*WARNING ⚠️
-mature content

Third Person's P.O.V.

"Hnck!...aahmn Taehyung~"

Jin dug his teeth onto his lower lip, his legs trembled and his eyes were about to roll back with the way his body was being played with. He could feel Taehyung curl his fingers inside, pressing and rubbing onto the bundle of nerves that made his body jolt.

Knowing how wild his alpha could get in bed, Jin had expected Taehyung to be unhinged of his composure and react something like the way he had when he had been in rut.

"Mhmm...nghh!" Jin sucked in a breath before his mouth fell open in a silent scream as he felt his mind go blurry with the things his alpha was doing to him. His hand flew to hold onto something, fingers instinctively clutched a handful of Taehyung's hair as his lips trembled with how the alpha's mouth was greedily sucking on his nipples and it made need surge through him. His body thrumming with desire and he shuddered, feeling that he was going weaker under his alpha's ministrations as he got closer to his climax.

But since the moment Taehyung had carried him into their chambers and locked the door, it felt like he was eager to see Jin soaked in pleasure as he kept carefully ensuring the fact that his omega was loved beyond measure...so much so that Jin would detest the years he did not have his alpha with him to show him how good it felt to be loved right.

"Unghh...mhmm" Jin instinctively spread his legs wider, letting those long playful digits dig deeper into him as he bared his neck for his alpha, need and pleasure the only thing on his mind.

However, his eyes shot wide when he felt Taehyung grasp at his member.

"I told you to hold it in...didn't I?" He whispered at his ear and Jin whimpered at how Taehyung rubbed at the tip and pressed his thumb on the slit, not allowing him to release as he kept pumping his digits inside him "I haven't even gotten inside you yet..."

"Ah...unghh...lem'me cum" a tear drop trickled down Jin's eye as his body shuddered weakly.

"Endure it" the voice was laced with flaring lust, and Jin could sense the wolf's command hiding latent under it.

"Hnck! Ah...p-please...I c-can't" Jin's body arched off of the bed as Taehyung kept edging him "th-this is too much" he could hear Taehyung's laboured breathing at his neck, he could sense how dominant and greedy his pheromones cuirrently were and Jin was rethinking about the words he had spoken earlier...he knew he was provoking the beast when he had said that he didn't need Taehyung to be careful with him, he had gulped down his apprehensions and tried to be bold but right now...he could see how Taehyung was still being so careful with him...still taking his time to pleasure him and prepare him...and yet he felt like he was already falling apart.

"Next time" Taehyung pulled his fingers out as he licked at his mate's neck, sucking a dark hickey at the soft skin under Jin's ear "don't tempt me...if you can't take it..."

Jin squeaked when he was flipped over onto his stomach and a smack on his butt stunned him, making him go red in the face but before he could react he felt a strong arm wrapping around his waist as Taehyung hoisted his ass up and slid himself inside.

"Ahhn...Tae-Taehyung~slow-" the words died on Jin's lips as Taehyung grabbed his chin and pulled him to himself to capture his mouth, enveloping the omega's body with his as he pushed in till he was completely buried into his mate.

The first thrust had Jin climaxing instantly, and shivers ran down his body as he gasped into the kiss to feel Taehyung thrusting into him in earnest need through his orgasm. He wanted to speak...tell him how sensitive he was right now but merely groaned at how urgently Taehyung's tongue was tasting the inside of his mouth, he could barely even breathe let alone form words.

The intense sensations, the heavy pheromones and the way the trueblood was claiming him made Jin's mind slip into full submission, his pupils dilating as his irises grew into an electric blue.

It was like a flame had been kindled within him and Jin felt hot all over. The kiss was greedy and he could feel Taehyung's canines piercing into his lips, the taste of his own blood against his tongue. Jin moaned loudly feeling his body crumble under his alpha's powerful force, who seemed to be enjoying how helpless he currently seemed to be. Taehyung had him whining and rutting against the bed in utter need to release again because of the way he was being held down and taken...it was messing with his mind as well as his body. Jin felt all his senses give out when he felt Taehyung's cock grow in size inside him, and the only thing that prevailed was need...the need to be enough for his mate.

"You're so sensitive love...all these pretty noises you're making...makes me wanna fuck you more" the words were deep but low at his ear and Jin could hear his own whining moans floating in the air.

A kind of odd anger filled Jin, a poisonous envy, to think that his alpha had held other omegas like this...made them feel the way he was making him feel right now and it made Jin furious.

"If-If I smell another ome-g'ga on you...then you...ah! Hnghh...you won't be th-this lucky"

The words seemed to have thrown Taehyung into a temporary standstill with how possessive Jin sounded before a grin spread across his lips, thrilled red eyes set on the a panting Jin underneath him and he leaned to lick and nibble at Jin's jaw, feeling euphoric to hear his omega be possessive of him.

"You want me all to yourself, my greedy baby?" He resumed slowly thrusting into his mate, pulling out till the tip to slide back into the hot and moist cavern.

Jin's mouth fell open at the slow teasing movements, the sound of wet squelching made his cheeks burn as he felt like grasping onto something "mhmm...g-greedy? Is it th-then okay...if I sleep with another-ughck!"

Jin couldn't complete the words when he felt Taehyung grab his face n shove his thumb into his mouth, stopping him from speaking any further.

"Don't toy with me..." Taehyung warned murderously, pressing his finger onto Jin's tongue "the more you toy with me...the harder my cock gets" he breathed out a low whisper as he grunted against Jin's nape, running his tongue there as his thrusts picked up speed "did you forget how crazy you make me go?"

Jin was trying to hold himself from cumming again, eyes fluttering as he tried not to look like a weak omega who couldn't keep his mind straight due to his alpha's thrusts. But his thoughts were cut off as he felt canines piercing into his neck and Taehyung's hips stuttered as he rutted roughly into him, ramming hard before his member dove deep, making Jin yelp and thrash.

"Aah....unnghh!" T-Too deep...ahmm a-alpha~" Jin whimpered, his fingers clutching hard at the bedsheet as he felt Taehyung's knot pushing into him and warm fluid filled his insides.

Jin laid his head onto the pillow, trying to catch his breath as he felt Taehyung licking at the bite, sealing it carefully as he nuzzled into his neck and laid his weight on him, their bodies pressed together as one due to the knot. They were sweaty and heaving to catch their breaths when Taehyung spoke kissing Jin's shoulder.

"Don't ever try to toy with me darling...you've no idea how you affect me..."

The words were a warning whisper against Jin's neck, and even though his mind was too blurry to think about anything straight but Jin caught the soft words and a sort of contentment filled him, that anger fading away as his heart felt calmed.

"You like me toying with you..." he spoke keeping his eyes closed, head resting on his folded arms as he basked in the heat of their passion, "you claimed me knowing I was the only omega who could hold a blade to your throat, and you won't be able to do a thing about it."

He could hear the deep chuckle before Jin felt Taehyung press his face on his, and pecked at the corner of his mouth before he moved off of him. He settled by his side and Jin felt an arm coiling about his waist before he was being pulled into Taehyung's chest.

"Let's just say...I like that you're a little challenging, things become more interesting that way...difficult too though, way difficult at times..."

Jin heard Taehyung become quieter and a sliver of remorse rose in his chest, and his eyes dropped low as the regret grew larger "maybe...it'd have been better for you if you hadn't claimed me...maybe if you had chosen another omega, you could have a normal life..." a kind of stillness prevailed between them as he thought on how things had gone since they had bonded "you wanted heirs, and the very first child I gave you is destined to destroy everything".

His mind moved to the words his master had said, how he had warned his father not to let him be allowed to get claimed by an alpha and how it was beyond them to fix the things that had already gone wrong.

"I don't really believe in prophecies...but I remember she said you were mine to take...and that our children will become rulers..."

"Who said this? What prophecy?"

"The prophecy that must have been the reason my brother got so eager to claim you instead...it wasn't just a rift between kingdoms that brought you here Jin"

Jin fell a little quiet, gaze moving up to meet Taehyung's and Jin felt his heartrate rise at the way those dark eyes seemed to be gazing into his very soul.

"Do you still not understand?"

Jin blinked, trying to decipher what Taehyung was trying to say.

"There was no other way this could have turned out" Jin felt fingers brush against his skin as Taehyung gently caressed the side of his face, his voice calm and deep as he uttered the words "you're too well tangled to my fate and it is beyond any power to change that..."

But when Jin fell asleep, Taehyung couldn't help but feel the weight of their dire future on his chest.

From the words of the master, it had become pretty clear that his trueblood might fall short in the face of a war against Arcana...worse if he'd have to war against Arcana within Jin's body. He gulped to himself knowing he wouldn't be able to draw a sword against his mate...nor allow himself to scar his mate anyway.

He'd rather die...although that'd mean that he'd be killing his mate as well...

Taehyung's arm coiled tighter around Jin, pulling him closer against himself as the guilt of his own thoughts raked his mind.

What an odd fate to have been trapped in...to have claimed to own and promised to protect the very person who was destined to be his end.

He remembered the question Jin had asked to the master and learnt that if Jin died with Arcana within him, the spirit would be trapped back in the same limbo where the gods had once trapped it.

At least Kian could be protected from being taken away.

"Oh shoot! Kian" Taehyung spoke under his breath, remembering the child as he quietly got off of the bed and carefully laid Jin down so that he could rest. He pulled a pajama on, and heard Jin mumble in his sleep. He edged closer, thinking he was probably asking for something when he realised that Jin was actually uttering Kian's name.

And he stood there frozen all of a sudden as a thought crossed his mind as he watched his mate in bed.

Jin could get pregnant again...and unlike last time, he didn't want another unplanned pregnancy that could mess up Jin's mind. He remembered how furious and terrified his mate had been the last time he had learnt he was with child, and Taehyung didn't want that to repeat.

He decided that he'd do it better this time...he'd let Jin choose what he wanted.

He pecked at his head before pulling on a robe as he left the room, and tried to bite down the grumbles because he wasn't really a fan of going to the palace but that's where Jimin lived...the one who had given his mate the particular dark potion last time.

-

Twilight coloured the sky but far in the distance, beyond the glimmering kingdom and behind the low hills that stood cowering before the grand mountains in the north, Jungkook could see the dun shadow of the North Gate castle. The robust stone and iron forge that his ancestors had created to hold prisoners. His father however had made it the stronghold where he hid his most favoured weapon, and yet today he could see the place festered with twinkling lights, and he could guess the cheer and delight booming in his brother's ever-cold home.

And a sad little smile appeared on Jungkook's lips as he realized how direly everything had changed...and how tonight the royal palace was the dark, cold and quiet citadel of emptiness...ripped off of all its glory and grandeur.

Taehyung's loud angry declaration resounded in his mind...the warning that one day he'd watch him lose everything he was so arrogant to own.

His brother had truly taken away everything from him...his crown, his throne, his position...the people who had once stayed at his feet were now applauding their new leaders...the cheer that once filled the palace had now all left and gone to bestow joyous praises at his home...and he seemed to be living the future he had wished for himself.

This was a death of a different kind...a silent fading out of all that made him who he had been till he was nothing.

"You'll catch a cold if you keep standing there"

The voice made Jungkook's mind clear out of the disappointments he had been going over, and he blinked to realize that even in all that emptiness that surrounded him now...he still had someone who stood by his failures and desolation.

He heard the footsteps at his back come closer till a cloak was draped on his shoulders.

"Are you trying to fall ill and stay in bed again?"

"You are not forgiven yet...do not try to mollycoddle me omega" Jungkook reprimanded, his voice was sharp as he denied to look at Jimin "if you keep being so protective of me...I might think that you're beginning to accept me, and start treating you as my mate".

He had been furious at him for going to the North Gate castle without his permission, he didn't care if he had gone there to help or for the birthing or whatever...the only thing that mattered was he had gone there without his permission and had almost died.

Jimin silently came to his side, eyes setting in the distance to trace the object that had been on Jungkook's mind "they seem to be really happy...I heard they named the child Kian."

And Jungkook knew Jimin often did this, not giving an answer because he didn't want to accept that he appreciates it and rather let the other live with the query spinning in their minds. But this time Jungkook didn't press onto the matter or demand an answer since his thoughts had hooked onto something else. He fell quiet at the information, frown disappearing as he blinked and kept his gaze at the distance.

"He's nothing like what those stories claim him to be...he's just...a kid" Jimin thought out loud, taking a glance at Jungkook, who he knew had all sorts of mystical ideas about the first born of Taehyung and Seokjin.

"The boy who's destined to be a god..." Jungkook's voice was almost a whisper "the very first immortal."

Jimin could hear the eerie fear in his words, and could read the startling thoughts that ran in his mind.

"You said that the future can always change with every decision that differs from what she had seen at that particular moment" Jimin tried to help Jungkook break out of his chain of terrifying thoughts.

"It might...but no one knows whether the changed future would be a better one."

Jimin stood there, watching Jungkook turn around to head inside now and took a glimpse of the North Gate castle standing strong in the distance as the moon rose into the sky before he turned about to follow after the alpha.

However, the next morning Jimin was confused...well, he told himself that he had every right to be confused because he felt like despite his gift to decipher people's most hidden thoughts, he could not understand just how Jungkook's mind worked.

"Why are you glaring at me like that? I thought you said that you want me to be good..." Jungkook spoke while his eyes stayed on the scrolls laid open before him.

"I did" Jimin walked closer to the desk "till I realized why you're doing it."

A smirk pulled at the corner of Jungkook's mouth "you've become very brazen omega...reading my thoughts without my permission?"

Jimin snatched the scroll Jungkook had his eyes on and glared down at the alpha "what do you want from him?" He was fuming now "he's just a child!"

"That's why I sent presents for him...I mean him no harm" Jungkook held the smirk as he calmly gazed up to see how the omega's face was boiling with anger "there's a high chance he'll be the legacy of Kleon in future you know...unlike my brother, that kid might turn out to be someone important...gotta hold onto to the customs and treat him with the honour he deserves."

Jimin frowned, as he tried to read his thoughts but found no twisted intention there "why-why'd do you want to...be nice to him?"

Jungkook shrugged, casually brushing the scrolls away before he set his hands on Jimin's hips and pulled him to stand before him "I just want to...and you told me to help my brother, I'm just trying to be nice..."

Jimin flinched, not resisting to the actions but he was still very confused about what was going on with Jungkook. He couldn't believe that Jungkook just simply sent grand presents for his brother's son, it just didn't make any sense.

But right now his attention was suddenly drawn to how the alpha was staring up at him with those sharp onyx eyes while his warm hands were still holding his hips.

"Why can't you accept that I'm trying to be a better man?"

"Because I have seen the worst of you" Jimin spoke without hesitation, his face rigid as he tried not to give in to the endearing actions the alpha had been attempting since the last few days after they had shared that kiss.

"I know I have made some ugly choices" Jungkook sighed loudly, dropping his head "some even beyond forgiveness..." he quietly leaned in to rest his head against Jimin's tummy "your anger is justified..."

Jimin stood frozen, as tears filled his eyes but he held his heart strong. He had been struggling vehemently to punish Jungkook, he was determined that he wasn't going to forgive him easily, told himself he deserved no affection for how ruthlessly he had treated him...told himself again and again that he wanted to hurt him, to make him go through what he had endured for years.

But this man felt different, and although Jimin knew he'd probably never be able to forgive his previous faults...but the way Jungkook had been behaving these days, he often forgot that this was the same man.

"Just...don't be so harsh on me-" "You deserve way worse...so stop whining" Jimin tried to sound angry and denied to let his voice falter or show his inner feelings.

"You're my omega...I can whine before you" Jungkook smiled to himself to hear the relentless anger Jimin had been holding against him and coiled his arms around the omega's waist "you already know all my secrets...my weaknesses, my flaws, everything...I had to act all my life, I don't want to act before you."

The words made Jimin stun, fingers grasping at Jungkook's shoulder as he read into the honesty of those words.

"I don't have to pretend to be strong anymore...I told you I'll treat you as my omega if you stay here with me" Jungkook's voice was slightly muffled because of how he was pressing his face into Jimin's belly "so if you hate it, you may leave...but then the deal of helping my brother is off as well..."

However, it was Jimin who knew why he had decided to stay.

"That's blackmail though" Jimin accused quietly, eyes falling to a side as he felt his face grow warm at how Jungkoook's pheromones were affecting him.

"I'm allowed to be a little evil...I'm going to hell anyway" Jungkook chuckled, smirking up at Jimin before he stood up and loomed closer to the omega. He could see pink dusting Jimin's cheeks and could trace the fruity scent fill the air around them. He knew it wasn't the omega's fault, he too had sensed the way their merged scents happened to appeal to his wolf...their wolves were bonding now that he had accepted the bond, and Jungkook knew the reason behind his wolf's restlessness to claim the omega.

His eyes fell to that pale neck and he licked his lips before leaning closer.

"Jimin" he spoke beside his ear "it'll be better if you leave the palace for the next few days, and stay elsewhere."

Jimin turned to frown at him before he traced the speckles of red dancing in his eyes and realized what he was trying to mean.

"I know...I have made quite a few mistakes" Jungkook spoke taking a step back from Jimin "but I am trying hard to set things right, and this isn't something I wanna screw up."

Jimin watched him turn around to gather and stack those scrolls, he realized Jungkook was trying to act busy and was actually waiting for an answer instead. He knew that the alpha was trying to warn him about his oncoming rut and the thought made goosebumps rise all over Jimin. He could read Jungkook's thoughts, and none of those were as innocent and composed as he currently pretended to be. It made Jimin blush harder, as he tried to rub away the images he had peered in to see but a different thought filled his mind now.

"But the concubines...you sent them back...you don't have anyone-" "I don't-" Jungkook took a moment before speaking another word and Jimin instantly read his thoughts and remembered that he had never really seen Jungkook spending his ruts with any of the concubines, neither had he claimed any omega.

"Their scents bothered me" Jungkook informed "so I chose betas to help me through my rut."

And Jimin knew how difficult and unfulfilling it must have made his wolf feel since alphas craved to knot and breed during their rut.

"I was a king...I had to be careful with those kinda things...if I had been like my brother, the entire harem would have borne me heirs" he laughed at his own snide comment "unlike unclaimed omegas who'd prefer not bearing a child, those concubines would try their best to give me a royal heir...can you imagine the wars they'd cause in their need to become the queen and provide me the next crown prince for the throne?"

He turned to trace a glowing red Jimin staring at him as he battled the blush but was clearly failing and Jungkook smiled to himself to see Jimin instantly drop his gaze to the floor.

"And I remember how your omega would always react to my wolf during my rut...so, it's better that you don't stay around me for the next few days."

"I-" Jimin quietly replied "I'll go and stay with my parents for a while then..."

Jungkook gazed at the omega, mind replaying those words as a twinge of protest rose in his chest and he knew it was his wolf growling at his incompetence to claim its mate. But he kept his greedy wolf down and simply gave a nod to the other.

Jimin couldn't stand there and pretend that he couldn't read what was currently going on in Jungkook's head, so he took quick steps out of the study to run away and calm his heart. He halted after he had come a considerable distance away and finally exhaled the breath he had been holding all this while.

He put a palm on his heart and realized how anxious he felt, the feeling of reacting to Jungkook's pheromones weren't new to him but the prospect of the alpha gently alluding to the fact that he craved for him during his rut every time while all other omega scents bothered him, made something quiver inside Jimin's tummy. He had to lean on a pillar at how wild his palpitations rose, and told himself yet again not to fall for such words...but then a flash of memory came up and Jimin remembered how Jungkook had sat in the same room and provided him the care and safety he had sought from the alpha during his heat even without intercourse.

But he knew things were different now, he could read the intentions in his mind...Jungkook had asked him to leave because unlike those earlier times he wasn't intending to spend his rut with a beta...he had asked him to leave because unlike those earlier times, he didn't intend to stay away and hold his wolf down from knotting and breeding him.

He had asked him to leave...because if Jimin stayed, this time he would treat him as his mate...put a mark on him and claim the omega as his.

A messenger's strides caught his attention and Jimin walked ahead to see the man hurry to him and bowing.

"The Commander has sent a missive...he will be visiting soon"

Jimin was a little startled at the news "the Commander is coming here? To meet his brother?"

"I think he's coming to meet you"

-

"He has a kind smile, like yours"

Jin smiled at his master's words before he added "and he got Taehyung's eyes."

They were currently in the North Gate castle and the master had strolled into the study to see Jin busy at work with Yoongi at his side, the desk scattered with scrolls of future plans of trade, current social and economic struggles and reformations of certain infrastructures that demanded his urgent attention.

While the baby stayed in a crib a little distance away from the omega. Jin had learnt that instead of leaving him in the chamber this was better because apparently his proximity and scent calmed the child.

He saw his Master suddenly fall very quiet and seem grieved as he stared at the child.

"Master...is everything ok?"

Jin asked feeling concerned, and saw him glance at Yoongi.

"Is he trustworthy?"

"I can leave if you want to speak to him in private" Yoongi was preparing to leave when Jin gestured him to stay.

"He's family, we can speak in front of him"

The master nodded "you seem to have made good friends here Jin-ah...I'm glad" he sighed, taking a seat by the crib as he caressed the child's head "it's a pity he'll probably have to grow up without his parents."

Jin gulped, knowing what he was referring to...he had caught onto that even when his master had spoken to them earlier.

"Even if you can save him from being taken as a vessel...he'll still have to live through the pain and guilt of knowing what you had to sacrifice because of him...especially you Jin-ah...Arcana will either rip you apart...or use you to become the weapon it needs to bring destruction on all...it'll take it's revenge through you...and I fear your very first victim will be your mate..."

Something broken inside Jin as he sat there with shock written all over his face.

"Arcana will take your mate away from you to punish you for what you denied to give it...and I have a feeling Taehyung must already know that his trueblood strength won't be enough against a divine spirit...he must be aware that in a duel against you, he'd probably have to accept defeat n sacrifice himself."

The rest of the afternoon Jin could barely concentrate on anything...he had to leave Kian with Yoongi, and locked himself in the chamber because he felt sick...he felt like he was the cause of all the things that had gotten destroyed in his life...he had cried so much that he actually got sick, puked his guts out as his anxiety denied to settle and in his anger cursed his mother for doing this to him.

For leaving him a monster who destroyed things wherever he went.

"Don't cry little one" the words were brimming with a lulling affection as she spoke, brushing the bangs away from his eyes "you're a prince Jinnie" she pecked at his temple, trying to get his sniffles down "and a prince has to be strong to take care of his kingdom."

Jin stared up, brown eyes softer as he gazed up at his mother "b-but it hurts" he hiccupped, pointing with his little fingers to his wounded knee.

"I know" she smiled quietly, pulling him into her lap as she sat her three-year old pup down "but you're learning new things right?"

The child didn't answer, his pout and a little hiccup was the only reply.

"That's the thing about new experiences darling" she cupped his face and made him look into her eyes "they come with lessons, sometimes good and sometimes painful" she rubbed away the stray tear that ran down the child's chubby cheek "and the only mistake you can make would be to stop yourself from looking for new experiences in fear that you might get hurt."

Jin shifted quietly as his sleep broke, eyes fluttering open to catch the serene night sky through the tall window. It has been a long time since he had had such a dream, he barely had a handful of memories about his mother and the dream felt so real this time.

A pale moon hung on the sky littered with stars, the constellations playing their dramatic roles over the limitless space and gazing at the vast darkness a sense of solitude filled him.

And yet it was unlike those days while he was growing up in the monastery...when he would watch the sky and feel how alone he was...how discarded the emptiness of his days made him feel.

But this solitude, it was different...it wasn't empty.

He breathed comfortably and his mind inadvertently filled with the breathing at his neck, the warmth of his alpha making him feel safe and a kind of contentment washed through him with every breath. He shifted on to his side to face Taehyung and instantly felt his chest grow warm.

The piercing pain he had felt all evening, the regret and anger all seemed to have somehow been drowned at this moment and the only thing that prevailed was the gladness in his heart to see Taehyung beside him...and all else seemed to have no significance before him.

For a moment Jin had no thoughts running through his mind except how human and vulnerable the trueblood looked as he slept soundly, and Jin found himself thinking that probably no one would fear the man if they could see how he looked right now. Without that roaring voice thundering at others and angry eyes scowling at everyone, the trueblood looked rather harmless...almost charming. Jin watched him in the quiet wonder, his eyes tracing a fading bruise on his jaw, a healing cut on his shoulder and many such wounds Taehyung often acquired at the camps during training but never bothered to ask to be healed.

As a trueblood alpha, he believed it made him look robust if he bore his pain by himself...maybe he forgot that even unknowingly, he actually shared every ache with his mate.

And a little smile pulled at Jin's lips as he unmindfully touched at the corner of Taehyung's mouth, finger poking there gently before he softly dragged it along his jaw and the minute touch instantly healed the bruise there. His touch stayed there as he gazed at his alpha, and carefully let his whole palm set against his cheek, simply feeling his warmth against his skin. In all honesty he had never really been so close with anyone else in his entire life, it had been quite a while already that they had been sharing a bed with the man...this chamber...this life...

Adoration and comfort filled him all of a sudden and Jin unmindfully caressed his mate's cheek, fingers gently gliding to Taehyung's brow as he lightly nudged at those bold eyebrows. Their time together had been so fraught with troubles from day one that they rarely had the time to sit back and just revel in the beauty of a bond, and to top that there was Taehyung's ugly superiority complex and alpha authority that annoyed Jin to the core. He was still kinda bossy and demanding but somehow through the days that they had lived together Jin had come to realize that this brute of a man had given him something that no one else had...the strength to do what he wished, sometimes maybe even unknowingly or unwillingly, but his mere presence had somehow provided Jin the strength to fight for what he wanted.

Jin knew that before he came here, he didn't even raise his voice against what was decided for him.

Since he had met Taehyung, Jin had found his voice to say what he sought...honed his combat skills and even joined a war alongside the trueblood...something he never thought he'd be allowed to do, and he knew his father would never let him join the army.

Even in their differences Jin had learnt that Taehyung was someone who stood strong in his word...a man who valued the will to stand up for a cause...a man who looked beyond the trials of today and focused towards a better future.

And Seokjin was proud to know that this man was his alpha...and despite all the words about why he shouldn't have been claimed, he was actually glad that he was and that they had Kian.

Jin leaned closer smiling to himself as he gently let his fingers trace the bridge of Taehyung's sharp nose, his big doe eyes gleefully taking in the way the alpha looked unbothered with his playful touches and slept soundly.

Jin chuckled to himself to tell himself that his alpha was truly a brute who didn't give a damn unless he found it annoying...but his smile fell as his gaze stayed on that calm face when he thought about the master's words. He perched on his elbow to see the crib by their bed was quiet too, little snores were the only sound he could catch.

A kind of fear filled him to think what his child might be capable of once he presents...if he too would be labelled as a curse...or a monster and society will demand him to be sent somewhere far away.

Jin extended his arm to caress the fuzzy little head of their son, "they fear you already" his voice was a hush against the silence of the night "but don't you worry" he saw the sleeping child squirm and gurgle incoherent mumbles feeling the familiar touch, his little nose pushing up to rub against Jin's palm as he made grabby hands in his sleep "you'll earn love from them one day...when they will see they don't need to fear you..."

The little movement and hushed words resulted in the arm thrown over him tightening around his waist, his alpha dragging a drowsy breath at his neck to pull him closer into his chest.

"First you pass out after crying because you felt helpless n then you give pep talks in the middle of the night?" Taehyung chuckled at his ear "such a parental figure you are...maybe it's a better idea to wait till he wakes up"

Jin rolled his eyes letting Taehyung pull him to himself "that was not a pep talk...it's just, I fear he's going to live through what you and I had to...if not worse..." he gulped as he forced himself to speak beyond the lump of fear choking his throat, his insides were roiling with dread to think how ominous his master had sounded when he spoke about Arcana's intentions.

"It didn't turn out to be that bad though...look at you?" Taehyung grinned against his mate's cheek, taunting him more as he intentionally tried to deviate Jin's thoughts to a lighter tone "got the strongest alpha as your mate and earned the title of being the most notorious omega on the planet...from being a discarded prince to being hailed as a leader...I'd say you did pretty well..."

"Ha.Ha.Ha...Very funny" Jin grumbled, trying to push away the grip around his waist as he struggled to turn away from his annoying alpha but a smirk peeked at the corner of his mouth to hear Taehyung's taunts.

"I am only telling the truth though" Taehyung grinned to see the reaction, not giving in to the jibes and grumbles of his feisty mate as he kept his grip firm on the omega "look at us...if you were asking me, I wouldn't want it any differently...I got everything that a man may seek for..."

Taehyung clutched at Jin's jaw to look into those big brown eyes as Jin quietened down a bit feeling startled, eyes blinking to listen to the pride in his alpha's voice.

"I'd say we did way better than what they thought we'd become..." his voice was deep, affirming his mate of how much faith and pride he had in them "I never thought I'd get this far..." he smiled pulling his omega closer, and he could feel Jin give in to him when he leaned to press his mouth on those plush lips.

Jin let Taehyung push him down onto the bed, felt him press his body on his as their breathing got laboured and he simply closed his eyes to follow the way his alpha moved his lips on his. The room filled with the soft noises of kisses and heavy breathing, a broken whine erupting out of Jin when Taehyung dragged his mouth down to press his mouth on the side of his neck, sucking on the mating mark.

They were alone in this war against fate...and yet this solitude was peaceful...to know that even in silence he had someone to stay by him...to know that he was never going to feel discarded ever again...to know that this time he didn't have to deal with his fears all alone.

But Jin got a little startled when he felt Taehyung removing his arms from around him and he stared in confusion to see the other suddenly move off of the bed.

"What are you-" he sat up to ask where he was going but paused in his question to see Taehyung open the cabinet and pull out something before he was walking back to the bed.

"I went to the palace today...to meet your dear omega friend" he sat down before handing Jin the glass bottle that held the dark liquid "however, he has made a request in return for this."

Jin blinked down at the object, face going blank as he realised what Taehyung had just handed him.

"He wants to come here and meet Kian, I kinda have a feeling that he's probably planning something secretly but I agreed" Taehyung looked disturbed as he spoke "I don't know why I agreed though...it's probably a bad decision-" "What does this mean?" Jin was barely listening to all his talking as he stared at him being utterly confused "you want me to be on birth-control? I thought you wanted more children...you said-" he fell quiet when the alpha leaned in closer and touched his face.

"Last time when you got pregnant and didn't know anything about it, you got upset...and I could tell you weren't really ready for it" he could see how Jin was trying to read him, those big doe eyes trying to understand him and he clasped at the hand in which he had placed the bottle "I do...I want you to get pregnant again...I want more children...but only when you're okay with it too."

The silence after he stopped talking made Taehyung feel a kind of void between them, Jin was still staring at him blankly n not talking. So, he leaned away and continued.

"Although I am not sure if this will be of any help after my rut and you'll be in-" "I'm okay with it"

Taehyung stopped talking and was now the one to blink blankly at Jin.

"Are you sure?" He asked carefully "because from what I rememb-"

In the next moment, he felt Jin press his mouth on his, arms slinging around his neck as the omega clung onto him and although he had been feeling anxious about the decision, right now he felt glad to see how much his actions had touched Jin.

He pulled his mate onto his lap, and kissed him back...an arm coiling about his waist while the other went to grasp at his chin as he tilted their heads to deepen the kiss, and Taehyung felt a novel wave of emotions flooding through him. He finally felt complete, he had had regrets about how they had begun but right now he felt like they had gone through a full circle and had finally began anew. He had finally earned his mates trust, faith, affection and body...not because he had claimed him but because Jin had chosen to give.

They broke the kiss and he leaned his temple on Jin's as he tried to contain his overpowering emotions and heard Jin speak in soft but decided words.

"I'm okay with the idea of us having more kids...I want to...I wasn't really upset about getting pregnant, I was just scared"

Taehyung knew Jin was rambling but right now all he could feel was the warmth of his strident feelings, he had never really felt like this before Jin had come into his life...he had known rage, pride, regret, disappointment, fear...but this was something else...something that overshadowed everything that he had ever felt.

Jin was a much awaited epiphany in the midst of his blue and grey.

"I-" he cupped Jin's face and closed his eyes, feeling as if he was being broken to pieces before his mate and yet he had no fear of crumbling before the one he knew would put him back together...just like Jin had, and made a human out of him "I love you" he breathed the words over Jin's mouth "I had claimed your body and wished to own you...but you claimed my very soul darling...I love you with everything I have..."

And he opened his eyes to see Jin watching him with tearful eyes "you're-you're in love with me?"

"That unbelievable huh?" He ridiculed himself, chuckling at his cringe-worthy confession "unfortunately, it's true though..."

"N-No" Jin mumbled dropping his gaze from Taehyung's "no one's ever said that to me before..."

Taehyung knew what he meant but he intended to get Jin's mind off that regret "so mine isn't good enough? That's what you wanna say...that you wanted a dozen more confessions eh??"

"N-No...I didn't mean that" Jin shook his head vehemently and Taehyung felt a sliver of guilt to have toyed with him when he caught the tears, and instantly tried to thumb those away from his mates' warm blushing cheeks.

"My sister had warned me to beware of alphas" Jin blinked up at him as his sniffles broke out and a line of tear trickled down again "but she didn't tell me that I was going to be stuck with the most troublesome one...who confuses me so m-much that I don't know if-if I want to kiss him or p-punch him."

"Tsk...why would you want to punch me when I just confessed how much I love you?" Taehyung snorted at his mate's cute sobbing and sniffling noises.

"Because I d-don't know" he hiccupped in between is words "you might go back to being a m-mean douche tomorrow morn-nin'."

"Then you kiss the douche too" Taehyung taunted Jin, whispering into his ear as he smirked to himself but was struck dumb the next moment.

"I once read that a mating bond is for life...and that fated pairs always find each other" his voice was calm, tiny hiccups at times passing his lips "so when I had my first heat, I made a silly promise to myself"

Taehyung listened quietly, not even daring to make a movement fearing to disturb the innocent confession.

"That if I ever got a chance to get out of the monastery, I'd search for my mate...the stories I read always made the idea of living with a mate sound so nice, it felt like if you were with your mate then nothing could go wrong...so, when I felt lonely or down...I would just dream of a life with my alpha who'd love me like I was his everything..."

A kind of hush fell between them as they sat hugging each other and Taehyung waited for him to continue because it felt so soothing to listen to how innocently pure and simple his mate's desires were.

"I'm just so happy" Jin spoke, his voice shook a bit and Taehyung felt Jin's arms hold him closer still "I finally found it...my happily ever after."

Taehyung couldn't control the happiness that filled him to hear that, he kissed the side of Jin's face before pulling back and held Jin's face to press an affectionate kiss on his lips as he laid the omega down on the bed.

He hovered over him and could instantly see the dilemma on Jin's face.

"But I'm so nervous and terrified about what's gonna happen...master told me-" "We don't need to fear for things that are beyond control..." the words were hushed and heavy as Taehyung spoke pressing a kiss to Jin's neck "rather fear wasting what we have" his lips moved to his collar bones "we'll get through this...I know that..."

"How do you know that?"

Jin opened his eyes, pensive gaze settling onto the ceiling of their shadowy chamber as he listened to those words. He knew what Taehyung was referring to at the moment, he knew his alpha had a way with words and somehow those words always held something deeper than what he could comprehend.

"I just know"

Jin felt Taehyung's breath crawling down his chest, his mouth leaving tantalizing kisses on his skin...the deep voice felt like a charm and Jin let himself dip into the enchantment of being adored by his alpha.

"I'm happy..."

These simple words from his alpha made something flutter inside his heart and Jin let his gaze trace Taehyung's as he came up to hover on top of him.

"Things couldn't be better than what they are right now" he leaned closer, a smile playing on his lips as he brushed a finger on his mate's cheek "I don't mind if I die tomorrow..." the silence between them was comfortable and Jin felt like he had never really felt this calm.

"You think it makes you look brave if you don't fear death?" Jin spoke, his breath light and voice soft as they shared the calm surrounding them.

The smile grew on Taehyung's lips "death isn't an enemy darling...it's a friend that constantly walks with you in life" he tilted Jin's head stealing a chaste taste of his mate's lips "I'm brave because I know that no one has the strength to kill me unless I agree to let them..."

Jin found the words he intended to speak dying on his lips as he stared at Taehyung to understand what he meant to say.

"Why would you let anyone kill you?" Jin frowned up at him, his words sounded small and confused, sounding like a troubled kid all of a sudden.

"Why wouldn't I?" Taehyung smiled brushing an unruly lock of hair away from Jin's brow "it's no fun to fight when I already know that I'll win...I have been waiting to meet a formidable opponent for all my life...an enemy who can show me what fear truly means..." he dragged his fingers over Jin's brow, pushing his fingers into those soft tresses and hummed to himself as he noted the still confused look of his mate "who can make me fear the prospect of a futile life and an empty future so much that I'd accept death instead."

There was a haunting silence shrouding the space around them when Taehyung stopped talking, their gazes still on each other as they conversed beyond words.

"You scare me" Jin spoke without realizing that he had actually spoken that out loud and realized he had done so only after he saw the smirk Taehyung was currently giving him. He felt something odd churn in his gut, a certain restlessness overtook him as he realized that no matter how he tried he just couldn't decipher the alpha before him...Taehyung could still baffle him the way he had when he had dragged him to his tent at the camps the first time they spent a night together.

"I thought you got over that"

Jin felt his fingers threading through his hair as he heard him chuckle.

"I thought so too" Jin thought out loud "but at that time I hated you, I was terrified of you and wanted you dead...you scared me because I feared what you could do to me, but now...you scare me so much more...I'm scared because I don't want to see you hurt..."

Taehyung's face lost that smirk to slowly reveal a look Jin had never really seen on him.

"I'm scared because-" Jin gulped loudly, his eyes watered for some reason and he tried not to let the vulnerability show but his master's words boomed inside his head and wouldn't let him breathe in peace.

"Say it..." Taehyung's voice had gone a few octaves lower and his grip tightened on his jaw, his dark eyes set sternly on Jin's "I want to know."

"I don't want to be the one to hurt you..." his fingers clutched involuntarily at his alpha's shoulder "I want you safe...I want you to be the strongest alpha, always...the invincible Commander whom every citizen of Kleon looks up to whenever they face a threat...the one they know will never surrender before an enemy, no matter how dangerous the enemy might be...I'm not used to seeing you falter...I'm not used to imagining you being defeated...I don't ever want to see that...and I don't ever want to be the one to hurt you..." he pressed his eyes close feeling tears clogging them "I have no one but you".

Jin froze realizing what he had spoken in the burst of emotion, his honest apprehensions surfaced and he realized how alone he was and how Taehyung was literally the only one he had by his side. Jin was expecting him to speak out, deny his fears or even earn an angry curse...anything. Silence is always more scary, and he was about to breakdown when he heard no words from the other.

Tears pooled into his eyes without his consent and a sob secretly slipped out of him as he tried to bite it down and act like he wasn't really crying.

And Taehyung wrapped his arms around his sniffling mate, pecking at his head as he let Jin snuggle into him and ducked his head to settle his nose at the crook of Jin's neck. He didn't say anything, only held Jin to himself before Jin felt him sighing against his skin and realized that he had guessed Taehyung's apprehensions rightly...he too had been going through the same worries as him.

"I'll forever keep the promise I made to you love, I'll be your armour through everything...don't cry..." Taehyung's voice was soft against Jin's ear, who quietly hiccupped, brushing a hasty hand to rub away the tears, feeling a wave of relief wash over him at those assuring words.

"And don't say that you've no one...you have Kian, the one who barely leaves you alone these days...so don't cry...and honestly...I'm bored with cleaning snot and tears all day...let's do something else..."

Jin chuckled, hitting a fist at Taehyung's shoulder for ridiculing him like that while he tried again to rub away the tears with another hand and gulped his sobs down.

"I'm serious...your crying will wake Kian up...and he'll cry on me some more...and then ruin whatever chances there might be for us to get some alone time..."

"Stop it...it's not funny" Jin whined and tried to grumble against him and then gave a quiet hum, settling against his alpha since Taehyung's arms still stayed warmly wrapped around him.

"If you could see your face right now...you'd understand why it's funny" Taehyung mocked with a grin.

And Jin hit at his shoulder again, an endearing punishment to stop ridiculing him. He felt like his fears were crumbling before the safety his alpha's simple gestures could give...he felt his insecurities slipping away as the warmth of affection surrounded him and his insides echoed with calm assurance.

But the next words from Taehyung made his heart stop.

"It's good to know Kian will survive...the regret and guilt of not being able to protect him would ruin us" he sounded calm but Jin could sense the heaviness of his emotions "but death doesn't scare me love-" "Stop saying that...you're really scaring me" Jin complained, grumbling to pull away from Taehyung but was pulled back against his chest as his alpha spoke the next words pressing his lips to the side of his face.

"Don't be scared, it will not end anything between us"

Jin fell quiet, his mind focusing on that calming voice of his alpha and the steady beating heart as he rested his head on his chest. Taehyung's voice was calm beside his ear as Jin snuggled in the cosy coil of his alpha's arms.

"Because even in death...my soul will find yours."

á na márië.

[A/N]

Reader's P.O.V.

TaeJin-enough with the tragedy!
Jikook-get your acts together!
Sope- just fucking kiss already!

It's chapter 60 ... I don't know how much longer they're gonna put me through this!

tired 😪

Borahae 💜