Dear lovely readers, Here is the update of my birthday month. The chapter crossed 24k words and became the longest one. Before you all could dive in the chapter and inhale it, here are some points that are advised...

1) You are not ready.

2) Kindly read slowly, this is a special chapter for the entire story.

3) Bring a lot of blankets and pillows, we are going to dive into a rollercoaster ride and I'm serious about it.

4) I hope you will enjoy the chapter. Your author will be waiting for your reviews💜.

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The eruption of the earthquake had the power to raise several nightmares when the ground started to shake with its impact. The ground ruptured due to the severity of the earthquake when the horrendous sound of falling rocks tore apart the peace of nature.

Taehyung observed the level of Lavin when the oars stopped paddling due to the sudden rising of waves. The shakiness under the ground resulted in massive tides. When the height of tides kept increasing with the river's stream the Royal Alpha ordered, “Shift into your wolf forms. The landslides in Chinra is raising the level of water, the boat will soon tore apart due to tidal waves. We will be crossing the river in our wolf forms.”

One by one trained soldiers shifted their forms and jumped into the water. The entire sky of the night got filled with rising dirt and dust to accept the changes of the earthquake. Nature accepts the changes easily; it's the living entities that suffer to dwell those changes in their lives.

The Commander helped the red haired Beta to come out of his hanfu and breathe out in the open. Wearing only a flimsy shirt and the cotton pants, Yoongi dived to shift underwater. Hoseok followed his mate after nodding towards the Emperor who soon shifted and howled to give direction to the others. His howl vibrated the tidal waves as the whole ground kept shaking under their paws to push forward.

All of them were looking towards the thundering mountain, the darkness hid a larger part of the eruption but the wolves could see the demolished outer roads and trees among the scrunching land. The Royal Alpha's demanded howl reminded them they needed to swim out of the water alive so they could see the upcoming changes during the day.

Taehyung couldn't only see the landslides happening in the Chinra, he could even hear the screams of the intruders which were trapped inside the engraved caves. He didn't feel an ounce of pity when the screams increased with the revolting eruptions because if they were brave enough to ruin the lives of innocent people then they should have the courage to bear its consequences as well.

Jungkook squeezed his body smaller when Artax ran in between the wild branches of Gigeré forest. On Kenji's suggestion they have decided to rest on the territory of forest till the eruptions fades away and now that the ground looks stable enough to walk upon their horse thrived on the path that leads them towards the Western Land. His heart palpitated in misery when he heard the fearful and anxious screechings of the animals.

But he calmed his nerves with the excuse of its necessity for their betterment. Kenji surpassed him with Dabery and smiled widely, “I heard about the arrival of the Majesty in Western Land. I guess he couldn't tolerate the Strays for longer than half a day.” Jungkook looked at Kenji with enlarged eyes but instead of answering to his curious eyes, Kenji flapped the reins of Dabery and left Artax behind.

Alpha has arrived.

The sentence swooned Jungkook's heart, emptying it from the nerves and worries. He looked at the sky, the dust was dissipated to show the early dawn of the next day and the Empress couldn't thank nature enough to control the destruction from going any further. He will see the condition of Chinra once seeing his Alpha.

The Royal Alpha had partially lied when he said that he would be too occupied to burn in the memories of his Alpha because this time Jungkook missed him more than before. Although the duration was minute from before, their affection has crossed the boundaries of that time.

Jungkook rubbed Artax's neck for requesting the horse to increase the pace. The rein slipped out of his hands when the Empress raised his arms to open the scarf from his face before tying it again after caressing his dishevelled hair.

His cheeks uplifted when his nostrils picked up the faint scent of sandalwood in the air. Artax crossed the borders of Gigeré and entered in the Western land, the place was overcrowded due to the arrival of folks of Chinra. People were sitting around in large groups, worried about their homes that they left behind in the premises of Chinra.

Soldiers were distributing the blankets around so that people could rest a bit before the new dawn comes. Jungkook will definitely find an alternative for these people until they construct a new village for them.

The Empress tapped Artax's back and pulled the reins to stop the horse when his eyes spotted the commander near the shore of the Lavin. He was helping the soldiers to build a flood shielding around the shore of lavin using the fallen trees.

Jungkook jumped down the horse and approached the commander with a nervous breath, “Hyung. How was the negotiations? Has everything gone alright?” His eyes roamed around the shore of the river as he asked the question.

Hoseok bowed to the Empress and smiled widely, “Negotiations went as hectic as we had assumed. Strays were not ready to accept their invasion in Chinra. So, as per the rules, His Majesty has given them ten days to either apologise or face the war.”

“So, war is still happening?”

Hoseok chuckled and shook his head, “Ofcouse, if they have soldiers still left on their side that is. Because one can’t uphold the battles with a handful of arrogance and tonnes of egotism, they will be needing actual support from alive soldiers which by all your Grace, looks a bit impossible right now.”

Jungkook laughed along with the Commander while pushing the scarf above his nose. He was about to help the soldiers to balance the bark of trees around the shore when the Royal Omega called for him, “Jungkook? Where were you? Taehyung just left for Gigeré to search for you.”

Jungkook was thankful that the soldiers did not trust him enough with the heavy logs because as soon as he heard about the Alpha, the weight of the tree slipped out of his fingers. He looked at the Royal omega who was looking at him back with the same dumbfounded expressions, “ What? You haven't met him yet?” Jimin asked.

“I will be back soon. Just… Brother-in-law Kenji suggested taking another route. So I think the lanes got mismatched, I felt his presence but then the screeching of animals was too loud….” None of the Royals heard his babbling as the Empress climbed the horse again before surging right towards the forest… once again.

When Jungkook headed towards the forest, it was as if nature moved along with him. Wind trying hard to blow past his ears which were secured beneath the scarf, rustling of leaves sending messages of someone's arrival again and again.

His fingers swirled the reins around the knuckles before wrapping it on his wrists to get a grip because the reins kept slipping away from his hands. When he finally entered the forest, he was surprised with the silence his ears felt. He could swear on Moon Goddess, just a few moments ago the whole forest was filled with absolute chaos but now… the surroundings reflected the abundance of peace.

He is here.

Artax neighed loudly and stopped in the middle of nowhere, Jungkook looked around and remembered the region of monkeys right away. He got down from the horse and patted his neck to rest for the night before walking inside the dense forest. The night was still young on the brink of losing its darkness yet the cool air sent shivers on his forearms.

Jungkook's feet moved in the direction where his nose navigated the scent of his mate. With each step, he was losing a part of his heartbeats while gaining a pace in his breaths. He could see several animals sleeping on thick branches while some hibernating in their burrows.

His eyes were working and could see everything despite the man his eyes were desperately searching for, “Alpha?” His voice echoed in the empty forest, laced with the wetness of the misty atmosphere.

When no reply came from the receiver, Jungkook let his feet take him deeper in the forest. If only the omega could turn to his left and look closely, he would have witnessed his Alpha leaning over a tree while watching over him.

The Royal Alpha followed the omega silently, walking with every step on the way, matching the sounds of their shoes on the wet grass. He witnessed the desperation of those doe eyes moving around to look for him. Taehyung's one hand came forward to remove some twigs out of the way so that he could see the Empress clearly.

The Empress had the scarf tucked on his nose while the Royal sword was tied on his back securely, he could even feel the hesitation of the omega when he moved deeper into the forest. Taehyung realised that he could follow the omega till the others found his presence but not so easily…

Or it could be the deprived well of the Alpha's eyes that was waiting to be filled with the images of the Empress. He opted for the time from destiny to make this night a bit longer… longer enough to let him witness the Empress a bit more.

His feet halted on the grass when the Empress stopped against a tree and the omega rested his back on the tree's bark. The omega looked around and opened his scarf before securing it into his front pocket of hanbok. His eager memory matched the omega's features one by one with the images when he had last seen him.

A sigh left from Jungkook's lips when he inhaled that thick scent once again, “You are here. Then why are you hiding from me, Alpha?” He asked while his questionable gaze spread all around the vision of the forest.

His body flinched badly when the branches of the tree rocked forward and uncountable maple leaves fell right above his head. Jungkook left shocked when he looked above and saw a group of monkeys playing around from one tree to another. Weren't they sleeping? Where did this sudden fight come from?

Jungkook used his hands to brush off the maple leaves but some stubborn dry ones stuck inside his hair. He huffed when his hands reached above his head and found some crushed freckles of leaves around his hairpin. He had to take out his hairpin to smoothen out the dust while doing so… the red tresses fell open around his shoulders.

The Royal Alpha couldn't blink his eyes once as he stared at the Empress from afar. He watched with dilated eyes as the Empress caressed his hairs from the roots to the tip. The threads waved around the omega's hips when the Empress moved to find him once again. His lungs contorted with envy when the cool breeze passed by those red tresses, brushing them close before leaving them a bit dishevelled.

Taehyung felt grateful to nature when the dark night showed him the path that led him to the Empress without announcing his presence. It wasn't in his mind to follow the omega but then the hunger to see those deprived eyes won against all other sensible thoughts. Before the omega had stepped inside Gigeré, Taehyung's scent had been spread all around the forest evenly.

So it became hard for the omega to locate his exact position through his scent. The purpose behind such a strategy wasn't to tease the omega. The sole purpose was to complete the Royal Alpha's one selfish wish. To see the Empress without losing himself in his eyes. Taehyung came out from his hiding spot and followed the omega silently.

He stopped behind a tree when he saw the Empress approaching a hot spring with fast steps. Taehyung's hand reached above to grab a falling branch, squeezing it lightly when the omega flicked his hair back before tying them loosely behind his shoulders.

Jungkook unfastened the Royal sword and placed it across the boundary of the overflowing hot spring. He moved ahead to fill an enormous amount of water in his palms before splashing it all over his face. His lips parted with a sigh when the warm water caressed his cool cheeks and washed the dirt from the horseriding. He used his scarf to tap his face lightly under his eyelashes when he spotted an aura behind him.

The omega swirled around quickly to look for his Alpha but his eyes became passive when his vision couldn't spot his mate anywhere. However, when he reached to grab the Royal sword, he found the place thoroughly empty.

Now the suspicion has become the reality, his mate is lurking in between the thick branches of this forest. His hips leaned against the boundary of the hot spring when Jungkook folded his hand across his chest, “ One should greet their mate after returning from the departure. How discourteous.” His lips mumbled out while his eyes remained occupied to survey his surroundings.

Taehyung moved the sword in his palm before making it disappear into the thin air. His upper lip jutted from the corner when he heard the quiet mumble of the omega. The Alpha turned to look at the omega who has now started to walk further inside the forest.

With warm eyes and subtle merriness on his features, Taehyung followed the Empress on the way. He doesn't have any wish or a way to show the merriness of his eyes to the omega. He doesn't know how to show his heartbeats that were rising and falling with each step of the omega.

If he could evaluate his own mind, he would find the reason behind his unthinkable worries. His mind would dwell on the thoughts that would further show him how scared he actually is to let the omega read his eyes. How scared he is to let the omega feel his heartbeats. How scared he is to see the omega's response towards his rumpled veins that stop working around him.

Maybe Taehyung doesn't desire to see his response at all.

But then his obstinate feet kept following the omega without an ounce of hesitation. So his destiny was bound to get caught by the omega, be it now or then… yet his disarranged thoughts pushed him forward to follow the petite figure.

Not only the feet of the Alpha but his eyes performed the major exertions in his downfall as well. The desire of his eyes to keep watching the silhouette of the omega, to keep staring at his different notions, to keep defining his repeatable movements with new words pulled his heartstrings to the fullest.

The nature of the destiny becomes laughable sometimes because from its perspective it took only some steps for the omega to step inside the heart of the Alpha meanwhile the other has walked centuries to even locate the existence of his mate's heart.

So this walk towards his mate held a different meaning inside Taehyung's heart. It was the acceptance that if he had to let his heart roam under the submission of destiny, there could be only two paths that his heart would follow. Either beside the omega or behind the omega.

It was the acceptance that kept Taehyung walking behind the omega with merriness in his eyes. Dwelling deep in his thoughts the Alpha didn't know somewhere in his steps the omega had stopped walking further.

Jungkook slowed down his breaths and focused on the quiet footsteps behind him. The goosebumps that his arms felt were utterly unnecessary but then his nostrils flared towards the thickness of sandalwood and those goosebumps travelled down to his thighs before leaving through his toes.

Is his search for his mate… finally going to end? Jungkook opened his mouth to release a slow breath and focused on his peripheral vision. The steps seemed coherent on the grass with no any suppression so he waited for the right moment to catch the Alpha behind him.

When Taehyung's vision got cleared from his misty thoughts, he was already late to teleport to another place because those doe eyes were now staring at him… mercilessly. His pupils reacted to hide his eyes behind the curtains of passiveness but the Empress was quick to hold his gaze.

