Seojoon's sneer turned into a forced smile, his eyes betraying a mixture of anger and apprehension. "Fine, I accept your challenge, Jeongguk. But don't think this changes anything. The outcome will be the same."

"We will see" Jeongguk said.

"What is this?" Minseok let out. "This is ridiculous"

"It's the proper way" Jeongguk turned to Minseok.

"Trying to act brave" Minseok scoffed. "You are going to die, boy"

"You both plan to kill me anyway. So I would rather die with honour, fighting for my omega till my final breath"

Taehyung stood frozen beside Jeongguk, the conversation around him falling onto deaf ears.

Minseok, though visibly agitated, was bound by the laws of their pack. He couldn't deny the legitimacy of the duel. "So be it. The duel will take place tomorrow at dawn. In the pack's clearing."

Taehyung fell back to earth. "No! I refuse!" He shouted.

"Tae..." Jeongguk whispered.

"There need not be a duel" He looked at Minseok and Jeongguk. "I accept defeat. I will marry Seojoon, I told you. There is no need for anyone to die!"

"The duel is already accepted," Minseok muttered.

"Please, turn it down" Taehyung pleaded to Seojoon. "I will forever obey you and be your omega"

"Taehyung!" Jeongguk snapped.

"No" Taehyung seetehed. "You are not dying, Jeongguk. You can't fucking die like this!"

"If I don't do this, I will lose everything. I will lose my life to them and what is the meaning of my life to be killed in the hands of such dishonourable and evil bastards? And most importantly, I will lose you, and losing you would mean you will also lose your future and happiness. So excuse me for trying to fight for all of that"

"If it means you will live, I will do anything" Taehyung pleaded.

"A duel doesn't mean that I will die. You have such little faith in me"

"That's not-"

"Shut it!" Seojoon snapped, making everyone look at him. "Why is the omega talking when the alphas are talking business? This isn't your place to talk, omega"

"You will respect my omega!" Jeongguk growled. "Keep his name out of your filthy mouth"

Seojoon scoffed. "I can't wait to kill you with my bare hands. Be ready for your death tomorrow at dawn"

It dawned on Taehyung that he had no capability of stopping the duel. The duel had been accepted by Seojoon and there is no going back on that.

"No" Taehyung said. "In a week. Have the duel in a week"

"Who are you to decide that?"

Taehyung turned to Jeongguk. "Please" He whispered, "You're too weak right now"

Jeongguk gulped. "I propose that we have the duel in a week"

Seojoon grunted in anger. "Fine. You have one more week to live, Jeon"

Taehyung watched Seojoon walk past Taehyung and Jeongguk with a nod to Minseok, he walked out of the room. Jeongguk turned to Taehyung's father.

"You could've become a man with unlimited power if I wedded your son. You forget that I too have a pack ready to be reestablished in Busan. I could've given your pack more power than Seojoon even could've. But you kicked all that away" Jeongguk spat.

Minseok stayed silent at that.

"I'm taking your son. He's now the mother of my pups. He's mine" He glared at Minseok and took Taehyung's hand. Taehyung followed Jeongguk as he led the way out of the room slowly and with difficulty. The five of their friends shrugged off the grips of the alphas holding them and stood up, following Jeongguk and Taehyung.

The moment they were out of Taehyung's garden, Jeongguk's knees gave out.

"Jeongguk!" Taehyung called as Jeongguk collapsed on the ground. Their friends swarmed around him.

"I'm fine" Jeongguk breathed, trying to lift himself from the ground. Taehyung knelt beside him. "Let's get out of here quickly"

"Let's get you to a hospital," Namjoon said. "You don't look okay, man"

"Those alphas beat you up, didn't they? They're no match for you! Why did you not back away?!" Taehyung whined, a sob threatening to escape his throat.

"What else do I do? Let you be marked by that asshole?" Jeongguk snapped, his voice low.

Taehyung shook his head. "I'm sorry, this is all my fault" He looked at the five friends. "You guys got hurt too, all because of me"

Jimin knelt beside Taehyung. "We're fine, Taehyung. We came here to help you out. What friends would we be if we don't help you when you need it?"

"I'm so grateful" A tear rolled down Taehyung's cheek.

"Guys, let's go," Jin said. "Hoseok and I drove our cars here. I will take Jeongguk to the hospital"

Yoongi knelt beside Jeongguk, putting his arm around his friend. Namjoon too knelt on the other side and together they helped Jeongguk to a stand.

"Is anyone else injured?" Taehyung asked, standing up. The five men shook their heads.

"Then we should either go to the dorms or Yoongi's place," Jimin said.

"Taehyung and I will go to the hospital with Jin, you guys go and get your wounds treated," Namjoon said. "Yoongi, you don't look so good either. Get some rest"

"I will drive the rest of us," Hoseok said, making everyone nod.

Yoongi sighed. "Let's get out of here quickly"

The seven of them moved to where Jin and Hoseok's vehicles were parked, which was in the middle of the road. Jeongguk got in the backseat of Jin's car with the help of Namjoon and Yoongi.

"How did you know that we were in trouble?" Taehyung asked Jimin and Hoseok.

"Jeongguk called me when you disappeared and I didn't think much of it" Jimin said. "But he called again that you have been kidnapped and that he was on his way here so I called everyone else"

"We didn't have any time to get any weapons or anything like that. I didn't think it would be this bad, since it's your own pack. Never thought they would harm you, especially your father" Hoseok muttered.

"I didn't think either" Taehyung gulped. "He has become my enemy. I am still in denial that he wanted Jeongguk to die and to... make the rest of my life a living hell"

Hoseok squeezed Taehyung's shoulder. "Sometimes, blood isn't thicker than water"

Taehyung nodded.

"Tae, what did Jeongguk say about a pup?" Jimin asked.

Taehyung looked at Jimin with puppy-like eyes. "I might be pregnant"

"What?!" Jimin and Hoseok shouted at the same time.

"It's a long story, I will tell you guys later," Taehyung said as he heard Jin start the vehicle. "Gotta go"

Yoongi joined the three of them, wrapping a hand around Jimin's shoulder. "Then you should get checked when you're at the hospital," Jimin said, worry thick in his voice. "Confirm it"

Taehyung nodded. "I will"

"This sucks. You should be going for your checkups with your mother. She should be teaching you about pregnancy, as your mother. But she..." Hoseok trailed away.

"She doesn't have a drop of love for me" Taehyung muttered.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Jimin said.

"No, go take care of Yoongi" Taehyung said. "Besides, I have my alpha. I don't need my mother. All I need is him by my side"

Jimin nodded. "Tell me how it goes"

Taehyung nodded, bidding goodbye to the three friends, Taehyung ran to Jin's vehicle. He slid into the backseat beside Jeongguk and the aloha smiled at him.

"Are you okay?" Jeongguk asked.

"I am, as long as I'm with you" Taehyung whispered, wrapping his arms around the aloha.

"So am I" Jeongguk whispered, pressing a kiss onto Taehyung's temple.

Taehyung smiled. "Let's go"

-

Once they reached the hospital and took Jeongguk into the emergency room, Taehyung was ushered to clean the few wounds he had by Jin, despite Taehyung's refusal. Once Taehyung was treated and Jeongguk was taken into a cubicle by the nurses and a doctor, Jin and Namjoon left to get some food for the three of them. This was after an hour or so, once Jeonguk's wounds were treated and a tube was attached to his wrist which supplied saline into his body. Taehyung now sat on a stool next to his bed, holding Jeongguk's hand as the alpha slept.

Taehyung was lost in thought, his mind cluttered with everything that had happened during the day and the things that would happen in the future. His heart throbbed painfully and he felt helpless. With the chaotic noise inside the emergency room, he barely heard his name being called. He turned his head to see two women running towards him.

Taehyung stood up, carefully placing Jeongguk' hand on the bed. "Yeojoo" He whispered.

"Taehyung!" Yeojoo called again as she reached Taehyung. She wrapped his arms around her brother tightly.

"Yeojoo" Taehyung's voice cracked and he broke down. He sobbed into his sister's shoulder.

"Oh, Tae" Yeojoo whispered. "I heard from Jimin that you're here. I was so worried"

"I'm fine"

"What did Mom and Dad do?" She looked at Jeongguk. "Who beat Jeongguk up? Tell me everything"

And Taehyung did. Yeojoo and her fiance, Minyee, listened attentively, offering him comforting words in the midst.

"I'm sorry, I ruined your plan and you guys are supposed to enjoy your engagement but..." Taehyung sibbed. "I ruined everything"

"Yes, you fucked up, Taehyung. Couldn't control your dick. You did make our plan flop" Yeojoo said. "But what's done is done. I'm just surprised about how our parents acted. I mean, you're their son. How could they treat you like this? As if they were possessed by some deamon"

"They have always hated me for being an omega. And I just realized that Father only wants to sell me off" Taehyung whispered. "The moment he realized that I, his product, is damaged, he tried to deceive Seojoon to quickly mark me and claim me his. To get the marriage over with so there would be no going back"

"Before he finds out about Jeongguk or how you're not a virgin" Yeojoo muttered.

Taehyung nodded. "He realized that no new person would buy his damaged product. I am of no use to him, if he can't sell me off and get something in return. I had some hope that he would help me out of this marriage but I realize now that he wouldn't have done much, anyway. He would find a different way to make some use out of me"

Yeojoo ran her fingers through his hair.

"It's like he sees that you hadn't lived up to his expectations so he discards you like you are no longer his son," Yeojoo's fiancee said.

"Yes" Taehyung muttered. "I crushed all his expectations towards me and he wanted revenge. He was ready to lock me up until the day of the wedding, Yeojoo. Mom wanted Seojoon to forcefully mate me"

Yeojoo nodded. "I'm still in denial. But I can imagine father doing that. He uses those men for such gangster shit all the time" she shook her head violently. "And mom... is she even human? I can't believe this, truly. How could she want that for you? Shouldn't parents wan their children's happiness above all?"

"Mom treatedme like a burden... an abomination since the day I was born, after all" Taehyung gulped down a sob.

"And you're pregnant," Minyee said with worry reflected on her face. "Like you don't have enough problems"

"Did you get it checked?" Yeojoo asked.

"No, but I will once Jeongguk wakes up and is feeling better"

Yeojoo sighed. "I tell you to spend your heat together with him and you end up getting pregnant! I understand this is your first relationship but must you be so fucking stupid to fuck without a condom?!"

"I'm sorry, okay!"

"Have you decided to keep it?" Yeojoo asked.

"Yeojoo!" Minyee frowned at Yeojoo.

"What?! He's only 22! He hadn't finished his studies and he should think of whether he could manage university with a pup or if he is going to change his dreams and ambitions because of an untimely and unwanted pregnancy"

"I haven't thought about that" Taehyung whispered.

Minyee placed her hand on Taehyung's knee. "Love, if you decide to keep the pup, know that you have us. We can be your babysitters when you need it, right?"

Yeojoo sighed. "Sure"

"This is the time when your mother should be with you and guide you," Minyee said. "But I know some people do not have the privilege of such a person in their life"

Taehyung nodded.

"Besides, your mother isn't an omega. There is no way for her to know about the struggles we omegas go through"

"True" Taehyung whispered.

"I helped out my big sister through her pregnancy when I was in university so it's safe to say that I know a shit load about it" Minyee's voice was soft and comforting.

"Yeah Minyee's like the Wikipedia for omega pregnancies" Yeojoo let out a small chuckle.

"So as your sister, I want you to know that I will teach you everything you need to know. I am going to help you through this, okay? You're not alone in this" Minyee whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind Taehyung's ear.

Taehyung broke into teas once again, gaining a hug from Minyee.

"Jeongguk is a good guy. He will support you no matter what decision you take" Yeojoo said. "But if you decide to keep the pup, I and my fiance are always here for you. I mean, I will be here for moral support since I don't know shit about omega pregnancies. But Minyee is a pro so you can rely on her all you want"

"And I'm only one call away, okay?" Minyee said.

"Thank you" Taehyung sobbed.

Yeojoo lovingly stroked Taehyung's hair as they sat in the waiting area, hundreds of people passing them by with each passing minute.

"Oh, I see a nurse go into Jeongguk's cubicle. Looks like he's awake" Yeojoo said, making Taehyung draw away from Minyee's embrace.

"Let's go see your baby daddy"

🌸

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