208.

Inside the car, Jimin put the much needed distance between them, afraid he wouldn't be able to stop kissing the omega if he were any closer. Jungkook sat in a corner, flushed beautifully red and hands clasped on his lap.

Is it possible to imprint on a regular omega? What are the odds anyway? Why is my wolf reacting strongly to him?

Jimin shoved the thoughts aside as the car stopped at the red light. The crossroads ahead seemed to reflect his inner turmoil perfectly. Which road to take? Should he or should he not?

What lies ahead? He wouldn't know unless he explored the path.

Hoseok once told him that the sub gender didn't matter to his wolf because he cared for the beta more than he did for anyone else. But he'd been pining after that beta for quite some time unlike Jimin, who met Jungkook only once.

Nothing made sense and no one had an explanation as to why he was feeling so dejected this past week when he believed Jungkook rejected him. The relief to learn that wasn't the case was immense and now Jimin had no explanation for why he felt that way.

His wolf, the one usually acted like a prude, high and mighty, demanding respect and obedience, now sat obediently in the corner of his mind, waiting for one simple gesture from the omega. His mind pulled the images of a dog waiting for his ball and Jimin cringed.

The silence stretched between them. Jungkook was practically glued to the door as if he could disappear if possible. Jimin took a deep breath, almost moaning when the sweet Maraschino Cherry entered his nostrils.

They needed to talk. He had to do this. Jimin cleared his throat, wondering where to begin. There were a lot of things to talk at the same time there was nothing. Maybe he should start from the beginning.

"I owe my life to your mom," Jimin started.

Jungkook stiffened, head turning slightly in his direction as he waited. His scent stayed neutral but there was a note of curiosity in it—a light spike of his sweet scent but nothing more.

Talking about the incident wasn't easy and it was a burden he had carried in his heart all these years. However, he didn't want Jungkook to think that was the reason he couldn't say no to this arrangement. He couldn't refuse because he respected his dad so much and believed he never did anything without a reason.

Saying no to his dad wasn't easy. He'd ask why he was rejecting Jungkook and Jimin had no valid answer. Yet.

"It's hard for me to talk about that day. The doctor said the trauma caused my brain to forget the majority of events. But I still clearly remember her face, her voice. Sometimes on nights when I wake up in a cold sweat, it's her voice in my head that calms me down."

The omega went silent entirely and there was a shift in his scent.

"All I remember is that there was smoke and people. I lost my mom somewhere in the crowd." Jimin inhaled. He didn't even open up to his hyungs about all these details but he felt like Jungkook would understand. "I remember being scared. I was crying, calling out for my mom."

Jungkook watched him intently and when Jimin paused to take another breathe; he smelled the calming pheromones emitted by the omega. A soft smile tugged at his lips.

"Then she was there," he said. "She was beautiful and looked so calm. Her smile never faltered. She embraced me. I thought she was my guardian angel, who came to protect me. She took me out of there but by then the fire had gotten worse. "His eyes grew distant as he remembered the day. Fire and smoke were everywhere. Everything around us was collapsing. We were trapped."

Jungkook scooted closer, hesitantly taking his hand between his palms and holding it. "You don't have to say anything." His voice was extremely soft and kind.

"I have to," Jimin said. These were the words he wanted to share with the family of his savior if he ever met them in person. For years, he'd been carrying it inside him. "You lost her and it's something that's been weighing on me for years. She told me, no matter what happened she wouldn't leave me and was going to take me to my mom. She kept telling me to trust her and that she got me. Then all I remember is everything going dark. When I woke up, I was with my mom. I was traumatized and had to go through several therapies. Dad later told me what happened."

Jungkook silently rubbed soothing circles over his knuckles with his thumb.

Jimin hooked a finger under his chin, causing him to look up at him. He searched his eyes for any kind of anger or displeasure but found none. "Did you ever hate me?" he wondered. "Did you ever think you would have had your mom if it wasn't for me? Did you despise me for taking her away from you?"

Jungkook sighed and then smiled. "I don't know her or know what she sounds like," he sounded so delicate. "I was too young to remember. I only have a photo of her but how could you miss someone you don't even know?"

"I'm sorry," Jimin whispered. If it wasn't for him, Jungkook would have had his mother. You lost your mom because of me. Would his life be any different? He didn't know, but it would have been definitely better.

Jungkook shook his head. "It's alright. I didn't even know this until recently. Even then, I have no reason to despise you. She saved you. Holding that against you is like discrediting her sacrifice. She chose to protect you and she did. Even though I don't know her, I'm proud to call her my mom. She was brave. So please don't blame yourself for her death. It's not your fault. It's not my mom's fault either. The situation wasn't something either of you could control. My father didn't blame you either. If he did, he wouldn't have told me to give this a chance."

Jimin nodded, feeling his heart grow lighter. "I still don't understand why dad thinks you're a perfect fit for me." He chuckled, lifting his hand to trace his cheeks. "You're so delicate."

Jungkook smiled. "Am I?"

"Aren't you?" Jimin asked curiously. "You look like you would easily break."

His fingers trailed over his fingers. So delicate. Bony and thin. Suddenly there was that urge to feed the omega and fill his bones. To make him look plump and healthy. To make his skin glow healthy. The direction of his thoughts sent an alarm through his mind.

This time the omega scoffed. "You can't break me."

"It's not as easy as you think." Jimin frowned. "Marrying me is a form of self-punishment. They will look down on you. Starting from my mom." He cupped Jungkook's cheek. "She won't accept you and there are expectations to fulfil as my spouse. I won't be beside you to protect you all the time."

There was no way Jimin would expose him to these so called omega gatherings and high society parties. They would try to find mistakes in everything he did. Jungkook was too pure to understand the way their world worked. Those vultures would tear him down.

Why am I thinking that far?

Jungkook stared at him a moment longer, his scent sweetening and cheeks turning a beautiful shade of pink. His eyes held a shine. Maybe Taehyung was right. He was weak for those eyes.

"You're worried about me," Jungkook stated. "I'm not that easy to break."

Jimin shook his head. "You don't understand. We are different."

"I'm aware." The sweetness in his scent wavered.

"No. You're not," Jimin was adamant. "I'm a purebred. I can be overwhelming. No. I'm overwhelming. It's physically impossible to keep up with me. You can't tame my wolf."

Jungkook blinked. "Why would I want to tame your wolf?"

Jimin opened and closed his mouth without any words forming in his mouth. "Many tried and failed." His eyes narrowed. "You won't be able to handle me. When I'm driven by my instincts, I'm hardly under control. No one has ever been able to put up with me. You can't control me."

Jungkook's frown deepened. "Okay? Is that why you date so many people?"

"Hook ups," Jimin corrected. "Date is just a fancy term others prefer to use. I don't do relationships."

"Are you like this with all of them? Seduce them and taking them out on dates." Jungkook wondered. "Is that what you're trying to do with me?"

"I don't kiss my hook ups."

Jungkook blushed. "I-I didn't m-mean that."

"I don't knot them either," Jimin said just to see the blush intensifying and grinned when it worked like magic.

Jungkook tried to pull back but he wrapped an arm around his middle and pulled him closer. The omega's shoulder bumped into his chest and Jungkook averted his face to hide it from the alpha.

Jimin turned Jungkook's face toward him. "You're blushing too hard, omega," he teased. "Are you sure you can handle me?" He tried to look into Jungkook's eyes but the omega wouldn't meet his gaze. He kept them trained somewhere near Jimin's neck. "Answer me."

"I-I can."

"Marrying me includes a lot of responsibilities." He grabbed the omega's chin, lifting it but still Jungkook wouldn't meet his gaze. "That includes sex," he said. "I'd want regular sex and I really have a high sex drive," he emphasized, relishing the furious blush and sweetening scent with a smug look. "You think you can put up with that, hmm?"

"Y-Yes."

Jimin leaned forward, hardly able to control the wolf that was growling possessively. A rumble rolled out of his chest. "Are you giving me your consent, omega? Careful with your next answer," he warned. "Cos' I won't hold back."

This time Jungkook met his gaze. "I don't want you to." He took a deep breath and glanced away. "I know what I'm doing. I've heard purebred wolves are dominant and authoritative. They're in need of control. So I don't understand why anyone would want to tame you."

It was Jimin's turn to go silent. This omega was unrealistic. He blinked. He couldn't be real. His words were crystal clear though. There was no nervousness in his scent. It was as if he really knew what he was doing.

"I should accept you as who you are," Jungkook continued. He straightened to put some distance between them and Jimin allowed him. "And you have to do that too. I'm an unmated omega and I have some shortcomings because of who I am. We are so different, but aren't emotions and feelings supposed to be similar for us all?" he asked. "Being a purebred doesn't give you any immunity on that department, does it? You can get hurt too."

Jimin chuckled, noticing the omega was spot on. He nodded mutely.

"Mr. Park is kind and compassionate. He stepped into the shoes of a guardian when I had no one. I'd be lost without him. Then I saw you that night. You could have walked away, but you didn't. You didn't know me, but you went out of your way to protect me even after the incident. You took care of our education and security. You got rid of the media and handled the legalities," the omega listed. "That made me think, you would have at least some of Mr. Park's nature."

Jimin hummed. He didn't know what else to say. The alpha often came out as cold and arrogant. Only his close friends and family knew what type of person he was.

"You could have done it because of the goodness of your heart or you had other intentions. But you still did it. You saved two lives and changed our lives for better." He exhaled. "My wolf and I see you as a capable alpha. It's in our nature to feel attracted to you and react to your pheromones. Sometimes I don't have control over my actions and I can't help the way my wolf long for something I can't have yet." He averted his gaze. "You're a handsome alpha and in our eyes you're also our protector. I can't help the way I feel about you."

"Oh." Jimin wanted to say more but he felt spell bound, listening to the omega talk.

Taehyung's words replayed in his mind. He's been through enough in life. A guy like that is stronger than they appear to be. How did he know? He never bothered to ask then, but made a note to ask later.

"I'm aware of the power you hold over me. But there's a condition." He glanced down at his hands on the lap. "I won't be one of your hook ups." He took a deep breath, his features hardening with determination. "I won't let you hurt me with promises you can't keep. If you're able to hurt or break me, know that it's because I allowed you to."

Jimin nodded, fighting the smile that wanted out. Oh, he's feisty. I like that.

"I might be doing this because my dad and Mr. Park wanted me to. And...And I have my reasons, but I refuse to let you use me and discard me later. I've heard all about your promiscuous nature. If we are doing this, you have to promise me that I'll be the only omega in your life. I know I have a lot to learn and I'll never fit in even if I try, but what others say about me doesn't matter. What matters to me are your words and actions. The day you break your promise to me is the day I'll walk out of this arrangement."

Jimin smiled and this time he leaned, Jungkook looked at him expectantly. "I'll promise, but not now," he said. "I'll promise once I'm sure you can really handle me and you don't pass out on me when I'm trying to fuck you."

Jungkook grew red in his face, pushing him away but Jimin pulled him right back.

"Shy? I like that," he said huskily. "While I agree with everything you said, this is unchartered territory for us both, don't you agree? Bet I'm your first kiss and you don't know first thing about taking a knot." He hugged him tighter.

The omega swallowed, but his silence spoke for him.

Jimin buried his face into Jungkook's neck. "How about a trial period, hmm? I'll show you what it would be like to be my mate and then... you can decide."

Jungkook's eyes widened, lips parting. The alpha didn't miss the silent gasp he let out. The omega was sensitive. He loved that. The sounds he could draw from him.

"And obviously that'll involve sex." Jimin grinned. "I have to admit that I wanted to do you right then and there when I met you. You're a catch. Call me shameless, but I'd be a fool not to tap that booty when I have a chance. I go after what I want and now...I want you."

Jungkook made a protesting noise in his throat, but his sweetening scent told him that he was embarrassed but was also slightly aroused. Perhaps his omega was preening to learn that the alpha found them appealing.

"I want you, omega. In any way you'll let me have you. Usually, I don't give such consideration, but you're not just anyone. So I won't purposefully hurt you unless you give me a reason to do so," he warned. "I know this might bite me in the ass later and I really don't want to say what I'm going to say next." Jimin took a deep breath. "You can ask me to stop the car, leave you alone and I'll respect your choice. Nothing will change. I'll be your guardian after my dad and I'll see to that you've everything you need for the rest of your life. No strings attached. But if you do this, I promise I won't look at another while I'm with you; be it a trial period or a marriage. If you agree, I'd wanna possess you. Claim you in every way possible until my wolf is sated. I don't know where that would lead us both. As much as it pains me to say this, the choice is yours."

This time Jungkook lifted his gaze to look at him. A silence settled between them and seconds ticked to minute. Jungkook blinked, his lashes fluttered and nostrils flaring. His voice was calm when he spoke, "I accept." His gaze lowered. "I got nothing to lose right now. I'll only ask you of one thing."

"What is it?"

"Don't give me false hope only to take it away. If your feelings don't change after you had me, you must tell me. If you cannot imagine a future with me, then you should be upright honest with me." He glanced at him again. "Don't give me something to lose and be the reason for it."

Jimin sucked in a breath, eyes glued to the omega's face, reading all the storming emotions behind that brave façade. Jungkook was allowing himself to be vulnerable in front of him. "I promise." He cupped his face with both his hands, all traces of mischief wiped out from his demeanor. "I'll never hurt you intentionally and I won't use you or take this for granted."

Jungkook nodded, taking another deep breath. "Then, that's enough."

Maybe he was walking right into his doom, but looking into those eyes, Jimin decided it was worth it.

You won't regret this, Cherry Blossom. I hope I won't regret this either. 

209.

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A/N: Upcoming week is gonna be hectic bcos I'm getting back to work among other things. So I'll be see u with this au in a week or two.