Jungkook's hands came forward to give a jerk to the Alpha's chest with accusation in his eyes but the accusation turned into surprise when Taehyung grabbed his wrists and pulled his body along with him. Both of them stumbled on their feet and fell down on the wet grass. Their bodies gilded above each other before Jungkook felt grass tickling all around his neck.

His teefy smile stretched into a loud laugh when he spotted the grass in between the Alpha's braids. Their bodies halted on the ground as Taehyung suppressed his weight above the omega. His body was hovering while looking down at the omega who was laughing loudly under him.

Above the dark green grass, the omega's red tresses were scattered like petals of red roses. Despite the dark ambience of the night, the omega's laugh shone under the moonlight. Taehyung couldn't know when his eyes shed the curtains of passiveness and turned his gaze into admiration. He couldn't know when his lips twisted upwards before stretching his lower lip into a smile.

Jungkook's face got flushed beautifully when his eyes caught Alpha's subtle smile. With enamoured notions he raised his hand and picked out a streak of grass out of the Alpha's braid, “Why were you teasing me like that? Shouldn't it be considered as gruesome behaviour of the Alpha?”

Taehyung let his eyes blink and replied while shaking his head, “ It should not as I learnt it from the Empress itself. The Commander said it's called hide and seek.”

Jungkook's face matched with his hairs as another fit of giggles left his lips. Taehyung blinked his eyes again and moved his body to lay beside the omega on the wet grass. His one hand supported his head as both of them gazed at the sky.

Jungkook rolled his body on his elbows and asked while staring down at the Alpha, “Why did you steal the sword from me? Was it also a part of hide and seek?” The omega doesn't want to seem like a deprived wolf who was eager to devour the words and images of the Alpha but his enlarged eyes gave away all of his intentions.

Taehyung turned his head slightly so his face could be mirrored with the omega, “What's the reason for carrying it's burden after the work is finished? So I consigned it to its previous place.” He heard the subtle gasp of the omega and looked at him.

“This sounds so ungrateful. That holy sword has helped us to overcome the disastrous war.”

Taehyung moved his gaze back towards the sky and recalled the memories of the Royal sword, “ Holy isn't a word that we should use for that sword.”

The engraved regret in the Alpha's voice heightened the omega's senses, “Why? Has something happened before?”

Instead of answering the omega, the Royal Alpha suggested, “The remembrance of the past could make you feel fatigued.”

Jungkook rolled his body towards the Alpha and rested his head against his mate's waist while looking towards the shining stars, “ Not true. I can never be bored while listening to you.”

Taehyung didn't need to look towards the omega but his body felt when the red tresses spread all around his chest like a light blanket, “When you used Eingehen… you must have felt the horror of making a mistake, don't you?”

Jungkook turned his head towards the Alpha in an alarmed state, “How do you know?”

“I had felt the same when I used Eingehen for the first time. But I didn't feel that horror before using it, I felt it when my eyes saw the destruction that my hands had caused.” Taehyung said while the Empress started to picture the images of the past in stars.

“After losing everyone around me, some battle had occurred in the Eastern part of Eclipse. Some packs have started cannibalism to revolt the governance of the Royals. I hoisted that war by erupting the nearest volcano of that village. But during that time I didn’t know that the Royal sword protects the protectors of nature so I kept shoving that sword in that mountain with full force.” Taehyung realised a deep sigh when the blurred images of that night swirled across his vision.

“I thought I got fooled by the power of the Royal sword. I thought it's utterly useless and got angry because partially due to that sword I had lost many things. But just when I crossed the boundary of that village, the lava erupted high in the sky and burnt the whole village. It took the village at least six months till its ground became walkable once again.”

Taehyung finished the tale shortly and found the Empress looking at him with wide worried eyes, “ Everyone died?”

The Royal Alpha hummed in affirmation but added an important point, “The whole pack was turned into ashes but as they were practising cannibalism so their crime was as heinous as the deaths they had received. It didn't leave any impact on me. I regretted my actions because of the disaster I caused to nature due to my anger and unacknowledgement.”

“But you had learnt from your actions and being the Emperor, the responsibilities come with regrets and sorrows. The decision authorised for one pack could be taken as heinous by the other. I was scared to use Eingehen… if Brother-in-law Kenji wouldn't have guided me through its power, I would have repeated your actions factfully.” Jungkook accepted his fear and defended the Alpha as well. He knows that duties always develop a stoical form in the duty carrier, making the person emotionless, passionless and numb towards the actions that must be taken against his own morals.

“I kept it hidden due to its excessive power towards mankind, I can't bear a chance to lose it.” Taehyung expressed and Jungkook nodded his head in gratitude, “It is necessary. We can only imagine what would happen if some evil gets the authority of that sword. Is it possible though?”

“I wish nature would not make it possible. I'm still unaware of half of its powers.”

It came out as shocking to Jungkook that there is something in existence that the Royal Alpha himself is unaware of. But when not even the soul bearers can look towards the bare sword then how would some other people dare to touch it? His mind raced with the possible thoughts and flinched slightly when the Alpha spoke again.

“About Kenji… he didn't give you a headache this time?” The Royal Alpha asked while burying the past back into its grave. And the conversation moved from the sword to the unmated life of his friend when Jungkook turned his body towards the Alpha, “ He didn't give me any headaches but I can't say the same about Brother-in-law Nami.”

Taehyung raised his brow and looked at the Empress with a suspicious gaze to which Jungkook blinked his eyes and replied, “Hyungnim has told me about their tragic story. So I know that they are mates and Kenji is hiding everything from Nami. But why? Nami looked close to crying when I met them during the day.”

“This… man has gone out of his skull. I had told him to not torture Nami if he doesn't plan to accept him. But as if Nami has become some kind of addictive herb to him, neither can he leave him alone nor can he accept him.” The frustration seemed real on the Alpha's face when he heard the misery of Nami.

“But why is he still denying the bond? Haven't they raised themselves above the social margins of wizard and a wolf when they sacrificed their souls? Who would come for Nami's fall when the great grandfather is already dead along with all of his evil traditions?”

Taehyung admired the worried voice of the Empress for his friends, his hand moved unconsciously and picked out a lost thread of maple leaves from the red tresses, “ It's not the society that hinders the thoughts of Kenji or stops him from accepting his mate. Now if you listen to the truth, the question isn't about the proposal anymore. Kenji is terrified to get rejected by Nami. He has tortured the wizard so deeply that now he is sure that Nami would never accept him and this fear of Nami's refusal always keeps him two feet away from his mate.”

Jungkook huffed and moved his head above the Alpha's waist, “How foolish! Firstly, he tortured Brother-in-law Nami with his continuous unthinkable acts and now when the time has come to pay for his actions, he is hiding behind the security of his fear. Even if Nami rejects him, destiny knows that he might deserve that rejection.”

“True.”

Taehyung whispered out but before he could express his thoughts, the Empress raised his head to look at him, “What do you think about the rejection? If someone's whole admiration depends upon the way the other person accepts or rejects his efforts, would it be even considered as admiration? Or some testament of emotions that failed because the other person gave a written certificate about your own emotions?”

The Royal Alpha could feel the scent of rosemary surfacing the sweet pines so he moved his hand forward and let his hand caressed the scalp of the Empress through the ruffled tresses. The fallen frown of the omega calmed his gaze enough to listen to the Alpha, “I agree with you. But some fears are centuries old, one can only scratch its surface but can't heal them fully.”

“Even if one denies, does the admiration withers away?” Jungkook asked and Taehyung knew that the omega wasn't asking this for Kenji and Nami. So he pointed the needle of the question towards himself and found that his own fears were standing in the way of his answer.

Thought about his fears, how it's not simple to forget the scars that even his body couldn't erase throughout the centuries. Taehyung felt the pain ensuing in his chest, making the poison coil around his lungs. However, Does the omega deserve these shadows of his scars? Does the omega deserve the reluctance of his emotions just because he couldn't overcome the scars of his past?

No.

“A source of admiration can never withers away. If someone's admiration depends on the other's acceptance then that person got fooled, he hasn't admired anyone yet.” The Royal Alpha replied while looking at the sky, his fingers reaching down to the omega's scalp to press his fingertips against the smooth nape hairs.

Jungkook's lips stretched into a smile and nodded while rubbing his cheek over the Alpha's waist, “ In conclusion, Brother-in-law Kenji is a fool. And I will make him witness his mistake by the end of this season.”

Taehyung looked down to see the omega's eyes shining with determination, “And If I may ask, how are you going to it, Your Grace?” He was amazed with the reaction of the Empress, how his few words can enlighten the features of the omega instantly.

“What if I want to tell you about it once I succeed in my planned thoughts?” Jungkook asked, blinking his eyes in between to perceive the roaming fingers above his scalp.

“Then I can only wait till you wish to tell me.” The pain melted around his lungs when it got filled with the omega's giggles once again. His huddled thoughts dissipated when his gaze filled with the sleepy Luna.

“People have decorated the ground premises of Western land for the celebration of the festival. But after the earthquake, I don't know how much we can recover.” The omega expressed his worry and he didn't want to show it with his lips but at this moment, all of his senses are solely focused on the tips of the Alpha's hand which was caressing his hair so softly that he might just close his eyes and devour the message with his whole heart, so his lips puckered while thinking about the folks.

He hated when the Royal Alpha lowered his voice to make his eyelashes heavier with it's weight. His cheeks slided above the ruffled shirt of the Alpha, making half of his face nuzzle into the waist.

“Soldiers will take care of that. They are more excited to celebrate this festival than the folks.” Taehyung stopped himself from biting the corner of his lips when the omega pushed his nose against his shirt.

“Why? Is it some special festival?” Jungkook asked while submitting his eyes to the voice of the Alpha.

“You don't know about the traditional value of this festival?” Jungkook caught the amusement in that voice but his overwhelmed mind was too occupied to react profusely towards it. So he replied simply, “No. We never celebrated this festival in Lunar, the most I recall is that the festival happens at the end of autumn season because in some regions the crops ripens around this time.”

Taehyung ripped apart his eyes from the omega and looked away to blink out some incoherent thoughts before conversing, “It's a part of the festival but not the entire reason behind it. I would like to leave the work of explanation in Jimin's hand. He is skilled to describe each ritual with its traditional values. So I'm afraid his Grace has to wait till the next dawn.”

Taehyung heard a troubled humming from the omega that soon turned into a whine and some slurred words along with so stubborn Alpha. The noise again pushed a frown on the Alpha's forehead, how can someone create such sound inside their vocal cords? The reason needed to be found so he pushed his palms on the ground and straightened up his body in a sitting position.

The Empress's head slipped down from his waist and cradled over his lap. His one hand was supporting the lower head of the omega when Taehyung gazed down at the sleepy Luna fiercely. His eyes moved all over the omega's face to locate that one thing that made him curious about that noise but what he found instead left him speechless.

The one thing that has the capability to ruin the world as well as form it with a new end. That sleepy face of the Empress was devoid of any expressions, adorning a serene look of peace. Elegance. Such elegance was dripping down those drowsy cheeks but Taehyung was still curious about that noise.

He moved his hand below the omega's head and folded his legs to cradle his face more securely. His other hand comes forward to tug the omega's chin upward and look down closely. His head was hovering above the omega's face and Taehyung had his doubts if the other had fallen asleep or was playing a pretentious act of falling asleep.

So he moved his fingers below the omega's chin and pushed it up with his thumb, “Luna?” He whispered from above but as if Jungkook had truly submitted his body to the tiredness of the day and fell into the trap of calm sandalwood, his body remained motionless.

The curiosity sparked inside Taehyung's heart, the desire to know the exact location where the omega had let out that noise towards his touch. His fingers moved away from his chin and glided through the path of his sharp jaw before encircling the omega's cheek.

No response.

“Your Empress?” His lips parted against the abbreviation of the omega, this time voice carried the plea of stopping the pretentious act if the omega is doing one but the Empress remained rooted to his position. His chest rising and falling with each inhale, eyes closed, body supple in the Emperor's lap.

Taehyung's fingers now reached above the scalp of the omega and were pushing back some strands behind his ears when his ears picked up a gruelling rumble made from the omega's throat. His fingers halted in the position, eyes dilating at the discovery when the Alpha heard the noise again. But it wasn't the same sound… This noise was quite different from what he had heard before. It seems as if this sound was created because of annoyance not… not from the contentment.

So he moved his finger from that position and let them slide a little behind from the ear. In between the thick tresses, Taehyung dug the nub of his fingers at the centre and that noise broke out once again. The Alpha's back stiffened when he heard the purring sound of the omega. The whine was short, but when Taehyung pressed his fingers again it converted into a long whimper.

The Royal Alpha looked away from the omega right away, his breaths contracting the path to his lungs, sparking a burn all around his body. He let his gaze fill with more things around him as he was unable to focus on the person whimpering in his lap.

