(I had mentioned this fic as *mature* at the very beginning, so if you're here I hope you remember that... hope you enjoy😘)

Third Person’s P.O.V.

General Hoseok breathed in deeply before knocking at his lords’ door and was met with a soft permission to enter.

He had been busy overseeing the troops assemble at a field near the North Gate, and couldn't manage time to meet his King to give him the disappointing news.

The room was moderately lit, dark furnishings lavishly set up and his eyes scoured the familiar setting to find the young King sitting majestically at his kingly couch and deeply contemplating as he gazed into the burning embers at the fireplace.

He tried not to let his eyes stray to the frail shaking figure sitting at his lord’s feet, soft sobs churning into the air as the silence in the room bore down on the General because it was evident that the King was unhappy with the news Jimin must have given him.

“Yes General, you have something to say” the calm voice made the man’s heart turn cold, it was well known that the King wasn’t good at accepting failures. His anxious gaze subtly took in the state of the omega who had suffered firsthand, noting the bruised cheek and cut lip and disheveled state as Jimin’s shoulders shook with sobs he tried to hold back.

“Sire we-“ “Failed to bring one omega safely to me…this was supposed to be the easy part General” he scoffed, checking the other in one enraged glance which made the General instantly get on his knees, ready to ask for forgiveness for their incompetence.

“We-We tried my lord…but he was very cunning, they must have planned this ahead…he t-tricked us!” Jimin spoke, half weeping as he used his tears to fool everyone.

Jungkook growled, grasping at his neck “don’t speak when you are not asked! Know your place omega! You’re only alive because I thought your powers could be of some use but I see that I have to rethink on my decision.”

Jimin quieted down instantly, half choking and scared of what more punishment he’d have to endure at his lord’s hands.

“Fo-Forgive me my lo-rrd…p-please…” he wept feeling the grip tighten around his neck and he cried more, gasping as he felt the grip cut off his air.

Hoseok restlessly watched the scene, not knowing how to stop the other from killing the omega but his conscience clawed at his insides to speak up.

“Sire…we pledge to find that omega, a-and I’d need Jimin’s help to do that” he gulped finishing his words and dared to look up to see that red glare move from Jimin to him now.

“Did you find a trail yet?” Jungkook’s voice was calm again, while his grip loosened and Jimin dropped to the floor, heaving and gasping for air.

“I-we’re trying Sire, I have set hunters to search for his scent but there is an issue. He had veiled himself before he boarded the ship, no one knows how he actually looks like.”

Jungkook listened calmly, his rage visible in his flaring nostrils and his hand tightening into a fist.

While Jimin slyly held his silence, hoping his plan to work out because he was aware that if Seokjin had taken even a tiny gulp of the potion he had given him then it would be impossible for even the hunters to track him down. The potion was potent enough to eradicate an omega’s scent completely. However, it was only potent for a few days and then it would wear off.

“But Sire, I have some good news too…that omega is in Kleon” General Hoseok informed with a smirk, and the King raised a brow at the first positive news he had heard in all day.

“A few fishermen informed to have seen a beautiful omega dressed in white robes, who seemed to have washed up at the western shore. I have sent information to the hunters to head in that direction” 

“Western shore eh?” He pondered thoughtfully, fingers threading through Jimin’s blonde locks to move them to a side.

“That must have taken him a long time to swim, that too in unknown waters” he mused tracing the cut over the omega’s brow, rubbing at the thin streak of blood that had trickled down there.

“He must be very very cunning and smart to find his way to the shore” he smiled to himself, unbothered at the soft whimper that left Jimin’s mouth to feel him press at the wound. 

“Omegas are supposed to be easy to dominate and not so difficult to deal with, right General?” He spoke teasingly, checking the downcast gaze of the omega before him, who he knew was anything but stupid.

The alpha General was unsure about the question and about what it could possibly mean so he stayed quiet.

“Why then is he trying to test my rage Hoseok?” Jungkook glared at the omega before him while his words insinuated to the other omega who had fled to ruin his plans.

“Sire I promise that we will find him, the omega will be brought before you very soon” the General assured wholeheartedly, happy when he saw his lord nodding to his words and he rose to take his leave as he watched him caress the wounds he had etched on Jimin.

“General…make sure the guards at the ship are executed, they aren’t needed anymore” the silence was echoing as the King ordered “and twenty lashes for everyone who failed their duties.” The General nodded, not having the power to talk anymore as the punishments were voiced.

“You can leave…and let the hunters know that they’ll be beheaded if they come back empty handed” Jungkook spoke just before the General was about to leave the room. He watched the omega trying to get to his feet to follow along “stay omega, I won’t have you lashed in public” he gestured Jimin to come to him, a small smile gracing his lips as he watched the omega crawl nearer to set his tear-stained face on his knee.

The moment the door closed and the grim silence took over again the King’s gaze fixed on the omega, who was gently kissing his hand now as a show of apology and for the mercy his lord had shown to him.

“You deserve a punishment nonetheless omega” Jungkook spoke through gritted teeth “I sent you there to ensure that I had my prize brought to me, and you swore you’d assure it with your life only to fail and dared to come back here! A low born like you has no place in the palace!” He growled at the other who whimpered feeling his lord’s temper flare and his alpha pheromones raging again.

“Forgive me my lord…I will make use of my powers to do better, I deserve punishment my lord…but please don’t send me back! Please, I beg you” he sobbed feeling broken, as he pleaded at his master’s feet.

If there was one thing Jimin truly feared, it was being sent back to the life he had left back to come to Kleon. Being a low born male omega had its consequences and Jimin had been put through terrible tortures till he had been rescued by the King who chose to keep him, judging that his unique gifts might come handy in his quest to find what he was looking for.

Jungkook grabbed at his jaw pulling him up to make him sit on his lap and Jimin instantly looked down, not being able to hold his gaze against his lord’s.

“Tell me what I’m thinking now” the heavy words at his ear made Jimin cower more as he felt his heartbeat rise.

“Y-You forbid me from r-reading your m-mind my lord” he fumbled feeling that tantalizing gaze on him.

“Well, I’m asking you now…can you tell what I’m thinking now?”

Jimin meekly looked up, and Jungkook caught sight of the omega revealing itself openly, the pale blue gaze staring back at him.

Jimin blushed profusely yet did not utter a word as he bit into his lip, and his master eyed his state with a smirk knowing well what he must have read into. Jungkook set his palm on the omega’s nape, pulling him closer till he was almost nuzzling into the other’s neck.

“I think you’re gonna like your punishment omega…what do you think?” His lords’ voice made Jimin spill out whimpers, the fact that he adored the King was not a secret to anyone, neither was the fact that the King favored him, keeping the omega by his side wherever he went.

“You’re lucky that you’re useful…I’d have your head instead” Jungkook spoke, watching the omega mewl and kiss his neck, those nimble jeweled fingers gently unbuttoning the silken coat to reveal his chest as the omega uttered more apologies.

“Jimin…” Jungkook caressed his head, as he tried to get his attention back on his words “what is his name? I know you must have read his mind”

The omega was a mess already, needy in his greed to get more of his desired scent as he nestled more into the alpha’s arms, hungrily mouthing over the pale chest. He wasn’t very happy about his lord’s urge to know about the other omega and kept quiet, hoping to distract him with how he was pampering him.

“I know you heard me…don’t make me force you to talk omega” the words made lightning pass through Jimin who feared revealing his secret ploy of helping Seokjin to the other, if his king learnt about the real truth then he’d definitely have his head.

“Seokjin” he blurted out half in fear as he stilled, terrified as he slowly gazed up only to see Jungkook smile down at him.

“You’re a fast learner, aren’t you?” He mused, languidly untying the belt that held the omega’s tunic and eyed the other with dark eager eyes.

“Y-Yes my lord…I can learn a-anything you ask of me” he spoke, voice meek as he waited.

“Tell me about what you learnt when you read his mind Jimin” he spoke in hushed tones, setting his mouth on the omega’s collarbones, lapping and sucking as he felt the other shiver at the action.

“Ah..umm…he doesn’t have much idea a-about the world my lord...he is very trusting n unaware of any form of evil” Jimin gulped feeling his cravings reach their peak to have his lord touch him so lovingly.

“His omega hasn’t evolved c-completely, and hence he-he doesn’t really know what his powers can actually do” he closed his eyes feeling the alpha kiss his neck, those strong hands now undoing the knot on his pants.

“Tell me about what he fears?” Jungkook spoke into the other’s ear as he grasped at the omega’s soft slim waist as he finally had the other completely bare and under his mercy now.

“You, my lord” Jimin spoke before a soft gasp left his mouth to feel the alpha caress his privates “he fears a-alphas…nghh!”

“Shhh omega…do you want to let all the guards know what a whore you are huh?” The King teased huskily, watching the other whine and shudder due to his ministrations. He smirked to see the poor omega bite on his own hand to stop himself from moaning.

Jungkook was aware of the omega’s weakness to him, indeed Jimin’s powers were useful and that was the reason he had given him the place to be one of his trusted courtiers. But that was not the only favor he showed to him...he'd probably never let himself agree to it but the omega's beautiful features and soft frail body made him want to do things to him. However, he satisfied himself only with touching the other.

“A-Alpha…please..” Jimin’s plea went to deaf ears as the King did as he pleased, denying the omega his need to climax till he decided.

“You remember what I told you about begging to me?” Jungkook leaned closer, his restraints growing more frail as he watched the omega shed tears now “it only makes me want to make you beg more”.

Jungkook felt pride take over him to see the omega completely submit himself to him, he found it very difficult to deny the other of what he demanded as Jimin’s scent pooled around them thickly revealing his desire for him, the desire to be mated. It needed immense restraint on his part to not mark and claim the other but there was no way he could do the same mistake his father had done.

He would only mark a royal omega, and he was determined that no other would do but the omega who had slipped his fate for now.

However, the moment he would get his hands on him, he’d make sure to mark him as his…for that was the only way he could attain the power he had been craving for, that was the only way to take away Seokjin’s immortality for himself.

  
 
“My lord?”

Taehyung scrunched his face more, feeling the voices around him try to stir him out of his wooziness.

“My lord, can you hear me? Are you feeling better now?” His attendants swarmed around him, nervously checking their sire’s health. They helped their master sit up and watched him groan and rub at his face furiously.

“Sire, we got you soup?”

“What?” Taehyung was completely confused at the moment, everything seemed to be a distant noise as he tried to grasp back at what had actually happened before he passed out, when Yushik set the bowl of soup right under his nose.

“He told me to give you soup when you wake up…the omega said you’d feel better if you have it”

The moment the words reached his ears Taehyung felt irritated beyond measure, glaring angrily at the others as he knocked the tray out of Yushik’s hands. He was infuriated to think he had gotten tricked by a mere omega, the hazy memory of the other making him fall weak and kneel before him made rage blow up his mind. He rose up from the bed, pushing away the blur in his vision that was yet to clear completely and stumbled his way to march out of his chambers while a train of attendants followed behind him in utter concern.

“Yushik!” He growled, making their hairs stand on end as they realized how enraged their sire was when they caught his dark eyes blaze with a crimson hue.

“S-Sire…” “Bring me that omega, search for him everywhere…I want that omega brought here, and I want no excuses! Nobody rests till I have him right here kneeling before me!”

They stood stiffly, gulping in fear till Yushik feebly voiced “b-but Sire…how do I find-“ “I don’t care how you do it!” Taehyung walked back, eyes flaring fully red now as his anger rose higher “search every nook and cranny of Kleon and bring him here, but remember not to hurt him, I don’t want to see a single scratch on him…I want him alive and unharmed. Understood?”

All of them hastily nodded together.

“I’ll be the one to teach him his place, an omega that audacious needs to learn how to behave” he growled more to himself than to the others.

They finally heaved a sigh of relief as they watched their lord walk down the long passageway to vanish behind another corner.

“Don’t look so scared Yushik…we’ll do it together, master is just in a sour mood for now” the others tried to assure the poor Yushik, who happened to be the trueblood’s most trusted attendant.

“I’m not scared of him…I’m aware of his rage” he gulped remembering the way the omega had left his sire knocked out on the dirt without even a proper fight.

He had never seen his master lose a fight, brawls were what the trueblood was made for and he often boasted of his Sire’s unmatched strength. He didn’t dare to reveal what he had seen to the others, knowing his lord might skin him alive if he let the truth get out to the world and was more than sure that his master’s demand to get the omega was based on the intention to make the other pay for the audacious behavior.

“The omega he is asking for happens to be one of a kind” he voiced, thinking about how to find the object of his sire’s fury.

Taehyung huffed in absolute rage as he paced through the long hallways of his home. The attendants curiously gazed at his troubled infuriated state but lowered their gazes the second the alpha glowered at them, feeling agitated with their stares.

His feet struck against the grim stony floors throwing echoes into the chilled air and deafening silence that hovered around the dark granite walls. He passed those chain of huge pillars, strictly disregarding all the humble bows he received to head towards the open roof at the end of the hallway to get some air to calm himself down and instantly felt better as the icy air nipped at his skin and threaded through his hair as he gazed around the lush green hills that surrounded his home.

 
The North Gate was the farthest from the royal palace, and also the only gate that opened towards their enemy territory for the three other gates that protected the kingdom faced the sea.

It was intentionally decided that the alpha mistress of the late king and their illegitimate royal heir would live there. One, because despite the Queen’s urge to have them rightly banished the old King had declared that Taehyung, although illegitimate had every right as a royal and was no threat to the throne because according to the royal decree it was only the crown prince who could take the throne.

The late King had made it a point to ensure before everyone that Taehyung would never pose a threat to Jungkook.

But his trueblood status made him more powerful than the young King…something the Queen was overly unhappy about, and hence made sure to keep the trueblood busy with anything else but denied to let him meddle in the workings of the court. 

Taehyung didn’t mind the decision at all, he never wanted the throne per se and hated the politics at court. He rather enjoyed yielding his sword, protecting his people with his own might as a real alpha should and pitied his half-brother, who had to be submerged under thousands of ledgers and sit for hours to listen to people blabbering about alliances, contingency plans, budgets, losses and threats.

And more so Taehyung avoided even going to the palace because his alpha couldn’t bear kneeling before another, especially before his brother who intentionally tried to show-off his command over him as the ruler of the land…and that angered him boundlessly hence he practically dreaded being called to court.

He had been made to promise to forever acknowledge the power of the royal heir over him and knew that he had to abide to his late father’s wishes to never ever let his alpha hurt Jungkook, who was the rightful heir to the throne and he had been made to swear to protect the other and forced to pledge to accept the crown prince as his lord.

Taehyung did not have the guts to defy his father but truthfully Jungkook’s weird greed for power and sly secretive ways of war did not quite sit right with him. He loved to fight but head on and on fair terms, no going behind the other’s back.

That was the reason he denied to help them wage a secret attack on Eulan, it was beyond his ethics in war to attack behind their backs, he believed there was no honor in killing innocent lives and that a real fight was taking up arms amongst equals. 

“I have told you a million times that despite everything you’re still a royal! And wrestling in the middle of the marketplace like filthy dogs does not suit a royal! No wonder they ignore you at the palace!”

Taehyung sighed hearing his mother stomp her way into the calm space to ruin his peace further.

“Mother please…not today” he groaned, taking a seat as he held his head in his hands.

“Like you’d ever listen to my words anyway…what is it now? Had too much to drink again? I got worried when Yushik brought you home completely cold” she grumbled knowing all too well how much of a trouble Taehyung had forever been for her, starting from the very day he had been born and they had been sent to this desolate place to live, as if serving a punishment for having the King’s favors on her.

“However…” she began, eyes glinting with glee as she eyed her boy “I have some news about how unlucky everyone is at the palace right now, probably awaiting their execution, for our dear King could not get his hands on the prize he had sought for” she chuckled to herself “apparently, the entire quest went down the drain and they returned empty handed.”

Her laughter tinkled making Taehyung sigh again at his mother’s odd need to feel pacified with learning how things were going wrong at the palace.

“Why do you care anyway?” He groaned getting up “it’s not like it bothers us” he spoke walking to the edge of the open roof and looked beyond the boundary of his home to gaze into the distance, tracing tiny movements in a far off field to see lines of tents being poled up there and carts pacing around.

"At least that should teach your pesky half-brother to learn how much he needs you to oversee an attack, maybe from now on he’ll think before disregarding your warnings” she boasted, prideful about knowing that no matter how reckless or impudent, her son was undoubtedly the best leader for the troops of Kleon because not only every soldier looked up to him for being the strongest in any combat but also they admired his ethics in a fight.

“I didn’t give him a warning mother, I’m not allowed to do so if you remember father’s words” he cleared grabbing an apple from the table ladened with fruits and snacks “I just didn’t want to be a part of the futile bloodshed he had planned when he wouldn’t even tell me what was the prize he was looking for. I’m sure he’s planning something but I’m not really sure what it actually is that he is looking for…”

Their conversation was cut short as an informer walked in, bowing before telling them that Master Min had sent the news about the troops being gathered in the open fields east of their home and Taehyung instantly realized what those tiny tents and chain of carts were which he had seen a while ago.

“Give him the news that I’ll visit him in the morning, let the men rest and heal for now. I’ll go to check on them tomorrow” the informer nodded to the words, turning to take his leave “and tell your King to stop these worthless games, our troops aren’t his plaything. Men don’t train for years to get executed because some stupid prize was not handed to him.”

“Yes, and tell his mother that every life is valuable, royal or not” Lady Ha-yoon voiced haughtily along with her son, startling Taehyung as she suddenly cut in. 

“Mother-“ “And tell her that decisions about the troops will be taken by my son, after all his father ensured this responsibility on him not on your King” she spoke annoyed with the decisions that were taken at court against her son, she didn’t like it when they denied to acknowledge him as one among the royals and her alpha pride felt hurt to see them disregard his strengths.

The informer gulped before quickly leaving and Taehyung sighed at his mother again.

“Mother, how many times have I told you not to do this? I don’t want to be called to court again” he grumbled even hating the thought of it.

“Maybe that’s the reason they think they can treat you as they feel! Taehyung you’re a trueblood! Kleon is your kingdom too…maybe it’s time you let them know who is more worthy to sit on that throne” she heaved and Taehyung realized how enraged she was as her irises held a glowing red rim.

“I’m not supposed to fight him mother. You do remember what father told me, right?”

“I remember how he threw us away to live in here, away from everyone, the day you presented as a trueblood” she growled back, looking away from her son as she remembered the fateful day.

“He didn’t throw us away mother, he always made sure to look over us...we have everything here, a large home, attendants, riches, you name it! It's no less than the palace!” He tried to pacify her as he rubbed her shoulders in a loving way.

“Huh” she scoffed “you’re too naïve to see the reality Taehyung, he didn’t care about you…he was merely keeping an eye, to make sure you were kept in your place. If he really did care about you, you wouldn’t have been treated the way you were…”

She spoke pulling away from him “he wouldn’t make it a point to force your alpha to submit before his weakling of a son just because he was the crown prince.”

Taehyung watched her walk away and gulped remembering that day, it had been a decade but he could never forget it anyway. It was the day he had began hating Jungkook, probably because he did not want to hate his father.

Despite his mothers’ arguments the King had taken him to the palace, and he had not resisted to his father’s decision being unaware of what actually awaited him and was startled to see the entire court bustling with people as they eyed him with severe concern and disgust.

It had irked him to see his half-brother proudly sitting beside his father while there had been no place prepared for him and although Jungkook was a few months younger to him, he had his very own throne and everyone addressed to him as the 'young prince'.

But it got worse when his father ordered him to kneel before the other and submit to accept Jungkook as the next royal heir of Kleon.

The denial he had voiced had earned him punishments of which he still held scars.

However, even a hundred lashes could not break his resolve and his alpha had denied to submit even when he struggled to stay conscious through the pain. But the threats everyone at court roared at him to be thrown out of Kleon along with his mother when the King discarded their suggestions about executing him had him shaken, he was fifteen and knew that they would probably get butchered by their enemies if they were exiled.

Fear for his mother’s life was what had made him submit before his brother that day.

It was the day that made him believe that he needed to dominate over everyone before anyone else could dominate over him, that day was the reason he taught himself to use his strength to ensure his status over others.

á na márië

[A\N] Another huge chapter 🤐
Love you 💜