#Warning:
-Mature content

Third Person's P.O. V.

Jin squeaked to feel his back hit against the wall, the sound of the chamber doors closing was rather faint on his ears as he tried to cope with the passion with which Taehyung's mouth was pressed against his, their lips busy in a cadence of desire. His eyes closed to feel firm hands climbing up his shoulders to cup his face, tilting his face in a way that made their lips mould perfectly together and he felt as if he was being pulled into a stupor that had him frozen at his alpha's rushed need for him.

"Th-The guests...we just left-" Jin spoke breaking the kiss midway but stopped to see Taehyung place the pad of his thumb on his moist reddened lips.

"Shhh" Taehyung's heated breath hit Jin's mouth, both of them panting as they tried to catch their breaths. His dark eyes were saturated with desire as he gazed at his omega, the greed to take control and dominate over the other was loosely held back behind the glint in them.

"For tonight forget all else...and be only mine..." he pulled his face closer, their foreheads pressing together as he breathed the next words over Jin's lips "give your all to me and I'll give my all to you, even if it's only for tonight" and that was enough for Jin to melt into the other's arms as he felt Taehyung's arms circling around him, his mouth capturing his yet again.

He could feel the strength of Taehyung's hands against his flesh, his hands solidly guiding him to delve deeper into needing more of the high and Jin whined in between the kiss to feel the gentle force in Taehyung's ways. The hand that slipped through his hair to gather a fistful wasn't rough but it wasn't soft either and the hand that ran down his back was playful but once it set to grip on his waist, it was firm and possessive.

Jin made soft sounds as Taehyung's mouth moved down his chin and throat to rest at the side of his neck where the omega wore the mark of the trueblood, standing out clear against his pale skin and sighs and whimpers slipped his lips as he felt his alpha tracing with the tip of his tongue the indents of the mark which he had given him.

His fingers clutched instinctively on Taehyung's jacket to keep him close while his eyes remained screwed shut as he pulled his lower lip in between his teeth feeling pleasure course through him in waves. The scent blocker having begun to fade away his senses came back and Jin felt his alpha's pheromones surround him heavily, his instincts returning with a jolt as he leaned forward to dig his face at the crook of Taehyung's neck.

The sound of his alpha's deep groan was utterly satisfying to Jin, his omega purring on instinct to sense its mate's satisfaction. Jin saw Taehyung pulling his face away to gaze down at him yet again, his dark eyes studying his face while his hand found its way to leave soft playful caresses on his neck before his fingers dipped lower, dragging down the folds of the lapel of the pretty shimmery robes Jin was wearing.

And Jin took the hint, nibbling onto his lip as he softly pulled at the knot on his belt that held the robes in place. He saw Taehyung's eyes dip down from his to catch the way the gold embroidered silk robe loosened around him to reveal the layer of white lace underneath. Jin felt fingers wrap around his wrist before Taehyung tugged him close, he took a sharp breath before he found himself facing the full-size mirror that stood against a wall in the dimmed room.

Jin felt his back rest against Taehyung's front, his breath fanning at his neck.

"What a pity it is" the voice was heavy but quite flirty at Jin's ear "that you made me wait months to see you in these" fingers danced at his shoulders before Taehyung was pulling the gorgeous red silk robe down his arms in a slow drag as he pressed his lips to his skin, he seemed in no hurry and Jin felt himself enjoying this new rhythm of love making.

A smile curved on Jin's lips knowing that Taehyung was toying with him.

"What a pity indeed" Jin smiled tracing Taehyung's gaze through the mirror "that it took you months to become the alpha for whom I'd love to be dressed in these ceremonial robes and celebrate our bond like mates usually do..."

And Taehyung looked stunned to silence at the words, his eyes suddenly bereft of all that playfulness as he gazed at Jin to judge if he really meant what he had just said.

Jin felt Taehyung's hands stop in his actions, and peered up to see Taehyung's eyes fall on his as he stared at him in a wordless daze.

"Pity indeed, that it took you months to become the alpha I'd willingly choose as mine" Jin smiled leaning closer to capture Taehyung's lips and felt him surrendering to his intentions as he let him dominate the kiss while those stunned hands begun working again to let Jin feel the rich silk robe slipping off of him. He could feel Taehyung's pheromones flood his senses, realizing how deeply his words had affected his alpha.

Jin felt his arms coil about him, the kiss breaking momentarily before decisive hands were turning him around and lips pressed on his again while Jin felt that he was being guided to step backward to the bed. He felt his back hit the mattress, eyes blinking open to stare up at Taehyung, and Jin could trace speckles of red swimming in those dark eyes before his alpha ducked to nose at his neck.

"Mhngh" Jin's eyes closed to feel canines grazing over the mark and the pleasured whine made a low growl rumble at the back of Taehyung's throat, the wolf in him surfacing on instinct to declare its claim over its mate as his trueblood sought for his omega's complete submission. He eyed the way Jin's chest heaved, desire brewing in both their bodies and he slowly unfastened the knot to part the white lacy layer to reveal the ivory skin beneath. Jin's skin felt soft, silken and Taehyung explored with his hands, with his lips, with his tongue.

The room filled with the sound of sighs and whimpers as Jin laid naked on the bed, writhing and shuddering at the way Taehyung was driving his sensitivity to the extreme. He took a sharp breath when he felt Taehyung's hand slipping in between his legs, a moan slipping his lips as he felt himself drip at the touch and his body slipped into submission without his knowledge. His needy whining voice made lust flare through his alpha, his eyes glowing a full red as Jin saw him studying him closely, gaze never leaving his as he pleasured him, playing with him as he dug his tongue into him and took him too close to his orgasm but drew back just short of it, intentionally denying him his satisfaction.

"P-p-ungh-pleaseee alpha...don't...t-tease me..."

Taehyung felt a clumsy grip on his hair, the hand trying to both push him away and keep him there. He took a hold of that hand, pulling it off of his hair to thread their fingers as he let their hands rest atop Jin's growing belly and decided to be kind enough to abide to his omega's plea.

Jin felt breathless, his skin sweaty and flushed pink as he blinked up to see Taehyung looming over him as he stood at the edge of the bed and undressed himself, gaze still strictly set on his mate.

And Jin couldn't look away as he watched Taehyung shuffle out of his overcoat, letting it carelessly fall to his feet. He unbuttoned his shirt halfway and pulled it over his head before Jin watched him unbuckling his belt.

"I'll confess that it makes my wolf very glad to hear you calling me your alpha" he spoke unbuttoning his pants as he crawled to sit in between Jin's legs, a smirk playing at his lips as he leaned close "but I want you to call me by my name" he let his mouth brush against Jin's, stealing a peck "I want you to remember that no one will ever touch you the way I do...remember that only I can make you feel this way" his voice dipped low and his teeth gritted as he fought against the wolf that battled to take over, greed glinted in his eyes as he rid himself of his pants "I want to hear you moaning my name when I claim you as mine."

Jin felt like he was going to melt merely with the effect of the words at his ear and felt Taehyung position him where he wanted him, his hands firm as he made it clear that he should stay still. For some reason tonight felt different than the times they had mated before, Jin could undoubtedly say that despite being familiar with his alpha's aggressive and possessive side, this Taehyung felt way more sensual and the dominance in him had an odd charm that rather allured than force Jin's omega into needing the alpha's touches.

And when Taehyung entered him, the way his body allowed him in, his walls stretching to accommodate the intrusion made pleasure surge through him in an unnatural high tonight. Taehyung slid himself inside slowly till he had seated his entire length in him and held still for a long moment, taking the time to graze his teeth across Jin's jaw, tongue flicking out to lick at his skin as if he was savouring all of him in his own way.

Jin's mouth fell open in a silent moan, it was too much of sensations, he struggled with feeling so much all at once and wanted to close his eyes but couldn't, as if held captive by those flickering red eyes gazing into the depth of his very soul and surveying every crease of his brow, every little sigh that slipped, every quiver of his lips while Taehyung began testing the depths of his body.

"Ahh-mhmm...Tae~" Jin's voice blurred as his mind focused solely on the controlled thrusts that made his legs feel powerless and all he could hear was his alpha's grunts and feel his warm breaths at his neck, his hands pressed on either side of Jin's head, holding his weight over him. Jin felt his mind going blank with need, his gaze blurring as well as he lay under Taehyung taking what his alpha gave, and through that hazy vision he traced the way Taehyung's teeth gritted with every thrust, red eyes closing every time Jin instinctively clenched around his member feeling too sensitive or the way moans mixed with his heavy groans of pleasure as he neared his high but slowed down trying to hold back his urge to ram his cock into Jin so that he could stay inside him as long as possible.

"Ohh God" a breathy moan interrupted Jin's words yet again "will you s-st-op teasing-hnck! Ohh..!"

"That's better...right?" The words were playful at his ear, and Jin could almost hear that cocky smirk "feels real good here doesn't it?"

Jin's his hand flew to grab at his shoulder, nails digging into Taehyung's flesh as he felt his body jolt as pleasure washed over him in new waves when he felt his cock hit that sensitive bundle of nerves again and it made his eyes roll back with how abnormally good it felt, his body slipping further in need "ohhh god Tae-yes...fe-eels good..."

Jin could feel how tight Taehyung's grip was on his hips, his thrusts harder now but not too rough as he felt his member swelling inside him, stretching him out further and eased into the rhythm of his body being rocked over the sheets, his desperate clutching onto them doing little to keep him steady.

"N-No ahhmm...too m-much" his breath caught in his throat to feel Taehyung jerking him off. He thrashed, thighs shuddering around Taehyung as he gave a long loud moan before he came in his hand, his body arching off of the bed to feel the intense orgasm and instead of getting the time to come down from his high when he felt himself being fucked into overstimulation. Jin clenched around him unintentionally as he pressed his eyes close and bit down onto the sheets, tears gathering in his eyes as he tried to keep his moans low.

And it tipped Taehyung off the edge as he pulled out and jerked off over Jin pouring his cum on him. Jin was still caught up in watching the scene, his legs still spread wide around the other when Taehyung leaned close to press his mouth on his, kissing him in between the panting and Jin kissed him back being equally dazed with lust and pleasure and desire as the other.

"Mine" the word was a growl at Jin's ear, that red gaze proving the trueblood was roused within Taehyung as he licked at his neck "all mine" he growled again before sinking his teeth to leave proof of his claim on his omega.

"I hate the fact that fucking king actually dared to mark you" Taehyung's voice was heavier as his wolf's anger and envy surfaced.

"He is dead" Jin grabbed Taehyung's face to pull him back into the crook of his neck making his alpha focus on his scent to calm himself down "you killed him."

And the moment Taehyung felt his wolf's aggression toning down, he reached up to capture Jin's lips in a kiss again. His actions were evident of the hunger still roiling within him but his hands told of the affection he wanted to share with his mate and his lips caressed Jin's skin to reveal the way he adored the other half of his soul who held the very thread of his life in those nimble hands...the one who had become the core of all his thoughts and the seat of all his temptations...the only one who could ask him to lay down his very life before him and Taehyung knew he wouldn't be able to deny him anything.

There was a peaceful silence between them when they broke the kiss, and Taehyung moved to settle beside Jin on the bed, perching up on his elbow as he stayed silently eyeing his mate beside him. This was probably the very first time that they were conversing without words, the first time that Jin didn't feel intimidated or confused by Taehyung's eyes simply gazing down at him neither did Taehyung feel the need to ensure his dominance over Jin.

"Shouldn't we clean up?" Jin tried to understand what Taehyung meant with this silent staring contest.

"We will...a little later" he added, gaze molten and voice pooling with contentment "I like looking at you this way".

And Jin practically didn't know what to say to that, blushing anew to realize what Taehyung meant when he felt how they were still lying naked, Taehyung's legs tangled with his.

"Your heartbeat's rising again" Taehyung spoke biting down a smile to see Jin's ears turning red and he decided to taunt "don't tell me I still scare you?"

"Funny isn't it?" Jin's voice was hushed, only to reach Taehyung as the room looked darker now...the lamps having dulled as the night grew older around them "I was forever taught to be afraid of alphas...to believe that every alpha out there was a monster waiting to harm me..." a smile lingered on his lips as he spoke "turns out I am the biggest threat, and that everyone should actually be afraid of me..." his eyes took in the way Taehyung simply listened to him, thumbing at his chin or playing with a lock of his hair while his mouth was a mere breath away from his "and somehow the strongest and scariest of alphas happened to be the fool who tied me to himself" Jin taunted back, a smirk playing on his lip...it was easy to understand that both of them were basically trying to find a way to bicker with each other because let's face it, that is the only thing they both are good at.

"Who else do you think would dare to claim a nuisance of an omega that you are eh?" Taehyung spoke smirking back, finger flicking against Jin's ear as a tiny punishment for the cheeky omega for trying to rile him up "a whole bundle of trouble you are...and don't you dare try to deny that."

"Yeah right, I am the one who's troublesome" Jin rolled his eyes, his voice rather sarcastic "be scared of me then..."

"I am"

The words killed the flirty air and made Jin blink up at Taehyung to see the mellow smile he gave him now.

"I had never known fear till I claimed you...I have never feared losing something so much, not even my own life."

It wasn't easy for him to speak out what he felt and yet Taehyung knew that this feeling of opening up to his mate felt far better than any other emotion he had ever felt, it hadn't been easy either being treated as a mere weapon and not as a person with real emotions. Warriors have no emotions, they had taught him that very early in life.

"And yet, you're the closest thing to peace in my lifetime of war."

Jin was stunned to silence this time, his breath catching to understand how Taehyung had just casually revealed the depth of his emotions to him and for some unknown reason Jin felt tears prick the corner of his eyes. So when he tried to bite down a sniffle, Taehyung instinctively opened his arm and watching Jin effortlessly curl up against him and set his head on his chest made him smile to himself. He knew he cherished him, just like Jin knew that no other place could make him feel as secure and needed as he did being snuggled against Taehyung right now.

His alpha held him close and kissed his hair, and to someone who never had a place to feel cared for and adored, Jin called this the feeling something like being home...warm, cosy, safe, and it had begun to become a feeling he loved the most.

The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too.*

"It is all yours... if you choose to accept it" Yoongi declared after seeing Jimin stand frozen and wordless for more than a moment.

Jimin couldn't even dare to blink as he read yet again through the scroll Yoongi had handed him, his breath caught up in his throat as his gaze hurried through those same words.

"No one will ever again dare to oppress you Jimin...you may live in peace, do whatever you want and...the king himself has entitled it all to you...he has given you the title of his first consort and made you the sole owner of the royal palace" Yoongi declared "however, the inner palace will still belong to the Queen Dowager and her attendants will be shifting there with her. The other consorts have been freed and they have been sent back to their kingdoms as per the king's orders."

Jimin blinked up to understand, he couldn't really tell if this was some game they were trying to play with him. The title of a first consort is no small thing, only the king's claimed mate got the chance to hold that title...and he wasn't even mated to Jungkook.

"I-what-why would he do that?"

"Apparently, it is his last wish" Yoongi sighed, the words made a heavy emotion glaze over his eyes "I guess it is his way of apologizing to you...by giving you a title of power and your freedom, to ensure your safety in his absence."

"How can I be titled as the first consort when I'm not even betrothed to the king?"

"Jimin...he is no longer the king" Yoongi reminded, handing him a wooden box that held the legal documents that proved Jimin's new position as the head of the palace "he just wants the remnants of his name and power to ensure that you stay protected from facing any harm ever again...you may bring your parents here if they agree to come, no one will try to harm you or your family."

And along with the surprise and confusion, Jimin felt anger brewing within him.

"So, he has really chosen to die?"

"I don't know about his intention to die...but I can tell he is fed up with life, there's no wish left in his heart, no hope left in him for tomorrow...a man needs those to feed his will to live...for without those he's a hollow shell, a mere shadow of existence, passing his days in bleak waiting to finally fall into a sleep that never breaks again."

Jimin bore the words in his heart, his chest feeling heavy as he found himself in front of the stairway that led to the dungeon where the fallen king of Kleon stayed waiting for his end.

He knew he didn't need to care for what happened to Jungkook, a part of him even wanted to believe that the man deserved whatever happened to him...that he deserved to suffer just like the way his cruel intentions had made so many people suffer.

That he needed to suffer for how cruel he had been to him...Jimin wanted to be spiteful, he wanted to be happy to see him feel the dejection and hardship Jungkook had so easily forced others to go through.

But with every step he took, he could only remember moments that had made him look up to the man in a different light...instances that had him acknowledge the alpha in a way which startled him to realise that behind the terrifying aggression and calculative darkness of his mind, Jungkook could be a different man as well.

It was the evening he had been brought to Kleon, his senses terrified and heart a rush of fears as he quietly washed himself and stepped into the room to see attendants scowling at him, scoffing at his timid behaviour, calling it a poor act for someone who used to be the king's whore in Zyon.

Jimin hadn't dared to say a thing, he took the ragged uniform meant for slaves that they gave him and hardened his heart to begin another phase of his agonizing existence.

"Get to work if you want to eat" the words were sharp and Jimin shuddered at the hatred for him in their voices, nodding in quiet agreement.

And by a stroke of chance the king had happened to walk by the inner palace, tracing Jimin being ordered by the royal concubines to work for them. He found him being made to carry heavy pails of water from the lake which was on the other side of the palace because apparently it was the only water that was clean enough for them to bathe in.

In a fit of unknown anger Jungkook had commanded Jimin to stop, making all the ladies there fall silent as well and they cowered before him as he glared at them red-eyed.

"He's not here to serve anyone else but me!"

They had flinched, nodding and pleading for their fault to consider Jimin as one among the other slaves.

"No one except me is allowed to order him to do anything!"

With that Jungkook had grabbed at Jimin's arm and dragged him back to his room while Jimin stood there on trembling feet, gaze stiffly held down as he feared the punishment he believed he'd have to endure. He tried his best to hold back the sniffles that involuntarily shook his chest, making his breaths stutter.

"Why are you crying?" Jungkook's voice sounded annoyed "tsk...omegas and their need to be constantly pampered...stop crying, no one here will care for your tears...you need to get stronger if you want to survive in this palace omega."

Jimin bit down on his lip, trying his best to hold back the fears and the sobs but he couldn't help the sniffle as he stepped backward in fear to see the king walk towards him.

"I-I apologize sire...I-" "Be quiet" his voice was devoid of any aggression, Jimin couldn't understand what was happening when he traced calming pheromones surrounding him and dared to raise his gaze to meet the king's.

"You're no usual omega"

Jimin took another fumbling step back to see Jungkook walk closer still.

"How then could I treat you like a mere useless slave?"

Jimin felt his back hit a wall, his breath freezing and he blinked to understand what Jungkook intended to do with him.

"Aram!"

The sudden loud call made Jimin flinch tonpush himself harder into the wall. He saw the door open and a man entered the chamber while Jungkook neither moved nor drew his gaze away from his.

"Make an announcement in the inner palace that Jimin will be my personal attendant from this day onward, he will not be given any duties by anyone except me...and if anyone dares to defy my orders they'll be punished severely."

"I will see it done instantly, my lord"

From the corner of his eyes, Jimin saw the man bowing low before he left the room.

"And you too must remember it...you follow only my commands" the king declared, his eyes then falling to take in the sight of the pale ratty robes the omega was dressed in "and remember to dress yourself properly" he turned about to walk towards his desk "as fitting for someone who is supposed to accompany the king."

"Y-Yes Sire...I'll always remember"

Jimin gulped to himself as he remembered the day, how that one announcement had protected him from facing any more oppresion or cruel words from the royal concubines, or how being the king's personal attendant had changed his situation altogether. His gaze fell to the folds of the rich silken robes he had become comfortable to be dressed in, and how he had taken time to choose this one when he dressed himself to make his journey back to Kleon this morning...probably somewhere at the back of his mind he had remembered the way the alpha often let his gaze take in the scene of him being dressed in pretty colours.

"Try some of these my lord, they're fresh and famous for being the juiciest apples in the entire world...the attendants have just brought these from my hometown" one of the concubines spoke with a too sweet smile on her face, leaning too close to the king as he remained seated in his usual seat by the willow tree that overlooked the lotus pond. It was somewhere the king often went to clear his mind from the ruckus of the court, and Jimin being his constant attendant had to accompany him at all times.

"Thank you Princess" Jungkook spoke without removing his eyes from the water, paying neither any attention to her words nor her alluring smile "but I'm not that fond of apples...you may share them with the others."

His gaze lightly glided to his side to find Jimin and his fingers as if instinctively ran themselves down his arm, tracing the nimble patterns of the silvery embroidery on the pink silk robe that the omega wore.

"I'm rather fond of peaches...it's the only taste that allures me."

And Jimin had frozen cold in his seat, not even daring to pick his head up, especially ashamed at how he was blushing at those words...he knew not whether the king was merely talking of the fruit or his own scent that very much resembled the scent of ripe peaches.

There had been times the king had confused Jimin with his actions and his words, he had been prepared to be treated cruelly, prepared for hardships...what he hadn't been prepared for was being treated like someone who could be desired, let alone be desired by the king himself.

"Sire...you called for me?" Jimin took calculated steps having witnessed Jungkook enraged and in yelling out commands in volcanic anger the day the court bustled with the news of another of Kleon's victory in war as they praised and rejoiced for the trueblood's undefeatable strength and his prowess on the battlefield.

The royal chamber was eerily quiet yet Jimin's heart sank to trace the loud angry pheromones that saturated the room.

"S-Sire?" He saw Jungkook fuming at his desk, his eyes red in rage and hairs wildly sticking out while the crown sat in the middle of the desk as he glared at it unmovingly.

He slowly approached him, but something within him broke when he saw Jungkook pick his head to see how blank his gaze looked...how pained rather than angry those eyes were.

"Do you want to go and rejoice with them as well?"

Jimin didn't know what to reply to that.

"K-Kleon won Sire...everyone is happy" he dared to form a few words as best as he could "you must be too...your land gained-" "My land?" Jungkook frowned "my land you say...then why do they see only his victory?!"

Jimin fell silent, feeling repentant for speaking when his fear doubled to see him spring up from his seat.

"My land is it??" Jungkook's frown deepened as he blankly gazed around the empty chamber "where? Where are the ones who are supposed to commend me?! Where is my praise for all those nights I spent working to plan against the ones who wanted to crush us in the war!? Where is my reward for working hard to ensure no man can trick Kleon's laws?!"

He walked closer, the anger and complaint bubbling higher in him.

"He plays the hero on the scene...so he gets all the praise, and I am sly and evil because I spend all my time planning against my enemies" he scoffed to himself, his smirk had a hint of hurt rather than being entirely spiteful "how easily they forget that if I wasn't evil enough to plot against my enemies...those enemies would take the chance to plot against us believing us to be naive and stupid! Father taught me that a king who takes the first step wins...be the killer if you don't want to be killed!"

Jimin bit down a yelp when he felt hands grabbing at his shoulders, his eyes blown wide in fear as the words instinctively slipped his lips "please ca-calm down alpha"

And Jungkook had instantly frozen in place, his breathing loud but his gaze toning down from being furious as he went quiet all of a sudden.

Jimin understood a little later that he had on reflex used his powers on the other, delving into Jungkook's mind to erase the source of his anger and thus calming him down. But terror churned through him to realize what he had done because he knew he would be punished for daring to do such a thing as use his powers without permission on the king.

"F-Forgive me...p-please my lord-I didn't mean to-" "It's okay" Jungkook's mind was typically at peace for the very first time, his grip on Jimin's shoulders turned softer, his eyes turning calm...calmer than Jimin had ever seen them be and when he gazed at the alpha now he felt no fear or confusion but something inside made him feel just as calm as well.

And yet Jimin started to feel horrified for another reason.

"I-I'll take my leave sire...I need to-" he mumbled trying to walk away feeling his omega reacting to the alpha who stood gazing unblinkingly at him.

"No"

Jimin felt a stubborn grasp at his wrist, keeping him right there.

"Stay" the order was soft behind Jimin "keep those thoughts away...I want to sleep in peace for once..."

Jimin found himself walking through the long passage that led to the cell where the fallen king was being kept. Royal guards standing alert keeping an eye on the man they had once vowed to protect.

"You came back"

The voice sent chills down Jimin's spine, something warm filling his veins as well.

"I wasn't expecting you to"

Jimin could see how tired and frail he looked, and yet there was an odd glimmer of that clean calm reflected in Jungkook's eyes as he watched him struggling to stand up, a smile breaking on his lips as he tried to walk nearer but faltered in his steps.

"But I was hoping that you would...I haven't been able to sleep for days Jimin...one last time, I wanna sleep in peace..."

And suddenly all Jimin's anger flushed out to see how broken and disoriented Jungkook looked, he truly seemed to be going mad, his body seemed to be giving up...the man before him resembled the perfect picture of a man who had lost himself...who had been brutally broken by life and his own stupid whims.

"No" Jimin gulped the pain that he felt within to see Jungkook like this, he told himself he had to be strong for what he came here to do "I will not help you to sleep."

He saw Jungkook pause midway, smile failing as his body swayed being utterly fatigued.

"You...will not?" He sounded clueless and very troubled to hear Jimin say that "but...you don't say no to me...you never say no to me...you can't..." it sounded as if he was talking to himself or maybe remembering all those times that the omega had wordlessly followed his every order.

"I can" Jimin tried to keep his breathing even as he spoke "I came here to tell you that I do not accept your apology...I don't need your shadow to guard me anymore. I will live without it if you have chosen to abandon your duty simply because of the fact that you want to feel free and think killing yourself will give you the peace you seek."

Jungkook was stunned beyond comprehension, his senses shook to hear the striking strength in the words of the timid omega he had once captured as a prize.

"But let me tell you the truth, if there's a god above then no sinning man will ever find peace in death...you write your destiny with your hands my king, and to find peace you need to clean yours of the mistakes you've made."

"It is too late for me" Jungkook's voice flat, his feet weak to keep him up as he leaned on the hard bed standing in the middle of the cell "my mistakes aren't merely my own Jimin...how do I clean my father's flaws and my mother's envy from myself? How do I rid myself of this hatred and this anger and this cruelty?"

Jimin saw his fists clench, his face contorting in but whether in pain or anger he couldn't really tell.

"I-I want to get rid of it all...I want to end myself because I hate this...I hate being so flawed...so weak..." his voice fell low so did his gaze "yes, I am a coward Jimin and I am selfish...I want to abandon everything just so I could feel at peace...I am a coward, I don't want to live knowing what a weak man I am...I failed father, I failed my ancestors, I failed my land, my mother...I failed you...I failed everyone, even my wolf has given up on me...I don't deserve to live..."

Jimin watched how with every confession Jungkook seemed to be falling weaker and yet he seemed less like a madman right man and more like a man repentant of the life he had lived.

"I understand why you wouldn't want to stay here...this palace has every luxury you could name but it has no comfort to give...it has all the riches but you won't find an ounce of love in the midst of these grand walls...behind the grand history of my land stays hidden the stories of betrayals and abuse...of lust and greed...of hatred and envy...of broken bonds and scarred relations..." his voice had a distant echo of grief "and I have lived and grown in these walls Jimin...I have witnessed cruelty like an everyday show, and learnt that is the norm of my life...am I evil only because my normal is scary to you? Am I cruel because I have come to learn that is the only way to survive here?"

He was so into his thoughts that he didn't notice when Jimin had entered the cell to come tp stand by him.

"You are cruel because you use your strength on those who are defenceless" Jimin's words were unfaltering "you are evil because you hurt those who mean no harm to you"

Jungkook fell quiet to trace the truth in those words, his gaze crawling up to see Jimin staring down at him, his face still rigid, he guessed he was still angry with him.

"But you are not weak because you failed everyone...but because you have failed yourself."

The words pierced through Jungkook making his mind charge up.

"You're weak because you could have become an alpha people would look up to only if you had given up on those ideals and stuff they wanted to impose on you...you're a coward because all you wanted was to protect your name and not your integrity..."

Jimin was so damn angry, he felt as if a fire had been lit within his soul to see the alpha giving up on himself, on life and was on the verge of accepting his end...and he couldn't really let that happen, not right before his eyes...and if his words made Jungkook angry and furious then be it, it's still better being a hollow empty shell of nothing and believing that life had only meant for him to have a miserable death.

"I have seen cruelty the likes of which you can never imagine! I have slept with evil in my bed! I have endured pain and hatred every day for years on end...but I have never let my anger harm another...never let my pain make me cruel..." he fumed "but I am an omega right...I can never be angry...I have no right to complain...I am supposed to be a coward, a weak frail being...I am supposed to endure everything that happens to me and accept it as my fate! And you know what, that is my strength! That you may break me down but I am still strong enough to be myself! I am proud of my weaknesses because they teach me how I can be strong despite them! I am a ruin like this palace, hollow and loveless...but I will still nurture a heart that would choose to love me!"

Jimin's words caught in his throat as he choked on a sob to feel arms circling around his waist as Jungkook pressed his head to his belly, a quiet consolation that helped Jimin's fiery emotions and frantic breaths to calm down. They stayed like that, neither Jimin spoke another word nor did Jungkook move away.

"For days I have been lying idle, feeling nothing...getting comfortable with the slow setting emptiness within me" Jungkook's words were slow and deep "so many of them came to visit, so many words they said..." his breathing was laboured against the omega "my chest is burning right now Jimin" his face contorted in pain again, eyes scrunching to press close "what did you do?"

"That's your wolf, it can feel my pain through the bond" Jimin's voice was strikingly calm as he spoke without a hint of hesitation and pushed at the alpha's shoulders to ask him to let go "unlike you, it knows how to feel."

Jungkook fell quiet at the realisation that Jimin had probably learnt about being the omega his wolf sought from Yoongi, accepting the aggressive words from him and the gesture as he took his arms away as he sat back sighing to himself before he decided to talk it out now that it was no secret to either of them.

"I let you go...I accepted it that you wouldn't desire me as your alpha...why did you have to come back? Did you not learn? I have nothing to give but misery...I am a miserable man..."

"I used to have a mate, he was killed by king Do-Hwan's guards on his orders"
Jungkook's jaw gritted to feel his chest burning again "I know you used to have a mate"

"I was with child when it happened and lost our pup, it was an unconsented breaking of our bond that left my body in shambles" Jimin spoke with his eyes flickering side to side as he battled with the tears gathering in his eyes "I'm actually dying...if I go on like this, I'll not see the end of the year...now you know why it is no use for me accepting that entitlement, I came back to let you know that it isn't an apology that I can accept since it doesn't help me much, or rather at all...and honestly, I wanted to let you know that isn't an apology I expected...you cannot mend pain with luxury, such gifts might distract one from the hurt but those don't really help you heal."

Jimin began stepping back, turning around to leave "I came here to let you know that I am no longer your slave not because you decided to let me go...but because I was never your slave, I was only powerless because of my situation and I am not that powerless anymore."

"You will not die if you are claimed, isn't it?"

Jimin stopped in his steps, eyes blinking to hear the insinuation in those words "I am not scared to die-" "You said we write our own destiny" Jungkook's voice was strong despite the fatigue that burdened his body "and yet you don't want to live to write your own?

Jimin froze, his breathing tensed as he listened to the other.

"You blame me for being a coward for blaming my fate to choose death as an easy way out, are you then not doing the same in choosing to run from your ruined empty life?"

á na márië.

[A\N] well, let's hope I know where I am going with this 🤞no promises 🤐

(*) The quote is written by Vincent Van Gogh

Borahae 💜