Chapter 30
Thanks for waiting patiently. I've been busy with work so didn't get much time to sit and write long fics. Besides, we are nearing the end and I'm still figuring what I want to do with this story and which direction I want this to go. So upcoming updates will be a bit delayed as I slowly write it. Don't worry. I don't abandon my stories. I always finish them though I take time to figure them out. Happy reading!
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"So you're telling me that you just lured him to the warehouse and packed him into a sack before throwing him into the car's trunk?" Jimin asked with wide eyes. "Really? I thought you would put a gun to his temple, cuff him and do all those jazz." He waved his hands around frantically, speaking breathlessly. "And what about his men? How did you even manage this? And you did this all while I was sleeping? I didn't even realize you left!"
Jungkook laughed, cupping his face with both hands to kiss the tip of his button nose. "That's exactly how it went, sweetheart. Your mate is capable of doing things worse than this." He put a hand around his shoulder and steered him to the patio where they had steaming dinner laid out in the backdrop of the garden. "You gave me something special, and I wanted to prove myself worthy of you."
Jimin's omega preened inside him, puffing its chest. Heat rushed to his cheeks. Alpha is so thoughtful, it mused.
"You already proved enough." He pouted with a soft punch to his ribs. "Tell me more," the omega whined.
Jungkook pulled the chair for him to sit before taking his seat in front of him. "We had snipers on the roof. They took out his men when he stepped inside the warehouse while my men inside took out the rest of the men."
"Oh." Jimin cocked his head to the side. "Sounds too easy."
"It was," Jungkook agreed. "Minhyuk didn't see it coming, and we had the element of surprise. Unfortunately, he was greedy and didn't think about the possible consequences before jumping at the opportunity." He leaned back to cross his legs at the knee. "When you're in this line of business, the first rule is not to trust anyone or anything around you. Suspect even your shadow. Ask questions, observe and watch every step." He gestured for Jimin to eat.
Jimin was too excited to focus on the food, but he took a bite nonetheless, gaze focused on his alpha.
Jungkook elegantly scooped the pasta, chewing it and washing it with white wine. "Minhyuk was a lowly thief before joining a gang. Becoming the head of Black Mambas was pure luck. He was at the right place at the right time."
Jimin continued to eat, but his gaze was glued to Jungkook's face. "So he wasn't that powerful?"
His alpha shook his head with a laugh. "He liked to believe he was, but in our world, power and respect are earned. He was nothing more than a mushroom sprouted after a day's rain. He took over the gang after the boss was killed in an attack. The others followed because they didn't know where to go, and Minhyuk had risen to become an underboss with some lackeys by his side when it happened. So he was somewhat in a respectable hierarchy within the gang."
Jimin drank his water and wiped his mouth. "I don't know how these things work. Taehyungie never spoke about these things."
Jungkook hummed. "We are born into this, Jimin. Once you come in, there is no way out. Our families have been in this for generations, and we are taught as soon as we can talk and walk. It's in our blood. So a rookie like Minhyuk, no matter how cunning and manipulative he is, stands no chance against us."
"Oh."
"Recently, he came into some money. We heard he found his old boss's safe and managed to access his money. The sudden wealth made him feel invincible, and he pretended that he rose to sit equally at a table with us," Jungkook scoffed. "Things just don't work that way, Jimin-ssi. Just because one is a leader doesn't mean he is capable of the leadership."
Jimin nodded in understanding. "Did you find anything about Isabella?"
Jungkook shook his head. "She is to be left alone for a few days to rot alone with her thoughts. We will keep her alive, but torturing isn't gonna break her. As much as a spoiled brat she is, Isabela exactly knows how things work. Of course, she'd be hoping for her family to come to get her."
"You're going to weaken her body and then her will," he surmised.
His alpha smiled. "Exactly. She doesn't know her family and refuses to get involved. They have a lot to lose and are in no position to wage war against us. Not when the fault is at their side."
Jimin nodded in understanding. He knew about the mafia code. He learned about it as soon as he was pulled into this because he wanted to be ready to face anything that might come his way.
Soon they finished their dinner, and Jimin finally glanced at the alpha. His mood sobered, and he cleared his throat. It was time to rip the Band-Aid off and address the elephant in the room. He was aware of the council's demand and knew the alpha was tense.
The tension was palpable even between his parents though no one addressed it. Taehyung looked closed off though he masked his emotions so well. Jimin knew something was off but pretended everything was fine.
"Alright, I'm ready," he said. "I know there's more, and you made me eat first because you know whatever this is bothering you is going to affect me."
Jungkook's features hardened, and he nodded. He stood, offering his hand for him to take. Jimin did so without further question. Together they headed to the Kim family den. As they approached, Jimin was noticed the thick tension in the atmosphere.
"Before we go in, I want you to know something."
Jimin nodded, schooling his features and trying to calm his nerves. He inhaled the air infused with the alpha's scent and moved closer. Jungkook immediately threw an arm around his shoulder, holding him close.
"Aunt Kim had many failed pregnancies that resulted in severe depression," Jungkook continued. "She didn't take it well when Taehyung left us because her omega saw it as a loss of a child. It took countless therapies to bring her back."
Guild flooded him, but the alpha was already kissing his temples.
"After you returned with Taehyung, she had been the happiest." Jungkook caressed his cheek with his thumb. "I won't let anything happen to you, no matter what happens."
Jimin nodded emotionally.
"I'll always have your back, omega. Now, are you ready?"
He wasn't, but he knew he couldn't push this for longer. So he nodded. "Yes."
Everyone jumped to their feet as soon as Jungkook pushed the door open. Jimin steeled his will and told himself that he should be strong for whatever was to come. He trusted Jungkook and knew they wouldn't let anyone take him away. However, he was worried that it wouldn't be an easy journey.
His parents glanced at Jungkook expectantly. They suddenly looked too old and weak, as if they had aged several years overnight. On the other hand, Seokjin, Namjoon and Taehyung looked like they could hardly control their emotions. Yoongi wore an impassive mask as usual, while Hoseok looked like a nervous wreck, constantly shifting from one foot to the other.
The alpha turned to face him. "The council sent us a notice and challenged the grounds of your blood bond with Taehyung," he started. "So we ran a few tests to be safe." He glanced at the others. "However, Seokjin hyung accidentally switched the blood samples. Because of that, we found something groundbreaking. Something that changes everything as we know it."
In his peripheral vision, Taehyung straightened. Jimin frowned, slanting a cursory glance around the room. The alpha's expression did not alter. He looked cautious. "W-What did he find?"
"He found that you and Taehyung aren't blood bonds," Jungkook replied, his intense gaze fixated on him. His calming pheromones washed over him as his heart slammed against his ribcage. "You're biological brothers."
Jimin gasped, his eyes growing wide like saucers. Biological brothers?
"Aunt and Uncle Kim are your real parents, Jimin. Namjoon and Seokjin are your elder brothers."
"W-What?" Their mother gasped. Her hands flew to cover her mouth, and her mate immediately put an arm around her.
His mother was frozen, her emotions a wreck as she cried, looking between all of them. Jimin's wolf howled, urging him to go to her, but he couldn't move a muscle. He wasn't an orphan. He had parents. Not adopted but his biological parents. And Taehyung wasn't just his blood bond. He was his real brother.
"It's true, mom." Seokjin approached her. "We ran a DNA test to be sure." His eyes shone with unshed tears. "He is ours mom. Our blood. But only you can shed more light into this. Because he and Taehyung are of the same age. Is there something we don't know?"
"S-Same as T-Taehyung?" His father stepped forward. "You said both are the same age."
"Yes, dad. That's correct," Seokjin confirmed.
The older man stumbled, his knees giving out as he plopped on the couch behind him. "Our little moons," he whispered.
"Moon?" Namjoon frowned.
"Oh, God!" His mother cried.
"Dad?" Namjoon shook him gently. "Please...this is important. Tell us."
"O-Our Taehyung wasn't an only child. Your mother was carrying triplets." His hands trembled as he glanced at Jimin. "One alpha and two omegas. The first omega in our family. We used to call them our little moons. We were so elated to find out we would finally have an omega in our bloodline."
"What happened?" Namjoon asked.
"Only Taehyung survived." He covered his mouth. "Oh, God! T-The children...w-we thought...w-we thought. The doctor said...w-we saw them. T-They weren't breathing. T-They...Oh, God..." His hands trembled.
"Obviously, one of them is standing in front of you," Namjoon said. Then, the mood in the room shifted. "Where is the other baby then?"
Jimin couldn't breathe. Jungkook's hand in his lower back was the only thing that was grounding him until it couldn't. Then, the world shifted on its axis and his knees buckled as a keening cry from his mother reached him. Taehyung was there first, catching him and pulling him to his chest. Jimin choked on a sob.
"M-My brother?"
Taehyung nodded, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yes."
"W-We are b-brothers."
"We have always been." He chuckled.
"You found me," Jimin cried. "You found me all those years ago."
"I-I did."
"My baby!" They both turned as Mama Kim stumbled to them, falling on her knees before engulfing him with a loud cry. "You are alive. My moon. My little moon is alive."
His father approached him slowly. "Our moon," his voice cracked. "Forgive your dad. He failed you. He failed to protect you." He bowed in front of him.
Jimin shook his head, hugging him. "Don't say that. Please...you didn't fail," he cried. "You accepted me as your son even when you thought I was an outsider."
"I should have protected you better." His father's body shook with sobs. "None of this would have happened if I wasn't careless."
Jimin shook his head again. "Dad, you're not careless. I don't know what happened, but you're the best alpha. Best dad."
The man, who always showed him silent support, teaching him to control his wolfish instincts. The man, who just laughed at him when he unintentionally got aggressive and tore through his office chair. The man, who gently scratched his ears and called him moon when he thought he was asleep.
The omega cried harder. Oh, how he wished why this man wasn't his birth father. How he soaked up every drop of affection, he showed him over the past few months, unaware that he was indeed his father. His father held him in a tight embrace, his scent blanketing them like a fur blanket.
His wolf howled in his mind. It clawed at his chest to be let out, urging him to comfort their parents, who were hurting. It killed him to see their tears. He could only imagine what they might be feeling now. Once upon a time, they were angry at him for stealing Taehyung.
His father pulled back after a while, wiping his face with his hands while he continued to sniffle. "My child. I'm so sorry. I love you so much."
Jimin could only cry silently as he stayed in his embrace. His mother also hugged him from the side, scenting him gently and stroking his hair.
His father suddenly perked. "Does this mean our other son is alive? Where is he?" He looked around. "Did you find him too?" He grabbed Jimin by his shoulders. "Jimin-ah, do you know anything?"
Jimin's mind reeled with too many thoughts at once. He didn't remember a brother. He had always been alone until Taehyung came along. He shook his head as his mother's cries grew louder while holding him.
"Jimin grew up in an orphanage before being put in foster care," Taehyung spoke. "He doesn't know anything, dad. He would have told me if there was something."
"Oh, my baby suffered alone all these years," his mother cried. Now that the initial shock had settled, she was all over him. "My little moon, oh God! What have we ever done for him to suffer so much?"
"Mom..." Jimin's voice cracked.
"I was a fool," she continued. "What kind of mother am I? I couldn't recognize my own child."
"No. No. Don't say that." Jimin grabbed both her hands. "You accepted me into your den even when you didn't know who I was."
"My baby," she sobbed. "My precious moon. Your brother found you. Taehyung found you. Gods...he was protective even when you were inside my womb," she sniffled.
Jimin blinked. "He did?"
"You were both weak, and for some reason, you weren't taking nourishment from me as much as you should have. I was weak too. Bedridden for most of my pregnancy. We thought you wouldn't make it. But the doctor said that the alpha child was nourishing the twins. He was sending cells to repair the damage it was creating. He was taking care of his siblings in his own way," she continued. She wiped her tears. "He kept you both alive."
"Mom..." Tears streamed down his cheeks. He didn't know how to respond to that. He owed his life to Taehyung.
She turned to Taehyung. "You found your brother." She shook her head. "Oh, God! You fought us all to protect him. You left this home, left all of us behind so you could be by his side."
Jimin cried. Yes, Taehyung did find him. He never understood why the alpha was so fond of him and why he expected nothing in return. He used to wonder how easy it would have been to fall in love with Taehyung and probably mate him. But it never worked that way.
Even during their heats and ruts, they sought each other for comfort but never once in a sexual way. Whatever compromising situation they were in, that thought never crossed their minds.
Taehyung had always been protective of him, and Jimin, too, saw him as his pack alpha, his only family. Now it all made sense. In some way, their wolves had connected, recognizing the bond they weren't even aware of. Yet, even without their knowledge, they had forged a strong bond that brought them this far.
Jimin crawled to Taehyung's lap, burying his face into his neck. His best friend and his protector have been his brother all along. And the one he shared the womb with. He laughed. "So you have always been there, huh?" he sniffled. "Even when we were just a cell." He pulled back with more tears wetting his cheeks. "Thank you. Thank you for finding me."
"I'll always find you," Taehyung's voice broke.
"You know this doesn't matter," Jimin said. "Even if we weren't related by blood, you were and always will be my brother."
"I know. It's the same for me."
"It changes nothing," Jimin repeated. "But Taehyungie...I don't know if it's possible to love you more than I do now. But I do. I really do. I'd do anything to protect you."
"Likewise."
"I can't believe we were furious at Taehyung for leaving our home for a faceless and nameless omega," Seokjin said. "Though we weren't happy, we wanted Taehyung to have his freedom and live the life he wanted. When they brought you in, I could see why Taehyung would want to protect you. You were so fragile and delicate. Even mom wouldn't leave your side of the bed when you were unconscious. We thought we were being protective because you were important to Taehyung." He scoffed softly. "Now it all makes sense. Our wolves must have sensed some connection."
"We need to find out what happened to the other baby," Namjoon said. "For all we know, he could be out there suffering god knows what."
"God! My babies," his mother began to cry again.
"Yoongi hyung, where is the doctor? Did you find anything?" Jungkook asked.
"We are still looking," he replied. "He quit working in the hospital a few months after their birth and moved to his hometown. No one knows where he went."
Jungkook's fist clenched by his side. "He is involved."
"There's no other way this could have happened," Hoseok piped in.
"They showed us the babies," his father spoke. "Two silver-haired omegas. They were still born." He clutched his chest. "Oh, God! I didn't know. They were weak, and the doctor said he tried everything, but they didn't make it."
"What did you do with the bodies?" Namjoon asked. "Didn't you do the funeral?"
He shook his head. "Your mother couldn't bear to bury them. So we donated them to the hospital. The doctors said they would preserve the bodies and use them as reference for medical students."
Jungkook climbed to his feet. "Hoseok Hyung, take our men and go to the hospital. Check every record and see what you can find. But, most importantly, we need those bodies," Jungkook ordered.
"Yes, alpha." Hoseok nodded curtly and turned to the eldest in the room. "Uncle Kim, can you provide us with the records we would require to identify your sons?"
Jimin watched as his father nodded shakily before going to the closet. He looked at his mother. "I'm sorry, mom," he whispered. "I can only imagine how terrible you would be feeling now. Please...I'm safe now. I'm safe with you."
She nodded. "My puppy. My little moon. Mommy would never allow anyone to hurt you ever again." She cupped his face. "Oh, my child, I won't let you suffer again. I wish I could take all that pain away."
He smiled sadly. "We can't turn back time, mom. But I'm happy we found each other."
Hoseok soon returned with his father and left the room with a nod toward them. Yoongi followed. It was just Jungkook and the Kim family.
Jungkook approached them, his gaze fixated on Taehyung. "You're forgiven," he said. "I apologize I held you accountable for abandoning me, but I'm glad you did. I know I have said this before, but...." He knelt in front of him before baring his neck in submission. "Thank you for protecting my mate all these years. Thank you for bringing him home. Thank you for trusting me with his future. Please accept my apologies and childish tantrums. I gave you a hard time for no reason."
Jimin covered his mouth, hiding the gasp. Jungkook, their pack alpha, was now kneeling in front of his brother and submitting himself.
Taehyung left him to engulf Jungkook in a hug. "Don't," he said. "Don't ever do this again." Sobs raked his body. "You're my best friend. You have every right to be angry. I left you, and I broke my promise to you."
Jungkook wrapped his hands around Taehyung. "You had your reasons."
"Don't discredit your feelings or anything that ever happened," Taehyung cut him off. "You're not just my friend. You're my pack alpha."
Jungkook buried his face into his neck, his grip tightening. "I'm sorry. I blamed you for years. I despised you."
"Shut up."
But they were both crying, and Jimin couldn't help the soft sobs that escaped him. When they pulled back, they smiled at each other, brushing away their tears.
"I can't believe I could have met Jimin sooner if it wasn't for this fuckery," Jungkook scoffed. "I could have fallen in love sooner."
"What makes you think I'd let you court my brother, huh?" Taehyung pinched his side playfully.
"I'd have convinced you," Jungkook countered. "Would have camped outside your den until you all agreed."
Taehyung chuckled. "You're insufferable."
When Jimin glanced at his mother, he felt his wolf at ease. He scooted closer and curled to her side. No longer an outsider. He belonged with them all along. He closed his eyes and inhaled her calming scent. Jungkook was right, this would change many things, but they were stronger than ever.
This meant he was never an outsider. He was their blood. He was their pack. So Minhyuk and Isabela touched a pack member. Jungkook was in his right to punish them as he saw fit. The council could all go in flames, and he couldn't care less. He smiled softly as he felt his mom press a kiss on his head.
It was going to be okay. Everything would be okay.
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