#Warning:
Violent scenes

Taehyung’s P.O.V.

The very first casualty of war is innocence…

I was always taught to be brutal, no mercy…no emotion…to take whatever I wanted…to be unstoppable…undefeatable…to win, always.

I am always supposed to be the strongest among all…

Father taught me I could not lose…I never lose…and that’s just who I am.

But it took me years to learn how much of myself I had actually lost in trying to build myself the way father wanted me to become.

I don’t even know who I am as a person…I’m a hollow shell of experiences and achievements…my name only carries my wolf’s strength and might because no one ever told me that there could be more to living than winning wars and being the strongest alpha.

No one had ever made me ponder on the fact that there could be more to life than what I already had known.

I pulled a robe on walking nearer to the bed where my ignorant little mate lay untroubled in his slumber, his fingers curled as he clasped at my pillow tucking it under his nose.

It’s almost funny isn’t it…how it took him only a few months to make me question everything that I had taken as ‘normal’ till now…

“Who’d believe that you could ruin kingdom’s in the blink of an eye?” I chuckled to myself as I chose to sit by his side, my hand moving in its own volition as I remove a few unruly tresses away from his sleeping eyes and lean to place a peck on his cheek “my brother says you're a weapon he brought to Kleon to win against me" my lips graze over his jaw in a slow drag "should I be scared that I might have mated the one who’d destroy me?”

He squirms a bit, mumbling in his sleep before he lets out a little groggy whine and bares his neck to me. I abide to his silent wish and press my lips at the mating mark that stands out proudly on his neck.

“How does it even matter when I know I’d rather accept death with you than break off our bond to save myself…”

I let my nose glide up the side of his neck, his scent keeps growing sweeter and more tempting as his body accepts the changes with time. Mother says the sweeter his scent grows for me, the worse it will feel to other alphas…it’s supposed to act as a protective mechanism for pregnant omegas to ensure that other alphas would steer clear from coming anywhere close to hurting the pup or him.

It’s too intoxicating to me though, his jasmine tones added with honey and a hint of my own cedar n pinewood. I dunk my nose at the side of his neck to catch more, it’s making me feel light-headed for some reason. My wolf craving for more while the protective instincts in me grow higher. My insides coil at the thought of not having access to his scent for days, the wolf in me unsettled and agitated even at the thought of it.

“If I cannot save you…then as your alpha I would be a failure…” my words graze against his soft blushing skin, the heaviness in them not troubling his peace and I am actually glad for that “and I cannot live as a failure love…that’d be a fate worse than death for me.”

I breathe pulling back as my eyes stay on Jin, my hand moving from the side of his face to set on the soft plumpness of his belly. My pup responds instantly as I feel my wolf sense him, he is growing more powerful everyday and I am sure Arcana is transferring every bit of energy Jin gathers to the child. It’s making Jin feel exhausted more often, he might think I don’t notice the struggle but I do. It’s the reason I’ve been stopping him from drawing energy from me.

I know the pup won’t hurt Jin, neither will Arcana hurt him till the pup is born but I don’t want to take the risk of Arcana using the pup to overpower my mate.

My thoughts are cut when I see Jin’s hand coming to cradle my touch on his belly as he stays fast asleep, his warmth seeping into me as my gaze stays there.

I can sense the spirit within him becoming more restless as the pup grew, I remember how he had reacted today at the battlefield. It was so effortless for him to make a few thousand men fall unconscious.

I am proud of his strength, of course I am…as an alpha, my mate’s achievement is my triumph as well but I cannot deny that when I ran after him, all that was going through my mind was the need to see Jin’s soft brown eyes and the need to assure myself that the white-eyed spirit was not using him as it pleased.

Although it wasn’t as gruesome as last time but it was a terrifying scene nonetheless…I wasn’t expecting him to do something like that. It is such surprises that make me anxious of how powerful the spirit that lives within him really is…or to what extent its powers could go. It is such experiences that make fear run through me as I am made to realize how powerless I’d really be if it tried to hurt my mate.

I’ve never been a man who regrets things because whatever I have done, I have always done with a stern resolution and have told myself that I did the right thing. Be it at the battlefield as a commander, or as an alpha and I have always been ready to defend myself on my decisions because I believed I did the right thing.

I don’t know why then do I keep feeling that maybe forcing my mark on Jin wasn’t a good decision…maybe the master back at the monastery was right, I didn’t understand what I was doing…I had no idea how my need to claim my mate would turn to become such a catastrophic action.

How was I supposed to know that the omega my wolf would seek would be part god?

But I didn’t know that mating him could end with him losing his life…was this the reason they said Jin should not have been mated?

I gently pull my hand out of his grip as I realize my chest going tight with the thoughts, my wolf furious at me for acting like a weak emotional mess instead of a true alpha. And I realize I need a drink to get my mind to settle down to focus on tomorrow.

The idea of me not getting to sense if my mate would be in trouble spears through again as my fists clench. I’ll have to make sure hyung stays close to Jin and keeps an eye out for Jungkook’s cheap tricks to cause me trouble. Gotta make sure that the pup will be safe too…I have a different kind of fear running through my mind though…and really confused about what to expect out of it.

Scent blockers would work on Jin’s omega but I am not sure if a potion will be much effective against Arcana…and I am kinda more worried about what kind of reaction it might force out of him if our pup comes in harms way. 

I just hope that Jungkook doesn’t do the stupidity to plot something to hurt Jin, I’ll make sure of that though…he won’t be going anywhere close to Jin. The duel is between me and him…and that’s how it will be.

“Won’t you sleep? You must be tired…”

My lone reverie comes to an abrupt end as I look up from the almost empty glass in my hand, my eyes move to unmistakably find those soft, sleepy eyes on me and I feel a little speechless as I see him blinking at me.

I watch him crawling out from under the duvet, feet stepping lightly around the floor to come towards me and all the while our gazes stay unmoving on each other. I gulp down the remaining of the drink in my hand before I place the empty glass on the low table and relax leaning back on the settee I have been sitting right when he comes to stand before me.

His groggy eyes blink at me, hairs sticking out in every direction as he speaks in a stiff tone “you said you had something to talk about”

He looks calm and yet I can sense a heavy unease coursing within him, his omega troubled for some reason as his gaze stays on me.

“Come here” I pat at my side and see him stand unconvinced before me still “Jin-” “I apologize for saying that…” he blurts before pulling his lower lip in between his teeth, eyes guilt-stricken as he blinks “that was mean of me…and I-” his eyes move to a side as he clasps at the hem of his robe “I never knew your father but I can tell you’d never hurt anyone the way he had…I was just angry-didn’t mean to be rude-but I know I was-and I meant to apologise earlier but it-”

“I said come here” I pat at my side again and see him halt in his mumbling, his gaze finding mine as he takes slow steps towards me. I had decided to act like he hadn’t said anything of that sort because honestly I didn’t want to think about it.

A part of me is well-aware that he had spoken those words in anger…although I know that being brought up under my father’s guidance, I too retain some of his beliefs. Maybe that’s the reason it felt more humiliating than I had expected. Knowing that I have flaws and accepting that I need to change might be a difficult thing…but actually changing them takes time.

I’ve been trying to be more mindful of my flaws but they grew on me for years, and no matter how much accusations Jin throws on me, I cannot make everything right in a day.     

He sits by my side, staying quiet when I turn to face him and I guess he wants me to say something.

“You cannot allow the spirit within you take full control…and no more surprises…”

“I didn’t kill anyone this time…” he gulps speaking and a frown crimps at his brow at the order in my voice.

“Yeah, I saw that…they’re all pretty grateful to you too for not turning them to a pile of bones like they had witnessed last time” I couldn’t help the smirk as I remembered the words of praise they had been loudly voicing at the camps “might bring you gifts for such an act of kindness”.

His eyes grow a little unprepared and face saddens as he keeps his gaze on me “I thought I did good in controlling myself…I didn’t let it hurt anyone”

“Yeah…that you did” I nodded, crossing my arms over my chest before I froze, his words seeping a little deeper into my head as I stared at him “what do you mean you did not let it?”

Jin shrugged at my words “I-I just didn’t let it harm anyone…I told it I don’t want it to do that…and so I guess it didn’t…or couldn’t-I still don’t know but I did better, didn’t I?”

He fumbles a bit expectantly looking at me. However, I’m not sure how to react, if this is true that he controlled Arcana then things could become a lot easier.

“It listened to you…?”

“I don’t really know…I always thought that my omega was uncontrollable and destructive, it never listened to me” his gaze falls to his belly “I have a feeling that the spirit for some odd reason is bound to our pup…he might be able to control it in some way…”

My insides jolt at the realization as Jin says those words…my gaze following his as my mind fixes on a question.

How powerful is he to be able to control an immortal spirit?

Maybe hyung was wrong, maybe it would be the other way around…not Arcana taking control of the pup before he is born but he taking control of Arcana…and if he can really do that, then maybe he could stop Arcana from hurting Jin…

“It still won’t let me bond with him though”

And I have a feeling that this is the reason why Arcana wouldn’t let him bond with the pup…it doesn’t want Jin to know that the pup can control it…

A sense of hope bubbles within me, as I ponder on what I had just discovered…it’s just my assumption for now but if only I could get someone to give me more answers then maybe I just found a way to overpower that arrogant god.

“You made me proud today” I lean nearer to him, letting our sides touch and a lulling warmth fills me as he picks his head up to stare at me in surprise, his senses alert as he listens to me.

“You know the troops as well as the people were saying they are grateful to you for keeping them safe from harm” his eyes assess me whether I’m messing with him or telling the truth “think how betrayed they would feel if you become the reason tomorrow that they get hurt…”

“My intention is not to hurt them-” “Then make sure just like today, you control that spirit that lives within you…you cannot give in to it like you did today, that could turn to become very dangerous…not just for the others but for you as well.”

He turns towards me with a frown building on his brow “dangerous for me?”

I am sure he’ll freak out if I tell him about Arcana intending to kill him.

“The seal that keeps your control over it might snap if you try to alter it by giving Arcana the control. So, you can never let it control you, do you understand?”

“Not like I did it for fun…I only gave permission because it became necessary”

“But I remember telling you to stay out of engaging in the war-” “The war was worthless to fight when you knew you had killed the King”

His voice grows decided and terse as he snaps his head the other away.

“So, you decided to put an end to it? Why do you feel you had the right to do that?” I feel myself getting worked up as well to see him acting annoyed with me.

“Since those troops are going to be Kleon’s now, killing them off meant loss of soldiers for us…it would be a stupid decision on your part as a Commander to carry on with the war when it meant loss of your own army.”

My brows perk up to hear him “whoa…aren’t you getting ahead of yourself eh? Taking decisions beyond me? So, now I will have to take lessons from you on how to command my troops?”

It would be an understatement to say that I am shocked by his words…more so because I can’t deny those. Damn…what did I miss? When did my clueless omega become so well versed in war tactics? 

“How am I getting ahead of myself? Besides, they weren’t even your real enemy anyway” “They weren’t?” I ask really taken aback to see him assessing my decisions in a battlefield! As if he is allowed to take any decisions beyond my commands!

“You know they weren’t…you wanted to challenge Jungkook from the moment we stepped into the battlefield.”

I stun a bit, knowing that it was the truth.

“You’re getting way too smart love…finally talking like my omega you know” I lean close as I smirk at his audacity to voice the words as if he knows me too well and is very accustomed to how I fight my wars “maybe we should make you the next King of Kleon after I defeat my brother tomorrow hmm?”

He jerks up from the seat “stop making fun of me!” “Who says I’m making fun of you?”

I clasp at his hand, smiling up at him as I see him grumble, half protesting to my tugging at his wrist but gives in as I pull him onto my lap and stops fumbling and settles down as I coil an arm around him. The reaction is instant as I feel his omega calming against me, my trueblood instinctive in care as I sense our scents mingling to create a soothing mix around us.

Jin leans back onto me, my shoulder strong against the soft press of the back of his head “what if he’s lying? What if he’s planning something yet again?”

He asks against the silence around us, and I don’t have to ask to know what he is talking about.

“I’m sure he will try something, Jungkook isn’t someone who’ll just accept defeat” I speak knowing my brother all too well and Jin sighs in my hold when I nose at his skin.

“Are you really going to kill him tomorrow?” He tilts his head just enough for me to see the anticipation in those curious big eyes.

“Will you have him kill me instead then?” It was supposed to be a taunt but the way he froze made me shut up.

“You can’t get wounded…at all” the words sounded like a command on his lips and I’m almost sure that he was glaring at me.

“It’s a fight and wounds are inevi-” “I might not have my powers to help you heal but I’m sure I’ll still be able to affect your wolf, it will be bound to surface if I call onto it...”

I do not know how to react to his words because no matter how troublesome Jin gets, I still seem to have difficulty in really believing that he could get even more troublesome.

“You will not do anything…it’s not your fight, you will stay back and you will not interfere in it anyway…I am warning you Jin.”

“I won’t” he acknowledges with a nod as I watch him slowly turning away and I feel a little relieved to see him abiding to my orders without further argument but he speaks up again “until it becomes necessary.”

I’m sure he must truly enjoy getting me pissed off but I realize I won’t be able to make him listen to me like this.

“Even though you are aware that I might hurt others who’d be there around you? And with your scent subdued my trueblood would be even more agitated n uncontrollable” I speak at the shell of his ear and feel him stiffen against me as he grows awfully quiet now.

“It’s not like I want anyone to get hurt” his voice is small as he fiddles with the hem of his robe “but I…I can’t just stand and watch you getting hurt”

“And what makes you think I’ll need you to protect me?” “I’ve had to save you countless times already” he rolls his eyes at my words, his voice is just above a whisper as if he speaks to himself and I feel like he’s mocking me.

“Omega, don’t mock me. I-” “I thought mates are supposed to depend on each other…why do you feel mocked?”

The anger brewing inside me dies as he turns to face me.

“Do you believe that I depend on you because I am weak?”

The words sent a blank astonishment through me and I am left to stare at him having no words to give an honest and adequate reply to that. It is what I have learned since I’ve been a kid, omegas are vulnerable and much weaker…it’s the reason they need the protection of an alpha.

However, having Jin as a mate has taught me to see to omegas in a different light.

“I’m your alpha…you’re meant to depend on me” “Not ‘meant’ but allowed” he asserts staring straight into me “I’m allowed to depend on you…and so are you. You too are allowed to depend on me…especially if you really meant it when you said you prize my strength as much as your own.”

My insides swirl with something like satisfaction and pride runs alongside the delight as I try to hold back that grin from breaking out. It might sound weird I’d say but I feel the kind of happiness one feels to see someone close grow from being naïve and clueless to mature and wise. It looks like my fears can finally cease, my mate seems to be learning what it means to share a bond.

“Okay” my voice is a hush against his mouth as I let my hand set on his nape, my thumb rubbing against his neck “but I’d need some time…you see I have no idea how to do that...I don't depend on others”

His gaze stays on me, eyes unperturbed as his lips part a tiny bit being curious about my words.

“You’ll have to teach me to depend on you…” I lie knowing how much I already do.

My gaze falls on his mouth and I pull his head closer.

His gaze almost instantly does the same as he realises my intention and I see his honey  eyes settling on my mouth. I pull him a little closer and he abides, letting me capture his lips in mine.

His hands come up to set on my chest, touch gently crawling up to coil around my neck as I feel his body mould against mine and he easily fits in my embrace as I pull him closer still. His scent spills over in abundance making the wolf within me restless in craving for its omega, my mind swamped with the feel of his moist warm mouth against mine.

He mewls trying to pull back and I feel my trueblood give out a growl, desire dragging my possessiveness for him heighten as I hold his head in place and kiss him breathlessly. His palms cupping my face as he kisses me back with the same need. The arm I had wrapped around his waist tightened as I feel him press his weight against me, making my back hit the settee. I groan into the kiss feeling a little light-headed, the warmth of his palms soft and comforting against my skin till I realize what is happening.

My eyes snap open when I feel him break the kiss midway and give out a yelp, his fingers digging into my shoulders as I watch him shaking his head vehemently as he mumbles something over n over to himself.

“St-Stop…stop…stop-pp”

“Jin-” “I’m sorry” he fumbles trying to get away from me, as he keeps gasping for breath and denies to look at me.

I tighten my arm around him to pull him back to clash against my chest as I begin realizing the reason for his sudden hesitation.

“If you need you can draw from me” “No…” Jin urgently shakes his head “it’s forcing me to…I don’t want to…you’ll need your strength tomorrow” he speaks in a rush, still trying to push away from me as he fumbles and hasty breaths slip out of his mouth. He looks scared with the thought of Arcana forcing him to steal energy from me.

“Look at me” I tilt his face up and he abides, guilt-stricken eyes meet mine and I lean to press a gentle peck on his reddened and plush mouth “don’t be scared…you know you can control it” I lean in again to press a kiss at his jaw and nose down his throat, leaving a trail of soft pecks as I bask in his too appealing scent that has my mind in a jumble of desire, care, protectiveness and possession “I believe my mate will never hurt me…you can’t”.

My mouth finds the mark on the side of his neck and Jin gives in, his body pressing flush against mine as he lets himself enjoy my ministrations.

A whine leaves his lips and I feel the warmth of his palms back against my skin. I pull back from mouthing at his mark to look up at what he was trying to do now and see him gazing down at me with those soft brown eyes. He doesn’t say anything but I freeze realizing what he is doing as I feel strength blazing through my veins, and I feel revived within a moment.

“Jin…?” “You have to win” he whispers leaning closer now as he transfers more energy to me “Kleon needs you…” he breathes over my mouth “I need you”.

The crowd let’s our carriage pass through as we arrive near the gates of the royal palace. However, I must say I was unprepared for their reaction as I help Jin down from the carriage. My arm coils around my omega on instinct while the other flies to grab at my sword as I see them huddling close, my wolf gives out a warning growl at them. I am not very comfortable with their excitement to see us neither am I very good at interacting with them.

“Back off!” I warn again as they crowd around, ready to unsheathe my sword when I feel Jin elbowing at my side and I see him nodding with a smile to their bows and cheery smiles.

“Why are shouting at them? They’re only here because they were called just like us…” he speaks low while keeping the tender smile directed at them.

I decide to let the sword go when I felt Jin’s hand clasping at mine, his fingers weaving with mine as he tilted his head up to gesture me to lead us inside and I gave a short nod. The guards stepped back letting us through and as we crossed the stony stairs my clutch on Jin became tighter, the more we walked inside the more my wolf tensed with the idea of letting Jin have the scent blockers.

We came face to face with Hoseok as we turned a corner.

“You’re here” he speaks gaze moving from me to Jin, and my wolf is instantly annoyed with the smile he gives my mate “hello Seokjin, I hope everything’s fine…especially at home…”

“Yeah-yeah…things are well” Jin fumbles, confused with the question but tries to do away with it.

“We just met yesterday fuckface” I muttered through gritted teeth and as usual he pretends as if he can’t hear me “stop with the shitty small talks…where’s hyung? Is he here yet?”

“You keep treating me as if your hyung is dating me or something? Makes me wonder though…did he say anything like that huh? I mean you’re real close aren’t ya? He must have said something…I knew it!”

“Hoseok” my voice comes out as a warning growl, I’m annoyed to the brim right now…does this mutt ever take anything seriously?!

“Geez…fine…he is with the King” he affirms with a huff before he mutters something under his breath and leans towards Jin “I hope he is at least fun in bed eh? How do you even endure him?”

“Well, he has his moments…though I’m still struggling to understand” Jin giggles joining into the clown’s idiocy and I tug at my mate’s wrist, while I try to fight off the way Jin’s little giggle at the fuckface’s words had offended me.

“I pray the pup is all you Seokjin…or he’d have to survive a mateless life…”

I tug harder at Jin’s arm as I walk away but the fuckface now follows behind us.

“Stop following us” “I have been assigned the duty to assure your mate’s safety for today” Hoseok speaks to make me stun, and I whip about to scowl at him.

“I don’t trust you…hyung will-” “Taehyung-ah…I assure you with my life that I will not let anyone here hurt Seokjin or the pup…you can focus on winning the duel.”

I pause, the curses dying at the tip of my tongue as I watch his cheeky taunts be replaced with a sincerity one can rarely expect from him.

“I swear I will skin you alive if-” “It was your hyung who entrusted this duty on me…trust him if you don’t want to trust my words” he gave me a smile, stepping nearer now and Jin turns to gaze up at me.

“Taehyung it’s-” “You have your sword with you right?” I see Jin nod at my words “use it whenever necessary” I order “and trust no one but your instincts.”

He nods understanding my words and we resume our walk towards the throne room.
 
My steps are heavy against the marble floors, I sense Jin’s hand tighten on mine the moment we walk before my brother and Jungkook gives us a cold smile.

“Ah welcome…everyone has been waiting for you” he shifts uncomfortably on the throne and looks a little paler than usual as well and even though the weather is quite pleasant I see him perspiring unnaturally. He looked sick although his face held a stern expression and wouldn’t reveal that.

The lords break out in a murmur almost instantly, most of them unsure and not agreeable to the idea of the challenge I had suggested against their King. Some outright yelling at my audacity to try to defy my father’s warnings and reminding of the punishment he had ordered on me so that I’d never dare to do exactly this. While some others simply gazing at me and my mate as they discussed among themselves about what they had heard about the war, I catch them talking about my trueblood breaking out of control and snippets about how my omega had done something startling to put an end to the war.

Their gazes fearful and anxious as they look at the two of us.

I have seen this fear in their eyes for me all too many times, but right now I can sense the same kind of fear in their eyes as they stare at Jin. My gaze falls on my mate and he looks up at me, blinking with nervous eyes.

“You okay?” “Y-Yeah…it’s just-” he gazes around before looking at me again “they really seem to hate us.”

I chuckle to myself “it’s the trait of wicked privileged men to fear change…they don’t hate us, they are scared of what we can demolish to build something they know they wouldn’t like.”

You and I are monsters to them because we are different from what the world knows as normal…but on that account we are more attached to each other… 

I pull Jin a little nearer to myself and see Jungkook gesturing everyone to settle down before his gaze comes back to fall on us.

“Yoongi…the scent blocker” his voice is a grim order and I see hyung walking up towards us with a vial of purple potion. He looks at me before moving to stand before Jin.

“It’s still your decision Seokjin” his voice is heavy as he states that Jin still had the right to deny to agree to the demands “the challenge is between them, it should not involve you in anyway”.

“There wouldn’t have been a need to involve him if he wasn’t who he is” Jungkook’s voice rang through the large room “we have all seen what he is capable of doing when he feels threatened.”

The words made the rush of murmurs grow, the lords fidgety and anxious in their seats as they demand that Jin take the potion.

“I understand” Jin nods to hyung as he takes the potion from him, his lashes flutter as he gulps a large breath before he glances at me “I agreed to take the potion”.

My trueblood gnaws at the inside as I watch him uncork the vial and drink from it. Hyung grabs at the vial the moment Jin sways on his spot, his feet growing weak as he leans onto me and I pick him up into my arms.

“You m-must win” he speaks ducking his head under my chin as I watch his eyes flutter to knit together.

“Don’t worry…alpha won’t fail you” I nudge at the side of his face catching a last whiff of his fading scent as his head lolls to rest against my chest. I bite down a growl as my wolf thrashes within me is protest, its rage building already to feel detached from its mate and I have to will myself to not lash out against my own decision to go through with this.

“I chose the same training grounds for our duel where father used to train us as a child.”

I look up from Jin’s sleeping face to meet Jungkook’s gaze.

“After all, it is where we first learnt what our futures would look like” he stared at me and I could tell what he was thinking. True, we had been taught very early on how different our futures would look like…I was trained to be a warrior and he was trained to rule.

But things will be different after today…just like I say, there are things that don’t change until you find the strength to change it yourself.

I walk after Jungkook, as a crowd of royal guards lead us through the hallway towards the training grounds.

“Let me” Hoseok comes up to me, his eyes moving to my mate who lay unconscious in my arms and my blood boils even at the thought of him laying a finger on Jin. My arms tighten around Jin as I try to look for hyung when he speaks again.

“I hope someday I will be able to prove to you I never meant to become your enemy.”

“I don’t trust you-” “Ok fine…I’ll get Yoongi” he sighs with a shake of his head and I stare hard at him, my wolf not really convinced at his words. 

I watch Jungkook take off his large silken cape and place his crown down as he let attendants help the armour on him. His eyes unmoving as they stay on me, a smirk curving on his lips as he shortly eyed Jin passed out in my embrace and I instantly feel an odd sense of protectiveness for my mate’s safety surge in me.

It is a while till I see hyung walk up to me “Hoseok wouldn’t hurt him you know” he speaks as I place Jin down on a seat, cradling his head in a way so that it’s not too uncomfortable for him.

“My wolf is already too agitated, the least assurance it can get is to know that my mate is in safe hands” I speak watching hyung nod at me as he stands guard to my unconscious omega.

“Good luck…and don’t do anything that your wolf forces you to do…this is a fight between you and him, not your wolf’s playground to show it’s greed to boast…remember that.”

I smirk knowing what he meant “my wolf would want blood…it’d seek the win hyung, you know that-” “Exactly…do what is right…not what you want” he looks at me with a zeal raging in his eyes “don’t let your wolf be the reason they call you a monster again Taehyung…be the man before them as you are before your troops, it is time they don’t fear you…but respect you.”

The words pierce into me, droning through my head as I turn to face the guard who hands me the armour and I ready myself for the challenge. But at the back of my mind I know…a part of me will always be that monster, I was created to put fear in people.

Jin might hold in him something destructive but he wasn’t born to become that. It’s the reason people adore him the moment they meet him, as an omega he is benevolent and caring, and as a human being who had not faced the brutality of the society every single day, he looks at the world with a heart that sees good in everything, trusts easily and knows no evil.

He was born with the gift to heal…whereas I was born to kill.

Jungkook walks to the middle of the training ground, unsheathing his sword and I take one glance at my omega before walking ahead to face my brother.

“I understand that you think you will win today and take away my throne” the King smiled, the muscles on his arm flexing as he swivelled his sword in air, taking his stance before his enemy “but I hope you remember the hero always wins the game…no matter how hard the monster tries to defeat him”.

“People always need a villain to make the hero look good…they need someone to accuse…someone to point their fingers at” my voice is stern as I breathe out, my eyes set alert at the one before me “men need a monster to slay…so if they don’t have one…they create one…even if it’s only in their minds” I unsheathe my sword, my feet planted as I ready myself for the attack “make me your villain, I don’t care…I’d rather be feared than be loved for being a weak, greedy, immoral trickster like you.”

His eyes flare at my words and I feel the air going taut around us, the onlookers holding their breath as his sword comes slashing down at me. 

But the fight begins only when I decide…
I step aside, casually anticipating his forward attack. He halts realizing how easily I had sidled his intention to hit and growls, turning to me with fuming breath as he comes straight at me again.

“Put your sword up and fight!!” He roars at me, his movements angry as his steps strike loudly against the dirt and gravel and he aims at my flank this time.

I sidle by his attack again, enjoying riling him up as I step back easily from his line of attack.

“You see I’m letting you play a bit…because if I lift my sword it won’t stop till I’ve rid your of off your life” I taunt and watch his eyes burn red as he angrily comes at me, his sword zealous to wound me now.

“Fight me! Fight me if you dare! Or kneel before me…the way you are supposed to-hnck!”

My sword slashes through his arm in one swift curve as those words brew rage in my blood, the attack is almost instinctive and I realize seconds later when he stumbles back with a hand clutching at his wounded arm that I had raised my sword and attacked him.

“Don’t call your death early brother…my sword doesn’t hesitate to claim lives” I try to even out my breathing as I see Jungkook’s grip tighten on his sword again.

“That’s all you know anyway” he scoffs, hand falling from cupping his bleeding gash to come to his side as he took his stance to attack again “I know how you enjoy destroying…be it lives or people…after all that’s just who you are.”

“Are you sure you’re talking about me? That sounds pretty close to be a description about you” I chuckle derisively at his words, my sword raised as I see him taking slow calculated steps about me.

“What I do as a King is a decision I have to make considering-” “That crown and that throne doesn’t make you a real king Jungkook” I watch his gaze turn enraged again “you’re still a spoilt prince who enjoys the idea of dictating commands but knows nothing about the land or the people.”

His face turns hard before he breaks out in a grin, eyes still set on me “so you think you’ll be a better ruler than me?”

I fall a little quiet, this is a question I am not prepared for.

He takes a few measured steps closer, sword ready in front of him.

“You think you are fit to sit on that throne?!” His voice grows in fury as he lunges at me with his sword raised and I am forced to hold my sword against him to stop the attack. The force has me jerking back at bit as I watch him fuming in enrage, his wolf clearly affected.

Our swords clash with a loud clang, my steps stumbling back as I struggle to hold my defences against the attack this time.

“You think you will just decide to take away my right to what I was born to have and I will let you?!!” He jabs the sword against me again and I stumble back a little more, my feet shifting to find its footing when I feel him plunge the blade as it slashed through my right ribs.

I stumble back further with a grunt, and feel him swerve the sword to strike at my left leg this time.

A growl erupts out of me, my hand flying to cup at the stinging pain at my side before I kick him back. My eyes scrunching up as I breathe to stand stable again. My wolf roiling within me as the pain washes over me again.

“Father was so proud of what he had made you…but he knew you’d never belong among the people…why do you think he had to send you and your mother to the mountains to live in that secluded castle? You must know he had to ensure that the people won’t be affected by that monstrous beast that lives within you…”

His voice is cruel as he says the words and the rage I’ve been trying to hold back began bubbling back up again. My wolf growling within me to just snap his head to dare to insult it.

“Shut up” my voice goes lower, my veins straining under the pressure I have to put to ensure to keep my trueblood from lashing out at him.

“How dare you tell your King to shut up??! You’re a mere soldier whom I use at the battleground for my land’s victory! You are an insignificant illegitimate no one!! How dare you tell me what I am supposed to do!?!”

I see his sword coming at me but you know what, I’ve had enough.

My sword cuts through air twice as fast as his and jabs straight at his right shoulder. The roar of anguish he lets out makes my wolf feel at peace and I intentionally twist the blade in his flesh as I watch his face pale, the sword slips out of his hand and he falls to one knee before me.

“I told you to shut up, didn’t I?”

His face contorts in pain, blood spewing out of the wound where I still held my sword jabbed deep and I twist the blade a little more. Jungkook shrieks, his hand flying to grasp at the wound as he tries to pull away and I let him off, pulling the sword away from torturing him anymore.

His eyes fall as he struggles to control his breathing before I see his eyes glance towards where hyung stood by Jin’s side and I notice my omega looking at the scene with groggy unfocused eyes, trying to understand how far along into the duel we had gone.

“Take this scene to your memory brother” my gaze comes back to fall on Jungkook “the next time you fight someone for the throne…you will not win” and he smiles like a crazed man at me “your pups will be invincible…even your trueblood will have to bow before them.”

My chest constricts at those words, my wolf now battling to surface and Jungkook really seems like he’s on a mission to die by my hands today.

“Once Arcana takes over its vessel…it will ensure to eradicate your mate as well as you…you will learn then that all that power you are so proud of is but futile when the divine spirit will make you watch your own end…and that day I will laugh at you brother…your greatest conquest will be your very doom…the one you think you stole from me…is the one who will steal everything from you…time will remember you as the one who brought destruction on his own land…the one who was built to protect Kleon but ended up being the very cause that history will remember Kleon as a long lost land, razed to dust due to the folly of one man’s need to hold onto someone who wasn’t meant to be owned.”

“And you’re saying that? Weren’t you the one who had him brought out of his hiding place to claim him as your omega?”

“I did…but you see” Jungkook holds that eerie grin chuckling at me, pain still making his jaw grow stiff as he speaks “I’d let him go if he wanted freedom…I wanted him for reasons, once they’d be fulfilled I’d have no problem in breaking the bond.”

A growl shoots out of me as my wolf takes offence at the thought of my mate being used so pathetically by this insensitive dog…and he calls himself a royal!

“You’re no alpha” my voice is a snarl “no alpha is this sick…I’m glad you didn’t mate anyone…no omega should have to endure such an excuse of an alpha.”

“Why do you feel so offended? Didn’t father do the same with your mother? So, what if I did the same thing with Seokjin…?”

My control slips without me knowing, my trueblood forgets all composure as I hurl myself at him. My fist hits him clean on the jaw and he tumbles backward on the dirt, not even putting a fight as my trueblood attacks him without a thought.

I can’t register much, except for the anger….the need to make him feel pain…the need for blood.

My mad fury is cut off when I feel arrows pierce into my back…one…three…more…and my breath hitches when my gaze falls on Jungkook, his face bruised and cuts bleeding but he smirks at me. His cut up and bloodied lip stretching as he speaks.

“You’ve broken the code of” he chokes on a cough before he continues “of the challenge b-brother…this is now an attack at your king…and-” his breath catches again and he coughs up blood “my men can intervene if you try to hurt me now.”

I feel another arrow pierce straight into my lung as it cuts off my breathing further.

I hear my mate's scream through my fast spreading daze...my mate is calling for me n yet I don't have the strength to get up on my feet. The realisation cuts into me that Jungkook had planned this...he had planned to push me to the brink n get my trueblood enraged enough to show itself so that he could use my own wolf against me.

I fall to my side, my voice a low growl as I struggle to get enough air into my lungs and watch Jungkook slipping into unconsciousness as well, the wounds my trueblood had inflicted on him taking their toll as well. And yet he still has that lopsided grin clinging on his lips.

I hear a commotion around as I feel hands cupping my face.

“No! You promised!” His voice brings me out of the daze and I blink up to see Jin hovering above me but in the very next instant royal guards pool around trying to pull him away and my trueblood resurfaces fearing that they might hurt him now that Jin is even more vulnerable.

My hands search around for the sword but my body fails me, blood filling my mouth and pain scorching through me as I try to get up to defend my mate.

And that's when the truth hit me...Jin will die if I do.

But if I break the bond to let him live...he will lose the pup.

“You were not supposed to get wounded” he panics, breaths rushed and eyes blown wide as he fumbles unsure of what to do “what do I do?? What do I do now?!”

I know I had always said that I'll not let him go even in death but right now all I can think of is how to at least ensure he'll be safe.

He's paid too much already for the mark I forced on him...I don't want to be the one to take away his life as well.

“Jin...” I try to gulp as much air as I can to say the next words “c-calm d-down...you'll b-be ok...”

He freezes noting my failing heart now as I feel warm blood sputter out of my mouth as I tried to speak.

“I-I will let you-” “No.”

I sense the chilling arrogance in Jin's voice and see his eyes turn a full dazzling white in the very next second as the spirit within overpowers him yet again.

“You live trueblood...till I get what I want.”

á na márië.

[A\N] I said these few chapters are my favourite in the plot but I keep feeling like I am not being able to do enough justice to them, my life is hectic nowadays n it's so difficult to fully concentrate 😐 n yet I still hope you enjoy ✨

Borahae

💜