His fingers forgot to torture the sleeping omega and kept cradling his face in his palm till the Royal Alpha's sneaky glance caught an another flakes of dry leaf inside the red tresses. He picked them up one by one and blew some of his breaths towards the smaller ones. He watched those flakes flowing out before tumbling down on the wet grass, freed from the tangled threads.

How unfortunate.

The fallen dry leaves stretched the Royal Alpha's thoughts to another extent. Hadn't his life had some fair share of similarities with these dry leaves? Hadn't he used to stick around people with too many expectations and dreams? Hadn't destiny blew him far…far away from the humanity one feels towards their loved ones?

His thumb caressed the shadowed skin under the eyelashes of the omega. Would his care alone ever be able to reciprocate the admiration of the omega? Would he be able to justify and satisfy the emotions of the omega with his own? What if his inexperienced life lacked to provide enough support to the omega? What if his troubled emotions make the omega feel indecisive towards their bond?

In the past, He was assured that just like these dry leaves, his barren heart would also diminish the willingness to live a life. But he was proved wrong when this omega came into his life and kept thumping his heartstrings till it started to breathe again.

His wandering eyes stopped at the flushed nose of the omega and made his gaze warm once again. His fingers raised from the chin and caressed the omega's cheeks with adoration filling his pupils, “How can a person fall asleep so adorably? So nonchalantly that you didn't even care about the wet grass under you? Are you tired?”

The omega remained unresponsive when Taehyung asked each question with a whispered tone. His eyes were drinking the mist that was touching the omega with the uprising night under the moonlight. His lips parted against the omega's face as he looked at the sleeping Empress closely.

His heart brimmed with the scent of pines and with gratitude in his eyes, the Royal Alpha desired to wish something from nature, about the blessing he has received from it. His hand travelled from the omega's forehead to his chin as he recited his wish to nature.

While laying in the lap of nature I wish for something…

I wish these red tresses could hold my gaze…

But then I wish these dark lashes could hide my days…

Then I wish these eyes could abolish my maze....

I wish these cheeks could rise on my praise…

Oh I wish I won't be so absent minded nowadays…

Because I wish one eternity to fall in between our embrace…

I wish the hurts I ensued would erase…

Oh my mate, I wish I could be yours...

for once and Always…

The mist in the surrounding was getting thicker as the dawn crawled towards the night and Taehyung noticed it when his fingertips touched the cold cheeks of the omega. He cradled his head before embracing it against his chest and placed his free hand under the knees of the omega. The Royal Alpha hoisted up the omega in his arms, enclosing his body inside the chest.

His mind sent the first wave of satisfaction when the weight of the omega justified his health perfectly. And the second wave comes in the form of a quiet snuggle when the omega pushes his face into the Alpha's shoulder.

His feet took him towards the left side of the forest where the cave of Nami was located. A nearer den would be better to take some rest for a while. The whole forest was covered with a light fog and silence was spread all around the corners. His shoes made noise against the wet grass as Taehyung brought the Empress towards the cave.

Nature welcomed the Royal couple with its arms spread open to walk into. Only if the Royal Alpha could look ahead he would have found two squirrels snuggling into each other's tail on one branch while on the other branch, a small nest was prepared by a male parrot who was holding its wings above its mate to secure her pregnant belly from the cold mist. But the Royal Alpha was too occupied as his gaze was captured by the sleeping Empress in his arms.

He had lived uncountable years with an empty gaze, empty mind, empty heart along with empty arms that when these all filled with his destined one, Taehyung sometimes saw it as one of the tricks of the destiny. After barren centuries, he had stopped wishing such thoughtless prayers that may carry someone's companionship beside him. He had stopped going to the thoughtless festivals that continuously reminded him of his emptiness.

The empress in his arms felt as an unsaid wish granted by destiny. He had heard way back from the elders that unsaid wishes are blissful when they are granted by nature because they come unexpectedly, unconditionally and… purely.

The calmness of their scent affected the animals of the forest as well where the utter silence just after the disastrous earthquake could be taken as a horrified gesture but this silence… felt peaceful. The Royal Alpha stepped in the lane of some half built abandoned caves till he arrived at his destination.

Nami was sitting on his stone with the oracle glowing in front of his chest but the aura of the Royal Alpha distracted his meditation and forced him to open his eyes. The bright circle disappeared as Nami stood up from his stone and walked towards the front of his cave to greet the Royal couple.

“Your Majesty.”

Taehyung nodded towards the wizard before asking, “Can we take some rest in your cave for a while?” Nami smiled with warmth dripping from his eyes as he looked at the omega piled in a cocoon against the Alpha's chest.

“I would be delighted to welcome you inside. Please come.” Nami lit another flambeau against the wall while Taehyung stepped inside and spotted a stone where a mattress made up with a bundle of straws was spread upon. He walked to the mattress and lowered his knees above it before stretching his arms to lay the Empress.

Just when Taehyung was about to pull away from the sleeping figure, he felt a grip around the loops of his belt. The bony fingers of the omega were enclosed around his belt loop a little bit too tightly. The Royal Alpha massaged the omega's fingers where they were forming a knot over his loop and loosened up his hold deliberately.

The fingers opened and wrapped around Alpha's thumb and this time Taehyung moved his legs as he chose to sit beside the omega instead of pulling away. Nami turned towards the couple and with a smile on his face he bowed once again, “I shall be heading out for a while to practise my spells for the rest of the night.”

“No.” Taehyung stopped the wizard and gestured towards another stone beside him, “Sit with us for some moments. I want to hear about all the things that happened behind my back… in detail. His Grace seemed tired so I couldn't ask but I need to know everything before I leave to investigate the state of Chinra next morning.”

“Morning?” Nami asked with a confused face as he took a seat on the stone which was placed across the mattress, “If His Majesty has forgotten I may remind you that tomorrow is the autumn moon festival. You should be busy preparing for many things if you haven't prepared them yet.”

Taehyung blinked his eyes and circled his fingers above the fist of the omega which was wrapped around his thumb, “The preparations are almost done. Or one can say… preparations were equipped centuries before, waiting for someone's arrival.”

The Royal Alpha stole his gaze away from the wizard when he saw his smile enlarging before it turned into a soft gasp, “Will you be opening the Royal treasure?” Nami's hand came over his heart as his teeth peaked out when he failed to control his happiness anymore.

However, Taehyung's vision once again set on the Empress as he whispered out the answer, “Isn't this what the Empress truly deserves?” Being the Royal's friend all his life, Nami knew Alpha's habit to answer every question with his own question but the habit couldn't bring down the joyous aura of the wizard as he matched his palms excitedly, “Certainly. And I will be blessed if you need my help in any of your chores. Along with my spells, I'm a perfectionist in the department of house chores.”

Taehyung nodded his head towards the wizard and replied, “That I am aware of. And I may have some work for you as well but before… I need you to tell me about the day thoroughly.”

Nami straightened his back and let his hands fold on his lap, “From where do you want me to start the information of the day?”

The Royal Alpha's ears picked up the rustling of omega's feet on the straws and moved his free hand to pick up the blanket from the corner and flipped it open, “Start with your hands. How did they burn? And I need the truth, not what you have been reciting for a day and half.”

Nami was proved wrong when he underestimated the Royal Alpha around his joyous aura because now his lips were pressed in a thin line as he was sitting in front of the Emperor with a sheeping look. So Nami started the journey of recalling his memories and started to tell the details of the day.

~

Jungkook sat on the flaky mattress and looked around with his hazy eyes when he saw the daylight coming inside the cave. His pupils contracted by too much brightness as the omega had to wipe the sleepiness off of his eyes. He has seen this cave before as well. However, The empty cave sent a wave of sadness to the omega's heart but after so many times, maybe he should get used to warm nights and cold mornings now.

He stretched his back and twisted his waist before putting his feet down on the ground to head out of the cave when he heard footsteps at the opening. It was Nami who was holding a bowl of water in his hands, “Greetings, Your Empress. His Majesty seemed right about your tiredness, it's the afternoon already when you decided to come out of your slumber.”

Jungkook choked on the water that he was drinking as his mouth gaped at Nami's words, “Afternoon? But I had to visit Chinra in the morning to analyse the state of the mountain after the earthquake. What happened to that? Has the Royal Alpha left without me?”

Nami took the bowl back from the Empress as he sat on the stone across the mattress, “ He had to. You were whimpering in your sleep so His Majesty kept you company through the night and in the morning he refused to wake you up till your slumber completes because tonight's festival is going to stretch through the night.”

Jungkook's shoulder slumped in understanding but soon got taught when he remembered, “ And what about the folks of Chinra? Had they found their new homes? We need to provide them a place where they can live securely.”

“The Commander and soldiers have been working restlessly since last night and if one could assume, they should be done with their work by now. You have balanced the reins of the packs during their absence, let them reform their hard work now.” Nami explained.

“I wasn't alone.” Jungkook said with a whispered smile, “All of you were beside me. But what should I do now? My mind gets anxious whenever I let my thoughts roam around free without any work to accomplish.”

“Well, if you are wondering that the Empress of Eclipse would be free on the occasion of the Autumn moon festival then you might be proved exceptionally wrong. The Royal Omega has sent a message for you to report to his pavilions…. immediately.” Nami explained as he helped the Empress with his scarf and tied it securely behind his head.

“Why? Have I got any duty assigned to me?” Jungkook asked as he washed his eyes with the remaining water in the bowl.

“None would know. But I am assigned to look over the cattles of Chinra folks that are being moved to another land beside this forest so allow me to accompany you till we reach the Western land.” Nami suggested and folded the spread out blanket nicely on the mattress.

Jungkook doesn't remember when he used that blanket but feeling the restored energy in his body, he could guess that he slept heavenly.  His thoughts were jumbled as he agreed with the wizard and walked out of the cave. His hair was tied into a high bun just above the knotted scarf.

A few soldiers were waiting outside with their horses and Artax was standing in front of them all. They bowed to the Empress, “When has Alpha left for Chinra?” Jungkook asked as he climbed on the horse and acknowledged the soldier's greetings. Nami striding over another horse and hummed, “Early morning. The soldiers came here to retrieve His Majesty back to the mountain but due to his orders some of them decided to watch over the forest. It's already dusk so I can assume that his work must be done by now.”

And Jungkook understands. He does. He knows that the Emperor has his values that doesn't let him convey any personal needs above the betterment of his people, even if the needs being his sleep, diet or the duration spent with his mate. So he looked forward when Artax started to move on the path along with the few soldiers.

His mind cleared when the gloomy environment sent the cool vibrations to his face. The clouds were heavy in the sky, symbolising the possibility of another day full of rain. He exhaled his warm breath and let his lungs consume the fresh air. His brain started to work when the smoke of sadness washed away from his heart and the first thing that struck his mind was about the wizard that was following his troop closely. The soldiers were riding behind them so he slowed down Artax till Nami joined beside him with his horse.

“You told me that you are assigned with the cattle duties of Chinra folks. May I ask who will accompany you on this task?” Jungkook asked as he flipped the reins on Artax's back to change directions at the turn.

Nami heard Luna's voice and replied calmly, “No one and I don't think I will need one. I just need to look over herds of cattle, many people will be there to take care of them.”

“I disagree. Would you mind if I assign one of my trusted soldiers to accompany you?” Jungkook looked at the wizard who was wearing a white hanfu and the fresh air was highlighting his pale face more and more.

“Truly, His Empress doesn't need to. But I am obliged to command at your words. I won't mind.” Nami replied as he curled his bandaged hands around the reins.

“Rylee!” Jungkook commanded and till the Alpha that was riding the troop at the back encircled the caravan to come forward, Luna whispered to Nami, “He is one of my trustful soldiers. Well all of them are but Rylee has experienced wars before as well. His Majesty had taken him under our pack after he lost his mate in one of the wars. His knowledge could help you with your assigned duty.”

The Alpha rode his horse alongside the Empress and greeted, “At your command, Your Empress.” His face was partially hidden behind the brown scarf around his chin, features shielded in seriousness with his gaze focused on the path.

“Rylee, I wish you could accompany Brother-in-law Nami to the pack where cattles of Chinra folks are being moved temporarily.” Jungkook expressed his wish and the soldier bowed his head without any remorse, “As per the orders of the Empress.”

“The borders of western land have arrived, you both can change the directions now. You are ordered to inform your whereabouts before the night falls.”

Nami bowed his head with a nervous smile on his face as he changed the sides of his reins and followed the soldier. His heart was pounding with nervous thoughts because history had collected the evidence, his experience with the soldiers never proved to be nice.

The entire journey to the premises of Western Land, Jungkook watched the dynamics of the unsteady changes after the earthquake. He could notice some landscapes beside the Lavin that holds a new boundary around its edges now. Uncountable number of tents spread around the premises for the stay purposes of the Chinra folks.

His vision got disturbed when Artax neighed loudly while raising his front hooves before increasing its speed on the path. Jungkook balanced the reins more securely before looking around and in just a few moments, the entire sky started to shed the downpour on the pack.

He gestured to the soldiers to disperse towards their chambers as the rain demolished all the preparations for the festival by drenching the colourful paper bags and lanterns. He heard the collective gasps, shouts and whines of the people who were decorating their pavilions for the festival. Jungkook smiled at their miseries with a remorseful heart but who can stop Nature to bless them with one of its mightiness.

His tied hairs were shedding the droplets when he finally pulled the reins after reaching the pavilion of the Royal Omega. Jimin heard the sudden neighs of Artax and pulled apart the curtains of his chamber. His hands were occupied with a long towel for the Empress to use. As soon as Jungkook climbed down the horse, his head got covered by the towel instantly.

Jungkook laughed at the Royal Omega's tactics before he got pulled inside the chamber, “I heard your summon about my immediate presence, what happened?” He asked but Jimin was already gone to tie Artax at the shed that was situated behind his pavilion.

He waited for the Royal omega as he removed his scarf and untied his hair to wipe them thoroughly. Jungkook noticed the plates of food covered with fine clothes salivating his mouth rapidly. He took a place on the table and uncovered a plate to satiate his hunger when the Royal Omega stepped inside the chamber while flicking the droplets away from his hands.

“I summoned you so that we could wait for our mates together. The nerves of being alone before the moon festival were snatching away my peace.” Jimin joined the younger omega and uncovered his plate as they started to eat together.

“Why? What nerves? Is your mate alright?” Jungkook asked all questions in one breath while chewing on another bite.

Jimin looked at the omega a bit sceptical before his lips stretched in a polite smile, “They should be fine. But I'm not. I don't know, this is our first moon festival. What if the Moon goddess won't bless us?” The Royal omega spoke out his worries slowly but seeing the confused frown on the omega's lips he knew that the Empress didn't understand what he just said.

So he asked carefully, “Does our Luna know about the traditional rituals of the autumn moon festival?”

Jungkook drank the crushed apples from a jar and wiped his lips with the table cloth while shaking his head. He knows that the Royal Omega won't judge his unawareness about the matter, won't judge the incapability of his mother who deprived him to know about several rituals that seemed unnecessary for her.

And true to his belief, the Royal omega's eyes warmed up as both of them finished their meal silently and Jimin ordered the housemaids to clean up the plates. He grabbed Jungkook's hand and made him sit on his mattress before taking a seat beside him, “The autumn moon festival is celebrated among a few packs only, those who have harvested their crops before the autumn season are eligible to celebrate this festival as they will have their fruitful works to offer the Moon goddess. This festival is special because while offering the gifts to the Moon Goddess, we seek blessings from nature as well.”

“I have heard about this reason but didn't know how the crop offerings are related to a blessing in return.” Jungkook said.

Jimin pulled over his feet on the mattress and sat in a crisscross position, his back was straight as he started to explain the rituals and their importance one by one, “ During the night, when the moon will appear in the sky in its full glory, all the mates will gather around under it's moonlight. In front of each couple, a big vessel filled with water will be placed. Under the moon, each couple had to wait till the moon would bless its shadow in their vessel.”

With each word of the Royal omega, Jungkook could feel goosebumps travelling all over his spine, “Trapping an image of the moon in your vessel is quite easy because of the vast sky but the importance relies on the stability of that image. If fortune decides to bless a couple, a moment will come when the shadow of the moon will be seen established on the surface of water, with no movements, no blurriness. It symbolises that destiny considers you to be able to bear its boon and gives you a chance to secure your blessing.”

Jungkook's mouth left a gape as he listened to the Royal omega's voice which was turning serious, “ From here on, everything falls on the palm of our hand. When we see an established image, we have to scoop out a part of that image out of that water vessel.”

“But how's that possible? As soon as one puts even a finger of his hand inside the water, the image will scatter away instantly.” Jungkook pressured his tone with thickness as nerves started to gather around his throat.

The Royal Omega crossed his arms over his chest as he nodded, “That's why the process has to be performed slowly and with proper pauses. One has to keep the pace of a snail to achieve a part of that image. Stop as soon as you see the shadow scattering and let it fall back into its place. And when you get a part of that image established in your palm, take it out and let your mate consume it.”

“Mate? Why?”

Jimin smiled bashfully as he unclasped his arms and let them rest on his lap, “ Now comes the legends behind these rituals and what is that blessing that each couple craves for their bond.”

“An offspring.”

Jungkook's heart stuttered when he heard it. The surroundings comes to a stop as he stared at the Royal Omega with bewilderment in his eyes and Jimin gulped before continuing, “Offering that part of image to your mate symbolises that the destiny has chosen you to carry their offspring, that you want a part of those abilities inside your child that the almighty Moon carries in its image. And by consuming that water from your palm, your counter mate declares that he… as well… considers you as the carrier of his offspring.”

Jungkook could hear his breaths that were leaving out of his lips, proving how heavily the words of the Royal Omega infected his brain. An offspring? His own child? Their child? The fear arises in his eyes till he sees the same fear inside Jimin's widening irises.

“Hyungnim, what if I… I perform it incorrectly? Or messed up with the image? Or more importantly, what if the shadow didn't fall in our vessel?” The worries could turn infinite with the possibilities of mistakes.

“All of these questions hold only one outcome and you know it as well. So instead of scaring ourselves with the worst possibilities,we can choose to be optimistic.” Jimin said but Jungkook could see his own hands trembling above his lap.

“And… what if one doesn't want to bear offsprings?” Jungkook expected a questionable glance towards him but all Jimin did was indulge his hands in some work around caressing his hairs, “It's a blessing, Jungkookie. It will be given to the one who needs it most. And it's not inevitable, you know… it's not mandatory to bear such blessing to carry the offspring, It's just a legend that goes by among the folks. People offer their earned crops as a product of their yearly hardships and the Goddess blesses them with a promise that their offspring might hold one of her powers.”

Jungkook's spine slumped as his gaped lips exhaled the air that was trapped inside his lungs, slowly. His pupils moved around the chamber as his thoughts reached high to the dripping sky, “Has anyone received such a blessing before?”

Jimin sighed loudly as his straight spine made a cracking noise before slumping to attain a similar posture as the other omega, “My own mother, received it…uncountable times. He kept receiving such blessings but couldn't conceive at all but when he did…you can see the outcome. I was his first offspring but due to my rank and body habits, I couldn't be the carrier of such powers. So the next heir received all of them combined. Taehyung… he bears a bunch of powers, being a Royal he is allowed to receive one naturally but due to the blessings my mother had received, Taehyung became the perfect carrier to bear all the blissful powers.”

“How? How did the Imperial Highness used to overcome such harsh procedure? Has he ever shared his secret?” Jungkook asked and his fingers started to caress his wrist to hide his nervousness.

Jimin was nodding his head but he looked as if he really didn't understand the words of the Imperial Highness, “Before your arrival, I was talking to him. All he said was about being calm and that our mates will help us. How are they going to help us? I don't know…”

Jungkook felt his stomach contorting in pain and the swollen food coming through his food pipe, he is about to throw up, on the Royal Omega's mattress. The sudden stress sent the Empress in a series of horrible thoughts, he gulped down the stomach acid with a large inhale and looked around, “Is there any way we can practise? Practise to hold our hands steadily so it won't tremble during cupping out the shadow?”

“We can do that but the rain at this hour isn't helping the environment for the night. I wish the clouds would drain all of the rain on us right at this moment so that the night could be cleared out for the celebrations.” Jimin expressed his worries in a small voice.

“Is it mandatory that all of these things could be performed by us only? I mean… what would our mates be doing for the festival?”

“Their duties started a week ago. It's their responsibility to make us free from unwanted tautness, pressure or strain from any situation. They will be responsible for what we should be wearing and what we should be eating and how to make us smile more often and how to keep us away from worries.”

Jungkook chuckled as he looked at the Royal omega's trembling lips, “ And May I say that they are collectively failing in their tasks?”

“Absolutely.” Jimin pushed himself away from the mattress and opened the window to look outside, the rain was still pouring down. He watched the hustling and bustling of the folks who were securing their meals and opting to burn some flames to get rid of the sudden colder environment.

Jungkook followed the older man and stood beside him. He can assume what must be the Royal omega thinking at this point, bearing the same worries in his heart, he asked another question, “Do you find yourself prepared for an offspring at the moment?”

The Royal omega's gaze was lost in the surroundings, his eyes were unfocused as well as focused on the omega's words, “Only time can tell. But I am willing to receive a blessing for my unborn.”

Jungkook's heart skipped several beats when he heard the word unborn. How could it be possible to feel so much admiration towards nonexistent things in someone's life? The Royal omega is indeed right, without thinking about the possibilities of the future they can try and lead the festival with a wholesome heart that doesn't expect anything.

“What about you?” Jungkook heard the omega's question but didn't glance towards him so Jimin called once again, “Are you prepared?” However, the answer was clearly visible on the omega's features but the Royal omega still dared to ask.

Jungkook stood closer to the window and listened to the light showers striking on the ground, the music of droplets calmed his mind but his heart was still summer saluting in between the traditions of the festival, “I am willing to receive the blessing but I don't think alpha will accept such change.”

Devoid of any hatred towards his brother, Jimin interrupted, “I didn't ask his perspective. We will know about his perspective when he will accept or reject that water. Your wish stands the most, Luna. Because the bearer gets to decide with what virtues their unborn should lead their life.”

“To accomplish a ritual that forecertain the well-being of our child, Such opportunities should be cherished often. I will cherish the tradition with all my hard work.” Jungkook opinionated his views which brought a light in the dull eyes of the Royal omega.

“Just remember one thing, Luna, Nothing will happen against your wish. Even if you decide to not take part in the ritual, our family will understand you”, Jimin assured. Jungkook knew that thing by now, he knows that he will remain safe despite the jumbling thoughts inside his brain but no matter how deeply he analyses himself, there isn't a nerve that doesn't agree with his willingness.

“I am grateful for that, hyungnim. But if I may ask, why does the whelming clouds of rain seem gloomy on your face, why such sadness? Did something happen?” He was noticing the way the Royal Omega couldn't smile freely as if there is something that stops him in the middle.

Jimin shook his head and brushed off his black tresses away from his shoulder, “Nothing that should be concerned more than the happenings around us. It might sound selfish from a Royal Highness's mouth so I would refrain myself from saying it.”

But Jungkook was known for his adamant behaviour when it comes to the well-being of his loved ones, “ We never judge each other. Won't you share it with me?” He gasped lightly when he saw a glinting shine of tears in the Royal omega's eyes. Hands reached forward to capture Jimin's hands to spread the comfort till the Royal omega decided to share his pain.

Jimin sniffled a bit and scoffed at his own tears for brimming at such a moment, he could just wish to not look like a frivolous person when he shared his doubtful sorrows, “ I think…I won't be able to celebrate the festival.”

The reaction came out as Jungkook's eyes widened horrifyingly, “What? But why not?”

Jimin wiped out his stray tears from his cheeks as he shook his head, “I don't think my mates are willing to do this ritual or even know about its existence. They haven't asked anything about the festival and… are deep rooted in their duties… which is all and everything we could ask for. I couldn't find any peace last night, Yoonie and the Commander, both were out to calm the folks after the earthquake. They haven't come back yet and I don't have enough heart to look for them. How should it look if, in the middle of such chaos where specially folks need them, I show my presence with… as you said a gloomy face. So I was waiting for their return but there is also a fear… that has taken a wild space inside my chest through the night. What if they forget to come? Their duties are amongst those soldiers who came here without their mates so what If they forget about the festival altogether?”

Jungkook blinked his eyes to absorb the sorrow of the Royal Omega, his hold tightened over his hands when he asked, “How can you be so sure about this? From what Nami had told me, soldiers are almost done with their duties and despite the rain everyone is preparing for the festival.”

“Nami really said that?” With fearful eyes Jimin asked with light sweeping past his eyelids.

“Yes, Hyungnim. And if we ponder on the positive thoughts, what if they have started their preparations a week before… as you explained about the ritual… so that they won't have to discuss them during such ambiance of war?” Jungkook brought the Royal omega beside his bed and gestured to him to take a seat on the mattress.

“I know I should not manifest false scenarios in my mind. But sometimes the fear clouds all over my brain, fear of fate deceiving me once again.” Jimin whispered and this time Jungkook took the pride to wipe his tears while shaking his head, “I don't think fate has the ability to fight with your mates to reach you afterwards. I will make sure to enlighten their ears which much needed scolding to let you feel like that, to make you feel the loneliness of bad times.”

“It's not their fault. They are doing what a warrior should be doing around a battlefield.” Jimin sighed as he defended their mates.

“No. They are blessed enough to have you… A Royal Highness… as their mate. They should be showing more endeavours to keep you engaged and excited before the celebration of the festival. And moreover, It was their responsibility to provide you with peace and jovial moments, was it not?” Jungkook sighed with a smile on his lips when he heard the light laugh of the Royal Highness.

“Since when did you learn to talk with such authority? It suits you but kindly spare my mates from your wrath, Luna,” Jimin requested, his eyes bearing the lost amusement.

“None will be spared!” Jungkook shouted with his hand stopping the Royal omega from talking further and the gesture pulled out a series of giggles in between them.

“Has my brother fulfilled his responsibility by providing his mate the calmness he needed?” Jimin asked, now the tone turning from amusing to teasing the younger omega.

Jungkook blushed while looking away but the bright smile on his face opened the joyous chapters of the night, “ I didn't know about the rituals that time but he did accompany me through the night. His presence alone… makes me calm. We talked for moments till I fell asleep.”

Jimin's eyes shone cheerfully as he let his glance wander around the room while envising his brother and Luna together. His heart calmed a little when it soared in the spreading happiness around him. His eyes caught the fallen scarf of the Luna and saw the dirt it was laced with.

He looked at the Empress and commanded, “As the negotiations are over with Strays, I consider that you should take part in the festival without the scarf. It's time when the folks would worship your face and see the wonder my brother has been blessed by.”

Jungkook's face was turning red as his cheeks were uplifting with an undying smile, “I still need to hide my neck.”

“On the occasion of the moon festival, Your clothes will be provided by the Royal Alpha himself so I think he will take care of such worries. Why don't you indulge yourself in a proper bath? The Sun is about to set, as the dusk arrives all the mates will start to handover the presents to their omegas. We should be prepared for that.” The Royal omega suggested as he placed his hands over his lap.

Jungkook thought for some moments before nodding his head in affirmation, “How about I suggest something as well? My apologies but I think… you should appreciate some moments of sleep. Why don't we make a pact? I will be using your pavilion on my accord and you can take some moments of rest?”

There was gratefulness on the Royal omega's face as he smiled towards the Empress, accepting the pact with a tiring nod. He can use Jungkook's company to rest for a while before the long night begins.

Jungkook stood away from the mattress and brought a blanket for the Royal omega, “ I will be here till you decide to be awake, hyungnim.” Jimin laid on the mattress with a sigh as his lips stretched into a fragile grin, “Thankyou, Luna.”

Jungkook patted his hand after covering the Royal omega's limp body with the blanket. With silent steps, he decided to borrow some clothes from the closet before disappearing behind the curtains that further led him to the bath house. He just wishes the Royal Highness would feel better after sleeping off his anxious thoughts because he has experienced what tragedy these thoughts can cause when turned into someone's truth.

~

“How could you use inappropriate words for the Empress around the folks like this? Mooshin! Is this what you have been gossiping about behind my back? You both dared to open your mouth around the Royal Highness, do you think he will forget and spare you for your impolite behaviour? That too against the Royal Luna? You have finished everything, all of your image that we had built around the people, your manners, your eligibility to hold a position beside the Emperor! You have burnt everything with your own hands, Gyuri!” Pyuhani shouted at her daughter who was sitting in front of her dressing table with tears dripping down her cheeks while a scared Mooshin was standing against the wall with her head laying low.

“Mother, why are you saying such things? We didn't use any inappropriate words, I assure you. We were just discussing the possibility whether the Empress's visit to the Strays would be considered as a dignified act or not?” Gyuri whispered while looking at her mother through the mirror.

“And why does it matter to you? He is the Empress and has the ability to decide for himself. Who are you to pass a judgement on his decision so collectively? I have warned you to control your jealousy! I have warned you not to speak a word against the Empress but you criticised him outside and decided to ruin your image altogether.” She flicked the lapels of her hanfu before letting them fall behind her feet.

Gyuri wiped her tears and looked away, “I would apologise to the Royal Highness. I didn't mean to sound impolite or jealous towards the Empress. Mother, you know how cautious I was around the people but I was fasting during that time and I don't know when the longingness combined with it and I shared some of my sadness with Mooshin. I will ask for His Highness's forgiveness.”

“Don't you dare to go outside and show your face! God forbid if the Royal Highness sees you and decides to discuss your heinous act with the Emperor. We all will be doomed to the dungeons of Eclipse for all our lives! Let this matter wave off in the air till the Royal Highness blesses you with his ignorance.”

Gyuri twirled around on the ottoman and showed her misery, “I have heard about his kindness, You had told me how he is the politest amongst the Royal family. You even planned to persuade him first by showing my unique interests and abilities so that he will take me with them on their way back. I… I will show my remorse towards my behaviour but please let me talk to him once.” She pleaded with her hands combined but her mother was fuming with anger who has now turned deaf towards such requests.

She shook her head wildly while throwing the golden vase on the floor. The rose petals scattered all around just like the tiny heart of Gyuri. Her eyes saddened while looking down when her mother thundered, “ And you ruined that plan that I made after your continuous threats of losing yourself in fantasies with the Emperor. You ruined it all after talking badly about the most prestigious person of their pack. They are Royals, Gyuri… have taken lives over a minute of disrespect! It's his morality that the Royal Omega spared you enough to walk on your legs. I am your mother, I can see what you have done and what outcomes it could lead you to. So listen to me and secure yourself inside these walls.”

Pyuhani wiped her own tears of frustration and stepped towards Gyuri to hold her face in her palms, “Moreover, Tonight is the autumn moon festival, a festival of mates. What will you possibly do after going out? Rest in your chamber instead.”

Gyuri's beautiful green eyes shed tears of sadness while she shook her head in denial, “I want to see his Majesty. I haven't seen him… only heard about his arrival in the pack. I'm yet to see him so that my heart could feel content about his safety. Please, mother. I will come back after seeing him for once and I won't get noticed by anyone. I can dress as Mooshin and worship my Emperor from afar.”

Pyuhani pulled her hand away as if it got burnt by the stubbornness of her daughter, “ I am adamant on my decision. You will not take a step out of your chamber and if you do so… as the consequences of your actions… I will withdraw my support from your idiotic infatuations as a mother and as the former Lady of the packhouse.” She wiped her face thoroughly and pulled herself away from her daughter to leave the chamber. On the wake of her waning steps, she halted to turn towards the attendant, “Mooshin, if you want to exceed some days of your life, make sure Gyuri doesn't leave her chamber at any cost.” Her low utterance made Mooshin kneel on the floor in grievance as she bowed to the Noble lady. Pyuhani turned towards her daughter to look at her one last time before she left the chamber and stepped under the falling downpour.

Mooshin sniffled on her knees as she pulled herself back and looked at the lady of the packhouse, “My deep apologies, Miss. I didn't know our small talk could shred apart your dreams. I will forever live under remorse, you can punish me for my heinous tongue. I can't even ask for your forgiveness.”

Mooshin wiped her tears when she saw Gyuri gesturing her to come closer. She went to her as the lady turned towards the mirror and took out a muslin cloth to wipe her cheeks. She raised her shoulders and looked at her friend with determination in her eyes, “No one has ever taken decisions for me and I am not habitual to it either. Adore me with my best accessories, Mooshin. I am eager to see his Majesty during the festival.”

Mooshin's terrified eyes held disastrous fear when they matched with Gyuri's sceptical ones, “B-but the Noble Lady asked me to not…”

“Tsk. She can withdraw her support as she wants. What did she think? I won't be able to get what I want without her support? Let her misunderstandings fade away in the moments of time. Neither I started my love with her permission nor I will stop it. I know how and what could lead me to the love of my life. Prepare me Mooshin… prepare me enough so that the moonlight could reflect my face in those dark grey eyes of my Emperor.” Her face looked crazed in the reflection that was caught by Mooshin, holding half tears and half smiles, Gyuri ordered the attendant to open all of her closets.

~

Jungkook was combing his hair when he heard the excited footsteps outside the pavilion. By the Goddess grace, the rain has stopped now and the people have resumed their preparations from right where they left them. He made a simple knot of his hair when two familiar heads at the threshold of the chamber. The Commander was supporting a big palate in his hands which was covered with red cotton clothes all over the edges, he couldn't see what that palate held for the Royal Omega. Meanwhile, his hyung was holding a wooden chest in his hands as they entered inside the chamber.

“Halt in your steps.” Jungkook ordered and he could see the bewilderment in their eyes as they looked towards him. Both of them bowed but Jungkook walked towards them while crossing his hands over his chest, “I'm way too disappointed to accept your bows so let this greeting pass by. Please put your presents on the table and follow me.”

The commander was shocked and Yoongi's eyes turned confused as they placed their presents on the table and followed the Empress. Both of them tried their best to look towards the mattress where they could sense their mate was asleep but all the curtains were drawn around the bed to seal their vision to nothing. Jungkook opened another curtain from the middle of the pavilion that further led them to an open space where some chairs and big wooden chests are placed in a corner.

“On the festive occasion of happiness, I'm  disheartened to say that you both made your mate sad till the point that I witnessed tears in his eyes.” Jungkook talked straight on the point as he took a seat at the edge of a chair. Yoongi paled beside the Commander while Hoseok's lips parted in sheer remorse.

None of them had the audacity to ask the reason as they looked down after looking at each other so Jungkook continued, “I understand that you had duties on your shoulders but if His Majesty can come and look for me after his return, I want to ask where you get occupied to the point that you forget to greet your mate. More importantly, when you had finished half of your duties before the night, where were you all this while?”

The Commander doesn't want to embarrass himself to ask if the Prince has really cried? Because the silence of the pavilion already answered them when they entered the chamber, “We apologise, Your Grace. We wanted to conclude the presents for a surprise and…”

“Both of you? At least one could come and look after your mate. Are you even aware of the festival rituals?” Jungkook asked.

“Yeah, Your Empress. I was aware and I explained them to Yoongi before we departed for the Western Land. To express you the truth, we all have selected the presents in the presence of the Imperial Highness but during that moment, it wasn't confirmed if we would be able to celebrate the festival or not. So His Majesty suggested that we should leave the presents under Imperial Highness's care and with the uprising updates about the Western land, he would send the presents if we decided to celebrate the festival.”

He slowed down his words and gulped down a thick globe of air to breathe before speaking again, “ Yesterday night, we were occupied in receiving those presents. But as you said one of us could be with the Prince and there should be no excuse to defend our avoidance.”

Jungkook looked at both the Betas’ closely, his eyes narrowing when he asked, “ Does the Imperial Highness sent all of these presents from all the way to Eclipse?”

“Yes. And the Royal Majesty had ordered the soldiers to receive it but in our utmost excitement we decided to receive it ourselves.” Yoongi muttered as he looked behind the walls of curtains, his heart hurting to envision tears in his omega's eyes.

“Very well. As you both were aware of the rituals then you must be aware of how anxious these rituals are to be performed. And your avoidance worked just fine to the fact that your Prince feared if he would be celebrating the festival or not.” His eyes sharpened towards the Commander who looked down immediately in regret, “Because apparently… his two mates were occupied by something else. Wasn't it your responsibility to make him feel at peace before the night?” Yoongi was already looking down so Jungkook sighed as he felt like talking to the walls of the pavilion.

“You both have only a few hours to reconcile with your mate.” Both of them looked up with hope glinting in their eyes as Jungkook walked towards a makeshift door that opens backwards, “I will be using this part of the pavilion for the night so you can use the front side. Would I consider your words of assurance that you will try your best?” He asked as he finally blessed the couple with a small smile after closing the door once again.

Both of them bowed deeply and raised their heads with red tinted ears, “With all our heart, Your Empress. Our apologies for ensuing such circumstances.” The Empress acknowledged their greetings this time as both of them disappeared behind the wall of curtains in search of their mate.

Jungkook couldn't choose to sit for another moment when there was a knock on the door. It was on the front door so he walked around the backside of the chamber till that same knock reverberated on the backside door. He opened it with curiosity only to see a few soldiers along with some housemaids. All of them greeted the Empress, “Your Empress. His Majesty has sent you the presents for the night. He has requested you to adore these outfits for the festive occasion.”

Jungkook glanced at the few omegan housemaids who were holding the huge palates and balancing them on their palms. He motioned his hand to invite them inside and all of them rejoiced with happiness, “Before we take our leave, I would like to recite the message that His Majesty has sent for Your Grace.” The soldier asked for his permission and Jungkook smiled at him to convey the message.

“His Majesty has said to not wear something that His Empress won't like. He said to prioritise your wish above all.” The soldiers bowed after conveying the message and receiving a humble response from the Empress, “I appreciate.”

When he walked back to the pavilion after closing the door, he saw the housemaids looking at him in worry, “What happened?” He let them place the presents on the chairs one by one before taking a seat on the spared one.

One of the omega replied, “Your Grace, How would you be able to get ready here? There is no mirror or enough space to roam around.”

Jungkook laughed a little bit before brushing off their concern, “We can use this part of the pavilion without any concern. Moreover, If the king has chosen you to adorn me for the night then I would rather put my trust in your hands than in the mirrors.” All the housemaids smiled bashfully before talking among them in hushed voices.

Jungkook didn't wish to sound so eager but his eyes still wandered over the palates which were covered with golden silks. So, failing in the hands of his palpitating heart, he asked, “May I see the presents now?”

The housemaids picked up the palates and showed up in front of the Empress to unveil them one by one. Jungkook uncovered the first palate and his heart stopped beating altogether. His lips parted when the housemaid lowered the palate and placed it in his lap.

His hands hovered above the golden hanfu mixed with a bit of creamy colour. His fingertips touched the fabrics and his parted lips stretched into a full smile, “Exquisite and pure.” He whispered before examining it thoroughly. The colour of the hanfu reminded him of the first hanfu he had received from the Alpha. However, that colour was more vibrant than the one in his lap. This one looked mature as it dwelled into cream.

He checked the collars of the hanfu shirt subtly and true to the Royal Highness's words, the Royal Alpha had taken care of his worries of hiding his neck. The hanfu shirt had high collars that flaked knots to both sides, leaving the choice in omega's hands how to tie it.

When he put it back on the palate, the housemaid forwarded the next palate and stood in front of him. Jungkook unveiled it to see his crown and veil placed neatly on the palate. He touched his veil and some heartful memories flooded inside in mind. He has cherished all of them as he cherished the bond that started when the Alpha draped that veil on him for the first time.

The next palate comes holding the amounts of jewels that he has never seen together before. White gold, the yellow gemstones, big and small emeralds, rubies and diamonds. The next two palates were holding the accessories as well, bearing the several types that Jungkook was sure he wouldn't know how to wear.

Prior to the last palate holds a few pairs of shoes that were made with soft fabrics to cure the cracked heels of the omega. Jungkook wondered how deeply the Alpha observed him last night to notice his cracked heels. With a full heart brimming with admiration he waited for the last palate to come forward.

When the silk slipped out of his fingers, Jungkook saw the last present the Royal Alpha sent for him. In between the shining hair jewels in the form of pins and ties, there place a white rose that captured Jungkook's heart with a glance. His palms picked out the rose from the palate and touched its petals slowly.

A white rose.

That symbolises purity, youthfulness, eternal loyalty and…. Innocence. A pure white rose that signifies the acknowledgement of past mistakes and expresses the desire of the new beginnings. His nostrils inhaled the deep sandalwood scent that was wafting out of the flower. His eyes shone with stars when his anxious nerves that heightened after learning the rituals of the festivals… finally found its peace.

Even in his absence, the Royal Alpha didn't fail to provide the sanity Jungkook craved for. He placed the rose in his lap when the housemaids requested, “We will be waiting outside till you change the clothes, Luna.” With his affirmation, the housemaids emptied the pavilion to let the Empress change his clothes for the night. All of their faces were shining with big smiles, none of them could wait to witness the eternal happiness on the Royal couple's faces when they finally meet each other.

~

The Royal Alpha tightened his cuffs before buttoning them around his wrist while his gaze was wandering all around the mirror to look over himself. His chamber was empty thoroughly as he decided to borrow Kenji's pavilion to get ready for the night. Only a few soldiers know about his whereabouts.

The Royal blue skirt flared around his ankles when he adjusted its upper belt over his waist. It's been a while that he has worn a hanfu but on the occasion of the autumn moon festival, his mother has decided to send a Royal blue hanfu for him so he elected to wear the choice of his mother. Not because the colour reminded him of someone's eyes. Not at all.

He finished buttoning the long sleeves and moved towards to tie the stolen sash above the plated belt of the skirt when the soldiers greeted on the door, “Your Majesty. We have conveyed the second message to the Empress as well and had asked if His Grace needs anything else… as per your instructions.”

Without looking at his waist, Taehyung tied a knot of the sash perfectly in the middle while answering, “What did the Empress say?”

One of the soldiers stepped inside and looked down, “His Grace has thanked but denied for any needs. However, he has sent something for you.”

Taehyung's fingers kept hovering above the sash when he heard the words of the soldiers. He twisted his body towards the door and watched the soldier holding a palate in his hand… a palate that was covered by similar golden silk. Has the omega returned something that he didn't like? He nodded towards the empty shelf and the soldier placed the palate above it before leaving the chamber.

Taehyung remembered choosing the jewelleries carefully so the possibility of the omega's unlikeness lay low but… it could be possible that he returned something else…. Something that adorn a colour of white, a simple and pleasant thing to the eye yet held a meaning..deeper than the depth of oceans. With slow steps on the floor, the Royal Alpha reached the shelf to just stand in front of it.

His fingers touched the shelf as his body inclined the hips on the wall, one foot moving to cross around the other one's ankle. With a little press of his front teeth on his lower lip, his fingers moved and unveiled the palate.

He let his eyes blink to see the single earring that had a dangling half star at the end, a golden one. He picked up the earring and admired it at the centre of his palm. His eyes raked on the other object, a vast shoulder ornament that had several chains looming over to the elbow. It would be covering his left hand from his elbow to shoulder then two similar chains surpassing his neck before enclosing around the tip of another shoulder.

Taehyung doesn't need to think twice why he was given only the singular pieces of the pairs. It is the omega's way to ask if the Emperor can complete his look by appearing beside him till they walk to the hall of the festival. The Royal Alpha brought the pieces in front of the mirror and wore the earring in his left lobe and stuck a diamond stud in the other.

Next comes the shoulder scale which needed someone's help to put it on and to remove such complications Kenji stepped inside the chamber with a big smile on his face. His slanted gaze fell on the Alpha and laughed wholeheartedly, “Holy goddess, someone is looking anciently good.”

Taehyung glanced at him passively and sat on an ottoman that was placed in the middle of the chamber. He threw the ornament towards Kenji who caught it perfectly and started to engrave it on his friend's shoulder. The pavilion fell silent for a while only the vibrations of turning chains could be heard in the air. From the reflection of the mirror, Taehyung looked at Kenji, the male had thoughtful expressions on his face that wafted the nature of definiteness and serenity.

“Had wishes to embellish you on your courting day as the groom… I will consider that wish to be fulfilled now.” Kenji expressed. He tucked the aligned chain on the other shoulder in parallel, the chains fell around his chest while the other parts covered his elbow. Taehyung moved his gaze from Kenji and shook his head, “ And what's the meaning behind gracing this abandoned pavilion with your presence?”

Kenji's eyes turned into sharp slits when he looked at the Royal Alpha, “ Men can't even express their emotions now, can they?”

“Cunning men can't, yes. And?” Taehyung said as he started to wear colourful stones in his long fingers. Next came a golden chain that he wrapped around his wrist in four swirls before tucking it above the blue sacred thread.

“And what would you call yourself then? A man who never liked to braid his hair, travelled around while adorning several of them.” Kenji's eyes challenged the Emperor through the mirror before rolling them at the other's nonchalance, “Or should I say someone's liking is changing around their mate?”

Taehyung stood up from the ottoman and fixed the sash around his hips before smoothen out the flares of the skirt, “None of that. The sole moral of living a life is accepting the changes around us.”

“And the whole lot of gibberish.” Kenji grumbled as he took a seat on the ottoman and stared at his friend who was fixing the crown over his head. Taehyung turned halfway and picked up the cloak and tied it around his shoulders, the blue fabric was shining with gems around its edges creating heavy trails on the floor.

Taehyung glanced at Kenji and decided to address the unsaid worries of his friend, “Nami…” it was just the name of the wizard that had escaped from the Royal Alpha's lips but Kenji's attention got drowned towards it. As the Royal Alpha expected, “He went to settle the cattles in the neighbouring packs with one of the soldiers.”

Taehyung saw Kenji blinking his eyes, appearing more annoyed with each falling lash. Taking a particular interest in explaining the whereabouts of the wizard, he continued, “And about his injured hands…”

“What about it?”

“It's the same poison from which the former Imperial Majesty got injured. Jimin told me that even if the pain isn't as severe as a living human being, the poison has the capacity to rote the skin if not cured.”

Kenji was steady on his feet when he left the ottoman and stormed towards the door, “Fùck the negotiations, those baśtard needs to be buried alive. I will…” His arm got caught by the Royal Alpha before he could cross the threshold, “We have provided appropriate medicine to Nami, calm down…”

Kenji fumed while snatching his arm away from his friend, “Would you have stopped if they dared to do the same with the Royal Empress?”

“Kenji.”

The voice held the threat that Kenji truthfully ignored and took daring steps towards the Alpha, “Then why should I stop myself from severing their heads! I knew something was off because it's not easy to trick Nami. What kind of witch has tried to make such poison? Tell me the Name.”

Taehyung kept looking towards Kenji till the man groaned and kicked the ottoman harshly, “Useless. We don't know it yet, right? Of course.”

“At this moment, What should be more admirable for a mate? Taking care of your mate or leaving him alone and searching for someone unknown whose existence you don't even know about?” The words halted Kenji's desperate movements as he looked down with a sigh. So the Royal continues,“If… you still consider him your mate or so.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Empress has decided to cure Nami's broken heart. So if you don't want to pursue him as your partner anymore… it's time for him to…”

“To?”

The silence of the pavilion proved the diminishing rain outside. Taehyung could see the darkness of the night filling up the orbs of his friend bit by bit, “...to find a new partner.” Still he completed his words because someone needs to show Kenji what the fear of losing your special one feels like.

“What the absolute fùck is going on inside your omega's head? What does he even know about our life to meddle in between?”

“Whatever he knows… isn't false. I don't think Jimin will try to instigate problems by telling him false happenings of the past.” Taehyung moved around and found his boots wrapped in a white silk cloth. He took a seat on the ottoman and started to wear them while looking at the teeth gritting Kenji.

“I do not like your mate!” He fumed, “ Don't like his stubborn head that he uses to decide such things! And I personally hate your hairstyle! You are looking like a fool in the bloody hanfu and the braids above are presenting a look of beggar! You don't even…”

Taehyung clinched his lips to stop a chuckle at the aggressive rumbles of Kenji, “Eight miles to the west and then three miles towards North.”

“What?”

“The location of your mate. Being a dead wolf, it will be hard for you to search for him.”

Kenji clenched his fist while pointing a finger at the Emperor, “I hate you too! Get lost from my pavilion right this instant!” He was threatening the Royal Alpha constantly while his own feet were moving backwards, eager to leave the pavilion to search for Nami.

A fool.

Taehyung tied the laces of long boots just below his knees and stood up from the ottoman. The loud shamblings of drums and the high pitch medley of kora instruments spread the wave of celebration all around the pack. It was an invitation for everyone to join the festival before midnight. The Royal Alpha pushed down the curtains of the window and peaked outside, the chilly breeze of the night felt fresh to his nostrils. The downpour has certainly made some potholes but the wafting fragrance of soil hides those imperfections with calmness.

The spreading silence in the pavilion once again brought the thoughts of the omega in the Royal Alpha's mind. Has he crossed any lines by sending a white rose? The thought was eating Taehyung's mind since he returned from the refurbishment of Chinra. He knows he should not because the Empress had expressed his thoughts about the boundaries among them before as well.

I haven't drawn any lines for you. I don't want any lines to stop my mate from giving me affection.

But he should have. He should have drawn some lines just so the Alpha knows what should be done and what should not be done while sending the presents to the Empress. It wasn't easy for him to select the colour of affection when he strolled around the valley in between Mosnic and Chinra. To select a colour that could grasp the dignity to behold its position in the hands of the Empress.

However, when his eyes raked over the valley, the brushes of white roses captured his gaze similarly to the one person with red hairs. One after the other, the virtues of that rose started to match with the elegance, purity, innocence and that teefy smile of the omega. He collected that rose and hid it in between one of the palates.

But the Royal Alpha wasn't aware of the beginnings, the forgiveness and the hopes that would be coming towards him if the omega decided to accept that white rose. He could feel them in his thoughts but being the receiver of the remorse in the past, he reminds himself to keep the respects, the acceptance and the obligations at the bay as well if the opposite happened.

The music in the air heightened and the surroundings of the pack filled with cheers, people started to depart for the hill of Chinra. The moment has arrived when he should be leaving for the omega's hand to accompany him for the departure just as the Empress requested.

With one last glance outside, Taehyung let the curtains fall and discarded the pavilion to step outside. The folks were dancing around with several instruments to fill the night full of colourful strings. The Royal Alpha chose a silent path so that he could reach the Empress without being noticed by anyone.

His steps felt heavy on the ground when Jimin's pavilion showed up in the vision. However, the scent of pines took his feet to the back of the pavilion where a bunch of housemaids were standing out of the door.

With several gasps and shocked expressions later, the Royal Alpha received their greetings as they thoroughly answered the unsaid question, “ His Empress wanted to get ready alone so we were advised to wait outside.” One of them said while the other one went inside to announce his presence.

Within some moments the housemaid comes out and bowed again, “His Empress has politely asked to wait for some moments, Your Majesty.”

“If Your Majesty allows, may we join the folks in the crowd now?” Their voice was filled with excitement when the first one asked and bloomed in big smiles when they received a nod in affirmation. Their giggles matched with the music in the air as they left the ambience of the pavilion.

Taehyung clasped his hands behind his back as he looked above to admire the empty sky with nothingness. The night breeze blew under his ears, flicking the dangling earring forward. His chest was rising and falling with rhythms of the music, providing peace and patience to his agitated heart. When the shackles of the door opened, the Royal Alpha lost the courage to look down. His lips parted to withhold his face towards the person coming out of the door.

Beauteous….

Bewitched…

Bounded…

When his eyes landed on the divine omega, his lips formed a few words without any noise. The Empress held his gaze on the ground as he walked towards the Alpha. True to the words, Taehyung's eyes were captivated by the omega right away. He had often thought, had even taken it granted to uphold the pride to receive golden eyes. Because this colour of eyes was unique, incomparable and exquisite but all of his pride… all of his conceit melted on the ground after seeing the way the Empress carried the golden colour around him.

It wasn't the colour. Or it wasn't the Royal Alpha. It was the omega who owned this colour since eternity. His eyes raked down to the shoes of the omega, following the route of the flowing skirt till the dangling white diamonds caught his gaze on the omega's left hip. The ornament was tied around the waist of the omega replacing the sash but instead of covering the whole waist, the diamond chains were dangling down the skirt like some detached tassels.

The grip slipped out of his hands as they unclasped when his eyes noticed the white rose embellished around the omega's left arm. The flower was embedded like an arm ornament by  blossoming white ribbons around it to create the beautiful knots securely. His enlarged eyes spotted the second pair of the earring in the right ear of the omega. The second pair of the same shoulder ornament was adorned on his right shoulder.

The golden hanfu was embroidered with traditional lapels that had swirls around the elbows. His memories travelled far behind the day when his mother designed this hanfu while chanting how marvellous his fated mate would look after wearing it. He wasn't wrong. His enlarged eyes shone with glints when his gaze finally…. fell on the omega's face.

His feet took a step ahead when the omega stopped in front of him. He was looking down… didn't match his gaze even once. And someone could raise another earthquake just to see these eyes looking up at him. If Taehyung could find the words to express the beauty of omega… he would use the word enlightenment. The crown at the top of the veil was twinkling under the starlights but the blue diamonds couldn't hold a piece in front of the red hue that lifted upon the cheeks of the omega.

His hand came forward and hovered above Jungkook's face, fearing to touch the light and ruin its sparkles. But when the agony reached his eyes and the wetness rested at the bay, his hand crossed the omega's ear and cupped his neck. Their forehead touched together and the Royal Alpha let his eyes fall close as well.

They were sharing the same breaths to inhale when Jungkook's hands spread above the Alpha's chest to clutch onto. Jungkook felt the heavy breath above his trembling lips, the hand around his nape raised his face as the heavy breath reached over his nose before surpassing the path to his eyebrows. His lips parted with an inaudible gasp when that heavy breath converted into a peck on his forehead.

“Starvation of centuries beholds the power of destruction. Have mercy on me, your Grace.”

The clouds reverberated in the sky indicating the turmoil behind the closed eyelids of the couple. The heavy breaths travelled down to Jungkook's eyebrows once again and fell above his eyelids this time. His fingers curled around the Alpha's robe, creating a bunch of creases on the wake. When the press of lips happened above his eyelids, Jungkook's head spun back to the periphery before rolling over to the other side.

He couldn't bear the darkness of the closed eyes because of the continuous spins when Jungkook decided to open them finally... The tangled lashes lifted above the thick swollen cheeks of the omega as he peered at his surroundings. However, all of his surroundings were captured by the Royal Alpha who was standing so close to him.

His orbs dilated when he saw the Alpha wearing his earring, without disturbing that trail of beauty Jungkook started to examine the Royal Alpha's attire for the night. His eyebrow raised in anticipation when he saw the Alpha wearing a hanfu, the flare of their skirts matching as his eyes looked down at their feet.

His hands moved down from the Alpha's chest to hover above the sash… His sash… wrapped around the waist closely. Jungkook was reading each and every thread that was laced with the Alpha's body but Taehyung's gaze was only focused on his face. Unaware of this fact, Jungkook smiled when he saw a silver chain wrapped around the Alpha's wrist and at the smile, on that small stretch of his lips… someone's heart crumbled down in defeat.

“It's the first time that I have seen you wearing a hanfu.” The omega whispered.

Taehyung blinked at that whisper and continued to blink till his brain surpassed the haziness of thoughts and brought him back to the light. His thumb caressed the omega's upper cheek slowly before pulling his hand away to focus on his words.

“Not often but I wear hanfus on some traditional occasions.”

“However, your elegance of carrying the skirt says otherwise,” Jungkook bowed his head and praised the Alpha, “Your dignity blooms with your kindness, Alpha. Such charm… as if a sculpture made by a divine energy reformed into a werewolf… to bless me as your mate. I'm honoured to have such magnificence and nobility.”

When Jungkook raised his head he didn't expect to see the Alpha tilting his head in a polite bow in front of him, “And would I be considered a depraved man if I improvise your words and say you are that divine energy… who filled me with life? Who discarded my sculpture inch by inch and painted me with different colours? If I say…”

Taehyung tilted his face above, finding Luna staring at him with glinting eyes, “Would I be considered a deceiver if I say you are the sole reason that I thought to take part in this festival? If I say I wouldn't have found myself waiting for that bloody moon if it wasn't for watching it with you?”

Jungkook couldn't control the vulnerability that surfaced his features as the Alpha stepped closer to him, he felt that familiar weight of the Alpha's hand around his nape, bracing their gaze to stare at each other, “Would I be considered a liar if I say I expected you to look just the you are standing in front of me? With blooming rates in heart, with sheer redness on cheeks, with trembling fingertips and unfocused gaze, with holding the reins of fear in the eyes, fear of-”

Jungkook motioned his hand to cover the Alpha's lips to stop him from talking further as he shook his head with pleading eyes.

Taehyung's lips moved under the moist palm of the omega, “Your Grace.”

Jungkook recoiled his fingers before moving his hands down all while trying to calm his heart, which had started to stagger at each breath. The first tear peaked out of the lashes but couldn't roll down to his cheeks as a rough thumb absorbed it completely, “ After the forgiveness of my unfair deeds, I will try to diminish this fear into nothingness. I swear of your glinting eyes… nothing in this world would be enough to part my ways with you.”

Jungkook smiled thickly, blinking his eyes as he brought his head closer to the Alpha's neck and secured himself under his crooked collarbones. Without even attending the autumn moon festival he has received the most valuable blessings of his life. Jungkook preened under the warmth of that palm that was still pressed against his cheek, he let his eyes fall shut when the other hand of the Alpha cupped the back of his head.

The gongs buzzed in the air with full force, awakening the two souls from their comfort. Taehyung let his cheek pressed to the omega's crown when he whispered out, “Shall we?”

Jungkook separated his body unwantedly but his wide eyes shone when they matched with the subtle smile of the Alpha. He nodded his head after entwining his hands on the Alpha's right arm as both of them turned towards the path that will lead them to the peak of the Chinra mountain.

~

“I don't think someone could find us behind these thick bushes but we are werewolves, Gyuri, they would recognize us by our scent.” Mooshin gushed her worries as she planted herself behind the lady of the house whose gaze was focused on the entrance of the peak.

“Shush, they won't. We drank a herbal potion that my mother bought for my special heat. It will reduce our scents and just look around… everyone seems too occupied with their mates to notice two omegas sneaking upon the holy rituals.” Gyuri exclaimed as she brought her cloak around her face before looking through the bushes.

People around them were preparing for the festival, the music was at its peak, groups of mates were bringing buckets of water to fill the large porringers which were placed in front of their respective mates.

Gyuri felt her heart palpitating with choking sounds when she heard the announcement of Royal's arrival. She thrusted her hand over Mooshin's lap to hold her knee in anticipation of finally seeing the Royal Alpha.

However, the first feet that crossed the bridges of the peak were the trilogy of the Royals. The moment was magnificent when the folks saw the two betas wearing Royal hanfus, one with short red hairs adorn an orange hanfu while the other went with bark brown and in the middle of both, Royal highness was shining in blushed red with a deep orange veil wrapped around his arms.

The gigantic look of Royals left the folks flabbergasted on their beauty. All the couples bowed to them and howled when they received greetings in return as well. The Royals stood under the periphery of the peak when the folks increased their howls of excitement.

With each passing moment their eyes longed to see the majestic couple and when the gong buzzed for the last time, people stood on their toes to witness the glory of the moment with their naked eyes.

The hysteria to see the majestic couple was as real as the presence of the moon in the sky. After all…they will be seeing their Luna for the first time without any hidden curtains of scarves.

The arena filled with hushed gasps and loud howls when the first ray of moonlight enlightened the path of the Royal couple. Their dishevelled eyes enlarged in pure shock when the smiling faces of the majestic Royals blessed their sight.

Ethereal.

Oh my moon goddess.

Beautiful.

Our Luna.

He has a gorgeous smile.

He looks like the purest blessing of the Alpha's deeds.

A blessing indeed.

And where should I hide myself?

Adorable.

Alpha is wearing a hanfu?

His charms are glittering his elegance around the night.

Bow down you fools, stop staring.

“All hail to the Empress,” the voices roared at the peak of the mountain which was further indulged by the thundering of the clouds, “All hail to the Emperor.”

Their hushed voices vanished into the cold breeze as the Royals accepted their greetings with their acknowledgement. Jungkook was standing beside the Royal Alpha, a large smile adorning his lips as he greeted the Royal omega who was looking towards them with blissful eyes.

Several praises were chanted in the air, making the Royals filled with immense pride and warmth. Several praises despite the one which was burning the insides of Gyuri as she watched the sight with tearful eyes. Her vision was filled with the features of the Empress entirely.

She felt ashamed to accept that she has never seen such a divine male omega before. How is this possible? Is it some kind of sorcery? Result of some witch's potion? If not then how could someone… a male… bear such elegance and divinity all together? She heaved a stuttered breath when her vision fell on his joint hands around the Alpha's arms.

The housemaids came forward and led the Royals to the centre of the ambience, they noticed how the folks had started to prepare their porringers with water. The housemaids placed porringers in front of the Royal Empress and Highness while their mates stepped back to bring the buckets of water. Jungkook and Jimin picked up the vessel and decided their seats after watching over some flat surfaces on the peak and stood at their selected places.

The Betas appeared at first, both of them carrying different buckets as they poured the water in Jimin's porringer till it overflowed. The folks started to take their seats when the Royal highness took a seat in between his mates’ thighs. Yoongi and Hoseok were facing each other, both folding one leg and stretching the other to make a cave like portion for the omega to sit in between their legs.

Next comes the Royal Alpha, Jungkook supported the porringer as the Alpha filled it with the water. Once the housemaids cleaned the empty buckets, Taehyung circled the Empress and sit on the ground behind the porringer, he folded his one leg and let his knee rest on the ground while the other folded leg had the knee raised to support the Empress's back when he will sit in between.

With his gaze down on the ground, Jungkook accepted the stretched out hand of the Alpha before enclosing his skirt elegantly and taking a seat in between the spreaded legs of the Alpha. His back got supported by the Alpha's knee almost instantly. Jungkook was sitting sideways so his vision was crucially occupied by the Royal Alpha and the hall of the peak only. He couldn't see whatsoever that could happen behind his back.

His eyes found the porringer that was placed in front of them, watching the water waves still gliding through the surface, it would take time for it to cease out the waves and bear the shadow of the moon. He looked up to stare at the moon and sighed in relief when he noticed it in its full gleam.

“The auspicious midnight of autumn has arrived; if His Royal Highness blesses us with his permission, all the couples can start to spot the shadow in their respective porringers.” One of the soldiers asked whose smile was too evident on his face as his mate pulled him down to sit beside her again.

Jimin giggled at their eagerness and waved his hand to the crowd, “Please let your porringers rest for a while till the water saturates its position. Once you achieve a clear shadow of the moon, you will be considered as the receiver of its boon.” The folks cheered with happiness and subdued the music into a soft hymn of flutes and strings in the air.

However, the thundering clouds in the sky had something hidden under their layers. The folks laughed together when they saw big clouds hiding the glinting moon behind them, “ Tonight, it's not easy to capture the moon. We have to wait patiently for it.”

The people were indulging one another in their hushed conversations but Gyuri tuned out everything else as her gaze was still fixed on the majestic couple. With a barren heart, she saw how the Empress was looking down while talking to the Emperor about she doesn't know what but she saw how the Emperor was listening every word closely, she saw how the Emperor hasn't moved his gaze from the Empress even when he tried to hide in the corners of his veil.

Jungkook giggled at the folk's harsh remark and looked at the Royal Alpha, “ Have you seen this ritual before?” Because the omega has remembered the Alpha telling him how it will be his first time wanting to attend this festival. His fingers flicked above his cheeks to remain focused on their talks rather than the other memories of the night.

Taehyung blinked his eyes and looked around before his gaze…once again…stuck on the omega's face, “There is a slight difference between wanting to attend and being forced to attend the festival. I have been resting around some rocks during such festivals…. countless times. It comes with my designation to behold the happiness of our people.”

Jungkook pressed his lips to stop his shy smile and let his eyes widened with the next question when he asked, “Does the moon oftenly torture the people like this?”

“Bearing a blessing shouldn't be easier for the people or they might overlook its importance and integrity.”

Jungkook hummed in satisfaction but gasped as soon as he saw the Byung couple take over a place at the back of the hall, “Brother-in-law Sang and his wife are here as well. They look so happy with each other.”

Taehyung separated his gaze from the omega's face and followed his eyes to see his friends immersed in each other without any concern of the audience around them. When their advances peaked and their bodies crossed the positions to kiss each other, the Alpha watched how the Empress looked down immediately, how the omega curled his fingers around his wrist before looking around once again.

“They were newly weds when fate separated their bodies from their souls. Their intimacy is the result of centuries of separation. So whenever they get their skins back, they indulge themselves around each other to fill the needs of their heart and body.” Taehyung explained with a whisper as he saw the concerned expressions of the omega. Jungkook heard the words and gulped thickly before looking up, “ But I have heard that the needs of the heart and body could be as endless as the sky and as deeper as the ocean. So will they ever be able to overcome their intimacy and reach their devotion?”

“True. Needs could be endless. But aren't we here to wish for an endless togetherness? Werewolves submit themselves to their mates for eternity, they admire the concept of forever belonging to one… their mate. If you ask them, they will never want to surpass the phase of intimacy because for them… it's endless and it's their true devotion.”

Jungkook's questionable eyes held the numerous questions at the bay of his parted lips, waiting anxiously for permission and when Taehyung blinked his eyes calmly, assuring the omega that he could ask the questions, Jungkook opened his mouth, “ Have you indulge yourself in these intimacies? Have you felt such devotion towards…him?”

Taehyung looked at his curled hand on the omega's wrist and reached over to unfold the hold before the fingertips could leave a mark, “I was devoted to him when I saw him for the first time. Just as any other werewolf would be.. towards their mate. However, I did not indulge myself in intimacies because I used to crave his presence more than any need.”

Jungkook knew that the questions he asked were personal, even very hard to answer but with the way the Royal Alpha answered him while staring back at his soul, proved that those memories don't affect his heart anymore, “After him, have you felt those needs towards… anyone else?”

“No one.”

“No one?” Jungkook imitated the words of the Alpha as a question when his heart started to pull at the strings of pain. He looked down at the Alpha's shoulder ornament before his gaze fell over his lap entirely.

Taehyung sensed the notions of the omega and decided to soothe his discomfort by moving his thumb over his wrist, “Your dignity doesn't lie with the mere needs, your Grace. It lies in my wishes, prayers and pleads that could be only fulfilled by your consent.”

The sincerity of the Alpha's words stopped Jungkook's mind from fretting over the possibilities of his disinterest towards him. He looked up with amazement swirling around his orbs as the other continued, “Those wishes will never be addressed like a mere need. My honour towards you… will defy those disintegrate thoughts till the end of the time.”

Jungkook's chest shrinked in disbelief when he heard the thoughts of the Alpha. He moved his face entirely to hide his misty eyes. How could Jungkook deserve such respect? What does the Alpha think of him? some god or an omega who has submitted himself to his mate long ago. But here his mate who has been waiting for his consent towards any intimacy. Jungkook remembered the time when he had longed to reach out and hold the Alpha's hand, now he wonders if his other half used to do the same?

“I got the moon, I got the moon!”

All the people looked towards the couple who chanted the words excitedly while looking down at their porringer. Jimin smiled towards them knowingly and advised, “Calm down and let the image fall on water clearly. Be careful with your hands when you lift it up.”

The couple bowed in gratefulness and waited silently till they saw the image clearly on the water, it seemed so transparent as if the omega could touch the moon through it. The couple prepared themselves and the Alpha nudged his mate to go forward, his mate seemed nervous and that nervousness snooped into his trembling fingers. So when he glided his hand inside the water to cup the image, its trembling fingers shattered the image entirely. It got blurry and the omega's sad whine spread empathy around the crowd.

Jungkook felt bad for the omega and looked down at this porringer with longing eyes. It was still empty. One by one the shadow of the moon entered a few porringers but most of the omegas disturbed the images before it could be caught in their palms. Despite the tense ambiance, Jungkook was suffering from his own hesitation so to rest his brain, he decided to ask it out as well.

He peered at the Alpha through the corners of his veil and asked, “If I succeeded in withdrawing the shadow out of the water, would you drink it?” Jungkook couldn't bear that gaze on his face anymore so he moved his head and looked around the ambience of the mountain. His heartbeats were ringing inside his ears and legs had gone numb by sitting in the same position for a while but a shiver shot down to his feet from the nape when the Alpha hovered down to his earlobe and whispered, “I would be honoured to.”

Jungkook's fingers clenched over his skirt as his lips exhaled out some waft of breath. The clouds started to thunder loudly, indicating the invitation of rain once again but the adamant position of the moon in the sky kept spreading hope all around the crowd.

The heavy breaths under his earlobe were still evident, Jungkook turned his chin to provide some space to the Alpha but his body vibrated with a flinch when he heard again, “It's here. The shadow.” Jungkook looked down at their porringer and his heart bloomed with excessive blood when he saw the shadow of the moon resting on the surface.

None of them made a noise as they stared at the image of the moon longingly. Jungkook looked at the Emperor with fearful eyes and received a nod of assurance in return. He straightened his back which was halfway resting across the Alpha's chest and stretched the ringless hand ahead.

Jungkook was focused on the image, holding deep anxious thoughts and fears of his own. The touch at the back of his waist grounded the omega to the action and let him inhale a deep breath. With slow notions of his fingers, Jungkook started to glide his hand inside the porringer. He let his finger dip into the water and stopped himself from moving any further.

When the water saturated the surface once again, he started to glide his fingers deeper, inch by inch… he let his fingers stop when he saw the waves forming around the corners of the porringers. He restarted the notions when the surface became static, he continued to glide his hand till the entire image fell into the centre of his palm.

He was advised to bring only a piece of the shadow but here the entire shadow was resting on his palm. Jungkook was about to burst into flames as he forgot to breathe in between but the thumb at the back of his waist moved and forced him to breathe properly.

Jungkook raised his palm bit by bit and when he pulled it out of the water, the shadow reflected in his palm similar to the way it was reflecting in the porringer, “Here, look.” He whispered to his mate while keeping his hand frozen above the porringer. Both of them bowed to the shadow and wished their respective wishes to the gleaming image of the moon.

Jungkook opened his eyes and moved his hand to let his mate drink that water from his palm. When his hand moved, the shadow disappeared but its blessings rested inside the water which Taehyung accepted with elegance.

His hand supported Jungkook's palm from beneath and stuck his lips to the corner of his hand before drinking the water drop by drop. As soon as Taehyung finished drinking the water, the whole crowd erupted in the cheers of miracle, the couples were throwing themselves in each other's arms in sheer happiness which made Jungkook chuckle loudly.

In between the heightened cheers, Jimin pointed with a big smile, “Luna! There is one more!”

With big shocked eyes Jungkook looked down at the porringer to see another shadow forming above the swaddling water. He waited patiently till the water saturated and the shadow looked clear but before he could reach out for his hand, the downpour fell above the hill in wild torrents.

Jungkook spreaded his palms under the rain and laughed loudly. The heavy clouds hid the moon and unfurled the darkness all around. The music heightened in the air once again and the mates started to celebrate the festival under the dark sky.

Jungkook let his body soaked under the raindrops which were reviving his skin with a new colour, a new energy. He opened his eyes and moved his neck to look at the Alpha but flushed heavily when he found his heavy gaze fixed on him.

Taehyung pulled his hand away from the omega's waist and dug his fingers inside the mud behind him to stop his hands from doing something illicit. His chest arched in the air as he rested his hands behind his back, head raising above to look at the empty sky.

Jungkook's vision was filled with the Alpha's presence, so all the folks, all the couples, all the music disappeared from the surroundings when he let his eyes bask in his presence only. He watched quietly as the Alpha's face muscles relaxed under the falling droplets, he watched the drops falling down from his forehead and draining down to his hairlines. He watched with a bated heart when the droplets surpassed a boundary and slid down the Alpha's nose before merging above his lips.

The audacity.

Jungkook was patient when he witnessed the droplets falling down the Alpha's face but the downpour turned insolent when the droplets started to accumulate around the Alpha's collarbones. He removed his crown and placed it on the ground before untucking the veil from his head.

His numb knees supported his movements shakily when Jungkook spread the veil in his arms and hovered above the Alpha. The raging blood in his veins cooled down when the droplets bounced away from the Alpha after striking the veil. The Royal Alpha might have noticed the sudden change and opened his eyes to witness the Empress hovering above him.

Jungkook opened his lips to encounter his deed but hesitated when the question didn't come at all. Instead what the Alpha asked left him lifeless under the rain, “It's the first rain of winter. Won't the Empress wish me?”

The omega pulled down his arms and let the veil hide their bodies, his damp hands touched the Alpha's face and breathed out the air which he was holding for so long. Jungkook blinked his eyes to see clearly but the darkness and downpour washed off their surroundings entirely. His eyes smiled when Taehyung bowed his head to accept the token of love.

Defeated in the hands of fate, Jungkook moved down and pressed his lips on the Alpha's forehead. His hands reached behind the black locks and let his fingers emerge down into the threads when he pressed another peck on his dripping eyebrows. Jungkook's lips trailed the path of the droplets till he hovered above the Alpha's nose and Taehyung's fingers kept digging deeper into the ground.

Their breaths became heavy when they shared the lack of the air in between them..

Taehyung opened his eyes and saw the omega looking towards his lips, he uprooted his fingers and grabbed Jungkook's waist to pull him down on his lap. The omega gasped breathily as their noses touched with the sudden jerk on his waist.

The Royal Alpha didn't notice how the omega's waist got lathered by the mud because of his hand, “Much obliged.” He whispered the gratitude for the blessings they have received because of the omega's patience and bravery.

“What if my selfish heart wants to serve you with something… that won't be considered as dignified and noble behaviour for me?” Jungkook asked as he sucked out the last air into his lungs.

Taehyung remained focused on the omega's eyes and found the desire of the omega written in those glinting orbs with golden words, so he projected his words carefully in reply, “I have learnt that one may not stop the other to showered by their admiration. Apparently mates have all certain rights over each other.”

Jungkook's furrowed brows matched with his hands curling over the black locks and the hands curling around his waist,“Then.” His eyes were pleading, showing the misery when the droplets started to penetrate the now dripping veil, “Can I touch your lips with mine?”

Taehyung stared at the omega in his lap, he felt the thunder of the sky inside his heart and felt how those words struck a lightening right above it before leaving it to dither and wither under the rain. He found his voice when the omega's eyes filled with pain, “ I'm sceptical if… I should be answerable to that. If I'm meritorious enough to receive such affection?”

“And Who decides your abundance? Who decides if I should be doing what my heart wishes for or not?”

Both of them knew the answer, even under the dark sky and heavy downpour, the answer was written in between their tangled breaths and miserable eyes. So when Jungkook saw another droplet rolling down the Alpha's cheek, he ceased the path with his own lips before it could roll down any further.

Their eyes fell closed when Jungkook moved his lips down till it brushed above the Alpha's upper lips. He felt the fingers marking his waist when his lips covered Alpha's mouth entirely.

The small press of their lips sparkled the shine in the entire universe. Jungkook's hands trembled in between the dark threads when their lips pressed once again a bit more firmly. The firmness of the peck shook the omega's bravery till it crumbled down to his feet.

His stout shoulders sloped down, pulling his lips away from the sweet attachment. Jungkook drowned himself under the Alpha's neck, “Hide me from your gaze.” His broken words were picked up by the Alpha who groped his waist and pulled him closer instead.

“I would dare anyone to try. Even you.”

Jungkook slumped on the Alpha's lap to absorb the warmth of their bodies when he heard the words of his mate. He breathed under the Alpha's neck and wished to keep their hearts beating in each other's rhythm for eternity. His slanted neck got nuzzled by the Royal Alpha who kept a similar wish at the bay of his lips and stamped it on his skin in the memory of the dark night.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜.

With a happy heart, I can freely declare that Bounded has reached its halfway interval. The story is halfway done and more special chapters are about to come.

The next update will be at the end of the december or after, because of my continuous exams in december.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter💜.

Good night, lovely readers.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜.