked as his feet started to cover the distance between the land and the bridge.

“Your unpredictability. As you said about the Alpha breed, do you think we can hurt the Empress or the omega?” Van knew he was reflecting the buried fear of his human now.

“Unpredictable but not in a hurtful manner, Van. Touch doesn't just bring pain, sometimes it could bring peace too. How do you feel when you nudges the omega but he dodges your touch and nudges your shoulder instead?”

“Floaty. Lighter than my weight.”

“Peace makes you feel lighter too.” The Alpha's voice becomes shaky when he remembers the moments when the omega soothes his worries through his touches. When the omega consoled his wretched mind while sitting on the cold sand, he felt this peace too.

“So if it brings peace why would the Empress be afraid to feel it? You haven't given him reason to feel afraid of you. You have been respectful towards his dignity.” Van reasoned but he could feel the thudding heart inside him, he knew his human won't agree with him.

“But I have given him the separation, the avoidance and it seems to have affected him a lot. The Empress agreed with the strategy of negotiation but he wasn't pleased with it. Mayhaps the separation could be a reason behind his fear.” He voiced his worries in the open but no one could hear his words. The suffocation of his lungs reduced but the scar was still burning.

“I don't think this fear has come from the duration of separation. There could be something more.”

“Like what?” Of how many days he has lived beside the Empress, the fear of his eyes has haunted the Alpha during the nights, during the lonely strolls, during the gatherings of pack generals.

“I don't have proper thoughts on it but there could be something deep behind his fear of separation.” Van expressed.

Taehyung focussed on his wolf solely, shushing his worries to minimum as he looked towards the bridge once again. He knows he can interact with the Empress, he can talk to him, he can see and listen to the omega but Van… he always feels the emotions of his mate before making an opinion about them. So when Van speaks about his intuitions, it's important. And when the category checks the indulgence of the Empress, it's very important.

“Why such an assumption?” Taehyung asked.

“Because the omega doesn't reflect such fear towards me. I had tested it during our practices in the forest. The duration of separation would have been crucial for him but now he doesn't show any fear, neither in his scent nor in his eyes.” The fears that Kookie held during their meeting were very different from this fear of the Empress. Those fears held the excitement of wanning through the entire forest and getting lost in it, held the hunger of running out from the dropped cherries.

“But Luna's eyes hold another story.” Taehyung whispered and this time his voice was heard by the trees, leaves rustling welcoming the words of the Alpha.

“My human would have mapped a solution instead of dwelling in thoughts, if we have abandoned the wishes of the Empress before so how can we make it right now?” The wolf gave the underlined suggestion openly to his master and Taehyung picked up its traces in just one breath.

“Fulfilling his wishes willingly could be the only solution.” The moment has arrived when his mate has given him a chance to correct his misdeeds. He has waited for this exact moment for days, dreadful days and now when the Empress has finally forgiven him, Taehyung can show the solemnity to their bond, and express the raw emotions he has been feeling for months.

His thoughts got disturbed when Van spoke again, “But the Empress was clear when he said he doesn't want us to do something that our souls do not approve of. So, are you willing to fulfil them? Does it bring peace to you as well?”

Taehyung couldn't respond verbally when his feet moved towards the hanok on their own. His mind was buzzing, creating a whirlwind of images when the scent of the omega gets heavier in the air. His feets were walking on the path but it was his heart which was crumbling down into his stomach as the distance started to reduce.

The hanok wasn't visible at all when he crossed the bridge, hiding behind the canopies of thick camellias. The Empress seems to have chosen this place very strategically, the house was near to the water sources, closer to the borders, mid-distance away from the folks. However, his eyes soon diverted from the redness of the flowers and watched the hanok igniting in dim light.

The Alpha climbed the stairs while staring at the door, throat drying as his hands pushed them open. Under the silence of the dark night, the door creased against the floor before halting when its hinges stretched to the fullest. The door kept open for a long time but Taehyung couldn't step inside the chamber.

Bearing an astonished expression, the Alpha kept standing at the threshold. His lips parted when a hazy breeze carrying the sweetness of pine touched his face. But it wasn't the scent that had forced the Alpha to keep standing at the door. It was the shirt that was lying on the floor in a tornful way. The shirt belongs to the omega, specifically the one he was wearing when Taehyung left him asleep in the chamber. It could be possible that the omega may have discarded it during the sleep.

But when his gaze moved towards the bed, his heart seemed to stop heaving fresh breaths after a long… long…time. On the bed, the omega was still asleep, too unaware of the storm he had pushed his mate to. The omega was wearing Taehyung's shirt, the one he left tangled in between his fingers.

The black ruffled shirt was enveloping the Empress's torso entirely, not much big but large enough to show some slips around the shoulders. Taehyung felt his fingers digging in the plain surface of his palm when he fisted them tightly, eyes still staring at the sleepy omega.

His chest inhaled as much as he could but instead of expanding, his heart clutched at the sight of the omega and the scar just above his lungs started to burn.

Taehyung raised his hand to grip the shackles of the door before stepping inside the chamber, he pushed them close together and let his body rest on it. His head tilted upwards but the gaze was still covered by the vision of the omega.

Buried in between the scent of his mate, Jungkook was unaware of the intruder that was standing at the door. But Taehyung wants him to know, wants him to show his presence, wants him to show his expressions when he looks towards him, wants him to show his teefy smile once again, and wants him to feel peace too.

Rather than announcing his presence by calling the omega, the Alpha chooses to walk towards the mattress.

The omega was resting on one side, leaving the other side too empty. The lower body was covered in a blanket while the upper one was enveloped in his shirt. The Alpha has seen the omega wearing his clothes before as well but the used one? He doesn't remember at all and his mind was occupied in mapping the images of the omega to think of anything else.

Taehyung wasn't breathing when his left knee dug in the mattress before followed by the right one. His fist swirled open and landed on the pillow, close to Luna's face, the other hand enclosing the direction as he hovered above the omega.

The Alpha was breathing harshly but his chest wasn't circulating the air as it used to before. His scar was burning, not hurting but burning under the closed eyes of the omega. He needs them open. He needs them open or his windpipe will explode by storing such an amount of air.

There was no choice for him than snatching the sleep away from the omega.

Should he?

His eyes were raking all over the omega while thinking about the consequences of his future actions. His eyes turned hollow when the Empress's brows creased in his sleep, contracting in a way to awake the focus around the surroundings.

And when the omega sensed the sour scent of wooden ashes, Taehyung realised that he would bear all the consequences if he got to see a glimpse of those black irises.

Instead of opening his eyes, the omega moved his hands first. One hand reaching towards his left only to find nothing, his hand moved again till his palm touched the ribs of the Alpha. The hand clutched the robe and the harsh grip loosened its knot around the Alpha's waist.

His hand slipped above but the Alpha was still waiting for him to open his eyes, inclining his body till his face came parallel to the omega.

Both of omega's hands were now spreading all over the Alpha's torso as if finding the point from where the sour scent was coming from. With the lack of enough air in his lungs, Taehyung's face was turning red, a pair of veins showing the presence around his neck and wrists.

Taehyung was breathing just above the pillowy lips of the omega when he couldn't take the suffocation anymore, “Mate.”

Gruff voice laced with a groan called for the omega and when Jungkook opened the frills of his eyelashes, he felt the Alpha sucking all the air off his lips with a sharp inhale. Jungkook's lips parted, eyes blinking to focus on the blurry image of the Alpha. His hands comes together to cup his mate's face softly, “You are back.”

The more Jungkook could correct the focus of his eyes, the more dangerously he could see the proximity of the other. Taehyung opened his lips again, “Mate.”

When Jungkook balanced his vision and heard the word again, he knew he was late. Because the Alpha's eyes were fluctuating in between the grey and golden ones, He raised his thumb and caressed the brows of the Alpha, “What happened?”

Taehyung fisted the pillow under his palms as he stared at Jungkook breathlessly, his lips were moving but his buzzing ears couldn't catch any of his concerns, like a falling petal he could only whisper one word, “Mate.”

Jungkook brought the Alpha's face closer with his shaky fingers, eyes blinking to read them wordlessly. The presence of a need was evident… as if the Alpha wanted to say something but couldn't because he was struggling to breathe. So without any moment of delay, Jungkook applied what he had learnt from the Alpha.

His hands lowered to spread on the Alpha's chest as he untied the knot of his robe completely. His hands spread on his bare waist and tugged him over his body. Jungkook couldn’t help the whimper he had to bite off of his lips when all of the Alpha's weight fell on his body completely.

Once the Alpha surrendered in his arms, Jungkook threaded his fingers into his black locks while directing the Alpha's face into his neck, “Why are you not breathing? Alpha?”

Jungkook was wide awake now, one hand caressing the broad back while the other was massaging his lower nape. His fingers trembled when the Alpha opened his mouth and breathed into him.

“I…” When the air expanded his chest, Taehyung was able to speak finally, “I missed you.” And when he felt the caressing hand on his nape stop abruptly, he knew the omega heard it. And now that his vocals are supporting his throat, he wants to say what he had determined to say before.

“I have spent countless years with this suffocation, could have… could have spent some more. But then you came, brawling through my walls, bashing their existence from roots, relieving the pain of my scar…but you have ruined my sanity too. I have become so dependent on this scent that it's hard to breathe sometimes.” Taehyung breathed out the words just below the dangling earlobes of the omega.

Before Jungkook could blink his eyes, he felt another inhale just above the junction of his neck, a harsh dragging of air that left his feet trembling under the blanket. To hide his quivering fingers, Jungkook starts to caress the Alpha’s nape once again.

His heart wasn’t ready to hear such groany talks when he woke up at the sour scent of his mate but how could he ever be ready when the Alpha dug his nose into his skin while shaking his head in some kind of disagreement.

“You didn’t free me from the suffocation but made me addicted to your scent instead. I had vowed to never let any omega under my vicinity let alone scent me. But you… you crossed the line. You scented me in the open fields and I let you, didn't know It would be bringing me a new kind of suffocation.”

The gruff voice in his neck was enough to bring tears in Jungkook's eyes but the groany words along with the thick layer of sandalwood was overwhelming him entirely, “ Wasn't I allowed to scent you?”

It happened fastly when Taehyung breached himself away from the omega's arms, legs straddling the omega but the Alpha didn't put the pressure of his hips on him. But it was enough for Jungkook to lose his mind in the middle of the Alpha pushing his hairs back, bracing the thick neck and bare chest in front of his face, on his lap.

“You shouldn't be.”

The Alpha looked mad but Jungkook hadn't seen his eyes reflecting such misery too. He watched as the Alpha shook his head again before diving into his neck, sending tremors through his blood. His shoulders arched when the lips burn over his bare skin this time, sighing to the touch of warmth.

Jungkook's hands find the Alpha's shoulders to clutch onto and breathes heavily, “ You scented me too. Why am I the only one to be held as a culprit for such accusations? Your absence suffocates me too. Your…”

“Shush. Let me… breathe first.”

The message was clear that the Alpha doesn't want to argue so Jungkook obliged to his wish, he could wait to make the Alpha understand his perspective as well. He could be patient till the Alpha takes what he wants from him.

Roaming his nose to the lowest of the omega's throat, Taehyung found the taste of sweetest pines. The more he inhales, the suffocating clouds start to dissipate from his chest. His tongue peeked out before he knew, letting the tip caress the throat. Sweet. He heard the sharky gasp of the omega, he did, he should stop too but then his teeth peeked out, tongue helping to collect some piece of skin in between his lips.

Jungkook's fist curled over the Alpha's shoulder as he felt small pricks on his skin, oozing thousands of swirls in his stomach before diving down to his abdomen. The Royal Alpha was biting him. His breaths started to fall short when his fisted hand pulled apart the robe from that shoulder. His nose comes in contact with the Alpha's skin instantly.

It was turning messy, half of his neck was covered with a thick layer of saliva, warm liquid gliding but before it fell around, the Alpha sucked it off of his skin. Taehyung braced himself on his elbows and grabbed Jungkook's by his nape, “ You can't hold such eyes and think you wouldn't be a culprit of mine. I used to hate changes with a burning passion. I used to hate eating, what's the benefit of filling a stomach that can only digest the venom of my scar. I used to hate sleeping, what's the benefit of closing my eyes when I can only see the remnants of treachery. I used to hate living in that palace, what's the use of wandering in between the walls that still holds the cries of my heart.”

Taehyung shook his head and pulled back in the sitting position again, pulling away from the omega's body and sitting a bit far on the bed, legs folding in criss-cross position. Jungkook let his tears slip away because his heart was lurching forward for the Alpha to behave and come back to his arms again.

But when the Alpha didn't even look towards him, Jungkook crawled away from his lying position and moved forward slowly. The blanket fell around his waist, but Jungkook knee-passed the hurdle and kept crawling till he took a seat where his knees were encircling the Alpha's waist and butt was placed on his folded legs. He straddled the Alpha, careful to note down the expressions of his mate, eyes looking for some kind of uneasiness but when nothing surfaced Jungkook's body slackened on the Alpha's lap.

He placed his hands on the Alpha's shoulders and settled there, waiting patiently for the Alpha to continue. Because he could see the confusion in those grey orbs and now in the middle of chaos of war, Jungkook wouldn't want anything else than his mate to achieve his best mental and physical state.

Taehyung's hands held the Empress's waist, rubbing his thumb over the flimsy piece of shirt, “ But then you arrived and started to change everything for me. Everything that I used to like and built as a habit of mine. Everything that I had made a peace with. Everything that a tainted heart could bear anymore.” His face was monotonous but Jungkook was just staring in his eyes.

He shook his head, wide eyes disagreeing, “ Your habits contained your ways of surviving through the years but they can't express you as the Alpha. They could be the necessities of time but you are not those habits. I have seen you eating berries with the pack children, I have seen you sleeping in the haystack of Artax and I have seen your sadness when you met the Eclipsers after a long time. To me it appeared as if you wanted those things but the sudden discardment of your build-up habits was scaring you.”

“So you think by starving yourself and neglecting yourself, you can force me to do these things?” Taehyung asked the aching question that was pinching his heart for a while now.

Jungkook opened his mouth to deny the truth instantly but then the Alpha's gaze hardened so he bit his lower lip instead and looked down. His breath stuttered when a hand grabbed his jaw and tugged him forward, “As an omega I know you must have concern about me. But one bruise on you and I will burn your whole world, Jungkook. You better be aware of yourself if you are here proclaiming to handle me as a mate.”

His lower lip was jutted out due to the force on his jaw, so he used his upper lip to speak but before he could even form some words Taehyung tugged his jaw again, “If I ever see your exhausted face again and find that your negligence was the reason behind it. You will see the worst of me.”

The absolute madness in the Alpha's eyes left Jungkook feeling weightless in his own body. His eyes were blinking but he wasn't actually seeing the face of the Alpha, but when he tugged on his jaw once again, Jungkook couldn't help the mewl that left his twisted lips.

His lips parted in a gasp when the Alpha's eyes darkened even more at the sound, “Who told you that you could wear my discarded shirt?”

Taehyung's fingers slipped away from his jaw and Jungkook exhaled loudly, his mind registered the asked question a little bit late because the control was slipping away from his fisted grip on his heart, “Am I not allowed to wear it?” Jungkook asked instead, adapting the habits of the Alpha in a similar manner of replying with another question.

Taehyung looked down at the omega, the fabric covering the torso entirely. The largeness of the shirt around the shoulders of the omega made the Alpha shake his head in denial, You are not allowed to wear anything but my shirt from now on.

The Alpha wanted to say but, “Why would you wear this?” he asked instead.

Jungkook watched as the Alpha's eyes dilated, looking at him as if he wasn't aware of the reason. But those would never not make him feel intimidating, so with cheeks high on flames, the omega answered, “ It carried your scent. And your scent…is peaceful. And the wind was cold too so I didn't think before doing that. I am…”

Luna's back touched the mattress in a blink when the Alpha hovered above him again, “You can…wear them. But not when I'm not around.” Jungkook breathed sharply when thousands of butterflies rushed to his lungs, iris moving incoherently to match a gaze with his mate, “Why?”

His eyes rolled back as Taehyung lowered his face just above his ear to whisper, “You look like a mess in my clothes, Jungkook.”

The position of their lying bodies had Jungkook tremble on the bed, their thighs were brushing over each other while the chests had combined to close the distance, “A pretty, pretty mess. And the Empress of Eclipse can't afford to be a mess right now.”

Jungkook gasped loudly when he felt another prick on his neck, sharp teeth chewing on his skin, “Alpha” the low voice of the omega ignited hell inside Taehyung, his tongue collected the saliva from the skin before reaching for the earlobes again, “I have said it before as well, Your Grace. The bar of my patience lies less than you. So for heaven's sake, Don't call me like that.”

Jungkook mewled again, the sharp canines brushing over his ear. He was aware that This is not care, nor is this called admiration or affection. This is called Need. A raw need of an Alpha to show that the omega is needed and holds more value in his life.

But before the Empress could get overwhelmed again, Taehyung changed his position and laid on the mattress, beside the omega. Jungkook turned towards the Alpha and buried his face in his chest wordlessly.

Taehyung held him close, arms coiling around the petite waist of the omega, “My mind has concluded that your forgiveness could be my chance to rebuild your trust again. Have I read it right?”

The Royal Alpha knew Luna wouldn't answer this question with words so he heightened his senses and adapted the calm breaths of the omega. When he felt a nod rubbing on his chest, Taehyung closed his eyes in relief. He will be able to correct his misdeed, he will finally be able to treasure this blessing that dawn upon him after centuries.

Taehyung doesn't want to lose this time. He had failed and lost everything in the past but in this present, he wants to seek a victory desperately. Because even if he had lived centuries of his life, faced the pain or pleasure whatsoever, here, the Empress is new to everything in his life.

He should be careful towards the impressions he is leaving on the Empress's life. He should be careful to not let those teefy smiles fade away under the sorrows of his life.

The hold over his shoulders loosened up and Taehyung was able to tuck his head above the omega's forehead, “In return of my forgiveness, May I present you one more thing?”

Jungkook shook his head against his chest and words bubbled out, “ I am content with what I was rewarded.”

“Alright.”

Taehyung's lips tugged above when he felt fingers fidgeting against the open knots of his robe. He knew the ever curious Luna can never be content with unanswered questions, “What happened?” He asked.

Jungkook snuggled more into his chest, bringing the blanket up to their hips he mumbled, “If the reward includes you leaving this mattress then I don't want it. If not… then you can.”

The Royal Alpha let his fingers comb the red hairs away from the omega's forehead before lowering his chin and pressing his lips on it. The touch was soft, too endearing when Taehyung pulled away and pressed one more on his left eyebrow.

Jungkook couldn't raise his head after that. He curled into the chest of the Alpha and exhaled to wash out his burning cheeks. But his heart was swaying along with the wind outside, including the sudden touches of thunder and rain. He doesn't know if he ever wants to forget this night. A night full of hope, acceptance and a new beginning.

Everything is changing, good or bad, the Royal Alpha concluded. He doesn’t know the kind of changes their lives were facing would make them a better person for each other or turn them more dangerous... From the start of their journey, the changes he has been feeling in his body doesn’t recall the past or the present.

The unpredictability of the bond was scaring him too. As he heard the omega sighing into his chest, he wondered if these changes would bring them peace or would ruin everything altogether.

His thoughts got disturbed when the Commander's voice heard in the mindlink;

Your Majesty, the letter from Strays has arrived. Should I bring it over to Chinra or should we wait for dawn?

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I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

I had to cut the last scene because it was killing the vibes. But the next update will be in this month only, so stay pressed with me on this beautiful journey💜.

What do you think of Alpha's thoughts. Don't blame him for his absurd concerns and confusions, the man hadn't felt anything for centuries. So, he will be learning emotions on the way.

Taehyung isn't changing into his past self, nor is he behaving like his present persona. Where these changes would take him to?

Good night, lovely readers💜.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜.