Third Person’s P.O.V.

Jimin entered the king’s chamber with soft steps, especially because of how silent it was. He didn’t fear breaking his slumber because he knew Jungkook was an insomniac and couldn’t fall asleep without help.

But this kind of silence scared Jimin since it meant greater turmoil in his lord’s mind.

He could see him lying open-eyed on the bed, his breathing shallow and gaze lost in a blank stare. He was still completely dressed in his royal ensemble, even the crown stayed perched on his brow.

“M-My lord” Jimin gulped taking calculated steps as he halted a few steps away from the bed “you called for me…?”

“Do you believe in fate omega?”

Jimin realized Jungkook must be really upset to have seen Seokjin submit before the trueblood right before his eyes…not only had the omega Prince’s sudden actions startled everyone but it also proved that there was no use blaming the trueblood for stealing away the king’s mate now that he had proved that he wilfully submitted before him.

“I believe in surviving my lord…I am not capable enough to think about that which is beyond my grasp”

“And because you cannot look beyond your own survival, no one will ever remember you omega…” the voice was as if an extension of his thoughts “as a royal I have responsibilities beyond myself…every monarch thinks for the throne…protecting the throne is my first call…only then can I protect the people…”

Jimin realized he was too deep in his thoughts and stood silent in his place.

“For centuries my forefathers have held the throne in pride…why did father have to ruin everything?” 

Jungkook was still staring just as blankly at the ceiling.

“He broke every rule and left on me to fix it…he created the ruin of Kleon and yet I will bear the shame of his decisions…history will name me as the failure but it was he who created the monster knowing it will be beyond him to defeat…why then did he leave it on me to end the monster before he ruins my kingdom?”

He could hear voices echo among the shadows of the past that kept haunting him through days and nights.

“Only that omega can tame the monster…and what a pity... the monster fell for the only weapon that can end him…” Jungkook sighed smirking, eyes gently closing as he tried to breathe because when the thoughts took over it became very difficult for him to breathe “that omega is so naïve…for all the tales about a trueblood’s superior might, my brother seems to be really slow in the head…do you think that he really doesn’t know anything about the omega’s true strength?”

“My lord, when I read his mind there seemed to be no knowledge as such about it…except for some snippets of a myth he seemed to have learned at the monastery…”

“Ah…the old lores of Eulan I suppose” “Yes my lord” Jimin nodded.

Jungkook laughed a bit to himself “funny how reality turns to become mere stories in a few centuries…and yet mistakes remain as histories…” his smile vanished as his teeth gritted “even though those mistakes weren’t your fault”

A silence palled over the room as he stopped speaking, eyes wrathful now as he pulled his crown off of his head and glowered at it.

“He will have to kill me to have what is mine” his voice was calm and decided but his eyes gleamed with something bizarre “I am sure he will kill me to have his hands on my throne but I will not accept defeat. Every eye witnessed the destruction he and that omega can bring, I cannot sit and watch them use their superior powers to impose over the people” his breath began to fume again “you saw what they can do…how easy it is for them to make every being cower in fear…how easily he kills without a conscience…Kleon will be butchered under their follies…such power needs to be controlled, he would be such a powerful possession…I could use him to end that monster…”

Jimin could sense the building rage within the King, his mind drifting beyond the sane to that blinding zeal in him to own Seokjin only as a means to dominate over his trueblood brother.

“Do you know I can see fate laughing at me for my failures Jimin…ridiculing me because I believed if he pledged to kneel before me then I could control him…he has been waiting to take his revenge on everyone…he will take down the throne that is what the sorcerer said…his rage will annihilate everything that my forefathers have built over the centuries…I have to stop him…I need to end him…that stupid omega! He was supposed to be on my side! This war should have brought him to me, he’s the only weapon to end that monster! And instead he goes ahead and submits to him! Well, if he’s so eager to stand by him then I will have both their heads for ruining everything!!”

Jimin flinched at the outburst and gasped at the heavy noise when he saw Jungkook slam the crown down onto the table by the bed, his chest still heaving and eyes an irate red.

“B-But my lord, killing him would be a mistake…the prophecy says he will birth the next heir-” “I know…” Jungkook’s voice was cold and sharp, hands tightening into fists “well if he has pups that aren’t mine, then they will have to die…”

Jimin paled, his palm pressing instantly over his mouth as he tried to stop that gasp from slipping out and he felt moisture gather at the corner of his eyes. This is exactly what he had feared would happen, and now that Jungkook had watched how the omega prince choose to protect and submit before his brother, his worries had increased tenfold, making him go even crazier in his cruel intentions.  

“Come here omega…” he softly patted the empty side of the bed and Jimin followed the command, quickly rubbing away the tears before demurely climbing into the bed beside the king as he sat waiting for his next order. He kept absolutely still, not letting his fears overpower him when he saw Jungkook rustle closer to him, his hand setting on the omega’s thigh before he set his head down on his lap and closing his eyes he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Jimin?”

“Y-Yes my lord…” Jimin feared to even breathe although it was a situation he had found himself in very often, the King had set his head on his lap just like this whenever he needed help to calm himself down.  

“Do you ever think about death?”

Jimin’s mouth clamped shut, as he tried not to feel the burn in his chest.

“Ah…my bad…I shouldn’t have asked this question to someone who tried to kill himself” Jungkook opened his eyes, which were a softer shade of onyx now as he looked up at the omega and his hand reached up to caress his cheek “if I’m honestly glad about something I did, then it’d be saving you from that hellhole you called home”

Jimin lowered his eyes, daring to hold a soft smile “I’ll be forever indebted to you for that my lord”

“Do you ever regret coming to Kleon with me?”

And Jimin instantly shook his head in a ‘no’ knowing he’d never ever want to go back from where Jungkook had rescued him, although it was rather a trade but he didn’t mind that…that place truly was a hellhole, being bought or rescued didn’t really matter, all that matter to him was that he could finally get out of that place.

“Do you regret being owned by me?”

“Every man, woman and child in the kingdom in under your care my lord, it’s a privilege to get to accompany you…I have pledged that I’ll follow you through everything” Jimin gulped before sighing a little to himself when he felt the hand move away from his cheek and yet he could see Jungkook gazing up at him with sad mellowed eyes.

“Do you think it’s ironic that I have crowds waiting to listen to me yet I can speak about my troubles only to a slave?”

Jimin had no answer to the question, more like he didn’t need to answer that…he knew very well that he was the only person Jungkook dared to be completely himself, he believed it was because he didn’t have to fear a slave…didn’t have to fear what he might tell people because who’d believe a slave if he said that the King was going through a dangerous mental breakdown…who’d believe him if he said that Jungkook believed he had to kill his brother because he was the royal born to put down the monster his father had created, the trueblood was a threat to the throne and so a threat to the people and to Kleon…who’d believe him if he said the King suffered from hallucinations and said those were premonitions of the future…Jimin knew he was a worthless omega slave to the King, no one would bother even if one sudden morning the King decided he should kill him instead.

He had no position to be trusted or to speak…neither had he any position to decide what he wanted for himself…he was a toy, useful only for his powers…nothing else.

“Jimin…” the omega flinched at the sombre voice and noted that Jungkook was still gazing up at him.

“Yes, my lord…” his voice was a small and shaky as he tried to look as blank and unemotional as ever.

“Help me sleep…” Jungkook clasped at his hand, putting it on his forehead and closed his eyes as he sighed “use your magic and make the voices go away…”

And Jimin did what he usually did, found a fond memory and made a few changes…the ones he knew the King liked…like his father being good to him and not disregarding him to always speak of Taehyung’s greater abilities, sharp senses and indomitable alpha strength in his childhood…like his mother loving only him and not speaking of what new feat his half-brother had achieved that he couldn’t because he was weaker than him and a shame as the crown prince…and the fondest one was when Jimin took every memory and erased anything that related to Taehyung’s existence...and when it looked as if Taehyung had never been born and he was the only crown prince, loved by his people, adored by his parents and a monarch who was able to protect and rule his land well, an undefeatable King who ensured Kleon’s enviable place as the strongest of nations…Jimin could see him falling peacefully asleep, and he could see him finally happy to see the dream he had forever wanted to live. 

Jin woke up with muddled thoughts, feeling a little troubled as his gaze snapped about to realize he was back in their chamber at North Gate…however, he found that he was alone in bed.

He clutched at the covers pulling it closer because of how calming the scent on it was and realized it actually was Taehyung’s overcoat. The scent made him think back on the events he had witnessed and about what he had done beyond his better judgement.

He was beginning to realise that he really knew nothing about how things worked in a kingdom, but it seemed to him that there was too much of violence and cruelty propagated in the name of imposition of law and order…he might be a novice but it didn’t take him much to understand that there were people who misused their powers over others. He was quite into his thoughts when a loud ruckus outside caught his attention and he hastened to get out of the covers, grabbing the overcoat close at hand to drape it over himself.

He stepped out of the room to see no one guarding the doors today and rushed through the hallway to see a throng of angry rowdy people wrestling with the guards. He frowned to understand what was going on as he saw men fuming for being wronged, women shrieking curses till their eyes came to set on him and he gulped to see how infuriated they seemed.

“He’s a bloody monster! Why would you protect him?! He killed our men!”

“What sort of justice is this?! He roams alive and free after ruining our families!!?”

“Punish that omega! We don’t care what the law says! He deserves punishment!”

Jin took a step back to see their vehement aggression towards him, a sliver of fear nipping at the back of his mind and instinctively he wished he had his alpha by his side. 

“Seokjin-ah…go inside…things are a-” “I understand them” Jin spoke, his voice low and regretful “they have every right to be angry at me.”

He watched the mob jostling against the guards, loud angry curses thrown at him and he knew he deserved it all, although he wasn’t really expecting someone to actually slip past the resistance of the guards and come up to slap him.

“Ohmygod…what do you think you’re doing?!” Ha-yoon yelled trying to pull the young lady away from Jin who just stood there accepting the hit. “Remember your place Seulgi-” “What had he done to you?! What had my sister ever done to you??!! Have you no heart?!” 

Jin couldn’t pick up his eyes from the floor as he listened to the accusation, his own eyes watering.

“Seulgi don’t-” “I am sorry…I regret my actions…I truly do” Jin mumbled with his head still bowed low.

“Will your regret bring them back?! I had to watch my sister die right by my side because you killed her mate” she fumed, eyes red-rimmed and face tear-stained as she shoved him back and Jin’s eyes shot up at the words “will your regret bring back all the innocent omega’s who lost their mates and had to accept death? Do you realise how many lives you’ve stolen? My sister was with child! They were all I had! Tell me what do I do now? What do I say to a three year old who’s waiting at home to understand what happened to his parents?!!”

And Jin couldn’t help the tears that rolled down his eyes…he was struck dumb to realise now all the more how he had ruined so many innocent lives, accepting yet again that truly his father was right to call him a curse.

“I am sorry...I understand your pain, I’m-” “You won’t get it” Seulgi spat “until you watch your mate suffer…you will never get it until you lose someone dear to you!”

Jin was stunned to silence as he stood there, regret lashing in waves through his mind as more tears spilled out of his eyes and he accepted all their aggression and their curses at him. He was so guilt-stricken that he couldn’t even tell them that yes he too had seen his mate suffer, that he too had to watch the death of his own father because of this war. Thus, when they circled him, clasping at him to drag him out a severe uproar broke out between the mob and the guards. Jin quietly agreed to endure their aggression, believing he owed it to the lives he had ruined.

They clamoured around him calling him a curse and the reason for whom their Commander had turned into a traitor, and roughly pulled the overcoat off of him since it held the emblem of Kleon at its heart, yelling at him for being unworthy of it.

A tear slipped out of Jin’s woeful downcast eyes, he didn’t resist to anything they said or did, accepting the hostility they showed to him and the shoving and dragging as punishment he deserved.

“He will never be one of us! Throw him out of Kleon!”

“This is why no omega should be allowed in a war! The Commander had never before lost in battle! It’s all this bitch’s fault!”

“Stop this! Let him go! Have you forgotten your place?! You do know you’re going to anger the Commander for treating his mate like this!!” Ha-yoon screamed at them, trying her best to get through the mob but her worst fear was to see Seokjin put up no resistance against their maltreatment. So, she turned to Yushik, eyes wide with fright as she commanded him.

“Go to the camps and get Taehyung, tell him his mate is in danger…go quickly!”

She watched Yushik hurry towards the stables and get out of sight the next moment, and she tried to get to Seokjin again.

“Seokjin-ah please fight back!” She pleaded to the boy but saw how sad and pale the omega looked “you people are wrong in doing this…let go of him! How dare you disgrace a royal omega in this manner?!!”

However, before things could get out of hand further she heard a loud infuriated growl and this was probably the first time Ha-yoon was glad of her son’s brutish ways to see him use his trueblood powers to get the entire crowd to freeze with one command.

“Do you seek death you disrespectful maggots?! You dare touch my omega?!!”

Taehyung’s eyes were a blazing red and Ha-yoon realized he was out for blood as she saw him unsheathe his sword.

“Taehyung!” She ran to stop him from creating a massacre at their home, it will be hot news for the entire kingdom to gossip and cackle about and she knew how eager they were to defame and punish the illegitimate half royal trueblood.

“Get him inside…now!” Taehyung growled at his mother instead “I’ll deal with them my way” “Don’t be stupid…they are already blaming you and your mate. Do you want to add onto the fire?”

“They have fallen so low that they come to my home just to disgrace my mate, and you say I’m not allowed to punish them!?” He turned his burning gaze back onto the crowd.

The people had quieted down already to see him there, taking steps back to clear the ruckus and yet there few who still dared to fume and glare at him, their anger louder than their fear for the trueblood as they stood up to him.

“They are saying the Omega Prince was the reason our men died-” “Have you ever seen a war beta?” Taehyung growled at the insolent voice that had the audacity to speak over him “wars demand lives…this isn’t the first time Kleon has suffered due to a war, not the first time our men have died. If you really want answers then go and ask your King what was the need for this war in the first place!”

He walked deeper into the crowd, glare moving to the few people who surrounded Jin as he marched closer to see his mate looking utterly miserable but his blood boiled to see the imprints and bruises on his face. There were hands still clutching at Jin as they held at his arms and the collar of his shirt, which was loose and open because of how the jostling had ripped off a handful of buttons and showed off his ivory chest.

“If you want to keep your hands then make sure they are not touching my mate” his voice was low but typically enraged and instantly the people let go of the Prince, fearing to get crippled.

The trueblood walked up to his mate, his other hand setting at the imprint on Jin’s cheek as he looked how pained and teary his mate looked.

“Heal yourself” he commanded, eyes an irate red yet his voice was low, speaking only to Jin.

The deep voice made Jin pick his head up as he saw Taehyung fuming still, his hand was the usual calloused and hard but gentle against his skin. For a moment he forgot all else and checked on him, noting that the alpha looked well and there wasn’t any trace of his earlier punishment on him. He realized that he must have gone early to the camps to attend to those who needed help. 

And Seulgi along with the entire mob stood mute and awestruck to see the Prince touch the trueblood’s hand on his cheek and almost instantly all the scratches and bruises and cuts vanished into thin air, his skin absolutely unblemished as before.

“What sorcery is this?”

“That’s no omega! That’s a sorcerer!”

“It is no sorcery!” Taehyung affirmed, voice booming as they kept angering him more while his eyes were still set on Jin’s “it is his gift, and you all should be thanking him…he saved your King” he scoffed, pulling off his own coat to put it around his mate’s shoulders and covering his bare chest before he turned to the people “I believe it’s time for all of you to leave…if you dare to do something like this ever again, then next time I’ll prove your fears true and show you why you should fear coming here” he snarled and glowered at them “now get out of my home!”

He grasped at Jin’s arm as he dragged him away from there and Jin didn’t protest, staggering along as he stayed just as numb and gloomy. 

“Yushik!” Taehyung growled, his agitation higher to see Jin being this silent and accepting such rude treatment “how dare you let him go out among them when you knew I wasn’t here?!”

“Calm down Taehyung, no one wanted this to happen…they broke through and came inside” Ha-yoon tried to assure the enraged trueblood when she saw him attacking the attendant, hands clutching at Yushik’s collars as his breaths fumed unnaturally high.

And Jin tried to find his voice back because of how terrified Yushik looked “I went out on my own…not his fault” his voice was broken but he flinched when Taehyung halted abruptly and turned to him this time.

“Why would you let them do this to you?”

It was then that Jin noticed how concerned and agitated his eyes were. Jin blinked a little startled at Taehyung’s frustrated grumbling against him before replying “I-I am fine…” he gulped to himself before speaking again “I don’t blame them for being angry with me, I did ruin their lives…stupidly killed innocents…I should never have let my omega-” “Do I have to teach you everything?! Don’t ever get into a situation like that when I’m not around, you understand me? As a claimed omega you are never to face the crowd without your alpha!”

“Is this another of those stupid customs?” Jin inquired, jaw going stiff as he tried to deal with the turmoil going inside him “this wasn’t even about that…they are angry because they believe I did them wrong…which I did! It’s not about me being a claimed omega-” “You don’t know anything! Why do you think they are here and not at the palace?!”

Jin frowned at him not getting what he meant and Taehyung cleared his doubts looming closer as he heaved in rising anger “it’s because you are my mate…because it was told to them that I made Kleon lose the war…because they believe that as a trueblood I was taking advantage of my strength over their King and chose to let you destroy the troops!!”

“Well, then it’s even more essential that they know that it wasn’t your fault but mine!”  

“What’s done is beyond our power to fix…if you want things to change then mend the mistake for the future, there’s no use moping and procrastinating about it” the advice was instant and sounded like a self-taught lesson and Jin was blinking up at Taehyung again “how many times do I need to tell you the same thing?”

Jin felt his eyes gaze into the depths of his soul, the fiery gaze was just as adoring as protective “as your alpha I can’t stand and watch people hurt you…I understand that you feel guilty but it’s not something you can fix by letting them hurt you”.

“I want to fix it…but I don’t know how to” and the words had a tiny whine at the end, making Taehyung realise that Jin was just being grouchy and caught that dejected pout that made the omega look helpless and sad. Truthfully, he had no idea how he was going to help Jin control his dangerous omega since allowing him to let it out would mean he’d have to let his trueblood out to control it…and that is one unstable mix for experimenting anything, things could very easily get out of hand and Taehyung definitely wasn’t looking forward to it.

And yet he told himself that he’d try to help his mate, as his alpha he was the only one capable of helping him with this…and he honestly believed that with their greater strengths they could change the sign of the times and build something better…and that definitely won’t be possible if Jin didn’t believe in his own omega…

“There…” he paused thinking if doing this would be a good idea or not, but he could sense how miserable Jin was feeling right now and it’s always better to let him assure himself than trying to do it with words or commands. So, he gave the suggestion, although being a little unsure himself…he really didn’t like Jin going to the camps, being surrounded by so many eyes and numerous scents and to heal he’d have to touch them too…he could already feel a growl building at the back of his throat just thinking about it but shook his head as he tried to tell himself to calm down.

“There are people at the camps who could use some help…so, if you want to-” “Yes!” Jin looked overzealous instantly, not even waiting for him to complete the sentence “I want to help.”

And Taehyung could see the change in Jin the moment they walked into the camps and the omega instantly got busy in healing the wounded.

“I heard you served punishment yesterday at the palace” Hoseok walked up to stand beside Taehyung, who seemed to be having a really hard time to be standing there to watch his mate healing the soldiers.

Taehyung’s eyes moved away from Jin momentarily towards the General “it was my due…I was meant to serve it.”

“They said Seokjin created another scene” “What do you care anyway?” Taehyung scoffed, annoyed eyes glancing at him again.

“Yeah, I don’t” Hoseok spoke with a light chuckle “it’s just…the people are angry, they are blaming your mate-” “Everyone is allowed to have their own judgement Hoseok, they may believe in what they want to” Taehyung breathed knowing what Hoseok actually meant, he could hear the warning to keep Jin safe because of how murderous the people had turned against him “until we can do something to change what they believe in…show them why their judgement needs to change. People fear the unknown…and they will always do so because they do not seek to understand but to control…what they cannot control makes them afraid…”

His gaze softened a bit as he saw Jin looking for him from the other end of the tent and knew what his mate was seeking for.

He walked closer, giving the omega his hand so that he could draw from him and Jin did so without much attention, speaking to the wounded soldier as he clutched at Taehyung’s hand and being absent-minded he couldn’t notice how the alpha was scowling at the soldier for daring to try to be friendly with his omega. Leaving Jin questioning himself to understand what he had done wrong to make the soldiers suddenly go absolutely silent and why they wouldn’t even look at him.

Throughout the afternoon Taehyung followed after Jin, letting him draw from him as he went about healing the wounded soldiers. He could see how despite their initial shock and fear to see Jin there, the troops were slowly realising as well that Jin did not mean to create such a massacre and had lost control over his powers to end up killing so many.

The troops had seen it first hand that his powers not only killed Kleon’s soldiers but he even ended up killing Eulan’s soldiers as well, so that would explain the losing control. Seeing their Commander’s mate having the powers to heal was a strikingly novel knowledge to them, surprised would be an understatement…and they realized now how their Commander stood looking absolutely unaffected and completely fine even after serving such a severe punishment imposed on him for treachery against Kleon. They were awed to think someone capable of ushering such destruction was even gifted with something so gentle and divine.

Yoongi’s work became a lot easier with Jin helping in treating the wounds, however he could sense how Taehyung’s need to not let anyone else help the omega and adamantly ordered him to draw only from him had him getting even more exhausted than he already was.

Although he could also see how responsible as a Commander Taehyung had grown over time when he saw him walking over to Seokjin, telling him to wait awhile since he had been called to attend to some more mourners. He knew the trueblood hated this part of his duty, especially because he believed it wasn’t his responsibility to bear but the King’s. Yet the families who lost their men and the omegas who met their untimely demise would often blame him despite knowing that he didn’t declare the war. 

“Why don’t they confront the King?” Seokjin had innocently asked Yoongi, who stood by his side now, aiding the omega to carry on with healing the wounded.

“We seek comfort from those who care…the King believes he has greater things to worry about than be a help to mourners” Yoongi sighed watching Seokjin’s miraculous gifts help a limping soldier walk again.

“And yet they are calling him a traitor…even after how they punished him…”

The words made Yoongi turn to the omega and he could see how guilty Jin looked “do you think he didn’t know they’d call him that when he chose to help you?”

“I…I had no other way but to be selfish” Seokjin gulped to himself “the King would have destroyed Eulan”

“He took a decision…and every decision has its own consequences…good as well as bad. He chose to stand by you because he believed what Jungkook was doing was wrong…he took the decision knowing the result it would bring about so you need not feel guilty Seokjin” Yoongi assured, sighing by his side as he saw Taehyung entering the tent to walk back to his mate. He could see how exhausted he looked, his usual alert senses growing a little dull with fatigue and his steps heavy.

“You can go and rest, I’ll help him meanwhile, you haven’t had any sleep since last night” Yoongi suggested, walking closer to the younger “although I think Seokjin needs some time to recuperate as well.”

Bu the omega looked overzealous in his need to help, denying his own exhaustion and faltering steps and Taehyung sighed seeing his mate’s eccentric whims of overdoing things all the time.

“That is enough…” Taehyung spoke over Jin’s shoulder as he saw how exhausted Jin looked too “let’s head home.”

Honestly, he was terribly depleted. He hadn’t managed to get any rest since last night after he had left Jin at home, and right now matter how many times Hoseok offered to help he had growled at him to piss off, getting angry even with the thought of Jin touching another alpha. Yoongi tried his best to get the two of them to settle down, especially glaring at Hoseok to not taunt an already agitated and tired trueblood if he didn’t want to get his ass whooped but that idiot just didn’t seem to learn anything the easy way.

“Come on now, this is no time to be selfish Commander…look at how hard working your mate is, so pure hearted and sweet…sure you can draw from me Seokjin, I’d be happy to help” Hoseok taunted, clutching at the omega’s palm knowing full well how the action was going to mess Taehyung’s composure more as he saw how delighted the omega looked at the offer.

“Ah thank you” Jin smiled at the General, accepting the generous offer before feeling his breath hitch for getting roughly pulled away.

“I see you choose death maggot” Taehyung growled through gritted teeth as he stalked towards Hoseok after pulling Jin behind himself, his eyes flaring red in rising agitation as he gave a warning growl at Hoseok.

“Still insecure about your omega? Man I thought you’d get better by now…not getting enough action between the sheets eh?”

The words had an instant effect, Taehyung grasped at his neck for daring to talk so lewdly about him and his mate, Seokjin stunned and turned overly red and Yoongi stood numb, inwardly debating why was he stuck here to endure this.

“A’right a’right…stop it you two…we just ended a war…no more bloodshed” Yoongi walked up to pull the two off of each other’s necks, and watched Taehyung glower at him murderously before he turned about and began pulling Jin away.

“What are you doing?” Jin was trying to understand why he was being this snappy suddenly “there are still people left-” “We’ll come back later” Taehyung assured in a flat voice.

“And leave them to uncertain fate and pain meanwhile?” Jin was arguing again “I cannot revive the dead…I can only heal…so once dead, stay dead.”

Taehyung sighed, arguing with Jin was seriously like trying to make a point with a five year old…you just can’t make him understand if he doesn’t want to understand. So, despite his big fat ego and superiority complex the trueblood chose to be honest with his mate.

“I’m tired…I need food and rest before I can help you carry on with this…I think you know it too that you’re exhausted as well” Taehyung sighed “and trust me no one in the camps are in such critical condition Jin, why would I keep them here if they were dying? You do understand that the people received medical assistance even before you came here” he knew that despite being unnaturally gifted his mate was a little naïve when it came to common sense.

Jin could hear the taunt in his voice, and it didn’t sit well with him to feel that Taehyung was mocking his intentions. “Can’t you do that here? Eat something and get some rest, and meanwhile I’ll get Hoseok’s and Yoongi’s help-” “Why do you always have to do it your way?” Taehyung snapped “why can’t you just for once listen to me without any arguments? I am your alpha you are supposed to listen to me!”

Jin was a little taken aback at the sudden odd outburst and couldn’t understand why Taehyung looked so frustrated “okay fine…dear god! Why are you always yelling at me? Jeez…I was just trying to make it up to them…I feel guilty for doing what I did” and now he was grumbling as well.

“You did enough…from saving the King to fixing every broken bone and every freaking wound on every fucking one of them!”

“I thought you wanted me to come here and help them?!”

“I did! Now I want to go home!” Taehyung was losing his patience now, he felt angry, exhausted, famished. All of it added up to fan his fury higher and just when he thought Jin was beginning to show him his affections and care, here he was being an obstinate omega yet again!

“But I-” “Zip it, not a single word more or I swear I’ll carry you out of here! I swear you are so much more lovable and easier to deal with when you submit to me...” 

Jin was fuming too but he shut his mouth at the sudden uncalled for aggression, he didn’t understand what was up with the alpha…he looked mad somehow but Jin couldn’t tell why.

“Whatever…” he grumbled bumping past him “I was only trying to help.”

“And you did a great job! Now just be a good omega and listen to your alpha…” Taehyung followed after him, a tad calmed to see that at least Jin was listening to him as they made their way to their stallions.

However, when they returned home Ha-yoon seemed to be rather concerned about having any peace left at home because of how Taehyung seemed to be snapping at everyone around and could see Jin rolling his eyes at him. She wanted to know about the war and what had actually happened but it seemed like sitting down and talking would be quite the unlikely situation right now.

“Yushik! Why are there still those pests looming around North Gate?” Taehyung yelled at the poor shaken up attendant.

“I’m sorry but they seem really angry master...I did try to tell them, the guards are still there but they seem too angry and relentless. What do I do?”

“That’s it…I’ll just behead them, should teach them a lesson…fucking disrespectful lot of weaklings!”

“Taehyung…calm down…the food’s ready, both of you come and have your meal” Ha-yoon tried to get him to tone his rage down “and get some rest, the people are being a nuisance…they will probably be so for a few days. Loss is never easy to deal with, and we often want someone to blame to deal with the anger when the pain becomes too much”

“That does not give them a right to come here and harass us” Taehyung spoke, voice still grim “blaming someone is always easy but just because someone survives a war doesn’t mean they haven’t gone through pain…” Taehyung cut in coming up beside Jin as they walked towards the dining room, he let Yushik take his sword away as he sat down to eat. He could see Jin silently sitting by him, eyes downcast as he pushed his food about the plate.

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you eating?”

“Nothing’s wrong…I just feel like I deserve the blame, I have been very cruel to them” Jin sighed taking an unmindful spoonful of his food before his voice went even smaller and more guilty “I don’t know how many more I’d have killed if you hadn’t stopped me.”

And the words got Ha-yoon very curious “what? You really took him to war?!”

“I did say I’d let him fight if he wanted to…and I’d say he did very well” Taehyung assured his mother with a smirk, eyes shortly glancing at Jin “except for the few times he tried to act too smart, taking him along was a remarkable experience.”

“I ended messing up everything, killing hundreds and got you face punishment…you call that a remarkable experience?” Jin sounded like he was still grumbling “my father was right to keep me caged and far away from hurting people. When he was alive, I’d hate him for calling me a curse because it really hurt…but I get it now, and if I were him, I’d call myself a curse too”.

“Well, good thing he’s dead then…he’s never calling you a curse again” Taehyung smirked chomping down his food.

“The King of Eulan is dead?” Ha-yoon had wide startled eyes “I don’t understand…the King is dead and yet you lost the war?”

“Yeah…I kinda rescued the princess and let Jin attack our troops” he cleared his throat before scowling at his mate “the things you do for your mate and still he dares to be so ungrateful…”

“When was I ungrateful?”

Ha-yoon could see they were back at it yet again, and her hopes about them becoming sweet and understanding with each other by now was hopelessly dashed.

“I thought royals are always big on showing gratitude…” Taehyung jibed at the omega, dark eyes sharply moving to his mate "and here my omega doesn't even bother to thank me neither do I get anything in return to all my thoughtfulness!"

“I thought you hate royals…”

“I like gratitude though…which seems to be completely non-existent in your dictionary”

“Can we get back to the conversation about the war? I am quite curious to know what happened” although she could see their bickering growing now.

“I can be pretty mindful and show gratitude towards people who deserve it” “Of course, the entire world deserves to be healed and cured and loved except your alpha!”

“I did heal you too! There’s a horde of witnesses to that as well!”

“Ah sure…you sure have a way pf putting up a show everywhere you go” Taehyung chuckled “that stunt you pulled on me was cute though…just like the other stunts you dared to pull on me…some were absolutely brilliant, I’m sure no omega had ever dared to try before”

“What are you talking about?” Jin knew exactly what he was talking about, but sometimes playing dumb keeps you safe…

“You tell me, was it not?” Taehyung seemed to be enjoying taunting the other a bit too much “it’s not every day that an omega dares to knock out their alpha and abduct them…even chained me up and the things you did to me while I was passed out…”

Jin paled feeling utterly embarrassed at how lewd he made it sound.

“What?!” Ha-yoon froze, her eyes blowing wide to hear the words.

“No-no…” Jin fumbled, ears red as he tried to explain “he’s lying…I-I didn’t” “You didn’t?” Taehyung teased, cocking a brow at him “why are you lying Jin?”

“I r-really d-didn’t do anything of that sort…not to mention he almost killed me for that-” “Oh come on…you and I both know I was only playing” Taehyung grinned at him “don’t think I forgot about the demands…I fulfilled your demand darling, shouldn’t you fulfil yours now?”

Jin blinked at him being unprepared to answer that, but right now as he looked into the alpha’s eyes he could see the intention burning in his eyes and lowered his gaze to focus on his food. Hoping that Taehyung couldn’t read in his eyes that he had again taken a gulp of that potion Jimin had given him after they had made love last time. 

And he realized he had no other way but to lie his way out of the fix he was currently in.

“Gonna act all dumb again eh?” Taehyung eyed the omega before focusing on his food “ok I see how it is…”

Ha-Yoon realized Taehyung was making the omega feel uneasy as he watched Jin fidgeting and going mute again.

“Seokjin-ah, I’d like to speak to you. Please come to my chamber-” “What is it about?” Taehyung cut in almost instantly, eyes zapping to his mother “why can’t you talk about it now, before me?”

“Because I want to speak to him in private” Ha-yoon knew he was going to react like this.

“He isn’t pregnant, if that’s what you want to know”

The words made Jin sputter, as he choked on his soup and tried his best not to look as red-faced as he actually was at the moment.

Ha-yoon felt like smacking Taehyung, she knew Seokjin would be awkward about it but she was a medic after all and if he was with child then he’d need proper care.

“Are you feeling okay? Is something the matter Seokjin-ah?” Ha-yoon patted the fumbling omega’s back.

“Yeah, I have been meaning to ask him the same thing” Taehyung’s sharp gaze moved towards the omega and Jin went even more red, stuffing his mouth with as much food as he could so he wouldn’t need to talk.

“I think it’ll be better if I check though” Ha-yoon suggested, hoping to be helpful and caring towards the omega and yet it confused her to see how scared Seokjin suddenly looked.

“I...umm it’s nothing like that…I don’t think it’s anything serious or-” “Yes I’m sure it’s not anything serious…don’t worry” Ha-yoon didn’t realize the real reason behind Jin’s fears. The lady very normally deduced that Seokjin was probably troubled with the thought of why he didn’t conceive after spending a heat with his alpha and assured him that it happens, first times are often unusual and every omega’s body reacts differently. She knew how deeply any omega took it to heart about disappointing their mate’s wishes for pups because of not being able to conceive. It was something innate in every omega, the need to nurture and care for the young ones being ingrained in their very soul.

“I’m sure it’ll turn out better soon…and you’ll get lucky next time” the lady assured with a genuine smile.

The words put Jin through another bout of coughing and choking on his food.

However, Ha-yoon had something else to talk to Seokjin about, although she knew the omega was bound to realize it soon enough on his own.

When Jin entered their chamber he saw Taehyung pouring himself a drink and saw him chugging it down before he poured himself another. He could see that he was changed for bed, roaming about shirtless and only in his pajama pants although it was quite a chilly night.

“Aren’t you cold?” Jin inquired in genuine concern.

“Where were you?” His voice was calm but demanding.

“Just wanted to see the kitchen staff…I missed them, they are good to me…”

“You seem to be able to see good in everyone except me eh?”

“What do you mean? They are really nice people though” Jin didn’t know what to say to that as he grabbed a pair of pajamas as he decided for a quick shower “it’s really cold tonight, how are you even walking around like that?”

“Hmm…nevermind” he saw Taehyung set the glass down before he walked up to him, and he was a little more startled when he turned about to feel hands cupping his face before the alpha leaned in to press his mouth on his, making him freeze because of how abrupt it felt.

And pushed back a bit, breaking the kiss “you smell different” he mumbled, grimacing at the odd taste of the alcohol against his tongue when Taehyung pulled him back into the kiss. Jin could sense the alpha’s pheromones going heavier, almost making him feel dizzy and overpowered and even more worrying was how warm the alphas’ hands were against his cheeks.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“You’re doing it again you know” Taehyung spoke breathing over Jin’s mouth, a soft chuckle slipping his lips as he thumbed at the omega’s fleshy bottom lip glossed with their saliva. 

“Doing what?” Jin inquired, a tiny frown on his brow.

“Confusing me”

But when Jin came out of the shower he could see Taehyung already settled in bed and realised he must have been really exhausted to have fallen asleep this quickly. He found him comfortably passed out, and although it was quite cold he was still shirtless as was his usual habit.

North Gate castle was settled among the mountains and so the nights here were unnaturally cold, Jin himself had a coat bundled close over his nightwear as he walked across the room to bed, hastily getting under the covers which felt rather damp and cold making him shiver and frown at Taehyung.

“Must be really tired to not feel cold…you’re gonna freeze your feet off” he mumbled to himself, before softly draping the duvet over the alpha as well and soundlessly tucking him in. His hand brushed over his bare shoulders and that was when Jin realized how oddly hot Taehyung’s body was.

“What are you doing-” Taehyung mumbled in his sleep, pushing the covers off of himself “it’s so fucking warm”.

“You’re burning up…do you have a fever?” Jin set his palm on his temple and saw how sweaty he looked “you do have a fever!”

He was rushing out of the covers, to call Ha-yoon to check on him to understand what was going on when he felt Taehyung clutching at his wrist.

“Stay” his voice was soft as he pulled the hand back to set on his cheek “your hand is so cold…feels good”

Jin blinked confused as to what he should do, but the grasp on his wrist wasn’t loosening even by a bit so he sat there debating. But that was until Taehyung was pulling him closer, arm wrapping around him as he burrowed into his neck and inhaled deeply.

“Feels very good…” he mumbled against Jin’s neck and closed his eyes, his nerves settling down as he felt his omega against him and the comfort it gave was immense.

“Could you let go…I don’t want to catch whatever you've got” he could hear Jin speak but denied to abide.

“Could you be a little nice…I’m always good to you when you suffer-” “Let’s not forget that’s because 99% of the time I suffer because of you” Jin scoffed being honest in his words.

“Keep quiet…my head hurts” Taehyung mumbled nuzzling into his neck again, as he tried to discard the truth in Jin’s words.

“Let me get someone to check on you…I’m no medic n I can’t cure fever”

“I need no medic, your scent will do” he assured sighing against his mate’s neck “and just some rest”.

“You sure about that?” “Yeah, go to sleep…you’re making it worse by talking too much” Taehyung tried to calm himself down, although he knew it’ll go beyond him to stay calm soon enough...he just hoped Jin wouldn’t freak out too much and decided to talk to him about it in the morning.

Because now that he had his mate, he surely wasn’t going to spend his rut like he had before.

á na márië.

[A\N] Didn't mean to bash your expectations but I guess fluff will have to wait a bit more....🤐

Borahae 💜