Third Person's P.O.V.

Hoseok woke up cold in his bed, and frowned to realize that he was alone.

"Yoongi...?" He hollered, pulling a robe on as he made his way to where he knew the other could be and found him in the living room settee keenly going through a folder of wornout and frayed pages.

"Hey..." Hoseok walked closer "what are you doing here?"

"Uh...nothing much, just going through something" he sounded deep in thought when Hoseok sat by him, he knew what that folder held. Yoongi has been going through that since the last few days whenever he could manage time to read.

"Looking for a miracle?" Hoseok taunted leaning against him as he smiled to see Yoongi chuckle at his words.

"Isn't everyone doing that?"

"Nah..." Hoseok shrugged "some of us don't believe in that stuff because we're just born unlucky"

Yoongi's smile turned softer as he still gazed at the bunch of papers in his hands and his voice was just above a whisper as he spoke "every moment can feel like a miracle if you're looking closely"

Hoseok turned to look at him, his mind lightly resting around the words Yoongi had just said. He thought back on how much he had lived through to get here today. But his thoughts were cut off when Yoongi asked him the next question.

"You still haven't given me an answer though...did you think about what I had asked?"

Hoseok suddenly felt blank as he slowly turned away, feeling a bit guilty for acting so hesitant when he was the one who had actually spurred that conversation about what should he call their relationship as but he had not expected Yoongi to suggest what he had.

Yoongi had taken a two minute pause to think before he had asked permission to mark him, and Hoseok hadn't really expected such a direct answer.

"I...I was thinking-" "Hoseok" Yoongi's voice was calm as ever "I'll understand if you're not ok with it...but I" he shifted to look at Hoseok "I don't like beating around the bush, I have never felt like this for anyone before...I want you, and I want to belong to you."

Hoseok felt his face heat up but he knew he had to tell him why he was feeling hesitant.

"You're a medic" Hoseok quietly spoke making Yoongi frown.

"What does that-" "Your bloodline belongs to one of the elite families of Helion...I know that you're related to Lady Ha-yoon..."

"But what does that have-" "I'm not really from Kleon, my mother was thrown out of Joran because she was pregnant with a criminal's child."

A still silence filled the air as Hoseok fell quiet and Yoongi sat unmoving to hear him.

"She died soon after giving birth to me and I was brought up by traders of Kleon who had found me and decided to keep me with them, I grew up doing odd jobs for them" he looked uncomfortable speaking the words, it was a secret he had forever kept and no one knew about it "I have no status to hold, no lineage to boast about and practically nothing to my name...I know you like me but I'm just worried that...you'll probably regret this later...you could have a real family, you could have children...any omega would be proud to have you as their mate...you're unlike any alpha I have met, heck...you're the best"

Hoseok held a shaky smile as he fidgeted, his gaze dropped feeling small but he had learnt that being before Yoongi could do this to him...he could make him feel flustered without even trying "I feel like I don't deserve you."

"Your past has nothing to do with us now"

Hoseok didn't know how to reply to that so he just sat waiting to know what else Yoongi had to say. He felt conscious of how quiet Yoongi had turned before he felt a hand snaking around his neck as he got pulled into the other's warmth, and Hoseok gasped at the sudden action because this was unlike Yoongi. However, being with Yoongi had taught him that the alpha had a whole other aura to himself when he was in bed.

"But you know" he could now hear Yoongi chuckle darkly pressing his mouth to his ear "the reason I said I want us to mark each other was because I thought you were a cunning one, who would want to play me n then try to slip out of my grasp."

Hoseok breathed slowly listening to him, blinking quietly to understand what he was trying to mean.

"But I am content now"

Hoseok frowned to himself.

"You actually like me enough to care about me" Yoongi spoke dragging his mouth down his ear to the side of his neck till he was nuzzling at his scent gland "you actually have feelings for me, don't you?"

And Hoseok felt a ripple of emotions blur his mind as his chest constricted, and he realised he was holding his breath...he gulped to himself realising how deep he had actually fallen into it already.

-

A warrior of merit from each land may hold the beacon to guide...to reach for something the mortal eyes could merely dream...each unique in their singularity, together they're gods among men.

"So, you really think that this is something that could actually work? How do we even find them? Do they even exist?!" Taehyung looked at the bundle of papers and scrolls and antique books that Yoongi had laid on the low table before them as he explained to him about the myth of the 'Legions of Fate' "because I don't know...sounds very hocus-pocus to me" he shrugged, not knowing if he should really put his faith on stories instead of taking real measures to defeat Arcana.

Yoongi sighed "I have been trying to get something...and there is actually no guidebook to kill a god, you know" he slumped, resting his elbows on his knees and one could see how deeply troubled he too was at the moment "other than this the only other thing I found is a book of spells used by sorcerers to trap spirits...I guess that is what Jimin had referred to when he had told you about a spell to bind the spirit from trying to break out of Seokjin's body..."

Taehyung perked up at that, suddenly remembering the lady that he had bumped into once in the royal palace "I have a feeling that I know where he learned that from."

"What?" Yoongi looked at him to see him frowning at the papers before him but could tell his thoughts were stuck on something elsewhere.

"There's this lady who talks in weird riddles you know...I went shit crazy trying to understand what she said...but she was the first one who had told me about something living within Jin that wants to be free..."

"What? In the castle?"

"Yes" Taehyung nodded.

"How come I never saw anyone like that?" Yoongi spoke trying to remember any speck of memory about such a lady.

"But you heard what that old man said, right?" Taehyung spoke "only I and the one who had put that seal on him can break Arcana out of Jin's body...so, I'm not sure how much spells would work."

They both fell into a silent contemplation as they tried to think around the difficulties they were being faced with.

"How's Kian?" Yoongi broke the silence, fiddling with the papers he had led down on the low table.

"He's fine...a bit of a whiner...and very clingy..." Taehyung huffed remembering the struggles he'd been facing with the child.

Yoongi chuckled at that "I heard that he's especially fond of you"

"Mother says it might be because he could bond with me even before birth" Taehyung shrugged "personally, I feel that the real reason Kian likes me better is that Jin is terribly bad at taking care of him...he's just awful, fusses over everything n even dares to scold me and then comes running to me when he feels that he screwed up something...and the worst is I can't even scold him! He makes that face you know...that big puppy-eyed face and cries if I yell at him...how do I scold him when he does that?!"

And Yoongi broke out in a fit of laughter.

"It's not even funny hyung, I feel like I'm dealing with two pups! And I'm miserable" he complained, pitifully "I'm an alpha...I'm not cut out for looking after a baby!"

Yoongi couldn't stop his laugh, "ah don't blame Seokjin...he too is unaware, he wasn't taught what omegas are meant to learn...give him time, he'll get into it" he patted at the younger's shoulder "but I'm rather proud of you, you're doing really good Taehyung-ah...being a father is a big responsibility, not all of us are cut out for such responsibilities...I am happy for you."

He smiled at him to see the younger's eyes glinting with glee as he genuinely smiled at him before Taehyung dropped his gaze.

"Yeah...I'm happy too."

Taehyung had decided not to disclose any of his conversations with Yoongi to Jin, he had talked it out with the elder and come to the conclusion that the less Jin knew the better, so that Arcana could not foil anything that they planned.

Hayoon could practically see the change as she sat with them at the breakfast table, and watched Taehyung time and again assist his mate while Jin struggled with feeding the baby.

"He's got quite the appetite" Taehyung mused watching his little boy.

"Nah...he eats so that he can puke it out on me the next minute" Jin grumbled quietly as he tried to rub off the stain of earlier puke out of his robe "look at him! This is the reason he gets hungry every half n hour!!"

"You make a really bad omega you know" Taehyung grumbled back at him, his lighter mood instantly shifted to an agitated one "might be the first one who complains about a healthy child who eats well!"

"I'll see you say that after you spend your entire day cleaning and tending him!"

"Thanks to you, I do that! So, don't you try to take that tone with me Jin!"

"Not for an entire day!" Jin retaliated still not giving in.

"And you say you want more pups when you can't even handle one!" But Taehyung realized he shouldn't have said that the moment the words had slipped out of his mouth.

He saw Jin going quiet, his mouth staying open as the heated words he had intended to speak simply vanished into thin air till he saw that lower lip trembling and then those puppy-eyes were back.

Taehyung cursed himself under his breath, regretting his anger as he realized that was a crappy thing to say knowing how hopeful and delighted Jin had looked when he had actually told him that.

"Baby I didn't-" but before he could finish, he watched him storm out of the room with Kian tucked in the coil of his arms "shit."

"He really said that?" Ha-yoon looked a little puzzled "well, judging from what I had witnessed earlier, I'd totally not believe it if he hadn't reacted like that...well, good for you...I had once feared that you'd never be accepted by any omega to actually have children" she shook her head remembering the dread as she continued with her breakfast.

Taehyung gave his mother a cold stare for never leaving a chance to roast him.

"What are you sitting here for?" She spoke next, looking even more puzzled now "you're supposed to console your mate..." she saw him taking the advice as he left the table to head after the omega "and beg for forgiveness for being an inconsiderate and belligerent alpha while you're at it."

"Yeah...laugh at me all you want" Taehyung grumbled under his breath at his mother.

"I am!"

He could hear her at his back and cursed again.

Taehyung went to his chamber to see Jin sitting on the bed going through a bundle of scrolls, while Kian was in his crib. The child giggled up at him as he played with a training glove that he had casually stolen from his hand a couple days ago.

Taehyung sighed, going around to where Seokjin sat "did I not tell you not to bring work in here?"

Seokjin didn't reply, only flashing a glare at the other before he was back to reading through those again.

"Jin...listen to me" Taehyung sat by him, taking away the scroll to take his hands in his but saw Jin turn his head the other way "I really mean it, I apologize for reacting like that...I just intended to taunt you because you kinda always know how to aggravate me, and it came out all wrong..."

Jin blinked, slowly turning to face Taehyung and when he saw the way his alpha was looking at him, it made his heart feel mush so he asked in a soft mumble "you're sorry?"

"I am...I really am" Taehyung leaned in, cupping the omega's face to press a kiss to his cheek.

"I know I'm bad at this but I'm trying" Jin spoke in a mumble again.

"Umm...maybe you need to try a little harder" Taehyung was just being honest but the frown and little pout Jin gave him at that made him rephrase that "my bad, you're doing great...I'm the one who's not doing it right."

"Better" Jin grinned finally, giggling to see how he had won yet again when he saw Taehyung breaking into a laugh as well as he shook his head, most probably cursing at the omega's cheekiness.

"You're a trickster darling...you're playing with me, aren't ya?" Taehyung chuckled to see how Jin was literally playing with him, and yet he couldn't hold back his smile to see how adorable his mate was.

"I only like playing with you Taehyungie" Jin giggled again, pecking at the alpha's mouth in a tease.

"No..no...no...we talked about this...don't call me that...sheez! That's just taking it beyond you know" Taehyung vehemently shook his head "I'm an alpha! Not your pet...this is your last warning babe...Do.Not.Call.Me.That."

"But you're cute when you're nice...and I feel like calling you Taehyungie" Jin whined, he knew he was pushing the line now but he enjoyed taunting the alpha.

"That's it" Taehyung spoke, grasping at Jin's wrist and the omega yelped feeling himself being pinned down to the bed as he blinked up to see a rim of red flaring in Taehyung's irises "I too like playing with you baby...but it's a different kinda game."

"S-Stop...Kian's here" Jin reminded him.

"Not like he'll understand or have any memory of this...he's only a couple weeks old" Taehyung smirked sensing the rising heartrate in Jin as he leaned into his neck to sink his canines in, making Jin whine out loud, his body arching in a pretty curve under him as he felt Taehyung releasing his pheromones. Jin felt high, pleasure rushed through his veins as he tried to grasp at what was happening to him but was failing due to how his entire body was strung tight with desire.

Taehyung biting him had never really felt this euphoric before and his eyes fluttered with the ecstasy it set through him. He felt like he could cum just from this.

He felt his senses clear when Taehyung retracted his canines, and licked to seal the mark.

"Wh-What was that?" Jin felt breathless as he tried to speak his pleasant surprise.

Taehyung loomed over him, pecking at the corner of his mate's mouth "I've heard marking hits different when you're in love."

"It did" Jin affirmed "it felt...heavenly."

And Taehyung smiled at him "It's supposed to feel like this when an alpha n an omega actually seal a bond...took us some time but that's okay" he pressed his mouth on Jin's and the kiss was not steamy but a slow building passion that stayed beyond touch, and lingered even when they broke away.

"But I'm kinda guilty" Taehyung spoke and Jin opened his eyes to look at his alpha's perfectly carved features "I needed to mark you because I haven't yet gotten over the anxiety I feel of taking you to the camps, knowing the amount of gross alpha scents that fill that place."

"The camps?" Jin was confused as he frowned.

"Well, you were the one who wanted to train those omegas for war eh? Or are you backing out already?"

He saw Jin's eyes grow bigger with excitement "no...no...I'm definitely interested!"

"Then get up and get ready, I had ordered Chen and Sehun to gather the omegas who wanted to join the troops".

Jin agreed to the suggestion, knowing he needed to be at the camps and left Kian with Ha-yoon for the while.

And that was how one could find an anxious Commander rounding the troops as they trained, before he resorted to calm his wolf from baulking at the thought of his omega surrounded by so many atrocious scents but one could see how he was on the brink of failing.

"Aww you poor bloke" Hoseok cooed, sighing to himself as he caught Taehyung keeping a keen eye on his omega from afar "eyeing the one you get to bed...my god! How did you turn so hopeless?"

Taehyung rolled his eyes at his comic choice of words as he came to annoy him yet again. Yeah, he might have been watching his mate training the omegas he had brought to the camps but he wasn't eyeing Jin or anything...he was just worried about him doing that since this was the first time after the birth of their child that Jin had picked up a sword, so he was worried...at least that's what he told himself.

"None of your business...so fuck off" he growled at Hoseok turning around to walk ahead as he circled the field, eyes running over all the soldiers and battalion leaders and new recruits who were training on the other side of the field.

And Hoseok skipped after him.

"You should thank me you know...instead of being mean" he spoke following after him in nimble steps "I'm always so eagerly helping you out while you have been acting like a complete dick"

"Beggars can't be choosers Hoseok" Taehyung spoke as he kept walking ahead "you're lucky I haven't sliced your throat for being the sly traitor you are, and actually allow you to be near my mate n child"

Hoseok smiled to himself to hear the words and put a light hand on Taehyung's shoulder, knowing it could earn him a kick in the gut but eh...he was kinda used to it anyway.

However, he felt that he might have overdone it when Taehyung suddenly froze. So, Hoseok tried to fix it with his casual blabbering.

"It's all in the past now, come on-" "Hyung must love you very much to overlook all that you did...but I'm not stupid...if you can betray someone once, you can definitely betray them again...right?"

Hoseok's smile fell, and so did the hand on Taehyung's shoulder as he watched the trueblood walk ahead, leaving him standing there in shock. He watched in silence when Taehyung began walking farther away but in a burst of query n panic spoke out.

"Th-Then why do you allow me to be around huh?"

The question made Taehyung halt.

"You don't trust me...then why did you allow me to attend the party n all those private discussions and-" "Because I hope that you love hyung just as equally, at least enough to not betray those who are important to him...I don't trust you, but I trust my hyung."

Hoseok stood dumbfounded to hear that and when Taehyung turned around, the trueblood could see that his words had successfully, for the first time, shut the other up.

"You...Taehyung" Hoseok uttered quietly "are a weird man...I swear" he didn't really know what he was currently feeling, except for the fact that Taehyung had yet again seen through him...and despite all Hoseok's trials to act cool and unaffected, the other had seen how much the relationship he had with Yoongi meant to him...it was probably the only support he actually had.

Playing games isn't always fun...especially when you realize that as you go ahead, the games play you too.

"I know...people keep telling me that" Taehyung shrugged, a smirk curving at the edge of his mouth before he turned about to refocus on his beloved "for once be a man and do what you feel is right, not play your silly games...you're not getting any younger, might as well make some good decisions for once in your life".

He rounded the open field to walk towards where Jin was engrossed in explaining how a combat really works, by his side Chen and another beta soldier stood guard, and a group of betas and battalion leaders stood behind him to assist the omegas to understand what really training for war was like.

Taehyung quietly neared and stood to watch his mate.

"Your sword is a part of you" Jin spoke helping one of the new omega recruits hold the sword right "it moves along with you"

And the trueblood smiled to himself to hear Jin use the advices he had once given him.

"You need not focus on the kill...it will do that for you if you know how to share your strength with it."

Jin was keenly into training the lot of omegas who had decided to join the troops, it was not a large group but something was better than nothing, and Jin had told himself that change didn't happen one fine day...it happened through actions taken every day.

He was proud that he could at least inspire some of them to break through the boulders of yesterday and step towards a tomorrow they intended to shape in their own way.

His attention however was drawn when he saw all of then suddenly bowing to someone and turned around to see Taehyung approaching them.

"It's gonna get harsher once you get the hang of how to hold a sword because then you need to learn how to really duel with an enemy" he warned, his voice stiff and posture serious, and Jin could see the Commander in him trying to attune the new ones of the real hardship of actually being on a battlefield, amongst enemies who intended to kill them "along with your bodies, you need to train your minds too..." he walked nearer, gaze flitting towards his own mate as he pulled his sword out and Jin realized instantly, hand instantly moving to set on the hilt of his own sword.

"You gotta be ready for the worst, because unlike me, you aren't born with the power to intimidate everyone"

Jin rolled his eyes knowing Taehyung was just boasting of his trueblood, despite all that they had been through his arrogance seemed to be an incurable problem irrevocably stuck on him.

"Well, that's why they're learning to hone their skills" Jin snapped at him for trying to intimidate them.

"It's better to be scared here than before an enemy who'd definitely have your head for the tiniest fault...at least now they have the chance to turn away and live" Taehyung spoke, he knew Jin was eager to bring a change but he wanted to warn him of the price. He remembered the first time he had led the troops, how exhilarating a responsibility it had been...and yet he also remembered the burden of such a responsibility when at the end of the war he had to witness how many deaths there had been to achieve their victory.

Power too has its burdens.

"They'll get to know their limits only when they push themselves to their best-" "Can't argue with that, you know, they'd learn better if they see how rough it can get..." the gruff voice turned honeyed as Taehyung turned towards his mate, a smirk flourishing as he walked nearer "care to spar with me darling?"

"Sure..." Jin spoke, replying with a smirk because he knew how greedy the trueblood was about a challenge, he could see Taehyung was doing this to play with him "Ryujin...get everyone to choose a partner to spar with".

Jin commanded to get the group to participate in the activity as well.

"Look at you giving out orders" Taehyung loomed closer as he taunted Jin, a smirk still showing "you took away my brother's throne to become a leader...and now I see you're eager to take away my position as a Commander eh?"

"Only an incompetent man fears to lose his command" Jin smirked, taunting him back and glanced at Taehyung to see his jaw grit as he eyed him, twirling the sword in his grip.

"I'd like to see you say that after I'm done putting you down" Taehyung scoffed trying to play it cool as his tongue pushed against the inside of his cheek at the insult Jin had thrown at him.

"Hah right! Says the one whom I knocked out cold the first time we fought" Jin grinned, a flicker of mischief swirling in his eyes as he taunted the trueblood.

The words made Chen and Sehun's brows rise as they turned to the group blinking at each other, while the omegas tried to understand if that was really a truth and they quietly whispered sharing their amazement to think an omega had successfully knocked out the undefeated trueblood Commander of Kleon.

"You're so gonna regret this" Taehyung sneered, jabbing his sword into the earth before unbuttoning his coat. He discarded it and rolled his sleeves up.

"Will I?" Jin grinned seeing how pissed Taehyung currently looked, he too got rid of his coat and rolled up his sleeves before he pulled his sword out.

The first clash was when Seokjin charged at the trueblood, his sleek blade glowing in the sun as he brought it down upon the other. The metals clanging loudly as they others watched, the group of omegas could barely concentrate on their sparring and was soon drawn to watch the thrilling duel between the Commander and his mate.

"What?!" Hoseok startled up from his seat in Yoongi's tent when they notified them about the sudden breakout of a mini battle on their training field "not again! I thought they grew out of this?!"

Yoongi paid no attention to his complaints "leave them be...it's good for them anyway, releasing pent up smoke...don't worry, they'll be fine."

But Hoseok could not just sit back and do nothing when he knew how scary the two might get if things went out of hand.

"Oh you gotta be kidding me! God! Are they nuts?" He cursed to see the large circle cheering for both, some favouring the omega leader while many boasting for their undefeatable Commander.

Jin had multiple cuts and bruises painted all over his arms while Taehyung had some major bleeding slashes on him, both panting loudly as they duelled. No one knew when it had turned from casual sparring to a real fight.

"Surrender...you cannot hold much longer against me love" Taehyung smirked, eyeing Jin's legs trembling now.

"Nah...I'm not backing out till I take you down" Jin scoffed, rubbing away the blood that dripped down the side of his mouth.

Taehyung twirled the sword in his grip as he smirked still "you know, that's it...it's your stubbornness that makes me greedy to see you moaning under me..."

Jin instantly went a dark shade of red, and one could easily see him blushing furiously despite the bloody patches on his skin.

"Stop talking dirty you brute...!"

"Why? Am I turning you on?"

Their swords clashed again as Jin ran at him, aiming his blade at Taehyung's left flank when the trueblood countered it and scoffed as he aimed a punch at Jin's ribs. Jin noticed that and dodged the hit to the ribs to pull his sword ready for the next attack. He saw Taehyung take a turn and felt his back hit the alpha's chest and instantly turned to point his sword at Taehyung's chest but realised a little too late that there was a blade aimed at his neck.

There is telepathy between hearts, and they knew they had something not many could match up to...be it in the powers they held within them as well as in the force they held together.

"You fucking muttheads! You die, and I swear I am taking away the child you left at home! So, if you don't want that then stop this!!"

Taehyung and Jin were both panting loudly when a loud screaming Hoseok could be heard among the circle who had gathered to watch, who then broke into a loud cheer and cahoots to realize how a duel is only possible among equals...otherwise, it definitely ends in one death and one victor.

-

"The littlest leap may take you to newer heights..." the words lingered at his back as Jungkook sat quietly watching the lithe flames enveloping the embers as the wood slowly gave in to the intentions of the fire.
"What leap?" He spoke with a little sigh, his back falling against his seat as he let his thoughts run through him "he has denied to accept me."

"With every shift in action...the future moves as well" the words were spoken at his back "I had seen your end in a vision...but you cheated your fate with the choice you made, you chose to listen to your heart for the first time...but I can see no one taught you how to truly live..."

The steps came closer, and Jungkook's eyes moved to see the old lady nearing the fireplace, "a river doesn't stop running when it faces a barrier, it simply finds another way to flow" her voice was calm as she spoke, evoking sparks of thoughts in Jungkook's mind "because reaching its destination is inevitable."

She came to sit before him, eyes an iridescent blue as she looked at him and held her hand out "the future is an accumulation of your actions now, it's ever-changing...do you dare to know?"

Jungkook eyed the hand, knowing well that he actually had no expectations from whatever waited in his future...except one.

"Jimin" his gaze stayed "he will-" "Your every secret's safe with him...why fear another?"

"It's not that, I'm worried...that I'll have to watch him die if he keeps denying to be claimed" his voice was low, and something like a heavy grief seemed to be holding his throat as he spoke his fears "he had asked me why I had brought him to Kleon in the first place if I didn't intend to claim him...but...at that time I had brought him with me because I couldn't leave him there, I had no idea that he was dying..." his breaths seemed to fall quietly as he got lost into the thoughts he never really spoke out "I-I put him through so much, I don't think I have the right to say that I care about him...but I had thought that I could atone my sins by giving him the freedom to chose an alpha once he's free from me...but then he came back"

He had told himself that he will wait for Jimin to show him the way to apologize to him and love him the way he needed to be loved...but with every passing day Jungkook felt that maybe Jimin hated him a bit too much to actually ever forgive him.

She leaned to clutch at his hand and Jungkook flinched to be caught off guard.

"He chose to stand by you...and look how your heart thawed at the touch of warm affection..." she stared at him, guiding him to look beyond his insecurities "have you asked yourself why he stayed by you despite all the torture you put him through?"

"He couldn't have escaped the royal palace just like that, I have trained soldiers-" "You're naïve if you truly think so..." there was a strange little smile on her lips as she revealed the reality that seemed to have gotten foggy for the young royal "where were your trained soldiers when he slipped out of your hands in plain sight and went to the palace of Zyon?"

Jungkook froze, voice cutting off suddenly but the next words made a flash pass through him.

"Where were your trained soldiers when he fooled every man on the ship that was supposed to bring the prince of Eulan to you...and helped him escape?"

His startled eyes shot up to stare at her "wh-what?"

She smiled at him to witness the shock written all over his face "he knew a long time ago what took you years to realise..." she let his hand go, and stood up "fate is a blind guide, it leads you to your destiny...but the choice to step is always yours..."

Jungkook couldn't believe what he had just heard, his mind seemed to be racing through all sorts of thoughts, making all sorts of derivations as to why Jimin would do such a thing.

"That's not possible, he-" "You will learn that omegas aren't brittle like glass" she turned to see him blinking to himself "but they're like water...they'll mould themselves in need...and yet hold the resilience to cut through rocks when the time demands."

-

"Please send it to this address" Jimin gave a short smile to the messenger handing the letter that he had intended to send his mother.

He had decided to leave the palace at dawn tomorrow to go visit his parents...although he knew this might be a bad decision, this might be his chance to ensure his survival.

He had been busy this morning, packing his stuff and then went in for a bath feeling fatigued due to the little exertion. His body was slowly giving away to the fate it was bound to face, his time chipping away with every minute that he denied to acknowledge the fact that he was actually dying.

Yes, there were times he wanted to be selfish and just ask Jungkook to claim him...the alpha's mark would revive him again but somewhere inside, despite his feelings for the man...Jimin hadn't really forgiven the alpha for the tortures he had put him through.

He wouldn't lie, he had felt his heart flutter every time Jungkook had mentioned him as his omega...he had felt his omega squeal in glee to hear the alpha seeking him as his mate but Jungkook had put him through so much that he often couldn't believe that he could change so much and felt as if he still had something going on in that cryptic mind of his.

But the troublesome thing was he couldn't find any twisted intentions no matter how many times he read his mind.

And then there was his overly fond attitude for his brother's child...for someone who hated Taehyung with every atom of his body, to adore his pup so much came as a shock to Jimin, and rightly so.

Jimin stepped out of the bath and got busy to dress to visit the North Gate castle.

-

"He's quite an active child" Jimin thought out loud watching Kian playfully giggling and blabbering in Jin's arms, pulling on the lapel of his appa's robe and chewing on the buttons despite the soft scolding he received from Jin time and again.

"He's a handful...yeah" Jin sighed, reprimanding the kid again and yet Jimin saw Kian grinning up at him, looking completely unbothered at the warnings "and I'm still struggling to be a good omega to nurture him right".

"Good thing your alpha understands that" Jimin smiled quietly "I don't know many alphas who'd want their omegas to be on birth control after having their first child, although I understand that your situation is-" "I agree, he's been really thoughtful about it but I denied to take it" Jin replied, correcting Jimin's thoughts and picked his eyes up from Kian to see Jimin blinking at him cluelessly "there's a chance that we won't live long..." his voice faded into a heavy quiet and Jimin knew not what to say to that "it's better if Kian has siblings to grow together."

Jimin stared at him, and attempted to filter Jin's thoughts as he tried to read into his mind but realised he couldn't.

He tried again but it was as if an invisible wall was blocking him from peering into Jin's thoughts. He realized something was wrong, till his gaze fell at the child in his arms and the moment Jimin's locked with Kian's, he froze...his gaze turned black and he realised his mind was actually trapped.

"And I want us to live to the fullest till our time is over" Jin was still speaking being completely unaware that Jimin could barely hear him "I have decided to train the omegas to join the troops, we're going to try to establish the amity among the kingdoms again...Zyon has accepted the terms to come under Kleon's regime and follow the rules our people follow, so that's a good news for us...the northerners and the people of Zyon" he suddenly noticed how Jimin was blankly staring at Kian "J-Jimin?"

And Jin felt anger wash through him to think that Jimin was trying to read their pup's mind.

"Jimin?! What do you think you're doing?"

Jimin was startled out of his thoughts, blinking at Jin as he finally broke out of the trance that he had been in.

"Did Jungkook put you up to this? I thought you were better than this Jimin!"

"What?" Jimin still couldn't follow what Jin was speaking before he dropped his head into his hands and tried to think back on what had just happened.

"He's just a child!" Jin reminded cradling Kian closer to his chest "what were you trying to do?"

"N-Nothing" Jimin spoke, picking his head to see the child now busy in babbling at Jin again and felt an eerie dread take over him as he thought back on what he had just felt "I..." he seemed lost in thoughts and couldn't really form what he wanted to say.

"Jimin?" Jin inquired being confused with his weird reactions "what's going on?"

Jimin cleared his throat, gaze still lingering on the child and mind still a pool of confusion "I-uh...how old is he?"

Jin was visibly confused as well, as a heavy frown took over his brow "what is wrong with you? You were there when he was born a couple weeks ago!"

Jimin nodded, dropping his gaze to his hands that stayed awkwardly on his lap "ye-yeah...I was there...you're right" he mumbled the next words a mere whisper "but it doesn't make sense..."

He was still captured in the bog of confusion when Lady Hayoon and the master entered the room, they were busy in their own conversation before their eyes fell on the guest.

"Oh Jimin you haven't met master, have you?" Jin squeaked gleefully introducing his teacher to his friend "he was my teacher n parent at the monastery I grew up"

The man frowned at the prettily dressed male, his rich silk robes and glittering jewellery made it evident that the other was most likely an omega.

"A rare sight" he breathed gazing at Jimin who looked stunned to see the elder "I haven't seen a male omega other than Jin-ah...you must be gifted too eh?"

Jimin gulped, trying to get his focus back on the man after he was done prying into his mind to gaze into everything he needed to know.

"Uh...pardon me..." he cleared his throat and gave a curt smile before standing up to bow "my name is Jimin"

"He is gifted with the power to read minds" Jin relayed the information to him, and the master's brows perked up.

"Ah" he gave a smile "so that's how you knew that Yeonho was hiding Jin-ah in the mountains...I remember hearing about a male omega accompanying the troops of Kleon..." he eyed Jimin, sensing that the other must be a cunning emissary to the monarch of Kleon and debated why Jin had actually allowed him inside their home "you work for the king right? So, now that the king has lost his powers you've made allies with the ones who hold power?"

Jimin's smile fell, feeling cornered all of a sudden but he could see why the man was doubtful of him, the master cared about Seokjin and hence to him, Jimin happened to be someone who had major hand in turning his life upside down in the first place. However, right now he was startled for a whole other reason as he blinked reading into the master's thoughts and traced the truth regarding the Seer who had lost her memories.

"No, I...uh-" "He is my friend" it was Jin who replied to make the situation a little easier for Jimin "he was the one who helped me to escape from the ship."

Jimin gulped to see the man frown at him, he hadn't felt this troubled in a while...there were all sorts of information that had suddenly reached him today and he didn't know how to process all of it.

"I see" the master spoke, still contemplating whether it was okay to trust Jimin when Jin spoke up again.

"Stay for dinner Jimin, I'd love to-" "Uh-umm...actually I need to go" Jimin gave an unsure smile to an expectant Jin but he could not look at the other without feeling guilty.

"But you rarely visit us" Jin approached him with a pout to think Jimin was leaving so early "don't worry about Taehyung being mean to you...I'll handle him" he leaned to share a joke and smirked, but felt like something must have gone really wrong to see Jimin just as blank "hey...are you ok? You look so pale Jimin..."

"Uh...it's nothing...I-" Jimin gulped again, his gaze settling on Kian as the child stared up at him and for some reason Jimin felt like those dark eyes could look into his very soul to discover all the little secrets he had kept "I am sorry" his words were hushed "but I really n-need to go".

And that was how he had returned to the palace, his mind a loud rumbling of confusions and Jimin decided he needed time to get his thoughts straight before he confronted the one he knew could give him the answers to the questions that raced through his mind now.

He stood before the mirror, gazing at himself as he thought back to the most startling thing he had experienced today.

Maybe he should not have done that, it was a kind of betrayal because he had guessed that it will be an easy feat since he was only peering into the mind of a child. He was just so curious to see why Jungkook was being so considerate and careful with this child.

He knew Kian was born different, but he remembered sensing his thoughts and care for Seokjin when he was still inside him. The child had healed Jin of poison, and honestly when he thought back on it that was crazy in itself because apparently he isn't supposed to have any such powers till he would present.

But then again, one has to remember that he wasn't just a normal child...that little boy was a godly creation...and maybe that's the reason Arcana was so eager to claim him as its vessel.

However, today he hadn't expected to see what he had seen when he had looked into his mind...it was quite scary actually, Jimin had never experienced something like that.

It was like the moment he had tried to read Kian's mind, he had been pulled into a void...a limitless empty space...a darkness where nothing happened and yet he could as if hear and sense that there were a thousand things happening around him and was being questioned for every twisted decision he had ever taken.

It was a bizarre feeling and for the first time Jimin had felt that it was he who was under the control of the child's mind, not the other way around.

But the most startling thing was a vision...a vision of a child giggling around as she chanted 'appa'...and Jimin had felt terror strike through him as he realized that this was actually a dream he had once had while he had been pregnant.

It was then that he knew that he was trapped within his own regrets and guilt...somehow Kian was forcing him to face what he dreaded to face.

He was still staring at the mirror, pale blue eyes remained unmoving as his eyes welled with tears and ran down his cheeks in lines...if his pup had survived, he could have heard her call him like that and right now this knowledge seemed to be eating him up from within.

He hadn't felt this hollow for a while...he dreaded this feeling because it reminded him of how fruitless his life was, how he had never earned anything...not a proper life, not a proper place, neither an alpha nor a family of his own...he had been a shadow, he could make nothing of the second chance he had been given in life and that ate him up from within.

"I had better died that day Lu..." his gaze dropped to the sink, his fingers clutching at the cold porcelain "I don't understand myself, why...why am I like this?" He sobbed quietly pressing his eyes "I feel so so guilty that sometimes I feel like it's ok...it's ok if I just fade away one day...I deserve that..."

He gulped a hiccup and tried to hold himself together as he washed his face, and the vision of the child giggling around him flashed in his mind again. It echoed through his soul and made something flicker within his chest and Jimin was scared to feel the burst of emotions flood through him at the thought of having that vision made into reality someday.

He wanted answers to what he had witnessed today...and he knew only one man who could have the possible answers. So, he decided to see Jungkook and ask him the questions that were running through his mind.

"He's going to be a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure" he sighed, dressing himself in an ice blue silk robe with glittery silver embroidery, his face was hard as he gritted his teeth to the turmoil in his chest "scary little kid".

He stepped into his room and froze to see the man he was going to confront right there, lounging on the recliner at one corner in his room and Jimin didn't know why he felt his throat go dry at the way Jungkook's calm gaze stayed on him.

"I heard you went to North gate castle today" the question sounded sharp against the striking silence in the room.

"I did...to meet Seokjin and the child" Jimin tried to act natural, walking to his dresser to fix his hair and sat before the mirror. The angle gave him a clear reflection of the other still staring at his back.

"I hope they are well"

"They are" Jimin took a quiet glance at him before picking up his brush and pretending to calmly ask his question "I had something to ask you."

"Oh really...that's a funny coincidence" a smirk appeared on Jungkook's face "I had something that I wanna ask you as well..."

Jimin frowned to himself as he tried to think what that might be about but before he could read his mind, his breath hitched feeling hands grasping at his shoulders and felt Jungkook's lips ghosting over his ear.

"And I'm very eager to know your answer"

"That lady who told made the prophesies...do you really not know who she is?" Jimin blurted out blankly what he had traced in the master's thoughts as he tried to distract Jungkook so that he could read his mind instead "when was she brought to Kleon?"

"Before that" he felt Jungkook's grip become tighter on his shoulders "answer me why did you help Seokjin escape from the ship in which you were supposed bring him to me?"

Jimin felt a cold sweat run down his spine to hear that.

He didn't know how to answer that and gasped when Jungkook forcefully made him face himself.

"What? Why are you so quiet all of a sudden huh?" the smirk grew as Jungkook leaned closer to interrogate him.

Jimin dared not look into his eyes because his subconscious told him he was going to get hurt if he did that. His eyes welled with tears in their own volition and the memory of being treated as a slave who was always the first to be punished blurred his mind.

"Jimin" the voice was calm, neither were there any furious pheromones that had often paralysed him in earlier times and yet he whimpered, ducking lower and made himself look smaller as fear filled him.

He felt a finger hooking under his chin and Jungkook tilting his head up to meet his eyes but Jimin kept his eyes to a side.

"Look at me Jimin...I'm not angry with you, I just want to know why you did that"

He felt the alpha's breath against his cheek, and for some reason that assurance helped Jimin breathe easier now.

"Look at me and tell me why did you do it? Were trying to help Seokjin...or was it something else?"

Jimin's eyes snapped to lock onto those onyx ones as he feared that he had been finally caught, his intentions to keep the alpha to himself disclosed.

"You were the one who let him out of my chambers that day weren't you?"

Jimin's eyes grew wider, fear and shock clear in them as he stared blankly at Jungkook.

"You knew that my brother desired him...he had scent marked Seokjin" Jungkook leaned closer, his touch now settling against Jimin's jaw as the alpha cupped his face "you knew that if Seokjin would walk in there, my brother would be greedy to claim him...you could read his intentions, couldn't you?"

Jimin's lips parted, eyes anxious as he could see how Jungkook could just read through him despite the fact that it was him who had the power to read others' thoughts. He had no more lies to tell...especially because he knew even he made one up, Jungkook would see right through it.

"Fine" the smirk turned to a little amused smile now because Jungkook could see how he had finally broken through the shell of indifference Jimin often wore "just answer one question" he leaned and Jimin felt his body being pressed against the dresser as he stared unblinking at the alpha.

"Did you do it because you didn't want me to claim any omega but you?"

Tears dribbled down Jimin's eyes and yet he couldn't form words to answer him, and he felt pathetic because what Jungkook had said was the truth...he knew he was twisted, he was so confused that the man who could anger him so much was the one who could also make him do such stupid things. But yes, he had hated the idea of Jungkook claiming any other omega but him...the truth was he hadn't helped Seokjin escape, he had only planned to get him away from Jungkook.

"Silly omega"

Jimin felt the pad of the alpha's thumb brushing off the tear that he had spilled.
"If you have desired me for so long, then why do you keep rejecting me?"

Jimin dropped his gaze, his jaw gritting before he replied to that "yes...I desire you" his voice shook as he confessed "and I hate myself for that."

A numb silence took over, and Jimin felt like he had actually hurt the other.

"Lies" Jungkook's voice was a low growl as he felt hurt to hear Jimin say that "you chose to stay by me!"

"I had nowhere to go!" Jimin yelled back, flashing his anger in his last ditch effort to hide his true feelings.

"Lies! Lies! Lies!" He growled louder denying to accept Jimin's pretentions any longer "you chose to leave in secret to go to Zyon...you could have done that before!" Jungkook retaliated "accept that you stayed because you wanted to!"

"So what?!" Jimin fumed "what difference does it make anyway?! You were blind to me! I was nothing to you!" A sob broke out as his words jumbled together as he screamed the next words "I hate that I desired you as my alpha and you treated me like a toy!!"

Jimin's breath hitched as he felt Jungkook pull his face in and smashed their mouths together in a heated kiss. He could feel their loud thudding hearts, how aggravated their emotions currently were and he felt pathetic that the shell of anger he had been struggling to hold against Jungkook was breaking because of how the alpha was resiliently pursuing him to accept that their desires were mutual.

He pushed at Jungkook's chest, and broke away from the kiss.

"Stop it" Jimin grumbled, fuming and pouting as he tried to look angry with the other.

"Give yourself to me Jimin" Jungkook's plea was just above a whisper as leaned into Jimin's neck, the fruity scent filling his insides with a craving he had toiled hard to control for a long time and he could tell his wolf was becoming more dominant with every passing minute as his rut neared.

"Either you give yourself to me or...never come back to Kleon ever again once you leave for Zyon tomorrow" Jungkook's voice was a low snarl, he was needy and yet furious...furious because he couldn't watch Jimin slowly nearing his death right before his eyes. He wanted to make Jimin stay, he wanted to do something to make him choose him on his own will but despite his wishes, what he did next was pure crooked manipulation "leave this palace...leave me...and let me claim another omega so that I can forget you..."

Jimin had visibly paled at those words, and he didn't know how to fake being indifferent because of the anguish he felt to hear Jungkook say those words to him.

"You hate that you desire me" Jungkook took a step back, hands uncoiling from around the omega "fine...I'll find an omega to spend my rut with."

He turned around, striding towards the door.

"No!"

Jungkook halted, expecting just the reaction.

"Our wolves..." Jimin's voice sounded like a quiet shaky mewl "they're going to be miserable".

"Why does that bother you? You're dying anyway" Jungkook scoffed, his words felt caustic on his own tongue but the next words made his heart melt.

"Yeah, I don't have much time left...but you...you'll be miserable for the rest of your life"

The words seemed to churn into his blood and haunt through his very veins as Jungkook stood there for a few more minutes, wordless...motionless...blank.

He heard steps nearing him till they halted right behind him.

"Imagine, if we had no history...neither a future, will you answer me something honestly Jimin?" Jungkook's voice was a calm echo between the silence they shared.

"I will try" the reply was small but resolute.

"What do you want?"

And Jimin felt his anger flush and an emptiness filled him...what he wanted had never really mattered...he had barely ever allowed himself to ask that question to his own self.

He had never really been given the opportunity to have what he wanted.
His gaze crept up from the ground to settle on the alpha's back, and Jimin quietly walked closer to press his forehead on that strong toned back as he clutched at Jungkook's overcoat.

"I want to be happy" he spoke and Jungkook silently listened to the omega sniffling as Jimin pressed his face on his back "but I am afraid to be happy...what if they take it all away from me again?"

There was a stillness that prevailed as Jimin stopped talking, his little sniffles the only sound and Jungkook realised for the first time he had actually heard Jimin openly utter what he felt. Over the years he had gotten comfortable opening up to the other, he knew Jimin could read all that tortured his mind and Jungkook felt secure to have someone before whom he needn't pretend. But it was now that he was realizing that he had never really tried to understand what tortured Jimin, what he kept hidden...where did he pour out his troubles?

He turned around, clutching at Jimin's shoulders as he saw him standing before him with his head hanging low and hiding his tears.

Jungkook felt a flash go through him, a pang of utter guilt choking his airways and he did what he knew neither of them ever really received but something they both terribly needed. He coiled his arms around the omega and pulled him into his chest and tried to comfort Jimin.

And Jimin melted into the embrace, his smaller slender frame fitting easily into the arms of the other. He felt Jungkook's arms engulf him, and for the first time he didn't have to read his mind to know that the alpha too could sense the kind of calm that their wolves felt right now.

"I...hate the thought of you claiming another..." Jimin pressed his eyes close as he spoke the feelings hidden in his heart "I knew I was courting death when I made Seokjin leave the ship...or when I played to let the prince be claimed by Taehyung after I had read the trueblood's intention to acquire him..." he clutched at Jungkook a little tighter as he felt his guilt eating him up from within "I hated how invisible I was to you...and I couldn't do anything, so I did what I could..." Jimin gulped feeling how cruel he had been to someone as trusting and innocent as Seokjin "I won't lie, I was happy when I watched Taehyung claim him before you...and I knew that was the end of your madness to acquire what you so ardently wished...I did everything you wished of me, followed your every command, tried to protect you every way I could, even endangering myself"

Jungkook quietly listened to all that Jimin spilled out, while he was hoping that somewhere in his words he'd find what he was looking for.

"And despite my plan to be free from you...I came back...and I told myself that I had come back to watch you go through what I had, to watch how you lost everything that you had held so dearly and feel that you got a taste of your own sins...I wanted to be happy to see you suffer but the truth is...I came back because..."

Jimin bit down his sniffles, and his voice grew quieter.

"Because I couldn't just do nothing when she said you were dying..."

Jungkook felt something twinge in his chest to hear those words and felt how profoundly he was indebted to Jimin. His gaze fell to those pale blue eyes that were teary right now when Jimin looked up at him, and Jungkook silently mused at the pleasant perfection of his omega.

"Because I knew...there was no one to save you...except me."

A little smile appeared on Jungkook's lips, he clutched at Jimin's chin as his thumb nudged at the lining of that full bottom lip before he leaned in "you must know that after what you just said, I am not letting you go anywhere..." he breathed the words over the omega's mouth and pleaded one last time "stay with me like you always have Jimin...please..."

Jimin felt his face heat up at those words, he bit into his lip dropping his gaze as he gave a tiny nod to that suggestion.

And Jimin yelped when Jungkook picked him up in his arms, his eyes went wide and he urgently coiled his arms around the alpha's neck to balance himself.

"What-" "I told you didn't I" Jimin blinked at him to see him grinning at him "if you chose to stay, I'll treat you as mine."

á na márië.

[A/N]

Word count: 10.25k

Borahae 💜