My Chimmy (my kitten) is sick. She has fever and has been vomiting all day. I'm staying awake to keep her hydrated and keep watch. Been stress writing since evening. I wrote this chapter earlier this week and wanted to add more but my heart isn't just here to do it the way I wanted. So editing and posting what I had. Please keep her in your prayers :( Also, please take care.

***

"The details you requested regarding the people Taehyung killed are in this file." Namjoon handed him a black folder. "The people directly involved are all dead, as are some of their close associates. Some families dropped the investigation but two of them are still looking into it. They just know the omega has dark hair and smells like roses."

They were in the back of his car, driving toward the hotel where Jimin's show would take place today. Namjoon sported an easy smile so Jungkook knew things weren't that serious but he couldn't help the way he felt when it came to Jimin.

Jungkook's fist clenched around the folder, jaw grounding as he let out a growl. His scent grew spicier with a hint of anger. "Dispatch the alpha team. Handle the threat." He looked outside his car's window. The traffic was mild this afternoon compared to yesterday. The venue was drawing closer. "Make it look natural."

"Sure." Namjoon nodded, pulling out his phone to relay the necessary orders. "Taehyungie is clever. He set fire to the school office and destroyed their server before he left." He puffed his chest with pride. "So they don't have Jimin or Taehyung's photo with them." Then he sighed. "I just wish he had come to us instead. I know the code wouldn't have permitted us to help Jimin, but we would have found a way." He looked sad. "I wish they didn't have to go through what they did."

Jungkook's throat tightened and he nodded, sharing the same sentiment. "Anything else?"

"Got a word from Italy." He scoffed. "Isabella didn't take the news well and is still hell-bent on becoming your mate. Her father called to apologize saying La Costa Nostra has nothing to do with her actions."

"Spineless bastard. Selling his daughter for the sake of the gang now, huh?" Jungkook scoffed. "He won't have a daughter to carry his bloodline forward if she so much hurt a hair in his body."

Namjoon chuckled. "Oh, I told him exactly that," he replied. "That Jimin has three brothers. She'd have to get through us and a very territorial alpha before she even gets anywhere near Jimin."

Jungkook huffed, pleased with his response. "What about Kang?"

"There are a few new recruits with a background that's too clean," he said. "I let them be for the time being because if we acted that would alert our enemy."

Soon they were entering the hotel, nodding their heads and acknowledging the greetings from the staff and familiar faces. The ballroom where the show was held was fully packed when he arrived. Jungkook was early to overlook the security arrangements.

"Look more into them. They shouldn't be anywhere near the ballroom or in Jimin's vicinity," he warned.

"I will. Go ahead. I need to check the guest list one more time." Namjoon walked away.

The ballroom was decorated just like how they would decorate any corporate event—simple and in all white. In every corner, there was a banner of the orphanage. It was otherwise a boring event if not for the opening show that would start in just a few minutes.

He hadn't seen Jimin all morning and yesterday because of how busy he had been. Jungkook couldn't wait to see the omega. He ignored the curious glances thrown his way. Well, normally Jungkook couldn't be bothered with an event as small as this. So the reporters assembled to cover the event were curious. He glanced around the room, scanning for any threat.

Footsteps hurried toward him. "Jungkook." Namjoon pulled him aside by grabbing his elbow.

The bristling alpha inside him quieted as soon as he got a whiff of roses emanating from Namjoon. Their mother normalized it for Jimin to scent all the Kim family members and be scented in return before he left for work every morning.

"He's here."

"Who?" His brows creased.

"Minhyuk," he hissed under his breath. "He has an invitation."

Jungkook ground his jaw so tight that he felt he would crack his teeth if he ground any harder. "He has an invitation," he repeated.

Namjoon nodded. "We only have the control of the venue, not who is being invited. I just checked the guest list and he was added last minute."

He turned his face toward Namjoon, leaning forward to inhale more of his omega's scent that now mixed with the patchouli scent of the alpha.

"Make sure he doesn't get anywhere near my omega."

Namjoon's expression tightened and he nodded. "They won't get anywhere near him."

Jungkook took a few more deep breaths before they left the place. When he approached the front, the blood froze in his veins upon the sight of one person he despised the most. Kang Minhyuk.

"Jungkook," Namjoon called under his breath and Jungkook toned his spiking scent and anger down.

"Jungkook-ssi, what a surprise!" Minhyuk stood from his table with a forced smile on his lips. "Didn't think the prestigious president Jeon would be in a humble place like this."

Jungkook scoffed but kept his emotions in check. He didn't become the kingpin for anything. "I can say the same. A man who has never spent a penny on something as close to a charity is here today."

Thank God, he used a scent blocker.

Minhyuk laughed. "What can I say? People can have a change of heart, you know."

He hummed. "Well, that's good then. Can't tell if you're here to give or..." He leaned closer. "Beg...for one."

Minhyuk's fake smile fell. "On the contrary to your belief, I don't lack anything, Jeon." His hand tightened around his glass dangerously. "I can very well afford to give them enough to feed them for years."

Jungkook scoffed this time. "Ten years ago, you were imprisoned for stealing," he said without missing a beat just as Namjoon grabbed an appetizer along with hot sauce from a passing waiter. "You were arrested for stealing fifty-thousand won. That's my cat's daily expense." He tilted his head. "You may pretend all you want, Kang. But you'll never be where I am."

Minhyuk growled. Before he could respond, Namjoon cut in—

"Why don't you take a seat?" He gestured to the seat he sat before. "The opening ceremony will begin shortly."

Minhyuk schooled his features. "Of course, the opening ceremony." He licked his lips, his eyes turning sultry. "Can't wait."

Jungkook wanted to gouge his eyes out. Once again, before he could respond something red flung onto Minhyuk's eyes. He growled louder, clawing at his face with a painful howl.

Jungkook bit the inside of his cheeks, suppressing the laughter. Namjoon was cunning.

"Oops, sorry," Namjoon apologized with a most innocent face. "My hand slipped."

Minhyuk's men closed in hurrying the howling alpha out of the ballroom.

"Well done, hyung."

Namjoon shrugged, licking his fingers clean. "I'm not gonna let that bastard ogle my brother when his mate is just a few feet away."

Jungkook slanted a glance. "I know right." He grinned before turning around and leaving the stunned alpha behind him.

The alpha inside him, however, was grumbling, not wanting to share his omega with anyone else. Jungkook tamped it down. They didn't live in the past anymore. His omega could very well do whatever he was capable of doing. As an alpha, his duty was to provide and protect, not stop or get in the way.

What kind of alpha would I be if I don't let my omega do what he wants?

He was lost in thoughts throughout the opening note and the brief welcome speech before the host announced the opening performance. Namjoon nudged him and his eyes snapped to the stage where blue lights emanated from all directions.

https://youtu.be/FpAAwkLfsmg

Soft notes of a piano began to play in the background with several dancers appearing on stage with a white cloth or more like gliding on stage while they held the thin material. They glided smoothly crisscrossing across the stage. When they retreated, Jimin emerged from behind the material like a flower, dressed in all white.

Jungkook and his wolf were enthralled. He sat hypnotized as the omega moved. His body moved as if he was one with the beat. The music flowed like a soft stream and the omega moved as if he was one. He couldn't tell if the omega was dancing or floating.

Jungkook wasn't someone who ever deeply analyzed dancing or what the performers tried to convey. For this, however, he couldn't help it. From the moment the dancers appeared, he was immersed.

He never thought it was possible to express so many things through dance and when the music ended, he was still staring dumbly trying to comprehend everything. It wasn't enough. He wanted more. No. He needed more.

Minhyuk came back after the performance ended and Jungkook grinned deviously. Ah, what wouldn't he give anyone to make it all happen again so he didn't witness the second performance.

Namjoon leaned in, speaking in his ear. "Do you think I can source more hot sauce? More like a bucket so I can dumb it in his head and make him leave this place altogether?"

Jungkook beamed, briefly considering it. He glanced around and decided they had a reputation to maintain. "Think of some other way."

Namjoon grunted and sat back in his seat. Yoongi and Hoseok were somewhere in the venue keeping an eye on everything. So it was just him and Namjoon at the table. Taehyung as usual was with Jimin. He refused to leave the omega's side and Jungkook appreciated having him closer to Jimin than anyone else.

The event was a blur with a lot of entertainment activities as the charity auction went on. He noticed the matron of the orphanage making rounds and talking to everyone there. Even Minhyuk made some donations. Jungkook scoffed at that, hoping the bastard didn't take it back from the poor woman.

After what felt like hours, it was time for Jimin's second and last performance. There was a sudden commotion that garnered his attention and he noticed Kang grabbing the waiter's collar with force, growling in his face. His expensive suit was now soaked with red wine.

The alpha flicked his glance toward Namjoon who smiled sheepishly and waved his phone. He shook his head, watching Kang leaving the room with a string of curses followed by his minions. Jungkook turned his attention to the stage.

https://youtu.be/e1OGaveZ0ug

Jimin once more appeared on stage this time in a black costume. Jungkook was once again mesmerized as the music began to play in the background. He didn't know what the theme was or what was Jimin trying to convey. However, when the performance was over, there were tears in his eyes and the rounds of applause were deafening.

The alpha preened. His omega deserved every applause and every praise. The moment Jimin disappeared behind the stage, Jungkook shot out of his seat.

"I'm going to meet him."

Then he was off. He needed to see his omega. Tell him how good he was and how much he loved witnessing his performance. And reward him for his hard work.

***

Taehyung's hawk-like eyes scanned every inch of the venue. Yoongi was beside him while Hoseok guarded the other exit. There were others too but his wolf was high on alert for some reason. He wasn't one to ignore his wolf's instincts.

When the performance ended, he caught something in his peripheral vision and the corners of his lips lifted to form a sneer. "Stay with Jimin," he said to Yoongi. "Don't let him out of your vision." His gaze snapped to the alpha. "I mean it. I'll gouge your eyes out even if you so much as blinked."

Yoongi's eyes widened, but he wisely kept his mouth shut taking in his tense form. He nodded curtly and pulled his gun out, hurrying toward Jimin.

Taehyung walked casually through the crowd, eyes scanning diligently. Two minutes later, he spotted them. Huddled together in a corner were two wolves in waiter uniform, talking to each other. Their gaze slid to the stage every few seconds as one pressed a hand to his ears, lips barely moving as he updated whoever was on the other end.

The alpha smirked. "Gotcha," he whispered.

The men were so focused on the task that they didn't notice the alpha stalking them like he would with prey. His scent was blocked and his footsteps were silent. He slid right behind them with a vicious smile.

"Hello, gentlemen," he addressed them. "Can I get a glass of wine?"

The men whirled around with an alarming look. Too late. Taehyung attacked, his movements a mere blur as he hit their neck, silencing them effectively and pulled them behind the curtain where he snapped their necks.

He was in a corridor, which was made into a temporary space where they stored the food items and beverages to serve the event-goers.

Just as he straightened his suit, three more men emerged from the adjacent room, lips peeled into a snarl. He tackled the first and was about to hit the next when a blur of black whizzed past him, decking the guy first. He scoffed and turned to handle the guy in his hand.

When he turned, the men were already down. Jungkook dusted his hands in his pants with a smirk. He cocked his right brow as he eyed the men Taehyung had taken down. "Ah, I was late to the party. Three to two." He clicked his tongue.

"Mine is three," Taehyung smirked as more men emerged this time with weapons. Both moved with practiced ease. Jungkook was faster. He had improved a lot and his movement was quick, barely visible to the human eye.

"Three to five you slowpoke," he called over his shoulder.

Taehyung huffed. "It's five to five, asshole."

More were coming. "Six to five," Jungkook called.

"Six to seven," Taehyung grunted.

They kept advancing. Some men were retreating as soon as they saw them approaching. They ran through the multiple corridors. Jungkook nodded at Taehyung and they took off in different directions. Jungkook's guards had now joined the fight and subdued two men before Taehyung had even reached. But he kept going, thrilled with the chase, keeping count of the men he was taking down.

It didn't take long before they had the situation under control without any gunfire involved. He ran into Jungkook at the meeting point.

"Fifteen to seven." Jungkook grinned.

"Fifteen to fourteen and that's because the guards took them down before I was there."

Jungkook shook his head. "Nope. I still won." He grinned.

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Fine. Whatever helps you sleep peacefully. Now go and see Jimin. Don't you have something better to do than compete with me here?"

Jungkook huffed. "I was protecting my mate."

"I had the situation handled," he retorted.

"Right. Whatever helps you sleep peacefully, you sore loser." Jungkook was off with that and Taehyung huffed.

Jimin was safe, that was all that mattered, but it felt great to fall back into old habits with his best friend. He didn't think it'd be possible to have Jungkook back in his life, but life worked in different ways. He grinned as he turned to Namjoon who entered the room with a grim look.

"Kang flew the scene with his tail tucked between his legs," he growled.

"What's new?" Taehyung shrugged. "What are we gonna do next?"

"I need to report to the council. Now that he has publicly tried to abduct Jimin, we will make our move."

Taehyung nodded. "Okay. I'm gonna head home. Call me if you need anything."

Namjoon nodded. "Yeah. Go on. Tell mom I'll be late."

"Will do."