Archive of Our Own

Taehyung hates it. He absolutely loathes the fact he’s here right now; in a garden with lush green grass, with a ton of people, watching a couple, he barely knows, get married. As much as he hates it, it’s better than where he should be right now, ‘cause he would instead jump off a cliff than be there.

The invitation came somewhat out of the blue, he had already planned on sending the rsvp back with ‘not going’ ticked, but that same week someone told him his alpha ex would be back in town. You can say that definitely didn’t tickle his fancy one bit. As much running as he does away from this ex, they just somehow bump into each other and it never ends well. So home Taehyung went, scribbling the ‘not going’ tick off, and doing a very bold tick in the ‘going’ box.

Taehyung adjusts his hat, following behind the rest of the guests to the supposed reception area. The venue of the wedding is out of the city - close enough for him to endure a drive over, but far enough for him to book a room at the lodge. He had googled the lodge prior to the visit and thought it looked pretty decent, and there’s a strawberry farm nearby he can kill time at tomorrow. He’ll look for everything and anything that will help prolong the time he isn’t back home and part of the statistic that says he’ll bump into this ex.

Everyone seems to know someone at this wedding, except for Taehyung. The scents are all new to him, and none of them are very nice to the nostrils and glands. Filing into the reception hall, it’s becoming more suffocating for him. Outside, the fresh air dulled down and masked the pheromones that are mingling together. Judging from how strong it all smells, Taehyung knows he’s got a week max before his heat hits - something he’ll face next week.

There’s a small table right at the door, a map of the seating arrangement painted on a refurbished mirror and propped up next to it. Taehyung finds his name easily, a table he had expected to be placed on. Table 13, nestled right at the corner of the room away from everyone else. A table to fill space, so to speak. He sighs, but grabs his name card and walks into the room. He doesn’t really have to look as he wanders over to the table, and he just hopes the food will be good.

Taehyung pulls out the seat at the corner of the table, a spot that gives him a good view of everyone else and of the dance floor. He sits there, trying to kill the itch to look at his phone and open the message his ex sent him this morning. Of course, he would try to reach out, and of course, Taehyung is struggling to squash his curiosity.

He reaches into his pocket-

“Hi, is this table 13?”

Taehyung pauses, looks up and almost coos at the angelic face in front of him. But no matter how angelic this face looks, Taehyung just-

“As you can see,” he smiles hesitantly pointing to the little placard at the centre of the table.

“Ah, I didn’t see that,” the newcomer says, pulling a chair out and sliding into it.

Don’t kill Tae, he doesn’t mean to be rude. There’s a headache starting, and the pheromones are making it worse - not to mention he hates it here.

“I’m sorry, that came out rather rude. Kim Taehyung,” he tries again, this time a softer smile on his face.

The stranger reciprocates, his face glowing. “Park Jimin. Don’t worry, I don’t really wanna be here either, it’s just I needed an excuse for the week.”

“That makes two of us. Ex back in town?” Taehyung shrugs.

“Nope, my overbearing and controlling mother who I cut off a year ago. Running away isn’t something I haven’t done before, so no biggie,” Jimin laughs.

Normally, Taehyung would find it extremely weird that someone is sharing some very touchy information with him at the first meeting, but with Jimin, it feels alright. There’s just this aura about the fellow omega - judging from his lilac scent, which Taehyung thinks suits him quite well. Jimin’s not awkward, and it’s making Taehyung feel just that much better.

“Table 13?” The two omegas look up, only now noticing the woodsy scent.

It’s easy on Taehyung, and it alleviated the pain from his headache slightly. Sitting here now, he wishes he had put some scent blockers on - especially knowing how spiked his scent can become before and during heat. Suppressants have never been something he likes. There’s too many cons to prolonged use, and he hates being cumbered with another thing to remember every day.

“Yep!” Jimin replies cheerfully, holding up the placard.

The alpha nods, taking a seat next to Taehyung - which Taehyung isn’t entirely happy about but he’ll live. The alpha is fairly good-looking, and Taehyung finds the arm filled with tattoos oddly attractive. He’s only ever liked clean alphas, so this is something new indeed.

“I’m Jimin, and this is Taehyung-ssi. Looks like we’re together for this dinner,” Jimin smiles, trying to urge the alpha to be a bit warmer than he seems.

“Jungkook. Jeon Jungkook. Looks like we are,” he says with a face devoid of emotion.

“Black is an interesting colour to wear at a wedding. Are you sure you weren’t meant to be at a funeral instead?” Taehyung says, and surprisingly the corners of Jungkook’s lips twitch upwards.

The alpha is donned with black slacks, and a short sleeved polo that has touches of grey. His shoes are no different, black down to the soles, and hair a deep raven. The only speckles of colour are from the tattoos on his arm, but they don’t do much to break up the black.

“I’m amused. But we’re here for a funeral, are we not?” Jungkook lifts a brow and Taehyung counters with a confused frown.

“How so? Weddings represent a new life,” Taehyung replies.

“It’s the death of life. The bride and groom just killed their freedom by marrying each other,” Jungkook shrugs, unfazed at the fact his words could come off as offensive to a traditionalist.

Taehyung, surprisingly, laughs at his words. There’s truth to it, but he would never be one to believe that.

“A bit morbid, don't you think?” Jimin pipes in.

“Let me guess, you’re one to believe in the existence of fated mates and bonds?” Jungkook asks, and it has Jimin growing pale.

It’s a simple question, but the omega seems to be strongly affected by it. Taehyung isn’t. He’s past the stage where he believes in wolflore. It used to be a dream of his to find his fated pair, mate them and feel the bond that is only so explicitly described in mythology books.

“I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with believing in such things,” Taehyung says, glancing at Jimin with a smile.

“To each their own,” Jungkook says blankly.

So far, the alpha is inducing a mix of emotions.

There’s the sound of footsteps approaching and the pair look up to see a couple. The omega, looking heavily pregnant, whilst the alpha guides him along.

“Namjoon, I’m fine.”

“You’ve been on your feet for too long, Moon,” the alpha replies, seemingly having not noticed the people at their table as he pulls out a chair for his mate.

“There’s nothing wrong with that! Besides, the obgyn said it’s the best way to get the pup out sooner,” the omega says, plopping onto the chair with a big sigh of relief - contrary to what he had just said.

“Not this soon! We’ve a wee while to go,” the Namjoon sighs, but one of exasperation before sitting down next to the omega and finally notices the three others already seated at their corner table.

Taehyung cooed at the exchange. He’s always dreamed of a doting husband and longs for a day when he can carry a pup of his own. For now, he’ll have to wait. Fated or not, he hasn’t met the man he wishes to mate; though there was a point he wanted to mate his ex, that’s before he woke up to the fact the alpha was a complete asshole.

“Oh, hello. We’re the Kim’s! I’m Namjoon and this is my lovely mate, Seokjin,” the alpha smiles, and Taehyung swoons at the appearance of those dimples.

“Hello, sorry you had to see my mate bubble wrapping me like that. Just because I’m pregnant, he thinks I can’t do anything myself,” Seokjin chuckles.

“You love the attention, Moon,” Namjoon looks at him fondly, and the omega blushes, unable to deny the allegations.

“I’m a fellow Kim,” Taehyung says, “Kim Taehyung. This is Jimin-ssi and Jungkook-ssi,” Taehyung introduces the others, tone varying slightly with the brooding alphas name.

“You three know each other?” Namjoon asks.

“No, not at all. We just met minutes before you arrived,” Jimin smiles.

“How far along?” Jimin asks, that angelic smile and gaze plastered on his face.

“Eight months yesterday,” Seokjin replies, “but it feels like it’s been a year carrying the pup around. They don’t tell you how heavy doing this really feels.”

“Hence the bubble wrapping,” Namjoon tacks on.

“Hence the bubble wrapping,” Seokjin sighs.

Taehyung looks over at Jimin who stares at the mates with admiration glimmering in his eyes.

“Milk it for as long as you can, Seokjin-ssi,” Jimin smiles.

“He already has been,” Namjoon rolls his eyes. He suddenly winces. Taehyung notices Seokjin’s arm stretched downwards - obviously pinching the alpha’s thigh.

“He says that, but he absolutely loves doing everything for me. If he could, he’d probably walk for me,” Seokjin side-eyes his mate, and it makes Taehyung smile.

Taehyung can see that the omega says it all in jest, and it makes Taehyung’s chest bubble. The two are just his dreams encapsulated. Needless to say, Taehyung merely wants what they want. The banter, the doting, everything comes with finding a nice alpha he can settle down with. Sadly, he hasn’t found one capable of meeting that criteria.

A beta, from what Taehyung can tell, begins to walk over their table. There’s a tired expression on his face, though he attempts to smile when he makes eye contact with Taehyung. Clad in a brown leather button up, he looks expensive and Taehyung believes that a good enough explanation for the tired eyes.

“Hello,” the beta greets, sliding onto the chair between Jungkook and Namjoon.

The others greet him, but as expected, the brooding alpha beside Taehyung doesn’t even offer up a cordial greeting to their table-mate. He simply gives a little nod.

There’s no opportunity to strike up conversation with the blonde beta, an alpha quietly joining their group with a small smile and a quiet hello - the opposite of Jungkook, really, though they share a similar taste for the colour black.

The group exchange names with the newcomers, coming to find out the quiet alpha seated next to Jimin is Yoongi, and the tired beta goes by the name Hoseok. They all offer up their greetings while Jungkook sits there staring mindlessly at nothing.

“So, how do you all know the newly weds?” Namjoon asks, breaking the silence that was threatening to engulf their corner table. The alpha smiles, uncapping a bottle of water he procured from somewhere, before handing it over to Seokjin who willingly takes it.

“I barely know them,” Taehyung speaks up honestly, noticing the way everyone seems a little apprehensive to answer the innocent question - one you’d expect to hear at least once at a wedding.

“They were my parents' neighbours back in my hometown. I think I had dinner with them once or twice. I have no clue why they even invited me, and to be honest I wasn’t going to come,” Taehyung shrugs, and his honesty makes his head ache a little more.

“Funny you say that, we weren’t going to come too,” Seokjin smiles, capping the bottle back up.

“They’re our neighbours now, in Seoul. We interacted a few times, but nothing that could have pressed them to invite us to their wedding. We thought they had made a mistake, but Joon asked them one day when they ran into each other and they said it wasn’t. Just for the sake of awkwardness, we decided not to go, but then my lovely mate thought it’d be a great way for me to get some leg stretching in, and yet here we are and he wants me to sit down anytime I’m standing up for any longer than two minutes,” Seokjin glares over at the alpha who smiles back sheepishly.

“To be honest, I didn’t consider the fact we’d be this close to the due date during the wedding,” Namjoon chuckles, “but hey, free food.”

Namjoon flags down a server carrying around canapés, and they all reach for some. With so many hands flying around, Taehyung just takes the whole tray and sets it in the middle of their table - setting aside the centre pieces.

“I was friends with the bride in university. We lost touch over time, so I was also surprised I was invited,” Jimin smiles, looking over to the presidential table that still sits empty.

“As Namjoon-ssi said, free food,” Jimin raises one of the pastries before taking a bite.

“I’m in a similar boat to all of you. I worked with the alpha briefly, the invitation was rather sudden,” Yoongi speaks, the alphas voice soothingly low.

“I guess we’re all just extras,” Jungkook suddenly speaks, and everyone looks in his direction, “we’re here to fill space. Just look around, everyone knows someone. They’re all significantly closer to everyone else than we are.”

“That’s not very nice,” Jimin frowns, despite feeling the same thing as the alpha.

“I’m only stating facts here. It’s clear none of us are close enough to be invited to this, and we’ve been put conveniently on the same table. The bride and groom are just using us to fill space, make it look like they know a lot of people. We’re nobodies here.”

Taehyung seethes. Despite how true Jungkook’s words are, he doesn’t like the way he’s being so blunt with his tongue. There’s not a care for what others think in the way he talks, and Taehyung wants to reprimand him for it but the MC suddenly announces the entrance of the couple and bridal party.

They all stand, applauding the group who come in. Taehyung catches Jungkook’s eye, throwing him a glare to which the alpha merely raises a brow, as if he were asking what.

Everything progresses, and table 13 remains silent - save for the occasional whispers that the expecting couple say to each other. Eventually the alpha gets up, and Taehyung’s eyes follow him with a glare.

“He’s strange,” Jimin whispers to Taehyung.

“We barely know him and he’s gotten on my nerves. Strange is just one way to put it,” Taehyung whispers back.

“Don’t mind him, he’s probably got something stuck up his ass for him to be like that,” Jimin smiles and Taehyung can’t help but smile back. The foul language does not suit the angelic face that Jimin has been blessed with, and Taehyung absolutely lives for it.

Another wave of pain shoots through Taehyung’s head, and he puts down the utensils and looks over at everyone on the table.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get some air,” he smiles, standing up, taking his small bag and glass of water with him, before making a beeline for the French doors leading out to the garden outside.

The fresh air is welcomed, and he stands there for a few beats just glad to be away from the horrible concoction that the pheromones make in the air. They should still be tolerable this far out from his heat, but today is just not doing him any favours.

Closing his eyes he inhales deeply, taking the occasional sip of water.

“I can smell you,” he doesn’t open his eyes.

“You don’t look too good, Taehyung-ssi,” Jungkook says, and that’s when Taehyung looks over at the alpha.

“I’m perfectly fine, thank you,” Taehyung says, forcing a smile though he wants so badly to lecture Jungkook for his hurtful words earlier on.

“There’s a bench over there if you need to sit down,” the alpha gestures to a place behind a shrub.

“I’ll be fine, just needed some air,” Taehyung replies, turning on his heel to walk back inside the hall. As he spins around, a sudden wave of nausea hits, and he finds his legs wobbling. The glass of water in his hands falls to the ground, shattering beneath him.

“Woah, careful,” a hand wraps around his waist, and he looks down at the tattoos sitting snugly around him. He looks up at Jungkook, and he wonders if he’s gone delirious to find this rude, yet somewhat concerned alpha, attractive.

Jungkook is far from Taehyung’s ideal type, but with further inspection of the alpha’s features, Taehyung finds some appeal. From the round eyes - though empty, they hold charm to them - all the way to the small mole sitting underneath the alpha’s lips. Perhaps the delirium from his heat is coming sooner, rather than later.

Coming to himself, Taehyung quickly unwraps Jungkook’s arm from around him and stands on his own two feet to face the alpha. “I didn’t need your help, thank you very much.”

“Taehyung-ssi, you looked like you were gonna faint. What did you want me to do? Let you fall to the ground?” Jungkook frowns.

“I don’t know, Jungkook-ssi. You confuse me,” Taehyung exhales loudly, closing his eyes at the way the alpha’s foresty scent soothes and aggravates him all at once.

“Me? Confuse you? I simply wanted to save you from the fall,” Jungkook replies, voice slightly more animated than the flat tone he had sported back inside.

“Yes! You! You confuse me. You were so up front and rude in there, not giving a damn about anyone on your table - don’t even bring up the ‘we literally just met argument.’ Courteous is what you should be to people you just met,” Taehyung speaks his mind, the words tumbling out like water at the floodgates of a dam.

“Now you’re being all nice. Please, choose your personality. Do you not give a damn, or do you care?” Taehyung asks, and he surprises himself by speaking so boldly to someone who is virtually a stranger to him.

“Before I answer that, Taehyung-ssi, let’s get you seated. You’ve been swaying for the past minute and it’s taken a lot of will-power to hold back from holding onto you again,” Jungkook says.

The omega gives in, too dazed to even notice the way Jungkook’s hand spots him from behind, leading him to the small garden bench behind the shrub. Taehyung sits down, and the relief is almost instantaneous.

“I apologise if I seem blunt, it’s simply the way I speak when I have a strong opinion about something. I know I’m not the only one who thinks table 13 is the ‘extras’ table,” the alpha explains, sounding rather unapologetic for his words.

“Extras table or not, you shouldn’t have said that. We’re all very distant relations to the bride and groom, luckily enough, but what if someone who felt close to them had been sitting there? They would have been offended, and if this had been in the past that wolf would have shown his anger,” Taehyung responds, still getting his bearings, hand clasped around the edge of the wooden bench.

“Well, lucky we don’t live in those times,” Jungkook scoffs.

Taehyung shakes his head. Maybe his heat is coming sooner than he thought. If so, he really shouldn’t be here right now.

“Of course you’re one to say that. It’s clear you’re not one for fated mates and love,” Taehyung scoffs, bringing a hand up to massage his temple.

“Who said I wasn’t?” Jungkook challenges with a raised brow.

“From the way you asked Jimin-ssi, you implied like it was delusion to believe in such things still,” Taehyung replies, eyebrows set into a frown.

“Hm, I guess. Love is an unstable emotion, hence why I don’t believe in finding it, or finding the one you’re meant to be with. People just milk you for what you have and leave you there dry. Before long, you’re loveless, broke, and ten times more unhappy,” the alpha says, walking over to a rose bush and plucking a rose out without cutting a finger.

“Doesn’t mean you squash one’s hopes to find one, and practically insult them,” Taehyung glares.

“I simply asked a question, not insulted.”

“In a condescending tone.”

“Did not.”

“Did too,” Taehyung counters, but winces at the pounding headache. Oh, what he’d give to be back at the lodge and lying down on that king sized bed in his room. He’d let himself slip into delirium that way.

“Told you, you’re definitely not okay,” Jungkook says, walking over to Taehyung and dropping the rose onto the garden floor, “Stay here, I’ll grab you a new glass of water.”

“Yeah, I’d rather not,” Taehyung smiles, beginning to stand up before a hand gently pushes him back down.

“Omega, you’re not well. Stay.”

Taehyung doesn’t budge, neither does he utter a word in retaliation to the alpha’s commands. So close to his heat, his wolf has better control of himself. With that, he listens to the alpha, watching the alpha disappear back inside the reception hall.

To be frank, Taehyung is appalled at himself for submitting. Especially to someone like Jungkook - a confusing alpha he just met, and gives him a weird mix of emotions.

Jungkook doesn’t take too long to return, a glass of water and some generic paracetamol in his hand.

“Here,” he hands Taehyung the glass before popping two pills out for him to take, “this will probably help. You don’t have to take them.”

Taehyung is quick to take the paracetamol off Jungkook’s palm. He came out to take some of his own, his paracetamol sitting at the bottom of his small crossbody. With a gulp of water, he sighs content knowing all he has to do now is wait for it to kick in.

“Thank you. Really, I think I prefer your nonchalant and brooding self over this,” Taehyung admits. It’s weird - being taken care of. He’s simply not used to it.

“Oh, I agree with you.”

“Then why help me?” Taehyung asks the alpha, who has now joined him on the little bench.

“I may act like I don’t care, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be helpful. Just take the help, I don’t hand it out so easily,” Jungkook shrugs.

A silence settles between them, the pair looking out at the sea of green and pops of colour in front of them. The air is nice, and the alpha’s scent blends in with all the smells of the garden. Taehyung’s headache is finally beginning to subside, but he knows it won’t be long til the effects of the medicine wears off and he’ll be in his pre-heat torment yet again.

Taehyung’s eyes wander over to the alpha. Jungkook looks like he’s deep in thought, staring blankly ahead.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

“Save your penny. It’s not worth it. Besides, I think I have a limit as to what I share with a stranger,” Jungkook looks over at Taehyung. The slightest smile appears on his face.

“Some say it’s better to share things with a stranger than with people you’re close to. You dump it on me and never see me again, makes it easier. Plus, I don’t know you, so I don’t have a basis for any added criticism,” Taehyung shrugs, looking back ahead to where a few guests have emerged, taking a leisurely stroll in the garden.

“Fair.”

That’s all he says, so Taehyung keeps quiet. The rudeness back at the table would be justified with some sad backstory, and he doesn’t know if he wants his view of the alpha to soften.

“I’m bitter,” Jungkook says, and Taehyung startles at the sudden nature of the comment.

Jungkook breathes in deeply, he turns towards Taehyung, looking to see if the omega’s attention had been captured. Sure enough, Taehyung is looking right at him, waiting for him to explain those two words.

“I never answered the question of how I know the couple, back inside. I know the alpha. We were friends throughout university, and that’s because he dated my sister. She’s a year younger than the both of us, but they made it work. Got through university, moved in together, talked about mating and marriage.

“All that fell through. He cheated on her, badly. Her own best friend betrayed her. It had been going on for months, and neither my sister or I had any idea it was happening. She caught them together, tangled up in their apartment, the room smelling of him and her omega best friend. The sight and the smell made her vomit on the spot.”

Taehyung watches the way Jungkook clenches his fists, knuckles turning paper-white, and veins popping at his exposed wrists.

“Is that the omega he married…?” Taehyung asks, not sure how to go about the question.

“No. She’s not. All that trouble and they didn’t even stay together. I think he met his wife shortly after, and that’s when they moved out of town- probably explains how they were neighbours with your parents. I was so mad- I'm still mad at him. We drifted, to say the least, after the whole thing. Despite that, I wanted a chance at his throat, you know,” Jungkook pauses, taking a deep breath, as if harnessing the intense surge of emotions he must be feeling right now.

“Hm, I can imagine. I also imagine your sister held you back from doing anything rash?” Taehyung asks. He’s had experience, some omegas are fearful of confrontation — opening up old wounds. Taehyung was never one, but he has friends. It’s a fearful state to be in, and it’s the remnants of the once very submissive nature omegas were once accustomed to.

“Hm,” the alpha huffs, “but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna hold back.”

Jungkook’s eyes turn dark, a red flashing through them quickly.

“Wait- are you?”

“When I got the stupid invite, my first instinct was to burn the damned thing. Which I did, but I put out the flames when it hit me. This is my opportunity.

“I found out from a friend that he's been unfaithful. Photo evidence and all sent to me. I had no use for it then, but now I do. Just to be sure, I asked my source to verify this is still happening,” Jungkook pauses.

“And?” Taehyung asks, almost at the edge of his seat.

“Was with this beta last night, apparently. That was a good enough green light. I wanna ruin him, just like how he ruined my sister,” Jungkook says that last bit with the faint sound of a snarl.

“Let me help,” Taehyung says. The whole story has had his gears turning, and he sympathises with Jungkook’s sister. Alphas aren’t shit. He’s learned that the hard way. If the omega isn’t willing to take revenge, he’d be happy to do it for them.

“What?” Jungkook says, surprise laced in his tone.

“I'm helping out a fellow omega, regardless if they know or not. Omegas were once looked down upon, but we’re past that as a society. We don’t have to sit around when injustice is served to us; now we can serve revenge on a silver platter. Let me help, it gives me a purpose for being at this stupid wedding,” Taehyung says with finality.

“You really wanna help?”

“Heck yeah!” Taehyung says enthused. This will distract him from his imminent heat, and keep him busy at this dull place.

“Okay…” Jungkook says, slightly apprehensive. But then he shrugs ‘cause - “what do I have to lose, anyway?”

Taehyung feels like he has a sense of purpose now. A motive for being here, besides trying to get away from that awful ex. He judged Jungkook too quickly. Sometimes, first impressions are just lingering impressions - the tip of the iceberg of someone’s life. You don’t get the full picture of who they are until you’ve taken the time to truly talk to them. It’s the same way how your whole life’s work and skills are tested by a mere resume.

Now with a chance to remedy the not-so-great first impression the alpha left, Taehyung is willing to take it.

“You know. I think the people at table 13 might love a little bit of action at this wedding,” Taehyung proposes, thinking of the people back inside.

“They might want an apology too, won’t they?” Jungkook asks, rubbing the back of his reddened neck.

“Yeah, maybe.”

So Jungkook apologises, and to all the others sitting at the table he looks like a little kid trying to get forgiveness for eating the lollies he was told not to. His doe eyes widen, almost leaving them no choice but to forgive the poor alpha.

“So, yeah, I’m sorry,” Jungkook finishes, sitting at the table and avoiding eye contact. Taehyung gives his knee a little nudge — urging him on to ask them if they want in on their little plan.

“Since we’re all kinda not here for the bride and groom, anyway. I was wondering if you’d like to be accomplices,” Jungkook coughs, and Taehyung shouldn’t find the way the alpha avoids eye contact endearing.

“Accomplices?” The pregnant omega leans closer to the table - as close as his stomach would let him, that is.

“Moon.”

“Sh,” Seokjin looks over at his alpha, raising a brow before looking back at Jungkook.

“That guy,” Jungkook points to the alpha - dancing with his omega - with his chin, “is a cheater, a liar and someone, who most certainly doesn’t deserve that omega.”

“A cheater?” Namjoon asks, intrigue flashing through his eyes suddenly.

“You look like you know something, Namjoon-ssi,” Taehyung points out.

The alpha pauses, slipping into thought as all eyes remain on him.

“There’s been more than one occasion where I’ve seen him with a beta in the apartment building. They always looked close, but I had always brushed it off; convincing myself that it was just a friend.”

“Was this beta a male?”

“Hm. The same one every time. It all makes sense now, and as an alpha I don’t think he deserves any omega at all. Omegas deserve loyalty, protection, and they most certainly don’t deserve what that conniving idiot did- or is doing. Count me in,” Namjoon nods. Seokjin looks over at his mate in surprise, clearly having not thought his alpha would agree to this.

“Well, if he’s in, so am I. That omega, she deserves exactly what I’ve been given,” Seokjin looks over at Namjoon, whose eyes are already on his omega. There’s a sea filled with love crashing about beautifully tumultuous in both their eyes.

The scene moves Taehyung, and he blames his coming heat for the pliable set of emotions he currently has.

“Me too. As an omega, I don’t want to see a fellow omega walking down a road that’s very obviously leading to heartache,” Jimin chimes next to Taehyung. There’s a layer of mist in Jimin’s eyes, and Taehyung can sense that the omega is sensitively sweet - moved at the smallest of things.

“I’ll also help,” Yoongi says, all the while his gaze fixed on Jimin. Taehyung has observed that the two seemed to have hit it off during the time he was out in the garden with Jungkook, and he has a sense of approval for the alpha already.

“Great!” Taehyung claps, excited to get his mind thinking about something else besides how he’ll manage if his heat does arrive sooner than he is anticipating.

The group silence for a moment, sneaking curious glances at the beta who has not yet uttered a word. From the moment he had walked in, an air of animosity had been following him. Hoseok had been masking the emotions behind a forced smile, and his dark eyes, but right now, the group watches as his resolve is beginning to crumble. There’s no denying the taut jaw, and the unblinking eyes - all sure signs of an anger beginning to brew behind his tired exterior.

“I never told you what my relations are to the bride and groom,” Hoseok looks up, away from the very interesting wrinkle in his pants.

Taehyung, and the others, look at him perplexed by the sudden words. Their silence urges him to continue, an attempt to quench their mutual curiosity about the beta’s background.

“That omega,” Hoseok gulps, closing his eyes to inhale, “I love her.”

Tired eyes.

Sad countenance.

Angry expressions.

It’s all beginning to make sense in Taehyung’s eyes. It seems the beta could not sleep the night before - and probably the nights before that - hence the haggard look he dons today. The reaction to this wedding is understandable. Taehyung’s heart clenches for Hoseok. The amount of emotional torture he must’ve had to endure, and an invite to a wedding must have pulled the stake - which had already been driven through his heart - out.

“We were friends. I was that friend who’d be there through her heat. Though my scent is muted, she said it could calm her. It was through this relationship that I fell for her, but when I finally dared to confess… he came along,” Hoseok looks back at the alpha, his head thrown back laughing at something the omega had said.

“I was replaced, quickly. Our conversations, when we would see each other, became about the amazing alpha she had met. I couldn’t do much but smile when she talked, I didn’t want the smile on her face to be wiped off - so I kept quiet. I knew I had no chance.

“I couldn’t give her what he could. She could have a family with him, whereas I couldn’t. He has a good job too, so I knew he could provide. I let her go. Little by little, I slowly stopped contacting her. She had made an attempt, at first. Texted me, called me, and she even came to my apartment one day. I pretended I wasn’t home.

“Eventually, she stopped. But then one day, I got this invitation in the mail. I didn’t want to go. I wasn’t going to go. I came for closure, let her go formally, seal the letter and move on. Now though, I’m not letting her go. I’m with you, Jungkook-ssi. She deserves the world, and though I might not be the one for her, I’ll make sure that alpha doesn’t damage the world she has any more than he already has,” Hoseok clenches his fist, lightly banging it on the table - the cutlery and dinnerware making a sound just barely audible over the music in the background.

This is love, Taehyung thinks. He’s ready to burn himself to save her. Be the hero and not get the girl.

“You do know that this will hurt her, right?” Jungkook asks.

Hoseok nods, looking at the dismantled origami clothes on their table. “I know. It will be painful for her, but I’d rather she be saved from him now then have to fall a greater distance in the future. I’ll be there to help her, even if it’s just as a friend.”

Taehyung can’t bear hearing the hurt echo in Hoseok’s words, so he reaches over the table to squeeze the hand that the beta has laying there.

“Don’t hurt yourself along the way, okay?” Taehyung says.

“I’ll try, but I’m already counting myself as collateral damage,” Hoseok squeezes back.

“Hoseok-ssi, I’m really sorry for what’s going to happen. I never really considered how she might feel, and all I wanted was to get back at him,” Jungkook frowns, looking over at the beta.

“I get what you’re feeling. She’s strong, she’ll get through it. Right now, I kinda wanna punch that stupidly handsome face of his,” Hoseok chuckles.

“Well then, you’ve got your team of accomplices; what’s the plan of action?” Taehyung asks.

He watches Jungkook sigh before laying the figurative blueprint out on the table before them.

————

“Jungkook-ssi, are you all set?” Taehyung comes up behind the alpha who stands at the door of the garden. He’s looking over at the party going on inside, how everyone joyously dances while being oblivious to the secret that alpha has tucked away.

Jungkook doesn’t flinch, simply looking back at Taehyung.

“I guess. Whether everything goes to plan or not, I’m gonna make sure that alpha gets a taste of what he deserves,” Jungkook says, looking back at the couple. He chats happily at the table, and Jungkook can’t wait to wipe that smile off his face.

“Is he the reason you don’t believe in eternal love?” Taehyung asks, joining Jungkook at the door to watch their victims.

Jungkook freezes. Slowly, he looks over at omega, searching for something in Taehyung’s eyes.

“Sorry, that must be a bit intrusive,” Taehyung lowers his head, only for Jungkook to tilt it back upwards.

His index finger is warm on Taehyung’s chin. The touch sends a shiver spiralling through Taehyung’s body - once again, something he blames on his pre-heat. There's racing in his heart, and he knows that can’t be blamed on the imminent arrival of his heat. It’s a feeling he knows well, one he’s experienced countless times over, with alphas who weren’t ‘the one’ for him. Here he is, starting the cycle again. But hey, what’s he to Jungkook but a stranger?

He’s just helping Jungkook, that’s all he’s doing. A stranger is all he’ll ever be, once tonight is said and done.

Lifting his hand, he gently moves Jungkook’s finger off his hand and looks at the alpha on his own. He keeps the alpha’s finger in his hand, and Jungkook does nothing to protest the small action.

“Don’t be sorry, you’re a stranger helping a stranger. I poured my bitterness on you, after all. What’s a little more?” Jungkook asks with a small smile.

There’s that word. Stranger.

“Right. What’s a little more, we’ll be saying goodbye soon anyway,” Taehyung says, despite the bitter twinge in his chest.

“Right.”

They stand there silently, for a few minutes. Jungkook’s index finger remains clasped between Taehyung’s hot hand. He’s beginning to heat up, and he knows that heat is just around the corner. There hasn’t been a spike in his scent, quite yet, but he knows it’s only a matter of time before it happens.

Taehyung doesn’t make an effort to let go of the alpha, and Jungkook doesn’t pull his finger away either. The small point of contact eases Taehyung’s inner wolf, that’s beginning to grow restless.

“This alpha is just one of the people that have influenced my beliefs in love and mating. There are other things. I’ve yet to see an eternal love, until then, I won’t believe in it. I don’t think I’ve ever felt it, so for now it’ll be nothing but material found in fictional texts,” Jungkook says, all the while his eyes fixed on the dance floor.

“If you ever do feel it, will that change your view?” Taehyung asks, feeling oddly hopeful.

“Perhaps. Though I highly doubt a day like that will come,” Jungkook replies.

Taehyung has a quiet word with his heart, reprimanding it for its hasty feelings for an alpha he’s just met. The words that flowed out of Jungkook’s mouth are like a certificate, a viable claim that this alpha is not the one that Taehyung has been looking for. For now, he’ll ride the wave of the shallow seas of his emotions for the alpha - hoping to ride it out, until not a single ripple of water touches the beaches of Taehyung’s heart.

“I’ll pray to the moon goddess, you find someone,” Taehyung simply replies, biting his bottom lip.

“Thanks, but it might do little to move what I’m already set on.”

“Guys!” Someone whisper-yells from inside the hall. It’s then that they pull away, the point of contact disappearing all at once, leaving Taehyung to hold his own hands.

The pair look over, Jimin jogging over to them from the back of the room. He’s got a mischievous glint in his eyes, and his hair looks slightly dishevelled - the product of an encounter with Yoongi’s lips, Taehyung thinks.

“Everything is ready. We don’t have a lot of time, the sound guy and DJ just went out for a quick break. By the sounds of it, it’s not going to be more than 15 minutes,” Jimin explains, pointing back to where Yoongi is already fiddling with the system at the back.

“We won’t need much time. Are Seokjin and Namjoon ready?” Jungkook asks, looking around to where the couple were stationed to be.

“They’re ready, they just need the green light,” Jimin replies.

Taehyung spots the couple, caught up in a cute little argument - something about Seokjin’s shoes, judging by the way the alpha keeps pointing at them, and back at his own.

“Give them the thumbs up. I’ll be ready whenever I need to be. Is everything working fine where Yoongi is?” Jungkook asks, sending a nod at Yoongi who meets his eye when Jungkook looks in his direction.

“Should do,” Jimin says.

“Great. Ready when you are,” Jungkook nods, and the omega scuttles back to his spot beside the pale alpha.

“Are you sure you don’t want me doing anything?” Taehyung presses one more time. There hadn't been much that needed doing, everyone else beating Taehyung in volunteering. In the end, he’s been marked as a backup if anything were to go wrong, and Hoseok was sent outside. They assume the omega will run out, and outside is a good place for Hoseok to intercept her.

“You’ve done more than enough,” Jungkook smiles, “I never knew strangers could be so generous. Thank you, Taehyung-ssi.”

That smile on Jungkook’s face beckons Taehyung’s own smile to come out. He’s left wondering if there’s still more to the iceberg named, Jungkook. Maybe that was barely the surface, and if it is, he wants to know more.

“I’m just following the golden rule,” Taehyung smiles.

Jungkook doesn’t get to say anymore, a flash of movement happening in the corner Seokjin and Namjoon once stood. The pair watch as the pregnant omega walks significantly fast, making a beeline for the wires sitting behind the seats closest to the dance floor.

It amuses them how the omega uses his foot - shoeless, to unplug the wires sitting there. They can sense some struggle from the omega’s face, but he perseveres. Namjoon stands at the corner, watching his mate anxiously, looking like he’s ready to jump in Seokjin’s direction if need be.

After a few more painful seconds of struggling, the music cuts off and all the guests look around the room. They all spot Seokjin, standing innocently with the cords underfoot.

“Oops, I’m sorry. I tripped and didn’t realise,” he chuckles convincingly.

At the sight of the ‘poor’ pregnant omega, everyone tells him not to apologise, alphas and omegas coming up to him to ask him if he’s alright. Before anyone can get too close, Taehyung hides a laugh at how quickly Namjoon is at his side. He shields his mate from everyone else, escorting him to their table.

The alpha groom gets everyone’s attention, “Sorry for the lack of music. Our sound guy will be back soon, so we’ll have this back and running in-”

The lights are cut off, and the projector turns on. The omega bride furrows a brow, watching carefully as the image on the screen begins to grow brighter and clearer. There’s a collective gasp through the crowd, once the photo is in full resolution. The alpha is quickly alarmed, searching for something to unplug the projector with, but alas the wires for the projector run over head, and beyond his reach.

“Han-bin…” the omega whispers, looking at the screen and at the compromising position that the alpha is in with a beta.

“Soo-ah, that's not me. I swear. This is just an edit, I could never do that to you,” Han-bin tries to explain. His face is pale, looking like he’s just seen his own ghost.

“T-That’s you…” she whispers, a finger shakily pointing to his figure, and at the tattoo at the centre of his back.

“It’s not, baby. Believe me, that’s not me. It’s been edited,” Han-bin tries to explain.

“No one knows about that tattoo except me, who else could have done that?” She asks, angrily tearing up as she looks at the alpha.

All the while, Jungkook watches at his spot next to Taehyung, satisfied with the way things are unfolding. By now, the alpha is on his knees, gripping the omegas white dress. Soo-ah stands there, in tears, attempting to rid herself of the alpha’s grip.

“I think it’s time,” Taehyung whispers.

“I think it is,” Jungkook replies. His hand brushes past Taehyung’s as he walks up to take centre stage.

Jungkook walks up to the couple, encircled by the wedding guests. He yanks Han-bin’s hands off of Soo-ah, before bending down to take the alpha off his feet by the collar of his dress shirt.

“Well, well, well. Some things never change, right Han-ie?” Jungkook clicks his tongue. There’s a ravenous look in his eyes as he watches the alpha tremble, lacking words to counter the question.

“I hate to do this now. I really do, but I couldn’t stand back and watch you throw another omega into the same pit of despair you left my sister in,” Jungkook snarls, gripping Han-bin’s collar tighter:

“Soo-ah, this alpha that you trusted — and thankfully didn’t mate has — has been unfaithful to you from day dot. He’s always been like this, a good for nothing alpha who has no sense of loyalty,” Jungkook smirks, and the omega watches in tears, now held in the arms of her mother.

Taehyung watches carefully; The way the alpha’s forearm flexes, to the way his frown makes his face more commandeering. His tone of voice sends chills down Taehyung’s spine. Standing there, he suddenly feels something down below. Something wet.

Appalled at himself for having been turned on by the alpha, he looks away - hot and bothered. Turning on his heel, he runs towards the back of the hall, rushing to the nearest bathroom and locking himself in.

Behind the closed door of the bathroom, Taehyung shakes with wide eyes. His heat is close, too close for comfort. Not to mention a man he just met has turned him on just by the way he spoke.

Walking over to the sink, Taehyung turns the tap on cold. He leans over, trying to take deep breaths to calm his arousal down. This has never happened to him before, and it’s alarming for him. He splashes his face with cold water, in hopes it will settle the feeling in his stomach.

Deeming his current state to be dangerous around, he rushes out of the bathroom, heading to the front doors of the venue to where his car waits outside. He doesn’t even think about saying goodbye, focused on getting into his room in the lodge and locking himself inside until his heat finally washes over.

Without even thinking about the logistics of his position, he stands outside his car with the realisation he had left his things back at the table. Flustered and frustrated, he doubles over — groaning at the return of his headache.

“Taehyung-ssi!” Someone calls out for him, but he doesn’t even attempt to search for the source of the voice.

All he can think of is how much he doesn’t want them approaching him right now. His scent has already changed, and he wants to be cautious.

The voice is followed by scores of others. Judging by the way Hoseok is nowhere to be seen, he must already be comforting Soo-ah somewhere else. The voices that join him in the carpark, are those of his table mates.

With unsteady feet, he stands and watches at how Namjoon runs out of the building with Seokjin in his arms.

“Stupid alpha, I’m fine,” Seokjin smacks his shoulder. Seokjin suddenly winces.

“You’re not, admit it,” Namjoon frowns, “it’s too early for the pup to come.”

“Like I don’t know that,” Seokjin quips, wincing again thereafter.

“They’re just contractions, Joonie. I’ll be fine,” Seokjin pats his alpha’s arm.

“Exactly, Moon. They’re contractions! you’re acting like it’s not a big deal!” Namjoon says.

“Nothing we haven’t prepared for. I’m fine, my love,” Seokjin says, releasing soothing pheromones to settle the alpha’s distressed state.

Jimin comes racing down ahead of the couple, Yoongi hot on his heels as they open the door to an SUV parked a few cars away from Taehyung’s.

“What’s happening?” Taehyung asks, mouth dry.

“Seokjin hyung is having the pup! It’s early, but it’ll be fine. I’m a nurse and I’ve seen this happen before. Pups born around this time should be fine with proper care and attention,” Jimin smiles.

On a regular day, Taehyung would be elated at the news, but with how he’s feeling right now, he most definitely does not have the energy to spare for jumping around. He simply smiles, raising a hand to wave to Namjoon who has just closed the back seat door.

“Congrats, and good luck! Send us pictures when the pup arrives,” Taehyung smiles. Regardless if they exchange numbers or not, he has this feeling the alpha would still find a way.

“We will!” Namjoon waves back.

The window of the backseat suddenly opens, Seokjin popping his head out. “Today has been the most invigorating day I’ve had while pregnant. I absolutely loved it!”

“Moon!” Namjoon yells, and Seokjin is quick to roll up the window, leaving Taehyung chuckling to himself.

“Safe travels, don’t drive too fast!” Jimin says.

The car starts, and they’re on the road before Namjoon can say anything in response.

“Hey, what did I miss?” The woodland scent wraps around Taehyung, and the coiling in his stomach resumes.

Coughing, he looks behind him to see Jungkook - hair slightly tousled, and his knuckles looking bloody.

“Jungkook-ssi!” Taehyung exclaims, quickly ceasing the alpha’s hand in his. He turns the hand over, examining the damage that has been done.

“It’s nothing. It’ll heal in no time. I’m just glad I got that punch in, and an extra one for Hoseok,” Jungkook chuckles, though Taehyung can’t seem to see what’s amusing about it.

Mind going hazy, Taehyung suddenly grips the alpha’s hand. He blinks quickly, trying to set his mind right. Jungkook notices Taehyung’s state.

“Hey, are you alright? You smell different, and you’re pale,” Jungkook pulls his hand away, only for him to cup Taehyung’s face with both of his hands.

“You’re burning up too. I knew you weren’t fine,” Jungkook frowns.

“I’ll be fine. It’s my h-heat. I just need to leave now before anything gets worse,” Taehyung admits. They’re strangers anyway, what’s the harm in telling Jungkook something so private.

“You don’t look fine. Where are you staying? I’ll help you get there safely, there’s no way I’m letting you go alone,” Jungkook says, looking behind Taehyung to look at the vehicle he can’t even unlock at the moment.

“Honestly, I’ll be fine. It’s a two minute drive from here, I’ll make it,” Taehyung says, prying Jungkook’s hands off his cheeks.

“Taehyung-ssi, whether you like it or not, I’m taking you to your lodge. You don’t look well enough to drive, and I promise that’s all I’ll do. Drop you off, then leave,” Jungkook grips Taehyung’s wrist.

Taehyung wants to refuse, but he can’t deny how painful everything is beginning to feel with each passing second. He looks at the alpha, still unsure for want of keeping everyone safe. Even if Jungkook has good self-control, it can always be tested in the wake of an omega’s alluring scent during heat.

“Fine, but only because I feel horrible already,” Taehyung caves in.

“Where are your keys?” Jungkook asks, ready to take the wheel.

“With my things inside.”

Taehyung has no time to react, Jungkook is already bounding back inside the reception building. Taehyung just wants to build a nest and sleep, so the urgency is wonderful.

Whilst waiting, he notices that Jimin and Yoongi have left the car park, no doubt enjoying themselves in their own way.

“Is this everything?” Jungkook runs back, this time carrying Taehyung’s hat and bag with him.

“Hm.”

Jungkook nods, quickly fishing around inside Taehyung’s bag before pulling out the keys for his Mini Cooper. He opens the door for Taehyung, and the omega sinks into the seat willingly.

The feeling of having something to sit on is comforting, and he’s thankful for the fact his car is filled with his strawberry scent. The scent doesn’t stand alone for much longer; the moment the alpha jumps in the front seat, it begins to mix with Jungkook’s potent woodland pheromones.

The mix is oddly refreshing, but Taehyung hates how he feels himself being aroused by him. He’s running on a clock, and the more time he spends around the alpha, the more dangerous it becomes for the both of them. In heat, Taehyung can never fully comprehend what he does. Everything is always a blur, and he always lives the few days in a haze, heat, and pain.

“We’ll be there in no time,” Jungkook assures Taehyung, starting the car up.

As they drive on, Taehyung has no control of the scent he lets out. He knows his arousal is floating in the air of the car, and he knows that the alpha is doing his best - Jungkook releasing soothing pheromones, undertoned by the start of his own arousal.

“We’re here,” Jungkook says in a low tone, turning the car engine off.

Taehyung almost bounds out the car, but he’s discreet about it. He searches around his crossbody, looking for the key to his room as he wobbles to the lodge.

“Let me help you to your room,” Jungkook offers, already reaching out to steady the omega.

Taehyung, growing to pliant, simply lets the alpha lead him into the lodge. He gives him his room key, and subtly leans into the alpha to get a better whiff at his scent.

“You’re rather quiet, Taehyung-ssi,” Jungkook remarks, slotting Taehyung’s key into his door handle.

“Feel bad, alpha,” Taehyung says, feeling twice as dreary as he had been before they left. He only ever calls an alpha, alpha, when his heat is overwhelming him.

“I know, pup, we’re here. You can rest up. I’ll ask them to leave you lots of food and water by the door.”

Jungkook leads the omega into the room, and Taehyung immediately winces at the smell of the place. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with it, it’s just it didn’t smell familiar. Taehyung had only stepped in here once, only to drop off his things and do a quick survey.

“This doesn’t smell right,” he complains, burrowing closer to the alpha and burying his nose into Jungkook’s arm.

Jungkook startles a little, but he relaxes, looking fondly at the omega he had just met today - what a wild ride it has been thus far. He couldn’t even care less about the bruising on his knuckles.

“What can I do to make it more comfortable?”

“Nothing. Thank you, Jungkook-ssi. I can manage. I just have to make a nest somehow,” Taehyung instantly detaches himself from the alpha. He wanders into the room, heading straight for his bags in the corner.

Jungkook watches. The omega pulls out some of his own clothes, and he begins to arrange them on the bed. He almost laughs at the way Taehyung lies on the bed to rub his scent all over the sheets, but he’s mostly endeared by it. Taehyung stands, frown settled on his brow, observing his creation.

“Wait here, Taehyung-ssi.”

Taehyung, too lost in making sure he’s comfortable through his heat, goes back to fixing his nest. It isn’t until he catches a whiff of woodland in front of his nostril that he notices the articles of clothing that Jungkook is offering him.

“Take these. Alpha pheromones will help you out, in more ways than one. I’ll leave you to rest.” Jungkook doesn’t wait for a reply, leaving the room after.

Taehyung soon experiences the strong waves of his heat. As promised, someone leaves food and a few bottles of water outside his door. He tries to hydrate himself, but the pain and the arousal he feels by the mere scent of the alpha alone cause him to sweat.

He drifts in and out of a restless slumber. His heat has hit him hard and fast.

It’s sometime around midnight when he wakes again. This time, it’s not because of the painful waves crashing over him, it’s this unbearable feeling of being aroused. His wolf howls, and he winces loudly.

“Alpha…” he calls out, though he knows no one would be there to hear.

He tries to quench his desire, but his wolf wants more - needs more. His fingers won’t be enough for him this time around.

“Alpha…” he calls out like a chant. With eyes closed, he feels his slick dripping down his legs.

Taehyung doesn’t hear the alpha come in… but he smells him. The woody scent is ablaze, like a forest on fire. It attacks his nostrils, his eyes flying open to be met with the desire-filled look on Jungkook’s face.

“You shouldn’t be calling out for an alpha like that, Taehyung-ssi,” Jungkook says lowly. He caresses the sweaty cheeks on Taehyung's face, and it makes the omega whine.

“Please, alpha. Help me,” Taehyung whispers as loudly as he can.

“Don’t call out for alphas carelessly. You never know who could have shown up here if I had not turned up,” Jungkook says, moving a sticky strand of hair off the omegas face.

Taehyung is peaking faster than any of his heats ever had. This sort of neediness never manifested until the second or third day of his heat, the first was only ever pain. Jungkook has triggered something in him, and it’s fast tracked everything.

“I want you, alpha. Please help me,” he begs, the slick between his legs increasing with the alpha right in front of him.

“How can I help?” Jungkook’s eyes flash red.

“Help me,” Taehyung repeats.

“You have to be specific, pup,” Jungkook narrows his eyes, his wolf waiting in anticipation for an invitation.

“Touch me, down,” Taehyung reaches for Jungkook’s hand leading them to touch them where he burns, and yearns, “here. Fill me up, alpha.”

Jungkook’s only human, and his wolf is only too generous to comply with the omega’s request. He doesn’t need to be told twice, he leans down and captures the omega’s hot lips in his.

—————

Taehyung feels lighter.

Cooler.

Better.

He blinks his eyes, adjusting the dim light of his room. He reaches for the water bottle on the bedside table, taking a big gulp. The last time he woke up, it was to the smell of woodland growing fainter, the door to the lodge room closing shut behind it. There’s still the faintest of woodland in the air, mixed with the smell of sex and strawberries.

Taehyung sighs, placing the bottle back on the bedside before laying on his back to stare at the ceiling. Jungkook had helped him, and that’s all he should take this as. Though tough to admit, Taehyung had too quickly formed an attachment to the alpha, and spending his heat with him did nothing to help that.

He received a text late last night from a friend that his ex was finally out of town, giving him the all clear. Jungkook left two nights ago, and his heat subsided shortly afterwards.

After a slow morning, Taehyung manages to shower and get his things together, preparing for his trip home. In doing so, he’ll be leaving this one encounter with the alpha behind, replacing the woodland scent with the fumes of the city.

As he lugs his things with him. Taehyung stops at the door when he sees a little note stuck to the light switch.

Taehyung sighs.

Goodbye stranger.

—————

One week later

“Hey, director Kim!” Taehyung looks up from the design boards he looks at, smiling as he sees an omega heading right for him.

“Daehyun, what’s up?” Taehyung replies, putting the plans down, and standing to meet the omega who looks out of breath.

Taehyung’s in the photography business. His name is well-known in the city, and his work is amazing enough for him to reach a wide range of clientele. His small studio also branches off to smaller event photography and videography, but he usually runs the bigger gigs individually. Vante photo house has been his guiding light, and it’s always something he can bounce back to, no matter how bad the damage left behind by his ex alphas.

It’s been a month since the wedding, and sometimes Taehyung swears he smells Jungkook. More or less, it’s probably just his mind playing tricks on him.

“Just got a call from the makeup brand you’re shooting with later, they wanna know if you can move it up by an hour? I know you have a free break then, but that’s your only break for the day,” Daehyun informs him, and Taehyung notices the phone still held in the omega’s hand.

“It’ll be fine for the day, have everything ready to shoot an hour earlier. I’ll squeeze in a quick break before the shoot,” Taehyung smiles. He’d rather get this day over and done with anyway, despite how queasy he’s felt for the past few days. Nothing new, just another heat about to strike.

“Great! I’ll let them know,” Daehyun sends a thumbs up, scurrying out of Taehyung’s workspace.

Taehyung can only sigh. He’s been playing tag with work for the past week, trying to catch up and get ahead of the game. The heat had thrown off his estimates for the next month, and it’s biting him in the ass. His family have been pressuring him to go on a few blind dates too, but he’s been declining. Jungkook still pops to mind every so often.

It won’t be easy forgetting the first alpha who helped you through your heat. None of his past relationships had ever gone that far.

The day goes on quickly, and by the time the shoot rolls in, Taehyung has stripped off his blazer. His white button up is rolled up at the sleeves, wiping sweat off his brow as he adjusts the lighting beforehand, and takes a few test shots.

“Director Kim. The models have arrived,” Daehyun comes up beside him, handing a bottle of water over to the omega. Taehyung turns around, and a look of surprise overwhelms his face when he meets the angelic features of a certain someone.

“Park Jimin-ssi?”

“Kim Taehyung-ssi?” Jimin replies, just as pleasantly surprised as Taehyung is.

“It really is you! How could I have not known you were a model! I thought you were a nurse?” Taehyung smiles, walking over to the omega while the other models watch the exchange in confusion.

“The same way I didn’t know you were a photographer!” Jimin chuckles, “I only model on the side, I’m a nurse most days. I try to tell the agency in advance when I have days off, it’s not very often. I’d have thought you were a model yourself. Your features were born for the camera, Taehyung-ssi. ”

“They belong behind the camera,” Taehyung’s ear reddened at the compliment. He’s been told that countless times before, but he likes being behind the lens, portraying things and people the way he sees the world, or visualises concepts.

“This might be my favourite shoot, since you’re here!” Jimin beams, clearly excited at having met Taehyung again after neither of them had the mind to ask for each other’s numbers at the wedding.

“Hopefully you find working with me to be a good experience,” Taehyung bows, and he turns to the rest of the models too, thanking them in advance.

“Makeup and hair is that way, I’ll see you on the set in a few,” Taehyung smiles, throwing an extra one at Jimin before going back to his equipment and lighting check.

It’s a small world, Taehyung thinks. He didn’t think he’d ever bump into the omega ever again, and yet here they are. The thought gets his hopes up, that maybe perhaps he’ll meet the alpha — who doesn’t believe in love — again. Though he thinks the chances grow slimmer with each passing day.

Donning his hat of professionalism, Taehyung leads the shoot with ease. He finds that Jimin is easy to work with. He doesn’t follow the camera, the camera finds him instead. That gaze of his is magnetic, and he very quickly switches from smirk to smile. His sharp eyes soften within seconds, and Taehyung can’t help but love the way the omega models.

“You were amazing,” Taehyung praises the omega, the both of them now seated over a hot BBQ grill and bottles of soju.

“Says you. You handled that shoot without breaking a single sweat. All the photographers I’ve worked with have never done such things with that ease before,” Jimin says, helping Taehyung lay the meat on the grill.

“You flatter me. I have my stressed out moments, today just happened to go really well; thanks to an exceptionally talented model,” Taehyung counters. The two play volley with compliments as the meat grills.

“Enough about work. How have you been? You and that alpha seemed to hit it off at the wedding,” Taehyung raises a brow.

Jimin goes red, and he centres his attention on grilling meat. “We’ve been in contact. Went on a few dates, but we’re not in anything serious. That’s not really what either of us are looking for, so we’ve been content with keeping it casual.”

“That’s great! He seemed like a shy alpha at the wedding,” Taehyung smiles.

“Oh, he is, but he is so incredibly sweet. Yoongi is the most caring alpha I’ve met, and I’d be happy if we ever become something more in the future.”

If only Taehyung had such luck. Such rotten luck he has with alphas. The one that still occupies his mind will probably never cross paths with him again. Even if they were to meet again, then what? Jungkook’s set on being proven right that love doesn’t last, and that he’ll never fall in love. Crossing paths would simply be that. They’d cross paths, and they’d still say goodbye.

“I’m happy for you, that’s great,” Taehyung smiles softly, reaching over to pop open a bottle of soju.

“Thanks. How about you? Did you and Jungkook ever stay in touch? He seemed to enjoy your company,” Jimin smiles, turning the meat on the grill.

“N-No,” Taehyung stutters, wishing the answer to that question had been yes instead. “We parted ways afterwards. Just strangers helping each other out, I guess.”

“That’s a shame. He may have been a little rough on the edges, but he showed genuine care for you,” Jimin smiles.

Jungkook’s words ring true in Taehyung’s ears. He could care about him, and yet not have any feelings remotely close to romantic. Love can’t be forced, it’d be like keeping a ruler bent without breaking it… it only ends sadly.

“He was a good alpha. Jungkook’s not built for things like that, so whatever I felt that day - or today - it’s only fleeting and will only ever be that of a crush,” Taehyung sighs, pouring soju into the shot glasses.

“So you admit you felt something for him?”

“No denying it. What’s the use? He made it too easy to feel something for him, he was different from all the other alphas I’ve met. Maybe it was just intrigue, I don’t know. Jeon Jungkook left an impression, and that’s all he’ll ever leave. So long as I’m not left in heartbreak,” Taehyung sighs, placing the bottle on the table and handing Jimin a shot.

“I guess it’s hard to tell with such a short encounter. I hope you find the right alpha. You’re such a catch, Taehyung-ssi; alphas are just stupid,” Jimin pouts.

Jimin reaches for his chopsticks, picking up a fresh piece of meat and cooling it down before offering it to Taehyung.

“A fatty piece to help you feel better,” he smiles, the chopsticks close to Taehyung’s lips.

Taehyung looks at the piece of meat, looking as enticing as it always does, but the smell doubles the queasiness he’s been feeling all day. Jimin nudges it forward, and Taehyung gulps, hoping to hold back the bile that’s rising in his throat just at the mere smell of the meat.

He opens his mouth, the meat getting closer, but instead he gags. The bile he was hoping to keep in rises, and Taehyung stands up abruptly running to the back of the restaurant and into the closest bathroom he can find - not bothering to check if he’s walked into the right one. The bile stings at his throat, and he barely manages to kneel at the toilet before it pushes up and out his mouth.

Kneeling there still, he keeps coughing, more of the acidic substance making its way into the toilet bowl. He’s been queasy this whole week, but it’s never been as bad as this. His heats have thrown him dozens of symptoms, all of which repeat themselves during his monthly cycle. This one is new, too new.

Taehyung stares into the toilet bowl, the look of it making him retch before releasing a little bit more. He pants, hoping nothing his breakfast won’t make an appearance.

“Taehyung-ssi?” There’s a knock at the bathroom door.

“Are you alright?” Jimin asks, tone evidently worried. Taehyung only stares, not sure what to make of what’s just happened. He’s had such a good healthy streak, and yet here he is getting sick just by the smell of meat.

“Taehyung?” Jimin calls again.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Taehyung finally replies, reaching for the toilet paper, wiping the corners of his mouth.

With wobbly legs, he gets up and opens the door for Jimin.

“Are you okay?” The omega asks, eyes wide.

“I don’t know,” Taehyung answers honestly.

“Wait here. I’ll grab you some water, splash some water on your face,” Jimin instructs, nurse instincts coming through.

Obediently, Taehyung follows, standing at the sink and looking at himself. There’s a lingering thought of what this might be, but he chooses not to entertain it.

Jimin returns, a glass of water in his hands, as well as a little pharmacy package.

“Here,” Jimin extends the glass to Taehyung, who willingly drinks. The water washes away the stinging aftertaste of his vomit.

“Did the smell of the meat make you sick?” Jimin asks, voice laced in curiosity.

“Yeah. I don't usually I don’t know what came over me, to be honest. I’ve been feeling queasy these last couple of days, sticking to plain foods and drinking lots of water. At first I thought it was just my heat, but this has never happened before,” Taehyung explains.

“How long have you been feeling like this?”

“A week or so. It’s nothing, it’ll pass. I’ve just been extremely busy at work,” Taehyung says.

“Taehyung-ssi, did you by any chance…” Jimin’s voice fades, and Taehyung frowns as he waits for the omega to continue.

“What?”

“You know I’m a nurse, right?”

Taehyung nods.

“I work in the maternity ward.”

“Okay…” Taehyung drawls, not liking the direction this seems to be going.

“I may not be a doctor, but I know enough to know signs of pregnancy-”

“No. It can’t be,” Taehyung chuckles nervously.

“Taehyung-ssi, let’s not draw conclusions so soon. Fatigue can’t be the only explanation. The scent of food just made you vomit your lunch. This is why you need to answer the following question properly,” Jimin looks at Taehyung sternly.

“Were you, or were you not sexually active with an alpha during your last heat?” Jimin’s narrowed.

Taehyung doesn’t need to think twice. He knows the answer to that question. The scenes from that heat have been replaying in his mind, especially on days when he feels particularly lonely.

“I- Yes. I was.”

“Did he knot you?”

Taehyung’s eyes begin to fill with tears. He’s down a road he can’t make a u-turn at, and he’s not liking it one bit.

“Yes…” he whispers, the thought of how the alphas knot felt inside him causing tingles to run up his spine. With mind clouded by pain and pleasure, he hadn’t even thought of taking precautions while they were in the moment.

“Taehyung. I know this might be hard. Look, it’s still just a possibility. We need to see if we can rule it out, okay?” Jimin places a comforting hand on Taehyung’s shoulder.

All Taehyung can do is nod.

“Here. There’s a few in there, take all of them. If you don’t wanna do it now, my apartment is down the road.”

———

Taehyung sits in Jimin’s bathroom. The tests are laid out on the bathroom sink, and he sits on the floor below. He’s been counting the minutes in his head, and he’s already gone past the time the box told him to wait.

He can’t bring himself to do it. If what he fears is the truth, then the alpha has left him with more than just the heartbreak all the others have left him with.

“Taehyung?” Jimin knocks on the bathroom door.

“I’m coming in.”

Jimin walks in, and Taehyung watches him from the floor with tired eyes.

“I know it’s scary, but you need to look. I don’t know if prolonging the wait is better or worse. You’re not alone, I’ll hold your hand whatever the outcome may be,” the omega smiles, offering a hand to Taehyung.

He stares at it a moment, before latching onto it and letting the omega pull him off the cold tile. With back still facing the sink, he squeezes Jimin's hand - to which the omega squeezes back.

Taking a deep inhale, Taehyung turns around. It takes time for his eyes to adjust to the light, but the two solid lines on each of the tests are hard to miss.

“No…” he whispers, before his body gives way and he begins to shake with sobs.

“Sh, you’re fine. I’ve got you,” Jimin says, sitting with Taehyung on the floor and stroking his head.

Jeon Jungkook is certainly much more than he had bargained for.

—————

It’s been three days since Taehyung found out about his pregnancy. Three very long and unproductive days. He simply tried to do his best, the morning sickness not helping. Now, the weekend has rolled around. The parting words he exchanged with Jimin have been bellowing in his head.

After calming down — breathing evened — Jimin and he laid out all the possible options.

“It’s all up to you. The alpha isn’t in the picture, and even if you wanted to, we’d struggle to find him. If you wanna keep it, then I’ll be there through every step. If you don’t, I’ll be the one who helps you through the process. Think about it, just don’t be too rash about the decision.”

It’s been the only thing that has been actively circulating in his head. He’s torn in two about what decision to make. There are so many factors to consider, with plenty of pros and cons to ponder on too. During the moment, Taehyung just wanted out from the possibility. He was ready to make his decision right then and there, eliminating any traces of that alpha - though, Jungkook is rather unforgettable.

The longer he thinks about it, the more reality sinks in. It’s a slow trickle of acceptance, almost. There’s a pup inside him.

A pup.

Sitting at his desk, Taehyung looks at his flat stomach. His hand reaches to hold where the belly would grow, and he sighs.

Lost in thought he doesn’t even hear Daehyun knock, and enter his office.

“Director?”

Taehyung blinks, letting go of his stomach. “Hm?”

“There’s a letter for you? I haven’t heard of the senders before, but thought you might wanna see it before I throw it into shredding,” Daehyun explains, handing Taehyung a card sized envelope.

Taehyung takes the letter, spinning it around in his hand whilst examining the unfamiliar handwriting. He sucks in a breath when he sees the sender's name and address written at the back.

“When did this come in?”

“This morning, I think. I was just going through the mail now,” Daehyun explains, “Do you want it shredded ?”

“No, no. This is from some friends,” he smiles. Daehyun bows and leaves. Taehyung carefully opens the envelope, pulling out the contents.

He smiles at what he sees.

There’s a wide eyed, plumped lipped baby girl on a postcard. She still looks very fresh, skin still slightly pink, and he tufts if her hair is still sparse. Regardless, she looks absolutely adorable. Looking at the baby, Taehyung’s hands unconsciously return to his flat stomach. This could be him in ten months time - sending little postcards to introduce his pup to his friends.

He turns the card over, after almost bitterly smiling at the picture. There’s a note scribbled on the back that reads…

‘So glad we found you! Namjoon wanted to keep his promise, so here’s a picture of our bouncy baby girl.

Meet Kim Mira. Don’t ask why we named her that, it just felt as though somewhere out there - in another universe - there’s a Kim Mira loved by Daddy and Appa.

I’m bouncing back postpartum, so call me and we’ll catch up!’ - Seokjin.

Below the note is a phone number with a little smiley face tacked at the end. Taehyung finds him smiling more relaxed, and he thinks he now knows what he has to do next.

There’s just some things you can’t do on your own. Things you can’t decide without getting a second, maybe third, opinion. It’s what Taehyung feels right now. He needs some guidance, a little bit of insight that he can’t give himself. Perhaps Jin could give that to him. So he reaches out to Seokjin.

The omega is only too happy to meet up with Taehyung, setting a date and time for their meet up quickly. Seokjin’s timetable is flexible. Taehyung’s is not. Luckily for him, his week isn’t so hectic that there’s no time to spare for extracurricular activities.

“You look great,” Taehyung smiles warmly at the omega, sipping on his breakfast smoothie as he sits across Seokjin.

Seokjin smiles. He’s got a smile on his face as he rocks his baby girl. Despite all the nightmarish stories about pregnancy, and the reality of childbirth and rearing; Seokjin looks great. His skin is glowing, more than it had been when he was pregnant. There are no dark circles under his eyes, looking like he’s had a good night's sleep.

“Thank you. Joon and I have been blessed with an angel. Mira is a saint reincarnated, I’m telling you. She sleeps through the nights, and if it weren’t for our alarms, we would miss feeding times. It’s been amazing for my recovery, but Joon’s worried we’d struggle if our second pup isn’t like this,” Seokjin rolls his eyes, placing Mira gently into the stroller bassinet. She stirs only lightly before falling back into her deep sleep.

“Second pup? You’ve just had your first,” Taehyung chuckles, and he smiles wider just looking at the expression Seokjin has on his face.

“Tell me about it. If he bubble wrapped me during pregnancy, he’s bubble wrapping me and placing me into a styrofoam mould. Then again, I’m loving it. If he didn’t have work, he’d have followed me here,” Seokjin clicks his tongue before picking up his bagel.

“Are you sure that’s all you’re having?” Seokjin asks in between bites, looking at the very green, and very nasty looking concoction that Taehyung had them whip up; per the instructions given by his cravings.

It has mango, apple, banana… and god forbit: kale.

“Yep,” Taehyung smiles, willingly sipping from a smoothie he wouldn’t have even dared to drink if he weren’t pregnant.

“It looks nasty. I craved junk when I was pregnant, I don’t know why you’re craving that,” Seokjin says without batting an eye.

“Wait- you…” Taehyung says after having processed what he had said.

Seokjin freezes mid bite. He looks at Taehyung, squints his eyes and completes his bite; Taehyung is waiting for him to say something.

“I-I uh, just assumed by your scent,” Seokjin smiles.

“M-My scent?” Taehyung questions. His scent smelled the same to him. It still smells like strawberries, the way it ought to be; no longer mingled with woodland. Yet here’s Jin, telling him that he could tell he’s pregnant just by his mere scent.

“You do know you’re pregnant, right?” Seokjin asks, face growing mildly apologetic for fear of exposing a truth not known to Taehyung.

“I-I do. It’s just, I didn’t think anyone could tell,” Taehyung admits, very casually lifting his wrist to whiff at the scent glands located there. No change.

“It’s sweeter. Not arousal sweet, but just simply sweeter. There’s a little twinge of something else, I think I’ve smelt it before. It’s not a big change, and I don’t think anyone will notice. Omegas tend to be sensitive to smell after birth, easier to smell the baby’s distress. That’s why I so easily sniffed it out. I doubt others know what a pregnant omega smells like anyway,” Seokjin explains softly, seeing the way Taehyung grows pale with the information.

‘Twinge of something else.’ Taehyung knows exactly what that something else is. Unbeknownst to him, he had been going around this past month smelling Jungkook on himself that he had become used to it… and that terrifies him. He’s become familiar, and that can be scary.

“Is this meant to happen so early?” Taehyung asks. M

“I don’t know a thing about pregnancy, and I didn’t even know scents changed throughout it. I feel so… clueless,” Taehyung huffs. After the news, he had become preoccupied with making a decision, not picking up books on omega pregnancies, and filling his search history with maternity questions.

“Oh pup, that’s all right. I know it’s probably overwhelming, but I bet you’re bursting with joy at the thought of a pup,” Seokjin smiles, “that’s how I was. I spent a solid ten minutes sitting in disbelief before I started beaming at the prospect of mini Joon. Mind you, I did tell him I’d never let him have sex with me ever again during labour.”

Taehyung scoffs at that, the image of the omega cursing his mate while giving birth flashing through his eyes. It amuses him momentarily before he turns solemn again.

“I’m overwhelmed. I don’t think I feel happy. I’m confused, really confused. Besides catching up, this is the other reason why I wanted to meet. I need advice,” Taehyung looks at Seokjin helplessly.

“Something I can happily offer,” Seokjin nods,

“Thank you. A lot. I don’t know where to begin,” Taehyung chuckles, “I’m pregnant. And I don’t know whether I wanna keep the pup.”

“I’m assuming the alpha isn’t in the picture?” Seokjin deduces, taking a sip of his orange juice.

“No. He doesn’t actually know,” Taehyung bites his lip. The thought that Jungkook doesn’t know leaves him feeling guilty. He knows Jungkook has the right to know, but he doesn’t even know where to find the alpha.

“He doesn’t know… He doesn’t know?! I mean, I’m not judging you by your life choices, but-”

“I know. He deserves to know. It’s just that we haven’t seen each other since that night, and I doubt he’s one that wants to play happy family. Sure, he’ll take responsibility, but knowing him - however limited my knowledge may be - I’d just be nothing but responsibility,” Taehyung sighs, tears pooling in his eyes.

“You like this alpha, Taehyung-ssi?”

Taehyung nods. However unethical it may be for one to like someone from the first time they meet, that’s exactly how it happened.

Seokjin sighs thereafter.

“Why don’t you just tell him. Tell him about your feelings, and about the pup - whatever you may decide to do with it. Cause I bet you’re feeling a sense of responsibility yourself. Just to ease it by letting him know. If you don’t want to tell him how you feel, just let him know what you’re going to do with the pup,” Seokjin smiles warmly.

“I don’t think I’d tell him about my feelings. He’s an alpha not suited for love,” Taehyung replies with a tremor in his voice. He’s hopeless when it comes to anything related to a possibility with Jungkook.

“I’m sure he’s not as bad as that Jungkook from the wedding. He was hellbent that there’s no love,” Seokjin laughs, but it ceases when he notices the silence and sees the look on Taehyung’s face.

“It’s not him, is it?” Seokjin breathes shakily, reading Taehyung’s features.

The pregnant omega bites his lip, nodding nervously at the elder.

“Oh, Taehyung. I get why you’re so confused.”

Taehyung flicks a stray tear, he hadn’t even noticed was falling, off his cheek. He blames his fluctuation in emotion on his pregnancy hormones.

“Yeah. You see. I wanna tell him, I really do, but I don’t think I’d get the happy family I’d dreamed of. The most that I’ll get is a joint custody case. Besides, I’m still torn about keeping the baby. Sure, I wanted pups. This just wasn’t the way I was expecting to have them. The timing’s a mess too,” Taehyung sighs with watery eyes.

“Timing is never right. Pups come when they think they’re parents most need it. When they become too self absorbed, the mind is clouded by things that don’t matter; that’s when they come along and teach us the value of caring for something that does. I'm not saying you’re self absorbed, but sometimes it’s hard to find the perfect timing. Others have it easy, but some people just gotta roll with it.

“Ultimately, it’s up to you. If you wanna keep the pup, I’m rooting for you. Joon and I will give our complete support. We’ll also support you if you don’t. I’ll hold your hand through the procedure if need be. It’s your choice Taehyung. It’s also kind of messy with Jungkook, so there’s that.”

Taehyung stares at the older omega for a few seconds. It’s clear his words are genuine, and Taehyung wishes he had a few more friends like Seokjin. Sometimes the universe sends the right people, because sometimes there is perfect timing.

“I wanna keep it.”

“Taehyung, you don’t need to decide now. Think about it carefully,” Seokjin says.

“I’ve thought about it long and hard. I wanna keep it. With or without Jungkook. It took me a week to come to terms that there's something growing in me, and I don’t think I have the heart to get rid of it. Please support me,” Taehyung smiles weakly. Seokjin smiles, reaching across the table to squeeze Taehyung’s hand.

“You can bet on it. You’ll have two wolves bubble wrapping you throughout your pregnancy!” Seokjin says enthusiastically.

“Thank you. I-It means a lot,” Taehyung sniffles, “It would be great if you could help me find this alpha. I don’t think it’s the best to contact the freshly divorced couple.”

It’s safe to say that the wedded couple were no longer a couple by the end of the day. The alpha had attempted persuasion, but that failed due to the fact everyone no longer trusted him.

“Oh, for sure. They wouldn’t want to get in contact with the man who ruined their big day,” Seokjin laughs, “but Joonie could help.”

Taehyung loves the way Seokjin’s eyes sparkle brighter than the stars, whenever he talks about his mate. These small things keep Taehyung believing in love. Small things like this can’t be ignored, because sometimes, it’s the little things that count.

“How so?” Taehyung asks, pulling himself out of the reverie over the omegas love.

“How do you think we were able to find you?” Seokjin questions back, and Taehyung’s eyes light up in realisation.

“Joonie can pull a few strings, and we’ll have Jungkook’s contact information. Before that though, you need to find a good midwife. Labour isn’t easy, and you’ll need a ref in the delivery room while you shout profanities at your al- I mean at Jungkook. That’s if you want him there, of course,” Seokjin plucks on at the end.

Taehyung hasn’t thought that far ahead. Too lost in the here and now to even think about what’s going to be happening in nine months time. That day in the delivery room could, depending on Jungkook, look different from the picture that Seokjin has just painted.

“If it isn’t too much to ask?”

Seokjin waves a hand dismissively, “not at all. Just a simple phone call and we’ll be on our way to getting in touch with him.”

——— 🍴

Six weeks. Taehyung is officially six weeks into pregnancy, trudging through his first trimester. The foods he’s loved have now become his worst enemies. He finds himself snacking on things he usually shouldn’t, and peeing more often than he likes - though he’s sure this only happens when you’re big. The number of times he’s had to put the camera down during a shoot have now become inumerable.

His team have been extremely supportive of him through the beginning of his journey, and they all cried tears of joy when he broke the news. The photo house has been filled with nothing but understanding, and Taehyung feels so loved and cared for.

“Dawon can’t direct the shoot, and Mira has a party she has to attend tonight and so we’re hoping you can step in,” Daehyun holds her breath.

Taehyung doesn’t do these event shoots. Ever.

Cases like these are rare, even harder to find than a diamond in the rough. He’s made it clear to his staff that he doesn’t ever do event shoots, but sometimes things like this happen.

Taehyung sighs.

“I guess it can’t be helped, can it,” he sighs again. He was really hoping for a good night of just him, the couch, and the tub of rocky road ice cream he’s been craving all day.

“I’m sorry, director. You know there’s not many others qualified to handle projects like this,” Daehyun smiles apologetically.

“Then, we’ll have to change that. For now, have my things packed and ready to go. I want two SD cards in all cameras.

What time was this shoot again?” Taehyung asks, already gathering his things so he can mentally prepare to work overtime.

“Event starts at five, the coordinator wants to meet at four,” Daehyun informs him, skimming through the list she has on the clipboard.

“Engagement shoot?”

“Engagement party shoot. The couple won’t be coming early for photos, we were instructed to take event-only shots,” Daehyun sighs, looking at the time.

“Easy enough. It’s two right now, have everyone ready to leave and take the van by three. It’ll be rush hour traffic.”

Daehyun leaves the room to prepare, and Taehyung goes to the closet in his office. He pulls out the custom VPH gear he stores there for emergencies. The shirt and jacket hang loosely on his shoulders, fitting for the breezy night that’s to come. He tops off his gear with a cap. You could say that Taehyung is quite proud of his team gear, after all, he designed it himself.

His small team of five - including him - make it to the venue at exactly 3:58. It’s a high rise, the party taking place on the penthouse floor. It’s equipped with an infinity pool, an open bar, neon decorations and other amenities that Taehyung cannot fathom; for example, the ten toilets the place is said to have. An A-list client, Taehyung notes as they familiarise themselves with the layout of the place.

“Don’t you find it odd, boss, that the couple didn’t want photos pre party?” One of his photographers asks, just as the guests start trickling in.

“Rich people have odd preferences, I’m not entirely surprised,” Taehyung says, though there’s this weird anticipation building in his stomach. He’s curious about this wealthy couple getting married, how the aura of the place fits oddly too perfectly with a certain alpha.

“I guess. If the scent in here gets too much for you, let me know. I can cover both cameras so you can get fresh air. My sister was pregnant not too long ago, and she didn’t cope well with too many scents,” Han offers, and Taehyung returns the smile warmly; thankful his team is so considerate.

“Thank you. I’ll let you know if it gets too much,” Taehyung replies, knowing full well how he copes with too many intermingled scents. An unsavoury mix of scents has always been Taehyung’s kryptonite. His heightened sensitivity to smells during heats has been unpleasant, and he assumes it’ll be the same while he’s pregnant. During in-house shoots, he has a condition that all models wear scent blockers, but for a shoot like this, there’s not much you can do but hold your breath.

The party kicks off, but there’s not much joy on the faces of the guests. Most head straight for the open bar, sitting around drinking solemnly. Taehyung finds no good opportunities to get good candid shots, the lack of joy on their faces making it hard to get something good and worthwhile. Something tells Taehyung that this is not an engagement everyone is happy about.

“This party is dead,” Han whispers as he passes Taehyung on a scope of the room.

The bass of the music vibrates through the penthouse, but it isn’t accompanied by the usual liveliness of chatter and laughter. Of all the days, and all the projects he could’ve stepped in for, it just had to be this one. He is in no way enjoying himself, like he usually is when he’s doing his favourite thing. That pint of ice cream in his freezer is yelling out to him more than ever.

There’s a commotion by the door, and the guests standing nearby are all part. Someone begins to clap, a slow, lazy kind of clap. It’s the sound of insincerity.

The sound of the clap grows, but all Taehyung can hear is the chant of insincerity. Everyone is lazily putting their hands together as two figures get closer to the sitting room that Taehyung stands in. For a second, he notices the flashes from the main entrance, relieved that someone from his team is doing their job.

Getting his head back in the game, he lifts his camera and positions himself accordingly. He stands there, waiting for the couple to come into frame - signalling for Han to do the same from the other side of the room.

With eyes focused on the entrance, and fingers ready to click… he waits. The shadows come closer, agonisingly slow. The sound of heels on the marble floor become isolated amongst the sound of dying applause. Taehyung’s finger hover over the shutter button, itching to press down on it.

Finally, the couple comes into view. Taehyung acts on reflex, managing to capture a few pictures before the reality of who he’s seeing sinks in.

He watches Jungkook from behind the camera.

He watches the way he holds the omega close.

He watches the proud smile on Jungkook’s face as he walks into the room.

He watches the way the beautiful omega, perched on his arm, kisses him.

Soon, Taehyung can’t watch. Instead, he gags at the smell that the couple’s scents make in the air. He finds himself gasping for air, he runs behind guests, away from the smell. The fresh evening breeze greets him as he steps out onto the patio.

Taehyung holds onto the exterior wall of the penthouse for support, knees bent as he gasps for air. The camera hangs heavy around his neck, swinging in the air as Taehyung attempts to clear his lungs.

As his lungs clear, so does his head. The reality of the moment begins to sink in.

He’s the photographer at Jungkook’s engagement party.

Jungkook’s engagement party.

Jungkook’s engagement party.

Jungkook’s engagement party.

The man he thought didn’t do love, and would never do love, is getting married. Marriage was a concept Taehyung had thought that Jungkook loathed, and that was barely over a month ago. What could’ve happened in a month to change such a strong belief?

As he regains composure, his omega reminds him of the pup in his stomach. He clutches his stomach trembling at the thought that his pup’s alpha father has found a mate… someone who isn’t him. His unrequited feelings come to sting at him, mocking and scorning him for falling for an alpha who would never like him back.

Taehyung leans against the brick exterior, eyes shut as he processes and contemplates. His phone begins to ring in his back pocket, so he answers it without a care as to who it might be.

“Hello,” he says in a defeated tone.

“Taehyung! It’s me, Seokjin. Good news, Namjoon’s found some information on Jungkook. You’ll finally be able to speak to him,” Seokjin says excitedly, having not caught the downtrodden tone Taehyung answered in.

Taehyung thinks that Seokjin is a little too late. He’s found Jungkook now, and he’s changed his mind about telling the alpha about the pup.

“Uh, Seokjin-ssi. Do you mind just texting me the details, I’m doing an after hours project right now,” Taehyung says quickly, wanting to end the discussion and move on.

“Of course. Are you alright? You don’t sound too good. Do you need someone to come and get you?” Seokjin asks.

Taehyung holds back the urge to cry, then and there. He pushes off from the wall, walking over to the lit up infinity pool.

“I- uhm. Not great. I really don’t want to be here, right now,” Taehyung admits as he kicks off his shoes and socks. He sits down on the edge of the pool, dipping his feet into the cool water.

“Where are you, pup?”

“I’m at an engagement party, but as a photographer. Didn’t want to be here, but it was urgent so here I am.”

“Aw, you must be tired,” Seokjin sympathises.

“That’s one way to put it. You’re kind of a little late, by the way,” Taehyung chuckles nervously, kicking his feet in the water lightly.

“Late? How so? Did you need someone to help? Mira is asleep, so if you need I could definitely come and help you out.”

“Not like that. I don’t think you could help with this. It’s Jungkook. I found him,” Taehyung sighs, looking behind him briefly to see the party still moving as slowly as it started.

“You found him! That’s great. Were you able to talk to him?”

“No. This is his engagement party, and I literally found out five minutes ago,” Taehyung says, and there’s this acidic taste of contempt and vomit at the base of his throat.

There’s silence on the phone call for a few seconds, which to Taehyung feels like minutes.

“I feel like an idiot. I hoped.”

“Pup, don’t beat yourself up. You can’t stop yourself from liking people, and no one can blame you for falling for your pup’s father.”

“I’m sad though I shouldn’t be. I just want to be at home,” Taehyung confesses.

“Taehyung, why don’t you tell me where you are and we can grab ice cream? I'm sure your team would be understanding if you didn’t feel too great,” Seokjin offers.

“That’d be nice,” Taehyung says. He wants to get away. Away from the woodland scent he knows he’ll find if he goes inside.

That scent would reel him in, and never let him go. It already has such a strong hold on him, and he doesn’t want to give it anymore time, or opportunity, to grow.

“Sure, pup. Namjoon’s home, so Mira should be fine. Send me the address, and I’ll drive on over. While you wait for me, why don’t you go and let your team know. It shouldn’t take too long,” Seokjin speaks with a softness, rather than the usual jesting and hurried manner he usually speaks in.

“Yeah, okay. Thank you, hyung,” Taehyung says. It feels good having someone he can lean on.

“Anytime. I’m bubble wrapping you, remember? I’m gonna hang up, and I expect that address in seconds,” Seokjin warns in his fatherly tone.

“You’ll get it,” Taehyung smiles.

Taehyung manages to flick Seokjin a quick text with his location. He swings his feet over the edge of the pool, and back onto the cool tile. Having not thought about having wet feet, he just shrugs and picks his shoes up as he stands.

With his free hand, he sends a text to Han, letting him know he’s heading off. His mid text when he smells it. The woodland.

He freezes when the scent is right under his nose. There’s a shadow of someone in front of him, and Taehyung doesn’t want to look up, cause he already knows who it is and he doesn’t want to encounter him. His omega is already kicking with excitement at the smell, but he can’t let himself get ahead like that.

Thankful for the cap covering his shaking eyes, he keeps his gaze downwards.

“Taehyung-ssi?”

—————

Jungkook doesn’t know why, but instead of being inside with his guests, he goes looking for the black clad omega. With the cap on, it was hard for Jungkook to make out Taehyung’s features, but when their eyes met for the briefest of seconds, there was no denying this had been the omega he called stranger.

The party didn’t look like a party. There was no mirth in the eyes of his guests, but Jungkook couldn’t care less. With a convincing smile, he manages to free himself from the clutches of his fiancé. He had seen Taehyung leaving through the back door and out to the yard, and so he followed.

When he gets out, the omega has his phone to his ear, feet dangling lazily in the pool. There’s a light chilly breeze, and Jungkook wonders what temperature he set the pool heater earlier. He also worries that the jacket that Taehyung wears might be too thin for a cool night like this.

However, he doesn’t voice these concerns, nor does he approach Taehyung. Instead, he watches him like a shadow, content to see him doing well, and surprised to see him here of all places. Jungkook leans against the wall, sighing as he watches the omega he had left in heat.

Vante Photohouse. There hadn’t been much thought when it came to hiring photographers, cause quite frankly, he didn’t care. The photo house had simply come up as highly recommended, and the sample photos seemed great so Jungkook had booked the crew. He’s happy now, because it’s led him back to Taehyung.

There’s light splashes from the pool that pull Jungkook out from his thoughts. He sees Taehyung get out, attempting to shake the water off his legs before picking up his shoes. Jungkook straightens himself out, adjusting his blazer before taking steady steps towards the omega. They may have once been strangers, but he can say hi… right?

As he gets closer, the scent of strawberries wafts towards his nose, tickling his fancy. He always found Taehyung sweet. He smelt sweet, tasted sweet… Taehyung was the very essence of sweet. Having formed some sort of liking to the omega’s scent, Jungkook doesn’t fail to notice the slight shift in its smell. He can’t pinpoint the reason, nor the change, but he knows it’s there.

Could he have mated in the span of a month? Jungkook asks himself, to which he shakes his head because the omega had been running away from an ex, not towards one.

He’s about a few feet away from the omega when Taehyung freezes. Jungkook waits a few seconds for the omega to look at him, but he doesn’t. Hiding behind his cap, Taehyung doesn’t look up.

“Taehyung-ssi?” Jungkook breaks the silence. He’s sure he isn’t mistaken, this is the very omega who questioned his belief in love, and continues to do so with the very memory of him.

The omega’s head moves upwards slowly, until it finally meets Jungkook’s wide and expectant eyes. Jungkook almost gasps at the omega’s glowing face. He notices how his eyes are glossy, and cheeks are flushed. Jungkook’s first instinct is to reach out and feel his warmth, but he holds himself back.

“Jungkook-ssi,” Taehyung croaks out. Taehyung coughs, clearing his throat.

“I had no idea I came to photograph your engagement party,” Taehyung chuckles nervously.

“Honestly, I didn’t know either. Up until tonight, I didn’t really think I’d see you again,” Jungkook chuckles too. He really hadn’t thought he’d see Taehyung again. Let alone in a situation like this.

Jungkook doesn’t want to admit it, but he had hoped he wouldn’t have to see Taehyung again. Taehyung shook the core of his beliefs, made him see things in a different light. He hated it, no matter how refreshing Taehyung is.

It’s the feeling of being proven wrong.

The feeling of losing an argument you thought you’d never lose.

“Same. Engaged, huh?” Taehyung coughs, swinging his shoes around a little as he looks anywhere but Jungkook’s face.

“Yeah. Engaged. Who would’ve thought?” Jungkook asks.

“Who would’ve thought? Must be one hell of an omega to have you falling in love in a month. Just six weeks ago - not that I’m counting, you were adamant that you’d never find love. Said you’d never marry too, cause what was it you called it again?” Taehyung frowns in thought.

Jungkook would find it cute, but he’s too busy feeling a sting from Taehyung’s words. He did say those things, just over six weeks ago, cause hey… he’s counting.

“A funeral. Marriage is a funeral.”

“Right! That’s the word. Again, she must be great that you’re so willing to kill your own freedom and drive it six feet into the ground,” Taehyung says with a little chuckle, and the sarcasm makes Jungkook frown. This isn’t the Taehyung he knows - well, actually a little.

The Taehyung he knows, voices what he thinks, but he’s polite about it.

“People change, Taehyung-ssi,” Jungkook replies with eyebrows furrowed.

“They do, I just didn’t think they’d change so quickly. But who am I to judge? You found yourself an omega, that’s great,” Taehyung replies with a wry smile.

“Exactly. Who are you to judge? We’re just strangers. Our paths crossed once, and that’s what’s happening right now. If I choose to get married, whether I believe in love, whether I found an omega who changed my views or not… you have no right to judge,” Jungkook finds himself snapping. He doesn’t want to, especially when he can already smell Taehyung’s scent go sour.

“Yes. Just strangers. So I apologise for being intrusive. I guess our off loading period expired long ago. We clearly don’t need each other's help, and the moon goddess answered my prayer. You found someone, and I should be happy for you… but I’m not,” Taehyung whispers.

Jungkook barely catches it, but he has his stomach churning with anticipation.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. I’m happy for you. Apologies for the sudden blow up, I believe my hormones and pheromones are out of whack because of my incoming heat. Have a lovely engagement party, go and enjoy it,” Taehyung smiles.

Jungkook wants to push, wants to hear those words that were whispered. He wants to know why he’s not happy, but he’s intercepted by a call - Taehyung’s phone.

“Hyung, yeah, I’m on my way down,” Taehyung answers the caller.

Jungkook stands there simply stunned. This wasn’t what he had expected of their reunion.

He watches Taehyung end the call, ears tipped red. The omega shoves the phone into a pocket, ready to walk away.

Jungkook doesn’t let him, he catches his wrist before the omega can even take a step.

“Jungkook-ssi.”

“You’re not happy for me.”

Jungkook sees the way the colour in Taehyung’s face drains. Then the alpha is pulling the omega towards him, capturing his lips in a kiss that tears through Jungkook’s very core. The foundation of his beliefs shakes, all because of an earthquake called Kim Taehyung.

Taehyung pulls away first, eyes blown wide. His lips are glossy and red, and yanks his wrist away from Jungkook’s hold as he takes an uneasy step back.

“Y-You’re getting married. This is your party. This- this isn’t happening,” the omega shakes his head before making a dash towards the penthouse.

Jungkook follows hot on his heels, swerving and weaving around the guests. He finally makes it to the entrance, and he sees the omega getting into the elevator as a guest comes out. Jungkook feels he’s never ran faster in his life.

But it’s not fast enough. The doors shut as he’s a step away from them. Taehyung’s crying figure is seen through the crack in the door.

Pressing the buttons vigorously, Jungkook prays that the doors open. But they don’t.

He groans in frustration before running back to the courtyard and towards the glass balustrade of the penthouse. He looks down, catching Taehyung’s figure get into a vehicle below.

Kim Taehyung isn’t happy with this marriage, but neither is Jeon Jungkook.

—————

“He kissed you!?” The omega jumps out of his seat, ice cream in hand as Taehyung recounts the events of the evening.

“So what? It doesn’t mean anything. He’s getting married, hyung. A wonderful omega has changed his mind about love, made him believe in it. That omega isn’t me. Jungkook probably wasn’t thinking when he kissed me.”

Seokjin grasps Taehyung’s hand. “It means something, Tae. He’s engaged and he kissed you. What sort of love is that? Do you think he really loves that omega if he could kiss you and chase you to the elevator the way he did? And, and with all those guests watching?” Seokjin says, eyes wide as he tries to get his point across the denying omega.

“He was probably tipsy,” Taehyung attempts to justify.

“He had just arrived and he followed you out. No time to get tipsy,” Seokjin notes.

“Pre drinks?”

Seokjin can only sigh at Taehyung’s state. They’re sitting on Taehyung’s couch, a tub of ice cream in each of their laps as they’re neck deep in conversation.

“You’re in denial, but I think Mister - I don’t do love - has a little something for you. You’re right, Tae, a month is not a lot of time for people to change. Maybe appearance-wise, but beliefs and such take time. I find it hard to believe he loves someone else when he has eyes sharp enough to find you. The engagement obviously means nothing to him if he was able to leave his fiancé at their own party, chase you like a clown, and kiss you without a single ounce of regret,” Seokjin says, stuffing his face with another spoon of ice cream.

“Who said he didn’t regret it? He probably is right now, right at this very moment as he probably holds his omega close and kisses her the way he did me,” Taehyung whispers, looking down to his half-empty tub.

“Talk to him. That’s all I really have to say to you.”

Taehyung drops his spoon into the tub, looking up at Seokjin with teary eyes, “I’d ruin his marriage by telling him about the pup.”

“You’d save him from it, if it truly isn’t one of love like he’s making it out to be. I may not be a witness, but from what I hear, he’s trying to convince himself of something. He’s not in love with that omega, cause I’ve seen an alpha in love, and he most definitely doesn’t go and kiss another omega at their engagement party,” Seokjin nods with a smile.

“I wish I could have it as easy as you and Namjoon Hyung.”

“You will. Once you talk to Jungkook.”

“How are you so sure?” Taehyung raises a brow.

“Cause I know what it feels like to deny your own feelings. I also know what that looks like. Jungkook is the perfect example,” Seokjin gestures before leaning back on the couch and eating more ice cream.

“Did the ice cream fulfil your cravings?” Seokjin looks over at Taehyung - who is now stuffing his face with more cookies and cream ice cream.

“Yep, but it’s not hitting as hard with all this thinking I’m doing,” Taehyung says in between spoons.

“You’ll figure it out. I know you will. If I learnt anything from being a tsundere once, it was that communication is key. That goes for anything, by the way,” Seokjin ruffles Taehyung’s hair.

“I’d stay longer, but I didn’t pump enough milk for another feed and Joonie will probably panic if I’m not home soon. Call me, text me, keep me up to date. But don’t do any of those things if you don’t talk to him,” Seokjin says, putting a lid on his ice cream as he stands up from the couch.

“Are you threatening to cut me off?” Taehyung asks jokingly.

“If it’s what it takes to get you to talk to him, then absolutely. Now, save that ice cream for tomorrow and go to bed. I know how tired you must be,” Seokjin smiles. He gives Taehyung’s hair a final ruffle before picking up his things and heading for the door.

“Doubt I’ll sleep tonight.”

“Doubt you won’t,” Seokjin shoots back. He opens the door to the apartment and shoots Taehyung another smile.

“Communicate. Goodnight Tae,” he waves.

“Goodnight. Thank you, for everything.”

“We Kim’s bubble wrap well, so anytime.”

It leaves Taehyung with a smile on his face before the door shuts behind the omega. Taehyung doesn’t put the tub away, finishing it instead before trudging to bed. Just as Seokjin predicted, Taehyung is out like a light.

His last thought before he drifts to sleep is, ‘What if?’

——— 🍴

It’s not easy, Taehyung finds. It’s not easy being pregnant, and he absolutely hates the first trimester. He doesn’t mean to, but he gets snappy for no reason at all. Poor Daehyun has had to take the brunt of all of it, but the omega has been very gracious towards Taehyung.

Taehyung has also had countless snack runs during work time, and cravings he’s had to quench during shoots. An absolute pain, but not really once he has the food in his hand.

“Ramen.”

Jimin stares at him with raised eyebrows. Yoongi sits next to him on Taehyung’s couch. The omegas had had a fun time convincing him to join in for movies and pizza tonight. He really hadn’t wanted to, his introverted tendencies coming out more than usual because of Taehyung. Don’t get him wrong, Yoongi likes Taehyung, he’s just not too familiar with him yet.

“What?” Jimin blinks, tuning out the movie playing in the background.

“Ramen. I want ramen. That really spicy one with lots of cheese, and an egg- no, two eggs. Maybe a touch of milk too. Oh, god, I need it now,” Taehyung almost drools at the thought.

He gets up and goes to his kitchen, rummaging through the cupboards. A groan leaves his lips when he realises he doesn’t have ramen, especially that really spicy one that makes lips turn red.

“I have none. I’m going down to the convenience store,” Taehyung sighs, already reaching for his wallet and keys on the console by the door.

“Wait- I can't let you go out alone,” Jimin protests.

“I agree, it’s almost eleven and it’s dark out,” Yoongi adds.

“It’s down the street, and it’s not like anything happens in this neighbourhood. Besides, I know how to protect myself,” Taehyung sighs.

“You might say that, but I just don’t feel comfortable with a pregnant omega wandering the streets for ramen,” Yoongi smiles softly. Taehyung guesses this is one of the things that Jimin likes about him, but probably more so for the gummy smile he gives when he’s smiling really wide.

“Then I’ll go, Yoongi-ah,” Jimin jumps up from Taehyung’s couch.

“Great. I feel even more uncomfortable to have, not one, but two omegas wandering the streets for ramen,” Yoongi sighs.

“We’ll be fine!” The two say in unison. Yoongi looks at them unconvinced.

“Yeah, no. Let’s all take a trip to the convenience store,” the alpha stands from the couch. He’s already grabbing his things before Jimin can make a protest.

“Hyung, not to be rude but I am taller than you,” Taehyung says, trying to make a point. This only makes Yoongi stand to his full height, puff out his chest and give a small shrug.

“Makes no difference. Still not letting you two go alone,” Yoongi says, walking to the door and putting his shoes on.

Jimin opens his mouth to say something when Taehyung touches his shoulder. The pregnant omega gives a smiley shake of the head, happy to go along with the alpha’s very unnecessary bubble wrapping. Taehyung doesn’t want to say, but he thinks he’d be more comfortable with Yoongi around. It’s the weird feeling of needing protection, an innate pull he’s had since he’s been pregnant. Though the world moves around them, he knows their inner wolves still have very traditional tendencies.

The walk to the convenience store is rather uneventful, Taehyung basking in the summer night’s breeze while the couple lazily walk behind him. The fresh air helps to numb his conscience - something that has been steadily gnawing at him since the night of the party.

It nips him to find Jungkook at the most unexpected of times. He could be sitting on the toilet, taking a number two when his conscience pokes him on the side.

Taehyung has Jungkook’s number. It’s been saved on his phone for the past five days now. He went through a solid work week without phoning the alpha, and he’s declined calls that were meant for him, afraid that one might be Jungkook.

Communication.

Taehyung has always prided himself at being good at it, but right now, he doesn’t know how to exercise the skill anymore.

He’ll call Jungkook… eventually.

“Did you wanna eat here, Tae?” Jimin steps beside him. Taehyung looks up, meeting the neon lights of the convenience store.

There’s some young wolves eating outside, trying to cure their imminent hangover from their Friday night binge drinking. An older alpha sits at a table drinking soju tearfully, while another pair of young wolves play games on their phones as they eat their ramen,

“At home. I’ll buy a whole pack, it’ll be good to have a stash,” Taehyung smiles, pulling the door to the convenience store open.

“Besides, I have cheese and eggs back home,” Taehyung adds.

“We’ll wait outside,” Jimin smiles. Taehyung agrees, pulling the door all the way and stepping into the blinding white lights of the store.

Muscle memory is no joke. Taehyung’s legs take him right to the ramen section of the store, having gone on far too many late night store runs. There’s barely anything left on the shelves, the employees probably tasked with stocking up overnight. There’s one other person in the same aisle, white hood over their head as they browse.. He doesn’t pay attention to much, kneeling down to grab the last pack of the spicy ramen he craves.

“Taehyung?”

Taehyung freezes, hands on the ramen. Now that he’s aware, he can smell him. But why, Taehyung thinks, must they always meet like this?

Quickly, Taehyung grabs the ramen and pivots.

“I think you’re mistaken,” he speaks deeper than usual, beginning to take steps in the direction of the counter.

A hand curls around his wrist, “I don’t think I could ever mistake your scent.”

Taehyung twists his wrist out of the alpha’s grasp. He meets Jungkook’s eyes. The alpha looks awfully tired for a Friday night. His hair is dishevelled, and he’s wearing black sweats, and if that doesn’t turn the omega on…

“See, it is you,” Jungkook smiles.

Taehyung drops his hands to his sides, ramen swinging next to him. He sighs, not really planning on meeting the alpha tonight. Is this what he gets for procrastinating talking to the alpha?

“Why do you keep running from me?” Jungkook asks, eyebrows furrowing.

“I-I…”

“If it’s because of that kiss, I…”

“You’re sorry, I get it. It’s forgiven. It was a mistake and you regret it-” Taehyung is cut off.

“No! I don’t regret that kiss. I wanted it. It must make me a really bad alpha for wanting to kiss an omega who isn’t my fiancé. But I wanted it. That omega, she’s…”

Taehyung shakes his head, “Don’t do this, Jungkook-ssi. You don’t need to explain it to me, it’s fine. Perhaps kissing me does make you a bad alpha, but I shouldn’t have judged you for learning to love so quickly. Again, my mistake.”

“Taehyung-ssi,” Jungkook says, sounding almost exasperated.

“Jungkook-ssi. In all honesty, I was going to call you this week. I kind of need to talk to you,” Taehyung admits.

The alpha’s eyes light up at that, and Taehyung notices it. He sees it quicker than he sees an out of place hair on his head. There’s this flicker of hope at seeing the alpha’s eyes, but he’s quick to put it out. He crushes any possible delusions that may come to mind at such a simple look.

“Me? You wanted to talk to me? I-I’ve been trying to call your office the whole week, but you haven’t been taking my calls. I was wondering if you were avoiding me too,” Jungkook coughs to cover up the sprinkle of hurt in his voice.

“Not avoiding… I was really busy this week. I swear, I was going to call you back,” Taehyung says, lying through his smiling teeth.

“But now that I’m here, we can talk… right?” The alpha says, sounding like a shy teenage boy. Taehyung has never seen him look so… nervous.

Taehyung looks around the convenience store. Another customer walks through the doors. Privacy is not a commodity offered at a 24/7 convenience store.

“Maybe not here. Did you want to come to my place?” Jungkook asks.

The offer has Taehyung raising his brows in surprise. “Don’t you have an omega at home?”

“I don’t, actually. If you’d just hear me out, I’m sure you’d understand the situation,” Jungkook chuckles.

“I still don’t understand why I’d need to know,” Taehyung replies.

“Believe me, I didn’t know why I had the sudden urge to explain. I know now,” Jungkook replies cryptically. He glances down at the ramen in Taehyung’s hands.

“We can eat ramen while we talk?” Jungkook cocks his head to the side, a convincing half smile on his face.

Taehyung did come here for ramen, so maybe killing two birds with one stone should be good.

The omega caves. Thus followed by a very short tug of war with the ramen, a little argument to see who would pay for the thing. The alpha wins by strength alone, indulging in his toxic masculinity to pay for things just this once. Taehyung lets him, watching him cheekily smile back as he stands at the counter.

It’s easy, Taehyung thinks, far too easy to get along with Jungkook in little moments of banter. He goes to stand by the door, watching the customers eating and talking outside when he spots Jimin and Yoongi chatting away with smiles on their faces.

His breath hitches at the realisation that he didn’t come alone. Turning back, he sees Jungkook already paying for the ramen and a few other things. He quickly slips out the door to approach the couple.

“Hey. Where’s the ramen?” Jimin wonders out loud, seeing Taehyung come out of the store empty handed.

“Well, uh- about that. You two can go home, I bumped into a friend so I’ll have ramen with them,” Taehyung chuckles nervously, hoping protective alpha Yoongi won’t question him.

“A friend? Are you sure, Tae? I still don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone,” Yoongi frowns.

“I'm sure. I’ll be fine, really. It’s late anyway, I don’t want to keep you up late. My friend will look after me,” he smiles.

“Really? Cause it’s Friday night anyway, I don’t mind staying up,” Jimin seeks reassurance.

“Taehyung-ssi?”

All that’s left for Taehyung to do, is to stand there like an idiot as he hears Jungkook approach their little group. He knows what Jimin’s and Yoongi’s faces must look like right now.

“Oh, Jungkook-ssi!” Jimin exclaims in surprise, giving Taehyung a look. Yoongi does the same, greeting the approaching alpha.

“You didn’t tell us this friend was Jungkook,” Jimin smiles at Tae, betrayal and curiosity flickering behind his eyes.

“Hi!” Jungkook smiles, carrying the little bag of things he purchased.

“Nice to see you, Jungkook-ssi. Tae said he’s having ramen with you?” Yoongi asks, looking wary of the alpha, having been filled in with the details of the very complicated relationship, acquaintanceship the two have with each other.

“Uh, yeah. I mean, you can join if you want?” Jungkook politely offers, while Taehyung wishes he hadn’t. It’s hard enough to speak with Jungkook alone, what more with an audience hanging off his every word.

“No, no, we wouldn’t want to impose. Now would we, babe?” Jimin asks the alpha, nudging him a little as he doesn’t respond immediately.

“Oh, of course. We’re heading home anyway,” Yoongi smiles, having finally received the message.

“Are you two dating?” Jungkook finds himself asking, because like Tae, he had heard the use of a pet name.

“Oh, well, we’re taking it slow. Snail’s pace, slow,” Jimin smiles.

Jungkook smiles widely, his intimidating aura nowhere to be found. “That’s great! I'm happy for you guys.”

“Thank you. We’ll be heading off. Please feed him soon, he’s been bugging us for ramen,” Jimin teases, leaving out the part that it’s actually a craving.

“Of course, I’ll look after him,” Jungkook says. Those words make Taehyung’s skin tickle red. Those words are words he’s been wishing to hear from the alpha. To be taken care of by Jungkook, the same way he had during his heat. Now that he’s heard them - not in the way he had wants, though - it makes his stomach do somersaults.

“You better,” Yoongi warns teasingly.

“Call me tomorrow, Tae,” Jimin grins. The couple walk past Taehyung, Jimin pausing very briefly next to him.

“Communicate,” he whispers, and Taehyung nods in understanding. Communicating is what he’ll do tonight. He just hopes it doesn’t all turn to custard before he drops the bomb on Jungkook.

“See you,” Taehyung waves as the couple walk down the street, and back to Taehyung apartment complex to where they had parked.

He’s still watching after them til they’re long gone, while the alpha by his side waits patiently to regain his attention.

“So… ramen?”

——— 🍴

The ride back to Jungkook’s apartment is short and quiet. Neither of them said a word, but Taehyung was comforted by the alpha’s scent, and his light humming. Jungkook’s scent is like a drug, it pulls him out of the pit of nerves and worry he sits in, and settles him amongst the green grass and earthy forest.

As they approach the building, Taehyung remembers it well. He was here just a week ago, and now he’s beginning to wonder if he’ll run away like he did the first time. Will he come out at peace?

“Here we are,” Jungkook announces, once parked into his designated spot in the building's basement. He unbuckles his seatbelt with ease, before reaching towards the backseat to collect their purchases. As he leans back, Taehyung can smell the alpha more strongly than before, and the scent is welcome to him, his omega yearning for more… a want to be scented by the alpha.

Jungkook gets out before Taehyung can even process anything, the alpha’s scent still wafts around in the car. The omega takes a deep breath, reaching for his own door handle. The door opens before he can even touch it, Jungkook smiling at him from the outside. Audacity, Taehyung thinks, is what this alpha has. How can he be such a chivalrous alpha and make him feel all these funny things?

The rubber band between them continues to stretch, Jungkook offering a hand to Taehyung. Taehyung blinks at it a few times before finally placing his hand in the alpha’s. Jungkook’s touch is how he remembers it, firm, yet so delicate all at once. He grips onto Taehyung’s hand lightly, helping him out of the car.

“Thank you,” Taehyung whispers, unable to say anything else at the moment. He expects Jungkook to let his hand go, but the alpha only holds the omega’s hand tighter, leading him into the building and into the elevator.

There’s a layer of sweat that Taehyung feels between their hands. Jungkook doesn’t do anything to show he’s bothered by it, and Taehyung looks down at their hands with a small smile. This may not mean a lot to the alpha, but it means bucket loads to the omega. Taehyung merely boils it all down to chivalry, he’s merely being chivalrous.

A loaded silence fills the elevator, the sweet smell of strawberries and woodland enveloping the pair. Neither utter a word of distaste, and however relaxed Taehyung is, he can’t deny the weird sensation at the pit of his stomach. It’s a sensation he knows too well, and he’s trying to control himself - aware of how heightened his scent maybe with pregnancy.

Taehyung, resorts instead, to watching the floor numbers go up. The alpha seems to be releasing soothing pheromones with a mild undertone of arousal, and all Taehyung can do is breathe deeply when the elevator finally arrives at the penthouse entrance.

Jungkook releases his hand then, but only to punch in his door code and let them into the apartment. The first thing that Taehyung does is smell.

“You won’t smell another omega,” Jungkook smiles, clearly amused at the way Taehyung’s nose is almost up in the air as he tries to get a whiff of someone else.

“I haven’t had another omega in here since the party last week, and I can guarantee that an omega will not be stepping into my home,” Jungkook assures Taehyung’s wolf unknowingly. He leads Taehyung to the kitchen, getting the water boiling as soon as he gets there.

“But, isn’t she, your fiance? Unless you’ve bought another home…” Taehyung says, jealousy begins to creep through his veins and affect his reason.

“Was.”

“Was?” Taehyung asks surprised.

“She was for about a week, until I saw you again,” Jungkook stops opening the ramen packets to look the omega in the eye.

“I-I… what is that supposed to mean?” Taehyung stutters, caught off guard by the leading statement.

Jungkook smiles, resuming his task as he begins to talk.

“My family is… well off,” he begins, and Taehyung can very clearly tell that this statement is true. “Marriage is a contract to them. A legally binding business contract. You were right, that day by the pool. That marriage would have been my funeral. I would be buried alive if I married her. I was ready to accept the fact, ready for my family to pile the dirt of familial relations on me. You know why?”

Taehyung merely blinks back at the alpha.

“It’s because I met you, then I left you. I just accepted that fate. After the wedding, I-I.. knew I’d never fall in love and know what love is if it wasn’t with you. But I had left you. I left you in your weakest state, and I had no way to even look for you. In hindsight, I could've found you, but I didn’t try and just wallowed in self-pity while compromising for something - someone - who wasn’t you. You stirred things up in me that day at the wedding. Your desperate optimism that love exists… it made me want to gravitate to you. I felt my resolve crumbling around you in a single day, and I knew, I knew you’re the one the moon goddess sent to me.

“Maybe I was just proud, that’s why I didn’t look for you - didn’t want to be proven wrong about love and emotions. When I saw you that day, I-I couldn’t hold myself back anymore. I missed you, in more ways than one.”

Taehyung is a blushing mess, cheeks tinted scarlet and eyes glossy from the vulnerable side that the alpha has just displayed to him. His feelings weren’t one-sided after all. He missed the alpha too… his scent, his touch. Taehyung can still vividly remember the way Jungkook’s hands mapped out his body. He had taken his time, seemingly memorising every dip and curve of Taehyung’s body.

“But I’m too late, aren’t I?” Taehyung unexpectedly hears Jungkook say.

“W-What makes you say that?” Taehyung asks in return, genuinely confused as to how the alpha came to that conclusion.

“Your scent. The strawberry scent that I absolutely love. It’s changed. You smell of someone else too. It’s definitely an alpha. I guess you found love too? Maybe that ex you were running away from?” Jungkook smiles bitterly.

“I-I…” Taehyung doesn’t know if the timing is wrong. He doesn’t know if a confession should be first before the big announcement, but he’ll just wing it and see where it takes him.

“You don’t need to explain, you probably didn’t catch any feelings. After all, I was the alpha who didn’t do love, and you’re the omega who wants a fairytale ending,” Jungkook looks down at the kitchen counter that separates the two of them.

“I have feelings for you,” Taehyung whispers. He isn’t so sure if Jungkook even heard, the alpha still not daring to look up at him. With that single word, Taehyung feels the stretch of the rubber band - tension building between them yet again.

“You don’t need to say that to make me feel better,” the alpha looks up then, but the words sound so stupid considering the way Taehyung watches him - eyes filled with want, sincerity, and all things in between.

“I really do feel the same. My wolf has been looking for you, I have been looking for you. You enchanted me from the moment we met. Made me see the better side of alphas - not believing in love aside. I was brought under a spell that day, and I still am until now,” Taehyung says, rather breathless after expressing the emotions he’s had to bottle up for the past six- seven weeks.

“I actually felt kind of stupid for falling for someone after a single encounter. But hey, emotions do that to you,” Taehyung chuckles nervously.

“You do? But y-your scent?”

Taehyung finds it completely endearing the way Jungkook’s eyes turn into little globes. The alpha looks nothing like he does when he attempts to be the brooding alpha he was first seen to be.

“This is why I wanted to talk to you,” Taehyung gulps, looking down at his sweaty hands, head trying to arrange the jumble of words he has yet to say to the alpha. He takes a deep breath, calming his erratic heart. The past few minutes have been an awful lot for him to process.

“Your scent?” Jungkook asks, oblivious to the implications.

“Remember that day, when you helped me through my heat?” Taehyung asks, though rather embarrassed as the scenes from then come to mind. His cheeks feel hot all of a sudden.

“Yes…” the alpha says nodding his head.

“Well, that night when we- I- well. I…” Taehyung sighs, unable to finish the sentence. Imagining himself announcing this looked ten times easier, yet here he was tripping over his words the same way he does with the little flap in the entrance carpet of the photo house.

“Pregnant.”

Taehyung looks up, the alpha’s looking possessive and enlightened all at once. The look honestly pretrifies Taehyung. The air has grown thick with the scent of woodland, but this time it’s smokey. It’s the smell of a log when it’s been lit, but it burns quickly. Jungkook’s pheromones invade his nostrils, enveloping him.

“Y-Yes, I’m pregnant.”

“With my pup?” Jungkook raises a brow, rounding the kitchen counter and beginning to make his way over to Taehyung.

You can smell the tension filling the air. Jungkook’s in front of him now, eyes boring into his. The alpha’s gaze doesn’t waver, and Taehyung can feel his stomach churn in anticipation. There’s a dampness down under, and there’s no mistaking what it might be.

“With your pup,” he responds, and it feels right saying that out loud. He didn’t know it could turn him in so badly.

“My pup. My omega,” Jungkook’s eyes flicker red before he pulls Taehyung towards him. Taehyung gasps at the movement, eyes widening as Jungkook presses their lips together in a desperate kiss. Just like that, the rubber band snaps.

The alpha trails kisses down Taehyung’s neck, stopping to give a seductive smile before getting on his knees and lifting Taehyung’s hoodie to show his stomach. There’s no bump yet, but the doctors said that it’s normal to not show this early on and despite that Taehyung can feel the pup - in a weird way.

Jungkook looks up at Taehyung, the omega biting his lip as Jungkook’s cold hand comes in contact with his bare skin. He caresses the place the bump will grow, a warmth spreading over that span of skin.

“Our pup,” he says, pressing a kiss on Taehyung's lower abdomen. The sight sends all sorts of fuzzy feelings spiralling in Taehyung’s body. It’s a sight he only dreamt of.

“Our pup. My alpha,” he whispers, Jungkook pressing butterfly kisses along his stomach.

The ramen is forgotten, Jungkook making quick work of Taehyung’s clothes and carrying him out of the kitchen, while their lips clash against each other.

—————

“I can’t believe you actually like me,” Jungkook chuckles.

They’re in Jungkook's bed. The room smells of strawberries, woodland, and sex. Clothes are strewn on the floor, and their legs are tangled together under the alpha’s white crumpled sheets.

Taehyung is tucked snugly in the alpha’s arms, head resting on Jungkook’s chest. He likes hearing Jungkook’s heart beat, it calms him, makes him sleepy. Yet all at once, it’s unbelievable. He still can’t believe where he is, what was said, and what this could possibly mean.

“I can’t believe you like me,” Taehyung says back, looking up at the alpha from where he lies.

“How could I not? Look at you. You’re gorgeous, witty, speak your mind and don’t like being told otherwise. You had my heart doing backflips from day one. My alpha liked you immediately, and I hate I was so proud back then,” Jungkook says, his thumb gently rubbing Taehyung’s shoulder.

“Besides, what did you even see in me? I was just this stupid alpha who didn’t believe in love just because his sister was so unfortunate, and all because his parents live in a loveless marriage,” Jungkook sighs, showing yet another crack in the facade Taehyung has already begun to take down.

“You were you. I liked that. You’re the gorgeous one. You don’t mind sticking up for yourself, or others. I like that in an alpha. Not some alpha who can’t even fight for you. You fought for your sister, and I found that extremely attractive,” Taehyung smiles.

“Can’t believe you really thought I’d go back to my dumbass ex. Can’t even stand the sight of him,” Taehyung rolls his eyes, but snuggles even closer to Jungkook.

“Hey, he’s probably better than some alpha who was insistent that love is fake and that marriage is literally death,” Jungkook chuckles, and it makes Taehyung smile.

The sound of Jungkook’s laugh is heavenly.

“Yeah, still better. He was a douchebag, a big coward. I was angry when we broke up, so I avoided him. I just know I’ll punch him in the face if I ever see him again,” Taehyung admits, and he isn’t lying one bit. His alpha ex was good for nothing, and he won’t mind denting his pretty face - which definitely is nothing when compared to Jungkook.

Alphas almost made Taehyung feel like giving up in the venture for love. They made his life difficult, and it’s so bad for him to stereotype, but he just felt as though they were all the same. All looks, no brains and no true heart. He knew they were always after one thing, and he knows the feeling of being robbed of that one thing then being left for dead afterwards - sweeping up the remnants of his heart so he can glue them back together. Taehyung prays that Jungkook won’t ever do this.

“You don’t feel like punching me?”

“I’d rather suck you dry,” Taehyung says, and he cringes so hard it makes him laugh.

“Please don’t say that out loud ever again,” Jungkook laughs with him.

“Oh, I won’t. Ew, I can’t talk dirty at all,” Taehyung snorts, and it just gets the two laughing all over again.

It’s already early Saturday morning. Usually, Taehyung would be asleep by now, but he can’t sleep for fear that maybe this is all a dream he’ll wake up from. It feels far too good to be true. He’s spent countless nights dreaming of the alpha. He’s spent his lonely nights fantasising about him, and he doesn’t want to be let down with the fact that this could all just be one of those.

Their laughing dies down, and they slip back into a comfortable silence.

“Thank you. Thank you for liking me, despite the not so great picture I painted of myself at the wedding. I know that I may not be the best when it comes to love, but for you I’ll try. I’ll learn. I wanna try this,” Jungkook says, and he shuffles around so that they’re both on their sides facing each other.

“I want to make this work. Not just for the pup, but because I like you… a lot,” Jungkook smiles at Taehyung.

“I can work with ‘like.’ Love always starts with a ‘like’ first. I want to try it too. If a day comes when you realise you won’t love me, then I’m okay with that. I just don’t like the fear of never knowing what could have been if we didn’t try,” Taehyung replies. At least this way, he won’t be disappointed if the alpha never reaches the point of love. After all, Jungkook wasn’t initially cut out for it.

“I will love you,” Jungkook sounds certain, “I wasn’t kidding when I said I won’t learn to love if it wasn’t you.”

“You’re only saying that because you haven’t met someone else,” Taehyung pouts.

“I’m not. Quite frankly, I don’t want to fall in love with anyone but you.”

Jungkook’s eyes glimmer in the dim room. Taehyung isn’t so sure, but he thinks that perhaps the alpha’s eyes have gone misty.

“You really mean that?” Taehyung asks, so hopeful…

“Scarily enough, yes. Not that falling in love with you is scary, cause you are not scary. You’re oh so loveable. It’s the falling in love part. It’s scary because it’s new, completely uncharted territory for me. I wouldn’t know if I’m loving you right, if I’m showing it enough, being vocal enough about it. I’m a fish out of water, I’m out of my comfort zone,” Jungkook sighs, avoiding eye contact with Taehyung. Taehyung reaches out, tilting Jungkook’s head back in his direction.

He smiles, hoping the smile would be enough to put those worries to rest.

“Do what feels right. Love looks different for everyone. The way you end up loving me- if you do, will be totally different to how I’d show my love to you. There’s no right or wrong, so don’t fret,” Taehyung says, releasing a dose of comforting pheromones to ease Jungkook’s worrying alpha.

“Oh, god. You smell heavenly. Thank you for being so understanding. You know, I bet my sister will absolutely love you. She’d dote on you more than I could. That thought alone makes me feel this warm fuzzy feeling, yet at the same time my wolf hates the thought of someone coddling you more than I will,” Jungkook smiles, reaching out to cup Taehyung’s cheeks.

“I’d like you to coddle me. No- I want you to. I don’t think your sister will do a better job than you can,” Taehyung smiles, leaning over to boop a kiss on the alpha’s nose. The kiss has the alpha blushing like a teenage boy.

“I’ll show you, Taehyung. I’m not like other alphas. I’ll treat you like you deserve,” Jungkook says, returning the nose kiss to Taehyung.

“So, Taehyung. Let me court you?”

“I don’t know,” and Taehyung almost laughs at the way Jungkook’s expression fades, “I think we’re past the point of you trying to woo me. Consider me wooed, Jungkook. Date me, instead?”

There’s a rush of relief that Taehyung sees in the alpha’s face. Jungkook lets go of Taehyung's face, pulling both his hands, and kisses his knuckles. Taehyung could get used to this.

“Date me, Taehyung. The flawed, very proud me.”

“I will.”

Jungkook beams, pulling Taehyung towards him and planting a tender kiss on his lips. Jungkook hovers over Taehyung, the omega caving in to the kisses and sweet caresses. His omega is preening at the very actions, enjoying every single moment of this. This is something that he can get used to.

—————

Taehyung wakes up to a beam of light striking his face. He stretches himself, cracking his eyes open a smidge to see the blinds of Jungkook’s floor to ceiling windows, wide open.

Taehyung reaches around blindly, but finds no one else in the bed with him.

A frown finds its way onto his face, seeing that he’s clothed in navy blue cotton pjs, clearly two sizes too big for him. After the talk, he doesn’t even remember falling asleep, or the alpha cleaning and dressing him, but it leaves him giggling to himself like a kid at the thought. He swears he’s not always like this… he blames the pregnancy hormones.

Taehyung sits up, looking out the windows and towards the pool and cityscape outside. Who would’ve thought he’d be here right now?

“You’re awake,” a voice startles Taehyung and he turns to see Jungkook grinning at him as he leans on the bedroom door.

“Good morning,” Taehyung smiles, standing up from the bed.

Jungkook begins to walk towards him, a very big smile on his face.

“Good morning, my omega,” Jungkook replies, pressing a chaste kiss on Taehyung’s lips. The alpha tastes of toothpaste, and it reminds Taehyung that he probably dons the horrid smell of morning breath, but he hides how horrified he feels.

“Though, I think we should be saying good afternoon,” Jungkook chuckles, pointing to the sun outside.

“Well then, good afternoon, my alpha,” Taehyung smiles.

“A good afternoon indeed. I cooked that ramen we forgot about, and a few side dishes. Hopefully they’re to your liking,” Jungkook says, and Taehyung catches the faint smell of ramyeon lingering in the air.

The omega’s stomach rumbles, and he looks down with a sheepish grin. He had totally forgotten about the ramen, last night being a flood of different emotions, and a flurry of events. There’s no current craving for it, but he’s more than happy to scoff down some cheesy ramen.

“You’re hungry, so pup’s hungry too. Come on,” Jungkook takes hold of Taehyung’s hand, lightly pulling him but the omega doesn’t budge.

Taehyung watches Jungkook look back at him with confused eyes and furrowed brows, “What’s wrong?”

Taehyung blinks.

“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong. Everything… Everything is just surreal. I’m really standing in your room, right?”

Taehyung watches the way Jungkook’s eyes crease, and the corners of his lips stretch upwards. He lets out an endeared laugh, and Taehyung feels Jungkook let go of his hand and pulls him forwards instead. The second his chest collides with the alpha, he gets the reaffirmation that his mind needed.

“You’re here. You’re really here. Trust me, I couldn’t believe it either. I stared at your sleeping face for 20 minutes before I got out of bed. You’re very much here, and I am still thankful for accepting an alpha like me,” Jungkook nuzzles into Taehyung’s neck, and his breath fans lightly over the omega’s scent glands.

“Thank you, for trying to love because of me,” Taehyung whispers back.

The two struggle to get to the kitchen, neither of them letting go of each other, but they eventually make it. Taehyung watches with a smile as the alpha rummages around the kitchen, gathering bowls and utensils. He notices the way Jungkook’s cupboards are almost empty, and how his fridge only has milk and iced tea.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think no one lives here with how bare your cupboards are,” Taehyung says, propping his elbows on the kitchen counter and resting his chin on his hands.

“When you’re a single alpha who works 10 hour days, you’re barely at home. I have most meals at work, and some nights I go to a 24/7 store for snacks. I don’t cook as much as I’d like,” Jungkook admits, placing the steaming pot of ramen in front of Taehyung.

“Hm. Single alpha, huh? How long were you engaged for?” Taehyung decides to tease, and that one question alone has the power to have Jungkook groaning.

“You might not remember, but I clearly remember telling you that we were engaged for a week. That’s it. I didn’t know her prior to that, and I loathed every second of it,” Jungkook sighs, taking a seat next to Taehyung.

“I’m teasing,” Taehyung smiles, giving the alpha a little cheek squish before he begins to dig into the food.

“You know, I think we need to get to know each other better,” Jungkook pipes up, loading Taehyung’s bowl with some side dishes.

“Hm, I think so too. We have all the time in the world for it,” Taehyung replies, thanking the alpha for the food in the process.

“Why don’t we start now?” Jungkook asks eagerly, Taehyung endeared by his enlarged eyes that glimmer in the natural light.

“Eager, aren’t we,” Taehyung laughs, “but I’m excited to know more about you, so shoot.”

“Great! Story behind the photo house? I tried to scope the website, but it didn’t tell me much about the company’s origin,” Jungkook asks, and Taehyung falls a little deeper at how curious the alpha is about the thing he’s so passionate and driven about.

“I didn’t think people bothered with that, to be honest. I’m touched, really. Touched that you care about stuff like that,” Taehyung smiles, a little red dusting his cheeks.

“Well, if you’re going to be my future mate, I have to get to know about you. I wanna know your likes and dislikes. Get to know your passions, and things you totally loathe doing. I wanna fall in love with every single ounce of who you are,” Jungkook stares.

The look on his face has Taehyung weak in the knees. Jungkook just knows which strings to pull, and he’s living for it.

Taehyung forces himself to break eye contact, looking down at his full bowl instead.

“Vante Photohouse is my first baby. I majored in photography and graphic design. There was a time after college I worked as a graphic designer for a company, that’s where I met my fair share of predictable and self-centred alphas. Eventually I realised I wasn’t enjoying the job, it didn’t get me out of bed in the morning - rather it made me want to stay in bed. On weekends, I started taking photos. I went to public events, busy streets in Hongdae, and anywhere I could practise. Taking pictures gave me the thrill and sense of enjoyment I missed,” Taehyung pauses to take a spoonful of food.

“I'm guessing you rekindled your love and realised it was what you wanted to do?”

“Exactly. It started with that, then I did freelance photography on the weekends. Photographed friends’ weddings, birthdays, anything that needed a photographer for. I was getting good money out of it, and it gained enough traction so that I could drop my boring design job. The photo house started in my studio apartment, then I bought the building a year after officially registering the company. Photography gets me out of bed. It’s indescribable how it makes me feel,” Taehyung releases a contented sigh before looking over at Jungkook who stares at him with stars in his eyes.

“You’ve got a light in your eyes when you talk about it,” Jungkook points out, and Taehyung finds himself blinking in shyness.

“I just found another thing I like about Kim Taehyung.”

With the way Taehyung has been blushing of late, he’s surprised his cheeks haven’t permanently turned red. He feels so seen under the alpha’s gaze, though can’t help but shy away.

They go back to eating, both embracing the comfortable silence.

“How about you? What do you do?” Taehyung asks, “besides being a rich family’s son.”

“Well, this rich family’s son is now indefinitely estranged from them after I walked out of the engagement. But, I work at a telecommunications company. I’m currently a telecom executive, so I’m pretty busy. I won’t say I have a heartwarming story like yours, cause I really don’t. My parents chose my career from the moment I was born, and I went with it. I’ve found myself stuck in this vortex they created, the only decision I made myself was working at a company that wasn’t ours. My parents are real estate moguls, and they wanted me to work for them and I stood my ground and said no,” Jungkook nods, as if thinking back at the decision he made.

“It was hard. I tried to break away from the family completely, but my mother made it hard. I worked my way up to where I was, and I’m happy to say that. I wasn’t gonna be a nepo baby,” Jungkook smiles. Taehyung can tell it’s the one thing he’s proud about.

“This engagement, was it for their business?” Taehyung asks, curious about his family.

“Hm. I said yes cause I wanted to get you out of my mind, that obviously didn’t work,” Jungkook smiles with the tips of his ears going red.

“Do you like what you’re doing?”

“I wouldn’t say I love it, but I enjoy it enough to keep going. It doesn’t get me out of bed the way your work does, but I’m okay with it. I-I…”

Taehyung can sense the hesitation on Jungkook’s face. He doesn’t seem ready to speak whatever has come to mind.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Taehyung smiles, putting his chopsticks down to give Jungkook’s hand a squeeze.

From the beginning, Taehyung has sensed that Jungkook can sometimes be troubled. There’s always something in mind gnawing at him, and almost eating him alive. It’s the kind of thought, or secret, you need help carrying. Taehyung is more than happy to be there to help Jungkook through anything; so long as Jungkook lets him.

“I wanna tell you. I want to be transparent right from the beginning, and tell you things that I’ve never told others before,” and if Taehyung’s heart didn’t flip at that.

Taehyung watches as Jungkook mentally prepares himself. The alpha’s brows are furrowed, and he chews on some kimchi as he formulates the right words to say - or rather just learning how to verbalise it for the first time.

“I-I- no, in my free time… I do some music producing and composing on the side,” Jungkook pauses, looking at the way Taehyung has wide eyes reflecting delight and surprise.

“You don’t think that’s weird?”

“Me? Think that’s weird? Jungkook, I’m literally a photographer, I’ve had people tell me I would never make it. Music producing sounds absolutely awesome! It kinda matches the aura you exude,” Taehyung nods, drinking the alpha in.

“Really? No one has told me that before. I used to do music in high school, and I did a paper in university too. I would do gigs with friends, write songs and try to sell them. My parents discouraged me, as you can probably imagine. I stopped for a while, but when you work with numbers all day and not really enjoying it, you start looking. I have a friend, he works in the industry. He managed to give me the odd song to work on, and they loved it so I continue to work under a stage name,” Jungkook says. Taehyung can see the way Jungkook’s expression lifts, his lips curved upwards, and eyes speaking the words of a million smiles.

“May I ask for that stage name?” Taehyung shyly requests.

“Jaykay. I know, it's so original, but at the time it sounded right,” Jungkook chuckles.

“Hold on!” Taehyung scrambles off his chair, running back into the master bedroom and right for the neatly folded pile of clothes on the day chair. The omega searches around in his pockets until he finally procures his phone. There’s a few notifications on the Home Screen, but he ignores those, going straight for the browser instead.

He jogs back to the kitchen, slipping onto the stool as he searches for ‘Jaykay’ on the big wide web. As soon as he presses search, dozens of songs and credits appear on the screen, and he gasps as he sees some big hits in the list.

“You googled, didn’t you?”

“I had to. I’m genuinely curious, and damn, alpha. You’re talented! These are some of my favourite songs. Magic Shop? You have no clue how many times I listened to this,” Taehyung exclaims, excited.

“Wait,” Taehyung pauses, “those backing vocals. Is that you? Cause they’re heavenly.”

Taehyung grins when the alpha turns red, obviously not used to being praised. So used to being kept behind the curtains, and backstage, rather than in the spotlight and getting the praise he deserves. Taehyung is going to make sure that Jungkook receives just that. Praise and recognition. He wants the alpha to feel like he’s talented - cause he is. He wants Jungkook to learn to follow his heart, and take the reins in his life and pursue happiness.

“They’re not heavenly…” Jungkook whispers shyly.

“They are. This is amazing, Jungkook. Please promise me you’ll sing for me and the pup? Especially on nights when I can’t fall asleep?” Taehyung says, giving his best attempt at puppy eyes.

It obviously works, the alpha going even redder than before, “I will.”

“Thank you,” Taehyung says, putting his phone down to take hold of Jungkook’s hands, “Thank you for trusting me with this. It must be hard keeping it inside, but know that if this makes you happy, I’ll let you drone on about it forever!”

“Even if it’s at 3am and I can’t get the beat going?” Jungkook teases.

“Even at 3am.”

Jungkook leans in, pecking Taehyung’s lips. “I should be thanking you. You’re really spinning my world on its axis.”

“I’m not spinning it, I’m just reminding you that it is spinning, alpha. Things change. People change. Beliefs change. As they say, change is inevitable, and it’s not bad if you are. Embrace it! I still can’t believe I’m here right now, by the way, having snagged an alpha like you,” Taehyung chuckles to himself.

“You can’t believe it? It’s gonna take me years to accept you like me, cause heck, I’m a lucky alpha.”

The two smile at each other before Jungkook spins Taehyung’s stool around to face the food. They’ve eaten a fair bit, but with all the talking, Taehyung doesn’t feel full quite yet.

“Eat. You need the energy,” Jungkook urges him on.

Taehyung picks up his chopsticks, already going right for ramen… when his phone starts ringing. The ringtone isn’t obnoxious, but it’s rather funny, and he has no one to blame but himself for it. He was high on sugar - all thanks to Jimin, when he changed Jimin’s ringtone. It’s funny on most days, but when you have your baby daddy sitting in front of you, and the ringtone is of your laugh, it’s not exactly funny. Not at all:

Taehyung is already turning a beautiful shade of red, reaching for his phone while cursing Jimin under his breath. He sees Jungkook, from the corner of his eyes, smiling to himself at the sound. Muttering an apology, he moves to the living area to answer the call.

“Jimin,” he whines.

“Yah! You didn’t reply to any of my texts, and here you are whining at me? Tae, Yoongi and I were worried. You didn’t text to say you got home, so we thought that you fell asleep, but then you didn’t even text this morning, and that had me anxious cause you never sleep too late even on a Saturday. Care to explain why you’re whining at me, instead of telling me what happened?” The omega huffs on the other side, out of breath from the scolding.

“I’m fine. Perfectly fine. More than fine. Everything is great, Jimin. Don’t worry about me, like I said last night; I am more than capable of looking after myself,” Taehyung says, trying to ease the omega. Taehyung knows that if Jimin was here, he’d be able to smell the distress.

“Still! We wanted updates! So update!”

“We’re gonna try things out with each other. He’s into me too,” Taehyung says, and it has him blushing.

“Oh my goodness! Tae, I’m so happy for you. It’ll work out, I can see it. If he does anything, you have Yoongi and I. I bet Seokjin and Namjoon hyung will be on his ass too. This is great! How did he take the pregnancy,” Jimin asks. Taehyung can’t even bring to answer, recalling the events that happened right after announcing.

“Well. He took it well. He really wants to make this work too. I can’t even describe how I’m feeling right now. But since you know I’m okay now, may I go back to my alpha?”

“Aw! Your alpha,” Jimin coos before he sputters, “YOU SPENT THE NIGHT!?”

There’s a string of some more incoherent words, but Taehyung is too busy laughing to even pick up what is being said. He ends up apologising, cutting the call and leaving his friend to ramble on, just not with him.

—————

The next few months are complete and utter bliss, for both Taehyung and Jungkook. Both are keeping their word, and Jungkook is trying his very best to make this work.

Taehyung has been wooed, so to speak, and Jimin teases him about the alpha’s gestures. He’s not used to this. He’s had alpha’s court him before, but the gestures would only last for a few weeks at most, never four months.

Jungkook spontaneously appears at the photo house, food in hand and armed with biceps ready to cuddle. Taehyung is always caught off guard, each and every time. No matter how many times the alpha has come into work, he just can’t get used to the sight. His own workers have become familiar with Jungkook, and they coo at the sight of the pair together. He always walks out of his office red and embarrassed, but his workers don’t mind teasing their boss a little. After all, they can sense the shift in his mood, the way it’s more elevated - though pregnancy hasn’t really helped with the way it fluctuates.

Taehyung learns Jungkook is adventurous, but also a big foodie. Their dates have revolved around visiting the best food spots, and going on little picnics. On days when Taehyung is particularly sore, Jungkook would come over to cook for the omega and snuggle up on the couch. Taehyung doesn’t wish for anything more.

At each and every check up, Jungkook has been there. He held Taehyung’s hand through each one. Teases Taehyung about who the pup will look like more. He teases even more when they have 3D photographs taken. The alpha says the pup will look like him, but in reality, he really thinks the pup already has Taehyung’s nose and lips. The thought of having a mini Taehyung running around makes him go wild - in a good way, of course.

Taehyung. Our poor, poor, Taehyung. Throughout his first trimester, and entering his second, had a spike in his libido. The alpha can’t complain, he loved taking care of the omega afterwards, and simply enjoyed waking up to Taehyung and his pup next to him. It’s a sight he wishes he could see every day.

It’s Thursday. A very cold December Thursday. Taehyung is working, rather busily, because of the rise in numbers for photographers this Christmas season. Despite Jungkook’s protests of the omega going into work - 9 hours a day still, Taehyung still goes. He didn’t let anyone stop him in the past, and that doesn’t mean he’s gonna let a six month sized baby bump stop him from going.

Jungkook is in his office, staring at the light snowfall outside and thinking how Taehyung should be at home, drinking hot cocoa and watching Christmas rom coms. The omega had promised the alpha he’ll be on holiday leave from Christmas Eve onwards, but did little to ease the worried wolf inside Jungkook. It’s just made him more antsy, always checking his phone, sending messages and calling every break.

Jungkook stands from his desk, stretching his muscles that had been stagnant for a few hours now. The first thing he does is reach for his phone. It’s 12:36, around the time Taehyung starts thinking about lunch.

With quick fingers, he types out a question, sending it to the omega. Being someone’s boyfriend is hard but so natural. Jungkook never thought it would be something so enjoyable, a drug he can’t get enough of. Taehyung just makes things easy, yet keeps him on his toes at the same time. The attention is new, but his wolf wags its tail at it. He finds himself slipping, slipping into the newfound joy of falling in love - not that he’ll admit he’s fallen but he knows he must be.

Taehyung is swift to reply, the alpha relaxing for a moment before he grabs his coat. He shrugs his coat on, and leaves his dungeon. With something else to look forward to outside of work, Jungkook’s office has felt more confining. The view from his office doesn’t work the same wonders it did once before.

“I’m on break, you should go too,” he tells his secretary, heading straight for the elevators.

Jungkook manages to leave the building, without being bombarded by workers with questions. As soon as he steps out, he’s greeted by the nippy breeze and the minuscule fragments of snow blowing in his direction. Jungkook moves surely, having memorised the route to the omega’s favourite lunch place.

Call him whipped, but he knows Taehyung’s order like the back of his hand. He was almost appalled at this fact, when he first realised, but soon felt proud of himself.

The lady at the counter greets him, and doesn’t even need to ask Jungkook for the order - already punching it into the till. That goes to show how often the alpha ends up here.

“Your omega still working?” The older omega asks.

“Sadly. I tried to get him to stop, but he’s raking in the good business that the season brings,” Jungkook chuckles, already swiping his card.

“Look after him. Pregnancy and winter can be disastrous sometimes. He’ll be prone to sickness, so make sure he wraps up well, keep the heater on. Make sure he’s wearing socks too! There’s too much sickness this weather could bring,” the omega informs him, obviously speaking from experience.

“I’m trying. Luckily he’s off from Christmas Eve onwards - a solid two weeks,” Jungkook laughs, and it doesn’t even cross his mind how well he knows the omega’s schedule. It happened naturally, and so did the want to learn more about Taehyung.

“Good! I’ll throw in some extra soup for him. Is there anything he can’t stomach?” The lady asks, already going to the little gap in the wall to yell out to the kitchen.

“Uh, nothing at the moment. His stomach has settled, so he’ll eat anything. Most days, he just craves your food,” Jungkook smiles.

“I’m not looking forward to losing a customer, once the pup is born,” she chuckles.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep coming,” he replies. The lady here has been generous, kind, and genuinely curious. Coming here serves as a quick 15 minute therapy check in for Jungkook. She offers him great advice too - for when the pup arrives. He’s already made a little list on the notes in his phone, and he always updates Taehyung on it when he watches the omega eat his lunch.

“Good to hear. I bet that kid will either love, or totally hate our food once he’s older,” she laughs, “he’s had it almost every day for the past two months.”

Jungkook laughs with her. It’s true, it’s been Taehyung’s one and only request for the past two months. ‘The seafood pancakes and squid bulgogi from that ajumma’s restaurant,’ that’s what Taehyung had said.

The food is soon ready, and Jungkook finds himself walking back to work just to get his car. It’s exhausting, if you really think about it, but when you’re in love- I mean like, someone, you’ll go to lengths like this. Jungkook disregards the high gas prices, or the midday Christmas traffic, and even the way his own stomach is growling for something to eat.

The usual parking spot he occupies when he visits is empty, and so he manoeuvres in before happily skipping into the two storey building. He’s greeted by Taehyung's receptionist, and he nods with a smile. Most of the staff greet him as he makes his way to the second floor - having been accustomed to seeing his face so regularly.

Jungkook arrives outside of Taehyung’s office, eyeing the room from outside the glass door. It’s empty, and void of the strawberry scent that Jungkook has grown accustomed to over the months. He likes the smell of his omega, an earthy strawberry - fresh from the ground, a concoction made of their two scents combined. With every month, the omega’s scent grows more prominent, and ten times more alluring to the alpha.

“Ah, Mr Jeon,” Daehyun says from behind him, the omega holding an egg sandwich in one hand and a phone in the other.

“Director Kim went out to buy something about 30 minutes ago. I thought he was buying lunch, but it looks like you’ve brought him some food,” the omega informs, looking down at the bag of food Jungkook holds at his side.

“30 minutes ago?”

“Yeah. He said he wouldn’t be long, but it’s taken a while already. I’m sure he’ll be back soon, why don’t you have a seat inside?” Daehyun smiles, gesturing to the closed door.

“Did he say where he’d buy this ‘something?’” Jungkook asks, one hand already pushing the door to Taehyung’s office, open.

“No, but I know he walked. His car is still parked in his spot, and he went out with all his out wear gear,” Daehyun replies, sitting down at her desk.

“I see. Let me know if he calls you, I’ll just be in here,” Jungkook smiles.

Jungkook takes a seat on the two seater couch, laying out Taehyung’s food on the coffee table and praising himself for turning the seat warmer on to keep the food warm. He arranges the utensils neatly, before pulling out his phone to check for any notifications from Taehyung.

He had expected Taehyung to let him know at least, but since the omega didn’t say anything, then maybe Taehyung had thought this errand would be quick. Jungkook sits there, trying not to let the worry consume him. It’s hard to, especially when your scent changes the moment you start to feel even a little bit of anxiety.

Another 45 minutes passed, and still no news on Taehyung. The food has gone cold, all attempts Jungkook made to keep it warm have just been futile.

Daehyun pops her head through the door, “Still not here?”

“Nope,” Jungkook says, and he’s reaching for his phone already. He attempts to call Taehyung, but the call is connected straight to voicemail instead.

He tries another two times, sighing when the same thing happens.

The snow outside has picked up traction, and he knows how sensitive Taehyung has been to the cold lately. With pregnancy, his immune system has just taken a plunge. The outwear Taehyung is wearing won’t be enough, Jungkook thinks, the chilly breeze is bound to seep right through those layers. Jungkook can already imagine Taehyung shivering - nose red, and his face pale from the cold.

Jungkook can feel the worry grow inside of him. The worry feeds off every second that Taehyung is not around. It scares him not knowing where Taehyung is. He doesn’t know how he’s so capable of worrying for someone else, but when it’s Taehyung things like this are possible.

Quickly, Jungkook packs away the food still laid out on the table, shrugging on the coat he had taken off while waiting.

Taehyung has never taken a break this long before. He was sure to always be back on time, whether or not he was still eating. The omega would eat while on a call for punctuality and integrity’s sake.

“I’m gonna go out and look. I can’t sit here thinking about how cold he must be and do nothing about it. Please call if he does return,” Jungkook informs Daehyun, and the omega nods before Jungkook sprints down to the ground floor.

There’s not a clue where he should start looking, so Jungkook chooses between left and right. He thinks right, and begins walking in that direction. At a moderate pace, he walks down the street, stopping at many storefronts and windows, trying to get a glimpse of his omega.

He checks the donut store that he knows Taehyung frequents, and there’s no sign of Taehyung there. He even goes as far as asking the worker if he’s seen an omega with brown hair, pregnant and smells like strawberries. The young alpha looked confused before he shook his head and apologised to Jungkook.

Every time Jungkook has no luck, his worry doubles and begins to weigh heavier in his chest. He’s walking down another street when he thinks of calling Jimin. His coat has sprinkles of snow littered across his shoulders, and his head is slightly damp from the snow too.

“Hello?”

“Jimin. It’s me, Jungkook.”

“Oh, Jungkook! What’s up? To what do I owe this pleasure?” Jimin says chirpily from the other side.

“I was wondering if Taehyung has been in contact with you in the last,” he shakes his sleeve up to check the time, “two hours? I went over to the photohouse with his food, but apparently he went out. He’s still not back and I…” Jungkook hesitates. It’s all new. He’s still learning, and he’ll forever remain a learner. Voicing things like this is still hard.

For years Jungkook was a lone wolf, alone and independent. Now comes Taehyung, someone who can be codependent with him. Someone so different, and so refreshing. Taehyung sends waves of new emotions hurling towards Jungkook. It’s terrifying, but when the waves wash over him, he sees Taehyung reaching out and offering him his hand.

Feeling worried for someone is new. He’s only ever worried about himself, or his little sister, but never someone else. This intense gripping feeling at his chest, the way his breath hitches at every store window he looks at, he’s not sure where it all came from. He hates it. He hates worrying about Taehyung, ‘cause it scares him. The thought that something may have happened scares him. The image that Taehyung is huddled somewhere in pain, with his pup… it terrifies him the most.

Jungkook’s scared of losing Taehyung, and his wolf grows more agitated by the lack of knowing.

“You're beginning to worry? You can say it, you know. I know you care greatly for him, so it’s nothing to be ashamed about. To answer your question, the last Taehyung message he sent to me was at 10 this morning. Have you tried calling him?”

“Multiple times. It’s going straight to voicemail. I’m wandering around the neighbourhood to find him, but I’ve had no luck,” Jungkook sighs, and the tone of his high pitched voice is stressed.

“He’ll be fine, Jungkook. Take deep breaths for me, it’ll help calm you down and relax your wolf.”

Jungkook does as he’s told. Breathing deeply.

Inhale.

Where are you?

Exhale.

You’ll be alright.

Inhale.

You’re okay.

Exhale.

“That’s it. Feeling better?”

“Much,” Jungkook replies, only now noticing the way his body feels much more relaxed, and less tense than it was before.

“Good. You’re not going to find him by stressing out like that. Who knew stoic and brooding Jungkook could get anxious?”

“Haha, very funny. I’m going to keep looking. If he reaches out to you, please let me know,” Jungkook says, already walking again.

Jimin responds with a yes and goodbye, leaving Jungkook on his own to locate his omega. Jungkook tucks his phone away, but he makes sure to glance at the photo of Taehyung on his wallpaper, one last time before putting it away completely.

It was a photo he took on one of the many mornings Taehyung was over. The omega was smiling brightly, sitting in bed in a cosy pyjama set the alpha had bought for him. Taehyung had gone to the mall with Jungkook, and he had been eyeing the pair for most of their time there. Jungkook had repeatedly asked if Taehyung wanted to buy it, but the omega was adamant that his budget for this week would be for spending on the pup. Jungkook didn’t miss the way Taehyung’s eyes dimmed, despite the smile on his face. Now, Jungkook couldn’t have his omega sad, so he did what any alpha would - he bought Taehyung the pjs.

Jungkook wishes he had captured the smile on Taehyung’s face when he procured it from his closet that night. It was a missed opportunity, but he caught something equally as beautiful the next morning.

He wanders around some more, keeping his eyes peeled open. The small establishments are buzzing with the Christmas season, and it’s harder for Jungkook to see past the sea of beanies in front of him.

Jungkook’s already pretty far from the photohouse by now, and he decides that this is too far for the omega to have gone. At six months pregnant, Taehyung is starting to tire more easily, the odd day with sore feet; Jungkook doesn’t think he’d walk this far for something, especially in December snow.

He’s about to turn around and head back to the photohouse when he catches sight of a familiar brown coat. The alpha stops in his tracks, testing his sense of smell to see if he can get a whiff of strawberry in the air. The brown clad man has a beanie on his head, and it’s clear that they’re also pretty wrapped up in a red scarf. With people around and the smell of winter filling the air, it’s hard for Jungkook to see if this is indeed his omega. With determined steps, Jungkook ventures closer to the man. Said man is walking in the direction of the photohouse, at a very steady pace.

With a few more steps, Jungkook smells it. Strawberry. Sweet strawberry in a field of freshly cut grass. His alpha immediately reacts, a protective impulse. It chants ‘omega’ repeatedly, and it has Jungkook walking faster.

“Taehyung!” Jungkook calls out.

The brown figure stops, and Jungkook’s breath hitches when they turn around. There’s a rush of relief that overwhelms him when the omega meets his eyes. Taehyung is, at first, confused - eyes wide as he searches around for the source of the voice. Then his expressions turn into pure joy. His eyes light up at the sight of Jungkook, a big smile already on his lips as he walks towards the alpha speeding over to him.

“Kook-ah!” Taehyung giggles. He giggles.

The audacity, Jungkook thinks. Right when he was at the point where his heart was lurching out his chest from worry, and he was getting annoyed at the fact Taehyung didn’t even let him know where he was… the omega has the audacity to giggle?

Jungkook slows down, just so Taehyung ends up in his arms softly. Jungkook breathes a sigh of relief when he feels Taehyung in his arms, the baby bump cuddled in between them.

“Kim Taehyung.”

Taehyung looks at Jungkook, lifting up his head from where he had rested it on Jungkook’s shoulder. His eyes twinkle innocently.

“Hm? What’s with the tone? You’re usually a lot happier to see me,” Taehyung then frowns, stepping back from Jungkook’s hold.

Jungkook wants to whine. Like, really really wants to, ‘cause why did Taehyung have to step back and rob him from the warmth and affection? Taehyung has always dealt out the best cuddles, so Jungkook hates it when the opportunity is taken away from him.

“I am- I mean, I’m relieved. Baby, you had me worried. It’s been two hours since anyone has last seen you and you haven’t been answering any of your calls. You didn’t tell me you were going to go out, so when I went to your office and found an empty room, I stressed out. You made me panic so hard, I didn’t know where you were, and you were gone longer than usual too. That, and you didn’t even let Daehyun or I know where you were going . You should always tell someone where you’re going. Especially since you’re a pregnant omega,” Jungkook huffs out, voicing his frustrations in a not-so graceful manner. It’s simply a word vomit from all the new emotions he had to ride through.

“Just because I’m a pregnant omega I can’t go out alone, now? Is that what you’re saying? Are you saying I’m incapable of looking after myself?” Taehyung frowns.

“That’s not what I’m saying. Did you not just hear everything else I said?” Jungkook coarsely says.

“Loud and clear. You’re telling me that just because you’re my alpha, I need you for everything and anything,” Taehyung raises his voice, eyes already beginning to tear up.

The hormones throughout pregnancy had always made Taehyung more sensitive, but it has never led to something like this. It was always arguments over the smallest thing, like why Jungkook didn’t ask the donut lady for extra napkins, or why the delivery man didn’t catch him on time even though it was not the delivery man’s fault.

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. It’s just that-”

“Stop,” Taehyung raises a palm, “this is what I feared. That you’d be like all those other stupid alpha’s I’ve been with. The ones that are prideful and always think they’re better than you, and make you feel like you’re weaker than them. I thought you wouldn’t be. I thought you’d prove me wrong about those stereotypical alphas.”

“Taehyung… I wasn't trying to…” Jungkook tries to say something back, but all the fight leaves him the moment the first of Taehyung’s tears fall on the snowy cobblestone.

“Stuff you, Jungkook. Just because I'm an omega doesn’t mean I need you to do anything. I can do everything you can, and more! Stuff you, stuff you, stuff you. I can look after myself, thank you very much. I don’t need you around. I could probably raise this pup, alone. We don’t need you,” Taehyung glares through his tears.

Talk about blown out of proportion. Hormones are running wild and high. Jungkook can smell the distressed and angry pheromones in the air:

“You don’t mean that,” Jungkook whispers, the last part far too painful for him to stomach.

“I do. Since you’re so ‘worried’ about where I was, here, take your stupid burrito. I walked all the way there, for you. Waited in the long ass line even though my feet hurt like hell. All for you. Stuff you, Jungkook. I don’t need you,” Taehyung huffs, pushing the burrito into Jungkook’s chest.

The burrito is from Jungkook’s favourite place. It’s near the photohouse, but still a decent distance away. It’s known to be always busy, especially at this time of the day. If worrying about Taehyung was painful, Taehyung’s words are putting Jungkook in his grave. It’s like Taehyung has plunged a knife through his whipped heart.

Taehyung pivots, beginning to wobbly walk away and back in the direction of his work. Jungkook rushes forward, attempting to take his hand but all Taehyung does is whip it away with a glare.

“Don’t follow me, don’t talk to me.”

Deciding to honour Taehyung's current wishes, Jungkook let’s Taehyung walk away. He eventually caves, following Taehyung from a distance and watching as he finally makes it back to the photo house.

He sends him a quick text.

‘I’m sorry. Thank you for the burrito, my love. Please eat, it’s in your fridge. Make sure to eat everything.’

—————

“So you haven’t talked to him since then? Even though you both literally text each other every other minute?” Jimin raises his eyebrows at Jungkook.

After moping around for the rest of work, he crawled over to Jimin’s and crashed his date night with Yoongi. Needless to say, they weren’t particularly happy about it, but the moment they saw the alpha’s dejected face they couldn’t not let him in. The alpha was still in his work clothes, hair not combed back as it usually was, and it was clear that he had cried.

Once he had told Yoongi and Jimin the full story, they sat his down with a tub of ice cream:

“Don’t remind me of the itch I get to text him. I feel like reaching for my phone every few seconds just to see if he messaged, even though it’s not on silent so I should be able to hear if he did. It’s eating me alive, you know. I just want to make sure he made it home okay, and that he ate his dinner,” Jungkook exasperatedly says, lazily scooping more ice cream out of the tub.

“I feel you. I think it’d be best to talk to him. Communicate. That’s exactly what Taehyung has been learning, and I’m sure you’ve been learning it too. It’s good you’re giving him some time. I get where both of you were coming from, but I also understand he’s extra sensitive with the pregnancy. Don’t beat yourself up, Kook. He’ll come around,” Jimin pats the younger male.

“He will,” Yoongi smiles, “he always does. Once he realises, he’ll be the first to approach you. You’re both still learning the ropes of it all - more so, you. It’s kind of innate for us alphas to get like that over a mate, or potential mate. You didn’t mean to make him feel inferior, and I know your intentions are pure. He’ll come to realise that, but this is also an opportunity for you to show him your respect for him and his decisions. You’ve proved it before, and you can continue to prove you’re not like one of those alpha’s he’s been with in the past. This little riff, it’s nothing.”

He didn’t mean to. He absolutely didn’t. To make Taehyung feel undervalued, or undermined, was not on his list earlier today. This thing called ‘feeling’ is so hard to navigate. Expressing himself is still hard, and Jungkook hopes he can be better at it.

“It’ll blow over, Kook. You’ll be able to talk and sort it out. Give him some space, and when the time comes, talk. You’re both mature, but it’s valid you feel the way you feel. Just know, you meant no harm. Taehyung cares for you, a lot. I doubt he’d dump you over this,” Jimin reassures Jungkook, but the alpha can’t find it in himself to relax.

He’s worrying about Taehyung all over again, whilst fearing that this time around it’ll be much more than simply losing Taehyung during a lunch break.

Jungkook groans, pouting as he scoops spoons of ice cream into his mouth. He’s barely able to enjoy the ice cream, the sour taste of guilt and worry laying over the sweetness.

“He’s home, by the way. I texted him earlier. Don’t worry about him, as he said, he’s capable of looking after himself,” Jimin pats the alpha, giving him a smile that Jungkook doesn’t return.

“He’s the most capable and dependable omega I’ve met. I have no doubt he can look after himself, I just wish I could tell him that right now,” Jungkook sighs another sigh.

The couple passed him a sympathetic smile. Yoongi dials up a chicken place after learning that Jungkook hasn’t even bothered to have dinner. Jimin reprimanded him with a ‘if you’re worrying about Taehyung, he’s probably worrying about you too.’ Date night is definitely a bust now, the couple being counsellors to their relationship novice instead.

“I’m sorry I ruined your date night,” Jungkook says with an apologetic pout.

“It’s fine, Kook. We’ve got plenty more down the road,” Jimin winks at his alpha.

“Don’t stress about it. Date nights are usually very spontaneous anyway, and we’d drop any plan if it meant helping either you, or Taehyung,” Yoongi admits. Jungkook sees Yoongi as a big brother, and he’s proven it countless times over these past few months.

“Thanks, hyung. I’ll make it up to you next time. You can crash one of our dates,” Jungkook says, already sounding more optimistic than he was before.

“That’d be fun. I’d love to come and see what all the hype is about,” Jimin teases, reaching over for a chip.

“Don’t tell me Taehyung tells you all about them,” Jungkook groans. All those cheesy dates were for Taehyung’s viewing pleasure, and his alone. He let himself be cheesy, and not the brooding persona he made himself to be. Needless to say, he’s a little embarrassed.

“All good things. He never goes into details, if you want to know, but he’s always happy. So happy, I feel like he’d bounce off the walls, and with that stomach of his, I think it might even be possible,” Jimin smiles.

The affirmation calms Jungkook, but it also makes him feel all giddy. The dates make Taehyung happy, and the fact just reassures Jungkook that he’s doing all the right things for his omega. Not that Taehyung never voices how much he loves them, cause he does, and with much more than words. It’s just that Jungkook can often become insecure. Insecure that maybe he isn’t enough for an omega like Taehyung.

“Really?”

“Really. That’s why, trust me, he definitely will not just drop you because of this one thing,” Jimin nods, patting Jungkook’s shoulder.

Just as Jimin drops his hand, Jungkook’s phone dings. The alpha, though he tries to conceal the urgency, fumbles with his phone before finally getting a clear look at his screen.

Can you come over?

Jungkook is on his feet faster than Jimin can ask who the message was from. The alpha is already slipping into his coat, when Jimin finally pieces the puzzle together. Yoongi just sits there laughing.

“Whipped,” the couple says in unison.

“I’m off. Taehyung needs me, but that crashing a date offer is still going!” Jungkook yells as he runs out of Jimin’s dining room while making a beeline for the front door.

There’s a small cry as he trips while putting his shoes on, jumping in a weird manner, and he’s sure that he’s probably sprained something. None of that matters though, the alpha’s shoes are barely on as he runs out the apartment door and into the elevator. The elevator seems to move at a snail’s pace, the alpha just itching to make it to Taehyung’s.

He’s grateful that traffic has died down, the drive more smooth than he had anticipated. It isn’t long til he drives past the 24 hour store near Taehyung’s house, and parks his car outside the apartment building. Within seconds, Jungkook is already at Taehyung’s front door and punching in the code - yes, he knows Taehyung’s key code to his apartment. It had taken a lot of convincing, but after a bad episode during the pregnancy, where Jungkook couldn’t get into the apartment, the omega caved. In return, he now has access to Jungkook’s place whenever he wants.

“Tae!” He calls out, kicking off his shoes as the door closes behind him.

Most of the lights are out, and it’s clear that the omega isn’t in the living room. Taehyung only ever is if he’s watching something, but the silence speaks multitudes. It’s that very same silence that has Jungkook feeling that nauseating feeling of worry.

“Tae? Baby?” He calls again, to which he is answered with a weak ‘here’ coming from the omega’s bedroom.

Before walking further, Jungkook checks Taehyung’s thermostat, and nods when he sees it at a nice temperature. He takes the liberty of shrugging his jacket off before jogging to the bedroom.

The alpha knocks softly before entering, being met with the dim light of the lamp on Taehyung’s bedside as he swings the door open. Jungkook’s heart aches a little at seeing his omega. Taehyung is all bundled up, blankets all the way up to his chin, his baby bump looking bigger with the number of layers piled on top. There’re used tissues everywhere on the bed, and the strong smell of pain and distress wafting through the air.

“Kook?” Taehyung asks, lifting his head slightly before he lets it fall back down onto the pillow.

“Hey, I’m here,” Jungkook says, immediately rushing to Taehyung’s side. Taehyung is very clearly sick, and there’s no doubt about it.

“‘m not well,” Taehyung whispers, eyes barely open.

“Really? Well, you’ll be alright soon, I’ll look after you,” Jungkook says, kneeling next to Taehyung with a wince.

“You ‘kay? Something hurt?” The omega asks, having caught the quiet groan from the alpha.

“I’m fine. Can you tell me how you feel?” Jungkook asks, already placing a hand over the omega’s forehead. The ajumma was right, winter and pregnant omegas definitely do not mix. The omega is burning up, and he doesn’t need a thermometer for him to know.

“Hot. Nose is stuffy, my head just feels so cloudy,” Taehyung manages to answer with half open eyes.

“Have you had any medicine?”

“No.”

“Stay right here, I’ll go get you water and medicine. I’ll also make you a nice hot soup,” Jungkook caresses Taehyung’s head gently.

“Be quick. I like when you’re around,” Taehyung mumbles, already drifting to sleep. Jungkook simply smiles before practically limping to the kitchen; the sprain he gave himself earlier finally catching up with him.

Jungkook opens up the omega’s pantry. He smiles when he sees it full, particularly with a lot of snacks. Taehyung gave him the honorary title of his snack provider. Every Monday, Jungkook shows up at Taehyung’s door with a bag full of snacks to top up the supply. It’s safe to say, Taehyung has most of his cravings within reach.

There’s a can of corn soup, so the alpha pulls it out. Getting everything out first, he prepares for the soup before returning to the sleeping omega with medicine and water in hand.

“Baby? Can you sit up for me quickly?” Jungkook says softly, setting the glass of water down to help Taehyung.

Taehyung manages to lift himself up by the elbows long enough to take a swig of water and swallow the pill. Jungkook praises the omega as he settles back into bed. Little things like this have become such joys in Jungkook’s everyday life, and it certainly isn’t the first time that he’s had to look after Taehyung while he was sick.

Back in the kitchen, it takes Jungkook no less than 15 minutes to whip up a crab and corn soup. He was going to settle for just a corn soup, but the imitation crab meat in the fridge was tempting enough for Jungkook to throw it in.

By the time Jungkook finishes, his cheeks are warm and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His ankle hurts, but he’ll worry about himself later on. For now, Taehyung comes first. From past experience, he knows that Taehyung usually feels better after a nice nap after a quick meal - most times he doesn’t remember the meal, but there are always left overs for him to enjoy when he’s out of the daze. Just like now.

Taehyung weakly sits up as Jungkook spoon feeds him. Neither of the two say much, but this isn’t exactly the right time to talk about what had happened earlier. They’ll make up for that time tomorrow.

Taehyung has just finished the last spoonful of soup, already lowering himself onto the pillow, when Jungkook picks up the tray he brought with him. With the intention of putting it in the kitchen, and perhaps wash the dishes in the sink, he doesn’t expect it when Taehyung’s hand grips at his slacks.

“Sleep here? Scent, alpha,” Taehyung mumbles.

“I’ll be right back, I promise,” Jungkook smiles. Taehyung’s grip goes lax, and Jungkook hurries himself to the kitchen, dumping the tray in the sink and making a mental note to wash the dishes later.

He walks back to Taehyung’s room, looking in the drawers for the clothes he left behind - though he really has a whole drawer dedicated to his things. The alpha washes up, and slips into his clothes, clothes that smell just like his omega and he loves that.

Taehyung doesn’t even stir when Jungkook slips into bed next to him, and Jungkook doesn’t try to wake him up. Instead, the alpha just watches the omega sleep before he finally slips into his own slumber.

—————

Taehyung feels so much better. His airways feel clear, like someone came along and rinsed them out from all the gunk that suddenly appeared in them yesterday.

He knows it’s his fault. He wouldn’t have gotten sick if he didn’t spend so much time bearing through the cold. The sacrifice would’ve been well worth it, but instead all he feels is the weight of regret sitting on his chest. All the words he said yesterday, he wishes he could take them back the way you do when you buy an item and suddenly realise you don’t want it. Sadly, words are more like a scratch on a car. It’s irreversible for the most part, and something you can turn back time to fix.

He looks around his room, listening to the gentle hums of Jungkook already busy in the kitchen. The alphas pheromones were soothing, and having him near had already made him feel so much better than before, but now he has to face the reality that they need to talk.

Taehyung throws the covers off of him, feeling around the side of his bed for his slippers. He finally finds them, slipping into them before standing and quietly making his way to the kitchen. The alpha has his back turned to him, busy at the stove making something that smells like pancakes.

“Hi,” he whispers coarsely.

Jungkook turns around, a beautifully soft smile on his face.

“Good morning, baby. Feeling better? I made pancakes, but I can certainly heat up some of that soup for you,” Jungkook offers, an eyebrow raised and a hand already reaching for the covered pot of soup from last night.

“I’m okay with pancakes, you’ve already done too much,” Taehyung says apologetically, twiddling with his thumbs over his bulging stomach.

“I haven’t done enough,” Jungkook replies, turning off the stove and bringing over the plate of pancakes to the kitchen counter.

“What? You have. You’ve done plenty, Kookie. You’ve done so much for me, and I feel like I’ve done nothing for you at all,” Taehyung admits, his heightened sense of emotion already emerging from his freshly awoken self.

“I’ve failed you, Tae. If I made you feel like you weren’t competent, and that you were any less capable than what you are, then I have failed,” Jungkook looks down at the golden brown pancakes, avoiding Taehyung’s eyes.

“You haven’t. You’ve done absolutely nothing to fail me. It’s me who should be apologising, I’ve let you do so much for me, and when you show a hint of worry I decide to call you like all those other stupid alphas I’ve met. You’re nothing like them, you haven’t made me feel like I need an alpha, you’ve done the complete opposite. You empower me. You’re there for me when I need someone, treating me like an equal instead of making me feel inferior to you. You cheer me on in your own way, and you’re supportive of any decision I make.

“Remember that time when I wasn’t so sure if I should take up that big client?”

“The time when you had really bad nausea?” Jungkook asks.

“Yeah. You voiced your concern for my health, but you didn’t push anything on me. You let me decide, and you supported me with the decision I made. At the end of it, you were the one celebrating the victory with me. I’ve never truly had that before, you gave me that, Jungkook. You’ve done enough, and so much more,” Taehyung walks over to Jungkook, reaching up to cup the alpha’s face.

“I’m sorry I got all alpha protective over you. I know you can look after yourself, it was just hard for me to handle this new emotion called worry. I’m sorry, baby, I was scared, scared that something happened to you. Next time, I promise to keep the reaction on the down-”

Taehyung’s hear just can’t take how much it aches to hear Jungkook say all of this:

“No! I-I like it when you’re protective over me. I don’t often let my omega talk, but since it’s you, I’ll give in to my nature. It’s nice to be doted on. I always wanted that, and I’m getting it, but at the same time given utmost respect. Keep protecting me, alpha. Stay by my side. I need you, contrary to what I said before. After having a taste of you in my life, in our life,” Taehyung looks down at his stomach, “I don’t want a life without you, and I know that’s strong especially since you’re still learning the language of love.”

Jungkook butts in, reaching to cup the omega's face too. “I could say the same thing. From every little thing you do, to the listening ear you give me, I don’t think I wanna live a life without you in it, either. If it gives you more certainty, I know I’m falling for you. I’m gonna land hard, and I want you to hold on to that day. I need you too, Tae,” Jungkook smiles tearily, leaning closer to the omega.

Their lips finally touch, and Jungkook captures the omega’s lips in a deep kiss. Taehyung responds almost immediately, kissing the alpha back with just as much vigour.

When they pull away, they’re both out of breath, and Taehyung is first to lean his forehead against Jungkook’s.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry too,” Jungkook replies back.

“I didn’t want to hurt you, and I did. Made some stupid assumptions, and hateful comments all because of my unsteady emotions - which, by the way is no excuse,” Taehyung pouts. Oh, and Jungkook is a complete sucker for that pout.

He kisses Taehyung’s pout, and it immediately melts at the contact.

“We apologised. Don’t worry your pretty head over it,” Jungkook grins, “I’m just glad you didn’t actually dump me.”

“I said it before, and I’ll say it again; I don’t think I can live without you, anymore,” Taehyung repeats, like it’s a mantra, constant reminder for the alpha.

“Ditto. I promise to keep supporting you, and I swear I’ll never make you feel less than what you are,” Jungkook vows, reaching to place Taehyung’s hand to his chest. His heart beats a steady song, one of sincerity.

“I swear I’ll do the same for you. I wish I met you before any of those jerkface alphas,” Taehyung chuckles.

“Contrary to that, I think we found each other at the right time, at the right place,” Jungkook smiles even wider as he pulls Taehyung into a hug.

“I wanna do more for you, Kook. That damned burrito was meant to be a surprise, but I bet you couldn’t even enjoy it,” Taehyung says, resting his head on Jungkook’s firm shoulder.

“Twas okay, I had something to comfort me over those words you said,” Jungkook teases.

“Jungkook!”

“I’m kidding. Seriously tho, you don’t need to give back the same way. Just keep loving me the way you do, not that you love me yet, but you get what I mean,” Jungkook responds, holding the omega a little tighter.

“I love you.”

Time seems to stop for Jungkook. Taehyung freezes, himself, surprised to have let those words slip out. He had been feeling like that for a while. Love crept up slowly on him. Maybe it was on one of those nights at the alpha’s apartment, when love finally found him. Or maybe it had crept up on one of those days where Jungkook would be eating across from him, making silly faces. Taehyung can’t pinpoint the exact time or place, but he can certainly say that he loves Jeon Jungkook.

“I-I… that slipped, but I mean it. I truly do, but I’m content for now not to hear it back,” Taehyung pulls back enough to meet the misty eyes of the alpha:

“Wait for me. I'll meet you there.”

“Always.”

Jungkook and Taehyung pull away from each other, painfully so, Taehyung sitting down at the counter while Jungkook goes around gathering things for pancake toppings.

“Jungkook, why are you limping?” Taehyung then asks, noting the way his alpha is hobbling around the kitchen.

“Sprain. Don’t worry about it, I’ll be fine,” Jungkook replies, setting down the golden syrups and butter on the counter for Taehyung.

“I think we should get it checked,” Taehyung frowns, not really liking the way Jungkook seems to be so dismissive of his little injury:

“Serious, Tae, I’m fine, I’ve had sprains before. Besides, they’ll just tell me to elevate my foot anyway, and compress it maybe. All things I will do once you’ve eaten,” Jungkook promises, handing Taehyung the utensils.

“If you say so. Please be careful.”

Taehyung starts to put a pancake on his plate when he notices the way the alpha smiles at him, looking at him like he hung the stars. It makes Taehyung blush before pausing to look at the alpha.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just thinking how much I love it when you worry about me. It feels nice to know I’m cared for,” Jungkook replies, rounding the counter to join the omega.

Taehyung doesn’t reply, too red and speechless to give something coherent and not embarrass himself. They both eat in silence before Taehyung catches a glimpse of the clock hung in his kitchen, the utensils in his hand clatter to the plate.

“Oh my goodness. I have work today!” The pregnant omega exclaims, already try to get off the chair when the alpha stands and places two firm hands over his shoulders, effectively making him sit back down.

“No you don’t. I called Daehyun already, they’ll live a day without you. I also called in because of my ankle, which I need to rest, and you need to rest so that you’re a hundred percent better,” Jungkook nods, sitting down and picking up the utensils that Taehyung had dropped, handing them back to the omega.

“What are we gonna do then?” Taehyung asks, already thinking about all the work he was trying to finish before the Christmas shut down.

“Rest. Rest, and watch those Christmas romcoms I know you love so much. I am giving myself to you to hold hostage as you binge them all,” Jungkook jokes, extending his hands in surrender.

“Hey! They’re not bad. Hostage? Oh, I’m gonna change your mind once again.”

—————

“I can’t believe Tae is six months pregnant,” Yoongi clicks his tongue, looking at the omegas gathered around the fire pit in Namjoon’s backyard.

It’s New Year's Eve, and the group has gathered to celebrate the coming of the new year. In the span of four months, the group from table 13 have met rather often, and have gotten close to each other. The loners and outcasts found a home in one another. Jungkook has certainly found a friend in Yoongi, already losing count of the number of weeknights they’ve spent stress drinking together and getting all the latest tips on how to look after their omega’s.

The Kims house seemed the best place, and the couple had happily offered up their doors, not having any other plans ready for New Year’s anyway. Their house is spacious, a green yard - a rare sight to see when you live in the middle of Seoul. The firepit is simply an added bonus, adding to a more comforting and warm ambience, and a great help to the nippy weather that they still bear through.

Jungkook looks at Taehyung, who’s bundled up in two jackets - at Jungkook’s insistence. With the winter weather still reigning over Seoul, the alpha didn’t want the omega to freeze, so he shed his own jacket - leaving himself his hoodie and thermal wear underneath. After the cold he had so easily caught last week, Jungkook did not want Taehyung miserable and sick again. As much as he likes looking after Taehyung, he just feels helpless whenever the omega is sick. He can never do much, cause in the end it’s up to Taehyung’s body how fast he heals.

“I can’t believe he’s stuck through with me,” Jungkook smiles, sipping on his mocktail. He’s taking daddy duties seriously, no drinks when he has to drive his omega home.

“He loves you, I can just tell from his eyes,” Yoongi points out.

“I can tell too. He doesn’t need to tell me, I can feel it. It’s in the way he smiles, the way he greets me, the way he says my name. He loves me,” Jungkook says with tears gathering at the corner of his eyes.

“He’ll verbalise it. I think he’s just scared of scaring you off. Don’t feel pressured by it, he knows your learning the ropes still with all th-”

“I love him, but he said it first. I expected that, I just didn’t think Taehyung could make me feel love so quickly. He’s just something else. I’ve never met anyone like him, he’s definitely one of a kind,” Jungkook says, and it’s enough to have him laughing tearfully. He had never really pondered on it before, but looking at the omega now - his heart just swells. It’s a feeling he can’t describe, but he knows what it means. It’s the feeling that you’d do anything for this person. The feeling that you’d sacrifice your own life if it meant saving this person. It’s the feeling of needing a person to breathe, a new form of oxygen.

“Wow. The alpha who couldn’t love has learned how to,” Yoongi smiles, patting Jungkook on the shoulder.

“I fall every day. He trips me up with that smile of his. When he laughs, it feels like Cupid shot an arrow through my heart. My waking thought is Taehyung, and every dream I have has his smile etched so beautifully in it. It's overwhelming, but loving him is like receiving the biggest hug known to man. I just feel so safe. Loving him is home. Home is where he is,” Jungkook sheds a tear, smiling as he watches Taehyung throw his head back in laughter at something that Jin had said.

“You have it bad. I’m surprised it took you this long to even realise you loved him,” Yoongi smirks, leaning on the railing of Namjoon’s deck.

Jungkook looks at him slightly confused. The reaction has the other alpha chuckling.

“I was so scared last week. I’m sure you couldn’t feel like that when you just ‘like’ someone. It was the thought of losing him, and the fear of the unknown. It was so unsettling, and I knew after that, that that was me loving him.”

“I think you loved him the moment you saw him again at the convenience store. I could see it in your eyes. He altered your life the moment you had met him, and it excited and scared you at the same time. The feeling was new, but I think your wolf knew that day that you loved him already. He was your omega, and you had settled it from the beginning, loving him was easy, but your pride held you back from acceptance a little longer than necessary,” Yoongi says, sipping on a beverage casually as Jungkook drinks in his words.

He guesses that perhaps it was true. Perhaps he was stricken with love for the omega from day dot, from the moment he was first called morbid, he knew he wouldn’t be able to resist the omega’s charms for long. Here he is now, literally swimming in a pool filled by Taehyung’s love. Perhaps he could’ve realised sooner, perhaps he could have said it back to Taehyung the first time, but it doesn’t matter now. All he wants now is take the omega home and say those three words in a whisper that would be louder than anything that Taehyung had said before.

“That may be true,” Jungkook smiles, eyes fixated on Taehyung. Taehyung must feel Jungkook’s gaze burning into his skull, ‘cause the omega turns to look and meets the alpha’s eyes. They both smile at each other, a warm sort of smile filled with understanding… and love. Taehyung pats the seat next to him, obviously inviting the alpha to come.

“Either way, I’m happy for you, Kook. Now let’s go join them, Tae’s already saved you a spot by the looks of it,” Yoongi says, pushing off the railing and patting the alpha’s shoulder as he walks past and towards the firepit.

Jungkook watches for a second, sees the way Yoongi flashes him a final smile as he plops down next to Jimin. He watches as Namjoon appears from behind him, jogging to the pit only for Seokjin to notice that he isn’t wearing the same shirt as before. With a touch of comedy brewing, Jungkook joins the group at the pit, fitting himself between Taehyung and Hoseok. Taehyung immediately leans his head on Jungkook’s shoulder, and the small action has the alpha gushing inside.

“Feed was a success, my moon,” Namjoon pecks the omega’s head.

“Thank you, my sun,” Seokjin smiles before he suddenly frowns. He’s looking at the alpha’s shirt. Jungkook had seen Namjoon earlier, wearing a baby blue sweater underneath his padded jacket. Now, his shirt is black and his padded jacket a different colour but the same style.

“Why did you change?” Seokjin asks his mate. Namjoon sighs, sitting down next to him.

“Why do you think?” he asks before staring right at Jungkook and Taehyung. “They don’t tell you much about this at those birthing classes, but get ready for your clothes to get ruined. I get rained on by vomit every other feed and change.”

“Oh, and the drool!” Jin adds, “Mira is at this licking and drooling stage. She loves licking our shoulders, and it’s not even a surprise to find a wet patch whenever we put her down.”

“How yummy,” Taehyung laughs.

“She did that to me earlier,” Jungkook admits, looking down at his shoulder which has long since dried off in the chilly weather and heat of the firepit. He wasn’t disgusted by it, he simply stomached it, thoughts of what it’ll be like when their pup arrives jumped to mind instead. Jungkook wants to be the best for their pup, the very best for Taehyung. He knows both of them deserve nothing less than the best, and he wants to be that. If it means being poop bombed and vomit coated every day, then so be it.

“See! She literally does that to everyone,” Seokjin laughs, a hand slapping his mate’s thigh, “but it’s cute, at the same time as it is gross. I can’t believe she’s already 6 months already. I wish you guys were there the day she started to crawl, Namjoon was freaking out.”

“Ready to bubble wrap, I presume,” Jimin pipes in with a smile, sipping on his beer as Yoongi wraps him up in a blanket to share.

“A hundred percent. I know I baby-proofed the house, but it made me want to baby-proof it all over again,” Namjoon snorts, stealing his mate’s drink and taking a swig. Seokjin isn’t fazed, letting Namjoon do so. Seokjin hadn’t taken a sip in a while anyways and it was beginning to get lukewarm with them seated so close to the fire.

“He lies, he did. He baby proofed again, and he even had a checklist this time,” Seokjin exposes his alpha, and everyone laughs at Namjoon’s groan. The Kim couple double as their parents and comedic act. They never fail to be there whenever the are leaned on for advice, but they’re undoubtedly funny together and don’t even have to try to get a smile from you.

Jungkook likes this. It’s just so comfortable being around these six other people, and he wishes he had met loyal friends much earlier. Han-bin was a dick choice of a friend, and still shudders thinking about how close he once was to such a insolent alpha. He hasn’t heard of what’s become of the alpha, but Jungkook wishes he truly got what he deserved after everything he has done. By what he deserves, Jungkook means thrown out from society and any possible circle that would lead him to prey on innocent omegas.

“So, Hobi hyung, how’s Soo-ah?” Taehyung raises a teasing brow at the beta. Jungkook grins and he notices the smug looks on everyone’s faces as the beta goes red.

Everyone is aware that Soo-ah and Hoseok are back to being besties, though this time around they seem a lot closer than before. There had been a point in the last six months that Hoseok had come to them rather dismal, bearing the news that Soo-ah had gone on a date with another alpha. He was ready to go through it again, so courageous in having to live through the same pain he spoke of at the wedding. Hoseok had accepted that he will only ever be a friend to Soo-ah, nothing more than that, and he was happy… well, he pretends to be anyway.

“She’s good. Happy. Smiling more, definitely healed from that stupid wedding,” Hoseok responds, keeping the answer short.

“Has she been on anymore dates?” Seokjin dares to ask, everyone on the edge of their seats waiting for the beta to respond.

“N-No,” he stutters, “she hasn’t. The one a few months back was her first and last one. All Soo-ah said about it was that the alpha was nice, but he was just missing something. To be honest, I’ve noticed she’s changed the way she acts around me nowadays. She touches me more often, her smile seems different too, there are times she’s flirting, but I don’t know if she’s just teasing or if she really is flirting. Anyway, I don’t want to overthink it, I’m gonna remain happy being friends with her.”

Jungkook frowns, “But are you really happy, hyung?”

Silence hangs in the air, the six of them staring at Hoseok. The beta goes red, all resolve, and that smile slowly diminishing. He sighs in defeat looking up at all of them with a sad smile.

“I said collateral damage, I knew it was going to hurt. Her smile is worth the pain, I’ll protect her this way,” Hoseok shrugs, taking a drink.

“Have you ever truly considered just confessing? You’re holding yourself back, and I feel like you’re missing out if she did feel something more,” Jimin smiles sympathetically at Hoseok, and yet his expression is so gentle and encouraging.

Jungkook feels like he’s been in shoes similar to Hoseok’s, the shoes of a person running from their feelings. A person that thinks doing one thing will automatically make the elephant in their room disappear. For a fact, him trying to marry himself off did not save him from the feelings he already harboured for Taehyung. It made him more miserable, and Jungkook would rather that a chirpy man like Hoseok not be miserable. Running away is tiring, one day, or one way or another, you’ll tire out; life eventually catching up to you, along with a bag filled with the feelings you’ve chosen you were better off without.

“I’m scared. I got her back, but if I did something like that and it didn’t go well… I might lose her for good,” Hoseok voices, and Jungkook’s heart clenches at the sight of the frown and hesitance clearly written on Hoseok’s face.

“Something tells me Soo-ah wouldn’t let you go even if you voiced your feelings. Hob-ah, you told me last time that she always calls you first, and that you’re always the first one she goes to. You’re embossed into her life, she wouldn’t get rid of you because of that. Sure, she might distance for a while to wrap her head around the thought, but completely lose you? She won’t,” Yoongi says, giving the beta a nudge.

“And, what if she does feel the same? You’ll never know if you never try,” Jimin tacks on to his boyfriend’s words. Jungkook can certainly vouch for the truth behind those words, nodding along in agreement. He had never knew how capable he was to love, but he guesses it was always in him; part of him just waiting to come out and itself known to someone who matched his wavelength.

“Go for it, hyung. You’re hurting yourself more by doing it the way that you are. Take the chance,” Jungkook nods. He wants the beta to be happy.

Hoseok looks back at Jungkook. The alpha is merely smiling, trying to exude an air of encouragement. He hopes the beta can feel it, cause he knows all six of them are supporting whatever decision he chooses.

“We’re rooting for you. I think it’s time to take a little risk, hyung,” Taehyung smiles, though he stifles a yawn behind his gloved hand.

Jungkook pulls out his phone to check the time, “Five more minutes!”

Jungkook thinks back to what his New Year looked like this time last year. He was unhappy. He barely smiled a genuine smile, practically scraping through from day to day. That Jungkook lived a loveless life, almost hopeless. He’d decline dates, didn’t even bed omegas - he was allergic to anything synonymous with love. This time last year, he was back in his penthouse with a bottle of vodka, sitting outside on the patio, watching the midnight fireworks go off alone.

A year can truly change a lot.

He smiles to himself as he thinks of what his reaction would be at the news he’s found an omega, found love. 2021 Jungkook would be appalled at him.

He’d ask, “You massage someone’s feet with oils and cuddle them to sleep? Who are you, and what have you done to me?”

A changed alpha. His former self would tell him he’s been poisoned, scammed and brought into a cult. 2021 Jungkook wouldn’t even dream of being romantic with anyone, let love someone, and want a family with someone. It’s a new and exciting thing for Jungkook, and he’s glad he’s finally understanding the hype behind love and loving.

“What’s got you smiling?” Taehyung gives him a little nudge before he snuggles closer into the alpha.

“The thought that the universe brought you to me, a stupid heartless alpha,” Jungkook smiles, leaning his own head atop of Taehyung’s. He reaches out for Taehyung’s gloved hands, lacing his bare hands together with Taehyung’s. They’re warm, just like the way Jungkook feels when he’s around Taehyung.

“Not heartless. You’ve got the biggest heart,” Taehyung chuckles, “I’m still dumb at the thought the universe gave me you. Your patience with me is insane, and I don’t deserve all this care and attention you’re giving to me.”

“You deserve it, don’t say you don’t.”

“Then don’t say that you’re heartless, cause seriously, even the oven can’t compare to how big your love is and how much you give,” Taehyung whispers back.

Jungkook wants to say it now, at this very moment he wants to tell Taehyung how he really feels, but he’ll wait. Then again, they’re love isn’t extravagant, it’s simple, it’s love in its rawest form. It doesn’t need big confessions, and declarations that cost money.

The two are in their own little bubble, but it pops when they suddenly hear vibrating and Hoseok standing up. All eyes turn to look at the beta, whose eyes are wide open and darting between his phone and the direction of the gate leading to the front.

“I-I… Soo-ah, she’s here,” he says.

“Where?” All of them almost ask at the same time, their eyes dashing around the enclosed backyard.

“She’s here. She’s outside,” Hoseok gulps.

“Go, hyung!” The younger of them shouts.

“Yes! Go, Hobi-ah! Tell her how you feel, get yourself that midnight's kiss!” Seokjin says, urging the beta on.

Everyone almost shouts in encouragement, and it soon takes effect as Hoseok begins to jog away and out the side gate. They all wish him luck, hoping he’ll be able to find what he’s been longing for for so long. The guy just deserves to be happy, Jungkook likes to think that in another universe they call him sunshine because of how exuberant he is.

“I hope he finds his happy ending,” Taehyung sighs.

Jungkook smiles at his alpha. He’s in love with a romantic. He’s in love with someone so pure, someone who believes in true love, fairy tales and happy endings. Sure, he didn’t really feel for it at first, but now he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Those romcoms? He cried through a few, laughed through plenty, but stared at Taehyung most of the time.

Cliches? Taehyung loves living them, and Jungkook would be more than happy to live them out.

Breakfast in bed? Jungkook’s more than willing to supply.

A sappy heartfelt birthday message, one that he wrote for Taehyung? He’ll double the number of pages for him, all the ink in the world can’t write out what the omega makes him feel.

Yesterday was the cheesiest of all cheeses. Jungkook woke up early, made the omega breakfast and served it in bed. His little handmade birthday card and single rose were placed on the tray next to the food. Taehyung was delighted, and Jungkook swore to do it more often just to see that smile on Taehyung’s face. He had a whole date planned out, all communicated through the post-it notes he planted around his apartment. Trust him, it was tiring to make sure there wasn’t a single loophole, but it was well worth it. Though his big gift will be given later.

For Taehyung, Jungkook will willingly be a cheesy rom com character - even though they both have found that they’re not exactly the best at receiving cheesy remarks without their fists curling up, and their entire body cringing.

“Guys we’ve got a minute!” Jimin calls, yelling out to Seokjin who had hurried inside to check on Mira who was stirring through the baby monitor.

Jin makes it in time, joining in as Jimin begins counting down from ten while watching his phone.

“10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!”

“Happy New Year!” They all shout. Jungkook is barely to get the words out before Taehyung is pulling him by his collar and joining their lips together.

Jungkook can’t help the smile that creeps up to his face, and he continues to grin into the kiss, too happy to deny himself of this little pleasure. Everything feels right. Perfect. It feels like true love to Jungkook, and he’s now an avid believer of that.

“I love you,” he whispers to Taehyung, lips only a few centimetres apart, foreheads touching.

Jungkook hears the way Taehyung’s breath hitches, eyes wide and staring at his unblinking. Time stands still for the both of them, and Jungkook gives Taehyung a minute to take it all in. Each couple is in their own little world, too busy to even look at the others.

“I love you, Kim Taehyung,” Jungkook whispers again, with more conviction this time. He doesn’t think any way would truly put the depth of his feelings to justice.

Taehyung remains silent, looking like he’s in disbelief. Maybe he didn’t hear him above all the fireworks, so Jungkook says it a third time.

“I love you, I love you, I love you.”

Taehyung breaks then, pulling Jungkook back in for a teary and deep kiss. Their lips mould together beautifully, and Taehyung kisses like he’s trying to taste those words on Jungkook’s tongue. They move against each other, heat building in between them as the omega shifts in his seat so he’s facing Jungkook completely. The alpha’s hands immediately make their way to Taehyung’s waist, thumb caressing the bump of his belly.

“I love you too,” he finally replies as they break away a final time.

“I really mean what I said, Taehyung. I really do love you. I’m hopelessly in love with you,” Jungkook smiles, pulling away so he can cup the omega’s cheeks in his hands.

Taehyung smiles, that big boxy smile of his. His eyes are glossy, peeping out though they’re almost shut from how wide he’s smiling. Taehyung’s cheeks have puffed up throughout pregnancy, and they have now become Jungkook’s new favourite thing about pregnant. Forget the sex and increased libido, Jungkook would spend a whole day nomming at those cheeks if he could.

Jungkook leans in, tentatively planting a kiss on Taehyung’s left cheek. He slowly does the same to the other before he pulls away to stare into Taehyung’s happy eyes. A lone tear escapes Taehyung’s eye, Jungkook instinctively reaching out to catch it before it can even have the chance to fall.

“Don’t cry,” Jungkook whispers.

“I’m just so happy,” Taehyung rasps out from over a quiet sob.

“Thank you for waiting for me. I’m so sorry it took me so long to get to where I am now,” Jungkook smiles softly, bunny teeth peeking out from behind his lips.

“I told you I’d always wait for you,” Taehyung sniffles with a smile. Yes, he did wait. He waited so patiently, never ever made Jungkook feel any sort of pressure to love him back.

“I also told you that I’d fall in love with you. To me, it’s just inevitable,” Jungkook pulls the omega into a hug. Both of them just snuggle together looking up and watching the fireworks in the sky, welcoming the new year with their new love, and in anticipation of welcoming a new life in three months' time.

The fireworks eventually stop, but the group remain huddled together by the firepit. Seokjin goes inside to feed Mira, and Namjoon pulls out some marshmallows he had impaled onto some long skewers. Jungkook tends to his omega, roasting marshmallows for him. Jungkook finds that marshmallow is an art, and Taehyung is picky about how toasted his marshmallows are. With a focused pout on his face and two hands on the skewer, Jungkook holds the marshmallows just above the fire while continuously rotating. One wrong move and the whole marshmallow could become and black ball.

“Kook, you don’t really have to roast them for me perfectly,” Taehyung laughs returning from a quick trip to the bathroom.

“You deserve only the best, my love,” Jungkook replies, not even bothering to look back at Taehyung’s reaction at the way the name had just rolled seamlessly off of his tongue. It’s natural, feels so right that he doesn’t even question it.

Taehyung on the other hand is a blushing mess. Being confessed to, then being called ‘my love’ in the span of 10 minutes is a lot for this cheesy romantic’s heart.

Jungkook sits up on the seat, blowing on the marshmallows. They are toasted beautifully on the outside, nice and brown, but not too brown that it’ll leave a smokey taste. The alpha helps the marshmallows cool down before he pulls one off the stick holding it near Taehyung’s mouth. The omega obliges, opening his mouth for Jungkook to place it on his tongue. In anticipation, the alpha watches the omega’s reaction.

Taehyung begins to chew, then his eyes light up. He covers his mouth with his hand, “this is perfect, baby.”

Proud of himself, Jungkook smiles smugly, taking the second marshmallow off to feed it to the omega. The same look of joy comes to Taehyung’s face every time he chews, and it only adds to the alpha’s growing satisfaction.

“Want more? I perfected the marshmallow roasting art just for you,” Jungkook smiles, eyes already searching for the bag of marshmallows that he knows is around somewhere.

“Need more marshmallows?” Jimin says, offering the bag to Jungkook.

“We’re good, Jiminie, I think I’ve had my fill,” Taehyung smiles. Jimin grins back, flashing a wink at the pair before he continues to put more marshmallows on his own skewer.

The gate of the backyard creaks, and they all look up to see Hoseok sheepishly walking back inside. There’s a blush on his cheeks, and there’s no denying the glossy swollen lips on his face. Namjoon is the first to notice, and he just stands there smiling knowingly at the beta.

“Looks like a success!” Yoongi teases, and everyone can’t hold back a laugh.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m gonna go take Soo-ah home. Thank you for sharing New Year’s with me. Happy New Year,” Hoseok bids farewell, bowing in Namjoon’s direction to thank him for his hospitality.

“How’d she get here, anyway?” Jimin is asking before the beta can slip away.

“A friend dropped her off. I-I’m glad you guys pushed me to try, I have a feeling 2023 is going to be my happiest year yet,” Hoseok smiles, a smile that you smile when you suddenly remember something.

“Proud of you, Hobi hyung,” Taehyung gives him a thumbs up.

“Happy New Year, guys!” he waves, leaving once again, the gate closing behind him.

“Kook, can we go?” Taehyung taps Jungkook’s shoulder, whispering to the alpha.

“Sure, are you already tired?” Jungkook asks, placing the skewer on a free seat. He turns his focus solely on the omega, looking out for any signs of what he may be feeling. His scent is still the same, indicating he isn’t distressed or in a… mood.

“Kind of, but I’m kinda craving a quarter pounder with cheese right now, and I know I saw a Mcdonald’s a few blocks down when we were on our way here,” Taehyung says, mischief gleaming in his eyes.

Jungkook laughs endearingly, though he also guesses it’s best if they turn in for the night too.

“Let’s go get you that quarter pounder.”

—————

“Happy, monsieur?” Jungkook asks, looking away from the road to peek at how Taehyung is getting on beside him. The omega nods, sipping on his large diet coke before throwing a fry into his mouth. The car smells of Mcdonald’s and Jungkook won’t complain because he has a very happy omega next to him. They had both made sure they were extra nice to the worker working the New Year’s shift, giving them extra tips for their hard work, but mainly because Taehyung wanted his patty fresh off the grill.

“Extremely. Don’t get me wrong, that pasta Jin hyung made was absolutely divine, but this, this right here,” he points down to the paper bag of food, “hits the spot completely.”

Jungkook laughs, leaving the omega to chew away as he drives through Seoul. There are still quite a few people out, some trudging home to their beds, and others who still think the night is young and so is the New Year. With light traffic, the couple is able to make it home fairly quickly, but not quick enough to beat the time it takes for Taehyung to scoff down his meal.

“Yay, I’m ready to collapse in a food coma,” Taehyung groans when he takes his seatbelt off.

“Bet you are, there’s just one more thing we have to do before that,” Jungkook responds, getting out of the car and rounding to the other side to open the door for Taehyung.

Taehyung steps out with help, all his trash packed into the paper bag for easy disposal.

“One more thing? Kookie, I don’t think I have enough energy right now,” Taehyung responds with flushed cheeks.

“No funny business tonight, promise. Just something I need to give you,” Jungkook chuckles, holding Taehyung’s hand as they walk towards the elevator.

“Ah, the special gift you were telling me about yesterday?” Taehyung clicks.

“That’s the one. Once I've shown you, we can get ready for bed. No funny business. I know how tired you are,” Jungkook says as they step into the elevator. He presses the button and he sighs contentedly when he feels Taehyung lower his head onto his shoulders.

“Sounds like a plan,” Taehyung says with a yawn, “I’ve been waiting the whole day for this gift, I’m getting excited.”

“I hope you like it,” Jungkook kisses Taehyung’s head.

“I’d love it even if it were a piece of paper,” Taehyung snorts, “anything you give would be amazing. You didn’t even have to get me anything more. Yesterday was amazing in itself.”

“I wanted to. I put a lot of thought into this one,” Jungkook replies, and he leads Taehyung out as the elevator arrives at the penthouse floor. Jungkook lets Taehyung make himself comfortable first, getting out of his smoke-smelling clothes and under a quick warm shower. The omega then changes into the pair of pyjamas that Jungkook bought him, them being his favourite. Jungkook bought it in multiple colours, they just haven’t arrived just yet.

Once ready, Jungkook now is more comfortable with clothes too and smelling less like smoke he brings Taehyung out of their room.

“Your gift, my love, is down this way,” Jungkook says taking Taehyung’s hand and leading him down the hallway two doors down from the masters.

“I like it when you call me that,” Taehyung admits out loud, still reeling from the sensation the name gives.

“I love calling you that, cause it reminds me of how we love each other and how you’re the only love of my life,” Jungkook sappily replies, honey dripping from his eyes.

“Keep calling me that. I’ll cherish it. Now, what’s behind the door?” Taehyung changes topic, feeling too shy to keep speaking about the new pet name matter.

“Why don’t you open it?” Jungkook gestures.

Taehyung reaches out, taking hold of the brass door knob. He eyes Jungkook suspiciously as he turns the knob and pushes the door open. The sight of what’s inside makes the omega gasp. Taehyung covers his mouth with his hands as he steps into the room. Jungkook follows closely behind, happily watching as the omega inspects his gift.

“Kookie, this is…” Taehyung whispers. The room is a nursery. Decorated to the finest detail.

“A nursery. It was difficult trying to get it done with you here all the time, they were only able to finish it yesterday when I took you out. I chose the elements. Since we don’t know the baby’s gender, I thought this soft green would be good. I know you mentioned once how my woody scent calms you, so I hope this room calms both you and pup. These frames,” Jungkook gestures to the empty frames on the wall, “I want to do a shoot with you, and the pup too. Like a self-portrait type. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I thought since you love taking photos, I know you’d want to do this too.”

Taehyung is rendered speechless, just looking at all the fine details. The things inside the bassinet all match, and Jungkook even chose the convertible bed he had been showing him once. The changing table is also the one that he had tried to order, but apparently, there was no stock available. Everything in the room is perfect, right down to the bunny plushie that’s holding a strawberry.

So for the second time in 2023, Taehyung cries. Jungkook is quickly there to swoop him up into a hug.

“I love it,” Taehyung says in a muffled tone.

“I love you,” Jungkook replies, “You’ve taken over my life Taehyung, and that’s irreversible. I’m hoping, now that we have a nursery, you’ll stop thinking about all the things you need to buy.”

“But what about the nursery at my pl-”

“Why have two nurseries? Move in with me, my love?” Jungkook asks. It's the biggest surprise he has been preparing. Taehyung already practically lives in the penthouse. His clothes take up half the closet, now, and Jungkook has made sure in the past couple of weeks that Taehyung has everything he will ever need.

“Oh my gosh. My heart cannot cope with you springing all these things on me, Jeon Jungkook,” Taehyung says, clutching his heart.

“But will you? Move in? I mean you practically live here, and you’re a permanent resident of my heart, so…”

“Gosh! Yes, I will move in, you don’t need to be so cheesy about it,” Taehyung slaps his shoulder before Jungkook catches him up in another tight hug.

“Thank you. I love you, so much,” Jungkook stares lovingly into Taehyung’s eyes.

“I love you too. Thank you,” Taehyung smiles tearily.

“Welcome home, Kim Taehyung!”

—————

3 Months Later

“No baby?” Jimin walks into the penthouse, followed by Seokjin who holds Mira gurgling in his arms.

“Nope. Not even a little contraction, he’s the same as he was yesterday and it kills me cause I know he just wants baby out,” Jungkook sighs, leading the omegas into the penthouse.

It’s been a horrible few weeks. Taehyung’s due date has come and gone and he has officially become sick of the ‘waiting’ game. It’s the most painful game to play, but he’s listening to his mother’s advice. No matter how annoying it is at this stage, Taehyung will follow through with the advice his own omega mother lived by.

The baby will come when it’s ready.

“Does he go for walks?” Seokjin asks, setting down a mat for Mira to crawl on before plopping down on the couch.

“Down at the park, but he’s so painfully slow,” Jungkook smiles.

“Am not,” Taehyung quips, emerging from the hallway. He has one hand on his back, leaning back slightly as he walks towards the couch. The sound of his breathing is loud, and Jungkook immediately comes to offer Taehyung a hand.

“Jin hyung, I have no clue how you weren’t huffing and puffing at the wedding last year, cause walking has now officially become my new cardio,” Taehyung sighs, finally taking a seat after the short distance he has walked. Every few metres feels like he’s run a half marathon. The shortness of breath had crept up on him really, it was a gradual change.

“Trust me, I was. Thank goodness I was seated most of the time. It’s alright, Tae, hold on a little longer and you’ll be able to breathe just fine again,” Seokjin smiles.

“I hope that comes sooner, rather than later. I want this pup out! It’s been far too long and Appa is suffering,” Taehyung frowns down at his belly.

“You’re glowing tho! That’s always nice to see,” Jimin smiles, reaching over to massage Taehyung’s stomach, which the omega willingly obliges.

“Funny you say that, I look horrible. My hair is overgrown, I haven’t had my eyebrows trimmed, I can barely sleep at night. It’s all so annoying. I go toilet every few minutes, and the walk over makes me wanna pee in my pants sometimes,” Taehyung groans. His bladder has been causing him just as much heartache.

“This is why I want you out! You’re pressing on my bladder, and it’s annoying,” Taehyung talks to his stomach.

“You’re gonna be relieved once the pup is out. Have you tried many things to induce labour?” Jin smiles at the couple, and he begins to laugh when Jungkook pulls out a jar of dates that was hiding behind the couch.

“He’s been eating dates like crazy, and obviously that hasn’t helped. We bought a foldable treadmill the other day, so it's positioned in front of the television in our room. Again, no luck with extra exercise. The other day, we drove to the other side of the city to get acupuncture done by this person who has high reviews,” Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“You know what else is high, his fee. It was ridiculous. I thought it would be worth it, but the acupuncture didn’t help much at all. Even Jungkook didn’t enjoy it as much,” Taehyung says in one breath, leaving him breathing deeply. Literally, everything is a cardio exercise at this point of the pregnancy. He feels as though he’s panting just to walk from the couch to the fridge. Not to mention, pup feels like a millstone is hanging off his waist. Every so often, Jungkook will come from behind him and help carry the weight. During these moments, Taehyung feels like he can finally breathe.

Taehyung first saw the trend on wolftok, and since then they’ve been having a five minute session to alleviate the weight.

“We’re trying what we can. A disclaimer online said these are only anecdotal, so there’s really no guarantee it will work. So far, none of them have worked, and Taehyung’s patience is wearing thin. His scent sours more often than not, and I think I’m losing my touch when it comes to making him smile,” the alpha almost pouts.

“You still make me smile, it’s just, I can’t smile cause this sucks! I want the pup out so bad, but I don’t want to rush the pup or my body. It’s just so horrible. Not to mention, I think I have a bad case of braxton hicks. I’ve been getting sharp pains, that aren’t real contractions, every so often. We’re actually going to see my obgyn later this afternoon. See what she’ll say to help remedy this labour, or the lack thereof,” Taehyung pants yet again. The alpha brings him a bottle of water, along with his container of dates. The omega immediately begins snacking on them, scent turning a little sweeter with the stress release via chewing.

“The end is usually the worst. You’re so close, yet so far. Of course, I didn’t go past my due date like you. I still really feel for you,” Seokjin reaches over to pat Taehyung’s thigh.

“Please don’t rub it in my face. It just hurts more,” Taehyung tears up, and Jungkook is quick to release some soothing pheromones. Seokjin and Jimin almost gag.

“Kook, tone it down. Save some for when the baby arrives,” Jimin chokes out.

“Sorry. My wolf is just as sensitive as Tae is,” Jungkook meekly replies.

“I can’t even curse you out for that ‘cause you guys are too adorable,” Seokjin blinks, watching out for Mira who’s biting on the corner of the mat.

The little check in doesn’t last long, the alpha insisting that Taehyung needs a nap before their trip to the obgyn later. Prematurely, the two other omegas are ushered out of the penthouse and sent on their way, leaving behind a whining Taehyung. He hasn’t seen much of them in a while, and he hates how short this meeting has been.

Despite all the whining, the omega was sound asleep only 10 minutes after the front door closed. Jungkook took this time to nap too, considering he loses sleep when Taehyung does. He jokes how it’s him preparing for the pup’s arrival, and how he doesn’t want Taehyung to be the only one to sacrifice their sleep.

With sleep cuddling them and captivating their bodies, the couple were late to the appointment by 20 minutes. The obgyn only laughed, understanding how such a situation came to be.

“We’re really so sorry,” Taehyung says again, now laid down on the bed.

“It’s fine. Really. I don’t have an appointment after you, and I was able to get a break in. Honestly, the third trimester is tiring, you’re doing real well,” the beta smiles.

Taehyung is laying down, an all too familiar position, in an all too familiar room. The first time he had come here, it had been weird to be on the bed with no bottoms, and in a gown instead. He had been examined in a way that made him blush, even if he knew that his obgyn had seen countless bare bottoms. When Jungkook first came with him, he had blushed even harder, but the alpha was being so cool with it that Taehyung had to keep himself from growing more flustered.

Nine months of having been on this bed, the position is not a worry to him anymore.

“I’ll have a look down there first, Taehyung-ssi, then we can do an ultrasound. By the feel of your baby,” she says, giving his stomach a good feel, “the pup is already readying itself to come out. It honestly shouldn’t be long now. I’m surprised you haven’t already popped. Pup is in such a great position. The braxton hicks might be more than just that, so I wanna look down here, just in case.”

“In case of what?” Jungkook asks, looking clueless as he stands by Taehyung’s side, holding onto the omega’s hand.

“Just in case you’ve begun to dilate already.”

“My water hasn’t broken though,” Taehyung states, eyebrows furrowed as his obgyn gets some clean gloves on.

“How long has it been since your presumed practice contractions started?” The obgyn asks.

“Three days. I started getting them at the beginning of the third trimester, but these have been more consistent,” Taehyung responds, thinking back to his recent experiences.

“Have they been more painful?”

“I guess. A more stabbing pain, but it would subside,” Taehyung answers, squeezing the alpha’s hand tight as the obgyn nods.

The obgyn gets right into the examination, but it doesn’t take long before she says, “Aha! You’re already 5cm dilated appa!”

“What?!” Taehyung and Jungkook say in unison.

“Those were real contractions, Mr Kim. And to answer your question, it’s common for waters not to break before contractions begin. Once you’re fully dilated, it should break. It could even break when you start pushing. Everything looks wonderful down there, you have nothing to worry about. For now, when was the last contraction you felt?”

“He complained about one on our way here,” Jungkook remembers. The omega had to pause walking because of how spikey the pain had felt.

“Yeah, and I had one before when I first lay down. Come to think of it, they do seem more painful each time,” Taehyung says. Having no experience in this matter, it doesn’t surprise Taehyung that he’s so clueless about everything.

“Great. Your labour is not quite active yet, so I suggest going home and getting your hospital bag, and selves ready! You’re about to be parents, so this is your last chance for any last minute mental preparations,” the beta grins. Take the gloves off.

“Go home. I’ll see you here soon. Bring him in when the contractions are strong, and are five minutes apart,” the beta says to Jungkook, to which the alpha nods vigorously.

This is finally happening, and Taehyung can feel something a little like excitement, or maybe anxiety, or perhaps it’s just the fact he needs to pee, at the pit of his stomach. His obgyn leaves the room, and Taehyung looks over to Jungkook who looks like he’s barely breathing.

“Kook? Baby?”

“Oh my gosh. It’s happening,” Jungkook whispers, meeting Taehyung’s eye. There’s a glimmer in his gaze, perhaps a product of the tears the alpha is beginning to produce. The alpha’s own scent is spiking, smelling of petrichor and trees, calming and making Taehyung emotional all at once.

“It is,” Taehyung smiles, 'cause how the heck did they get here? Taehyung a year ago would have laughed and cried if you told him he found ‘the one.’ It was never something he thought would actually happen, considering his record of alphas and dating has been so bad.

“I love you so much, do you know that?” Jungkook suddenly says, his pheromones thickening, as well as the layer of tears glossing over his eyes.

“If you’re already this sappy before the baby comes out, will you be sobbing when it does?” Taehyung teases, but he really can relate to what the alpha feels right now. It’s a strong tide of emotion, of love for each other, and a whole new life that they haven’t even met yet.

Jungkook’s just brimming with love, so much of it that he doesn’t know how to let it all out. He’s learnt to love so quickly, so passionately, that it’s just too hard to contain the emotion and depth of it all. On top of falling in love, he’s found the love of a parent swelling inside him.

“I couldn’t care less. I love you both so much, and I can’t wait to meet you,” Jungkook laughs tearfully, placing a hand on Taehyung’s stomach.

“I love you too, alpha. A lot. You can’t feel it, but I know the baby is excited to meet you too. They’re gonna put a face to the singer of all those lullabies,” Taehyung smiles, reaching over to hold Jungkook’s hand that still rests atop his stomach.

—————

“What's wrong?” Namjoon says, running over to Jungkook who smells strongly of distress as he paces in front of the delivery room doors.

Taehyung had just gone in a little over thirty minutes ago. Everything had been going smoothly, contractions were ebbing and flowing as they should. They had arrived at the hospital in time, with enough allowance for Taehyung to get his things settled in the room that he’d be placed in post-labour. When the time came to enter the delivery room…

“I don’t know?!” Jungkook exasperates, raising his hands before dropping them by his sides.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Namjoon says, the other alpha is clearly unhappy with something.

“That’s the point, I don’t know! I don’t know what’s going on, or what’s going right. They didn’t let me in the damn delivery room,” Jungkook nearly shouts, but he holds back, remembering the calm words and gaze Taehyung had uttered to him before letting his hand go and being wheeled into the delivery room alone.

“They didn’t let you in? Why? You're the father of the pup,” Namjoon questions, just as Seokjin comes from behind him, pushing Mira’s pram.

“Gosh, it reeks here. You must be so nervous,” Seokjin says, not having heard the first half of the conversation.

“Why didn’t they let you in, Jungkook?” Namjoon tried again.

The alpha sighs, eyes tearing up as he recalls the previous situation he was in thirty minutes ago.

“It’s stupid. It makes me mad. They didn’t let me in because I’m not his mate,” Jungkook says huffing. He looks anywhere but the eyes of the two older wolves in front of him. He feels like a child really. It seems so stupid to get mad over that, because it is true. He and Taehyung haven’t mated, so technically he wasn’t Taehyung’s mate. But deep inside, they both knew they were mates already. Both their wolves had made a claim on each other; they’re already mates.

“Because you’re not mated, they didn’t let you in?!” Seokjin’s eyes are blown wide.

Namjoon reaches over, taking hold of the omega’s hand, “Moon, don’t yell. Yelling is only going to make him more anxious, and distress him further.”

Namjoon turns back to Jungkook’s direction, “Did you tell them you were the pup’s father?”

“Of course, I did. Taehyung did too. They were adamant in following this stupid rule that only the omega’s mate, or legal spouse, is allowed with them in the delivery room. It so happens we’re neither of those things, but they still refused me entry despite that pup being my flesh and blood. I’m mad. I’m worried. I promised Taehyung I’d let him curse me out the way Seokjin Hyung did. I was mentally prepared to be there and get my hand squeezed. Taehyung told me I-I could hold him, or her, first,” Jungkook cries, eyes downcast.

“Aw, kook,” Namjoon says, walking over to the crying alpha and wrapping him in his arms.

“Hey, it’s gonna be alright. We’re gonna get you in there. To hell with legal titles, and physical marks. We’ll get you in there. You love Taehyung, and that’s your pup, that’s more than enough,” Namjoon consoles the alpha. His words don’t mean much to Jungkook, ‘cause his words aren’t gonna get him any closer to his omega.

His wolf has been completely restless, and it’s manifesting in the way he behaves. He can’t sit down, and if he did, he’d be back up on his feet with how embarrassingly loud his foot is from all the tapping.

“Joonie, watch her please,” Jin smiles, before turning around and evidently going in the direction of the floor desk.

“Moon! Wait!” Namjoon calls after him, already well aware of his mate’s impulses. Namjoon quickly turns Mira’s pram, breaking into a jog as he catches up with his tantrum filled mate.

Already flustered, Jungkook just follows closely behind. His thoughts are going haywire, and he’s allowing the thought of being shut out consumes him. If he were in a better state of mind, he’d fight over it some more, but he wasn’t Taehyung’s mate.

“Moon! Don’t do anything stupid, please!” Namjoon calls out, but Seokjin is already talking to the nurse that sits at the desk of the ward.

“I’d like to talk to your head nurse,” Seokjin smiles, looking rather sardonic as he does so. The nurse forces a smile in return, already sensing the omega’s emotions through his thickening scent:

“Give me a moment,” she replies, standing up and walking over to the door at the back wall of the little desk area.

“Moon, what are you doing?” Namjoon says, brown furrowed as he steadily moves Mira’s pram to keep her asleep.

“I’m getting Jungkook into that delivery room, that’s what I’m doing,” he whispers back with gritted teeth.

“Hyung…” Jungkook barely whispers, but he’s thankful. He’s so grateful someone can voice his emotions for him while he overthinks. It’s more than just the fact Taehyung is alone in there. He wants to be there with Taehyung. He wants to be mates with him. They hadn’t talked about it before, both just assuming it might be a lot considering the imminent arrival of a pup - that alone is a lot. Jungkook wants it. He wants to be more with Taehyung. He had planned on waiting for after settling in with pup, but with this… it feels like a punch in a gut and push in that direction.’

“I’ve got you, Kook. You’ll get in there with him,” Seokjin smiles over his shoulder confidently. The door at the back swings open, a slightly older beta coming out.

“How May I help?”

“Hi. Our friend here was refused entry into the delivery room, even though he’s the pup’s father,” Seokjin starts off.

“Oh, well if he’s the mate of the omega, or the husband, I shouldn’t see why he’s not allowed,” the beta smiles patiently.

“Well, that’s the problem. Our friends aren’t mated yet, neither have they been married. That shouldn’t stop you from letting him in there. I thought we had progressed as a society. I thought we had already gone against the norms of mating marks and legal papers? What happened to love? What happened to letting our wolves choose? Yes, they might not be mated YET, neither are they married, but they might as well be. Look at him,” Jin points, and they all turn to look at Jungkook whose eyes are wide - fearful and expectant.

“He’s nervous. His wolf is distressing him. You know why? Because that man inside that delivery room is his mate, regardless of the presence of a mark. Their wolves crave to be together. Not only that, can you imagine how distressed the omega is right now? He doesn’t have his alpha’s scent to calm him. You know how distressed and antsy pregnant omegas can be. Because of your stupid little rule, the two parents can’t both be present to witness the testament of their love.”

Jungkook grins at this. They weren’t in love with pups, but their wolves somehow already knew that along the line they would be.

“Sir, they’ll have more pups, I’m sure. He’ll have others to witness-”

“Nope,” Seokjin raises a palm. “Don’t give us that crap. Yes, every pup is gonna be special, but first times don’t come along very often. First times are the most beautiful. Even ask Jungkook. First times should be celebrated and savoured. Don’t rob him of this. To hell with your little policy about mates and spouses. He’s just as much of a mate and spouse. Let him in. He made a promise to his omega, let him keep it.”

The beta nurse, and the junior nurse share unsure softened glances at each other. Seokjin is glad they aren’t as pushy as they could be. He hates to have to be this person, but he has a point, and he’ll send it home.

“Please,” Jungkook finally speaks up, tears gathering in his eyes, “I need to be with him. If it assures you, I know he’ll be my mate and husband eventually. Let me be with him.”

The nurses sigh before the head nurse smiles, “come with me future papa, let’s get you gowned up for the delivery room.”

Jungkook releases a breath he didn’t even know he was holding. He quickly gives Seokjin a hug before following the nurse. He’s shown how to wash his hands before being put into a disposable gown. An itchy hair net is out on his head too, but he doesn’t complain, he’s simply excited to finally get in there.

As he’s taken to the room, the sound of Taehyung’s cries fills his ears. His own ears perk up at the sounds of his omega’s distress.

He almost pushes the nurse when she opens the door to the room, jogging past the curtain and to where Taehyung lays. Taehyung’s face is red, all glossy with sweat. His face is contorted by a frown, and his breathing is clearly uneven. There’s a nurse beside him, they’re trying their best to get the omega’s breathing under control.

“Love,” Jungkook says, the moment he lays eyes on Taehyung.

“Kook…” Taehyung cries. Jungkook immediately releases calming pheromones, and there’s already a clear shift in the omega’s expressions.

“Hey, you’re doing so well,” Jungkook smiles, coming over to the side of the bed and grasping onto Taehyung’s hand tightly. He pushes a strand of Taehyung’s sticky hair off his face, watching as the omega’s breathing regulates.

“You gotta breathe with me, love. Breathe in and hee-hee-hoo,” the alpha imitâtes the breathing exercises that they have been practising for the past couple of weeks. Taehyung follows, eyes never leaving the alphas.

“How’d you get in here?” Taehyung says, breaking the pattern while another contraction shoots up his spine.

“I promised I’d be here for you to curse me out, so here I am. Quit talking, keep breathing, beautiful,” Jungkook smiles before going right back to breathing with Taehyung.

Taehyung does as he’s told, the rhythm breaking a few times as he yells profanities to the alpha. He’s being told to push, being told to breathe, being told he can do it, and it’s exhausting. Taehyung is sweating profusely, and the tears in his eyes begin to well up. The pain is more intense when compared to anything he’s ever been through, much more than a simple heat.

“Never pup me again!” He yells, groaning as he pushes some more.

“As you wish,” Jungkook replies, though he thinks the same thing. Seeing Taehyung in pain is enough to put him off. The image of his omega in pain is not pretty, and he doesn’t ever want Taehyung in this state ever again.

As strings of profanities, curses, groans and yells fill the room. Jungkook nearly cries when the nurse declares they can see the head - mainly because Taehyung is squeezing his hand so tight he feels as though his fingers might actually break.

“We’re almost there, baby. You’re going amazing,” Jungkook smiles, kissing the frown on Taehyung’s face.

The omega pants, taking a deep breath before getting right back down to the pushing.

“You’re going great, Taehyung-ssi!”

An hour and a half later, at 1:34am, a wail fills the entire delivery room. There’s a look of relief that passes both the parent’s faces, Jungkook instantly diving in to kiss Taehyung. He sprinkles praises over the omega, who is still catching his breath.

“Congratulations! You have a healthy baby girl!” Their obgyn declares, holding up their pale and wailing child.

“A girl,” Taehyung sighs, holding Jungkook’s hand as she comes over to bring the pup over to them. As Taehyung catches a glimpse of the pink and wrinkly pup, he cries. Jungkook sniffles beside him.

The moment Taehyung lays eyes on the baby, all he can do is cry. All the pain was worth it. Every single second, no matter how excruciating. Having this bundle of joy in his arms is all that matters now, and it’s a feeling that’s incomparable to the pain he’s just gone through.

Jungkook, on the other hand, feels as though the world around him has just become so much darker - more dangerous. This innocent little being doesn’t deserve to be in this cruel world, and all his alpha wants to do is protect it, smother it with love and so much care. Jungkook starts right then by releasing more of his soothing pheromones. It works wonders, the pup drifting into a sleep, and Taehyung beginning to laugh.

“We’re parents, my love,” Jungkook whispers, caressing their daughter’s cheek with his index finger.

“We are. I love you,” Taehyung smiles up at Jungkook.

“I love you, and this beautiful being,” Jungkook replies right back.

“Sorry to interrupt, but have you thought of the name?” Their OB smiles.

Jungkook and Taehyung share a knowing look at each other before proclaiming in unison, “Da-som.”

Simply put, her name means love. It was through her they both found love. For one, it was a love they had only longed for, had only ever dreamed of. For the other, it was a love they found unexpectedly. A love that overcame every insecurity, and one that changed their views for the better.

—————

Jungkook barely sleeps.

Namjoon and Seokjin didn't stay long after the baby was born. They made their hellos and goodbyes quick, then wheeled a very sleepy and cranky baby out of the hospital and back home. Jungkook made sure he thanked the couple profusely for the help they had given him earlier. With the state of mind he was in at the time, it was hard to string together words to fight for his case.

Taehyung sleeps peacefully, Jungkook watches over him with tired eyes. Da-som is sleeping peacefully in the cot near Taehyung’s bed. Everything had gone smoothly after the birth, now Taehyung is resting between the next feed time. The nurses had urged the alpha to sleep too, and he did. He tried his best to sleep on the roll away bed, but there’s just been this constant thought running through his mind.

Standing up from the armchair, Jungkook takes a quick peek at his daughter. She’s sound asleep, her soft lips bunched up in a pout; an expression that mirrors that of Taehyung’s right now. The alpha smiles, whispers an ily before going to the bathroom. When he walks out, he’s surprised to see Taehyung awake.

“Hey. Are you okay? Do you need anything?” Jungkook immediately asks. He walks over to the bed, Taehyung reaching for his hand once he’s close enough.

“Hm. I’m fine. I woke up ‘cause I couldn’t smell you. Turns out you were just in the bathroom,” Taehyung whispers huskily. He shifts on the bed with a groan.

“Let me help,” Jungkook says, coming over to help adjust the pillows.

“I’m so sore,” Taehyung whispers.

“You did amazing. I’m gonna coddle you so much. I’ll make sure you won’t even have to lift a finger when we get home,” Jungkook smiles, pulling the armchair closer to Taehyung’s side.

“You already do so much for me,” Taehyung responds, holding one of Jungkook’s hands.

“Because you deserve it. You endured nine months carrying our pup around, went through the pain of childbirth. For that, you deserve so much more. Not to mention, you’re unfailing love for me needs to be constantly applauded,” Jungkook smiles. His smile dims, however and Taehyung is quick to notice the change.

“Hey, what’s on your mind?”

“Nothing. I-I just…”

“Are you doubting yourself? I don’t want to have to remind you how you deserve my love, again,” Taehyung smiles softly, hand making its way up to caress Jungkook’s cheek.

“No, it’s not that. What happened earlier keeps replaying in my mind. I was so fearful of not being in there with you, and I just thought it was so unfair. I want you to be my mate, Taehyung. I want you to be my husband. Maybe, not right at this very moment, but I know I want those things with you. You’re the only one I’ll love, and when I look at my future I see you. Those feelings, they just felt so invalidated when they pushed me away from you,” Jungkook looks down, trying to hide the tears gathering in his eyes.

“Jungkook… they are valid. Your love for me is valid. When Seokjin Hyung told me what he had to tell them, I couldn’t help but agree. I want those things with you too, Jungkook. Don’t feel like we need a mating mark for our love to be validated. We don’t even need a ring. Our love is more than enough, and I was upset too, but we don’t need the rest of the world to dictate what we need to do to prove our bond. In our own time, we’ll do those things, but for now, let’s just savour each other and get to know our beautiful pup,” Taehyung says through moist eyes, still holding onto Jungkook.

“Yeah, you’re right. But like, if I asked you now, would you turn me down?” Jungkook looks up.

“What?”

Jungkook sits up straight, fishing for something inside his pockets. He pulls out a black box, lifting it open to show two identical bands.

“Would you say no if I asked you to marry me?” The alpha says in a tone just above a whisper.

“Jungkook…” Taehyung‘s eyes are wide, mouth parted in shock. It might be the sleep still blanketed over him, or the fatigue, but his mind is having a hell of a time processing what’s happening right now.

“I know. In our own time. Look, I was upset earlier, but it’s not like I ran out of the hospital to buy these just to prove a point,” Jungkook exhales, “I’ve had these for weeks. I didn’t really know when to ask you, or how. All I knew, and still do, is that I wanna ask you. We haven’t really talked about these things in detail, so I guess I hesitated. I’ve been carrying this around for the past couple of weeks. I’ve been sleeping with them under my side of the bed.”

“Jungkook…”

“You can say no. This is just totally bad timing. I was not pressured at all by anything the nurses said. I was genuinely upset, and I don’t think we need the rings, but I really want the world to know too. I want them to see we love each other, that we have someone we love even when we’re apart. That’s just me, but I can wait til you’re ready.”

Jungkook goes silent after that. He sits there, holding the box in front of Taehyung, who is slowly processing every word.

“I mean. It doesn’t have to be now.”

“Yeah, exactly. I can ask another time,” Jungkook’s smiles weakly, shoulders sagging at the imminent rejection.

“No, I mean, we don’t have to marry soon. It could be in a year's time. I- I’m so bad at this. Yes, I’ll marry you. I wanna have that ring on my finger to show the world too. We don’t have to rush into a wedding, especially since we literally just became parents. I want what you want. Remember tho, this is like the icing on the cake - the most important part is the cake, and in our case, it’s that we love each other,” Taehyung smiles, reaching for the box and taking one of the rings out.

He takes Jungkook’s hand, slipping the hand on, hoping he took the right one.

“I love you. I really do.”

Jungkook is teary, and he chuckles before taking the other ring and sliding that onto Taehyung’s finger.

“I love you. Who doesn’t love icing?” He grins, leaning in to capture Taehyung’s lips in a kiss.

Taehyung pulls away first, “I must admit, I don’t really like icing.”

Jungkook laughs. He laughs as he rests his forehead against his omega’s. He knows Taehyung doesn’t like icing, he remembers how many times he’s had to strip a cake of its icing before giving it to Taehyung.

“I do like this icing tho,” Taehyung smiles, leaning in to peck Jungkook’s lips.

“Me too.”

Taehyung shuffles on the bed with a wince, and he pats the space next to him. Jungkook raises a questioning brow.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to squish you while we sleep.”

“Come on! Sleep next to me, fiancé?” Taehyung encourages him. Jungkook gives in, carefully moving onto the bed and laying on his side beside Taehyung. Resting his head on Taehyung’s chest, the omega combs his hair with his fingers.

“Do you think we’re rushing it?” Jungkook asks suddenly.

“Rushing? I thought we already established we weren’t doing things traditionally, anyway? We were pregnant before we were even together. Dated throughout the pregnancy, and got engaged on delivery day. Come on, this isn’t rushing. It’s simply Jungkook and Taehyung style.”

“Jungkook and Taehyung style? I like the sound of that,” the alpha grins, enjoying the warmth radiating from his omega.

Taehyung was his sunshine in his eternal winter. Gone is the cold and brooding alpha that he was at the wedding nine months ago. He’s glad he’s gone, ‘cause he’s found something so much better.

One Year Later

Jeju, Korea. Kind of a cliche place to get married, but the photographer in Taehyung came out when he talked about how picturesque the place is. Jungkook, of course, didn’t refute and agreed with the omega instantly. A year later, and you could say the alpha is still just as whipped as he was in the beginning. Nothing much has changed. They still love each other a ton, and they’ve both learnt more about each other as the days have passed.

The wedding planning began a month after Da-som’s birth, contrary to the belief that they’d wait a year — which they did, but the planning started earlier than that. Seeing the ring on Taehyung’s finger did things to Jungkook, and he didn’t think he could wait a year to plan the thing. Jungkook, surprisingly, was the one who came up with a whole corkscrew planning board. The alpha had been much more excited for the big day than Taehyung, not to say the omega wasn’t, because he very much was too. They played table tennis with several ideas; one involved a yacht, another involved spending too much money to fly people overseas, and one was far too simple. So Jeju it was, an in between of sorts.

A beach wedding, but at night - Taehyung and Jungkook style ‘cause they’re not traditional anyway. The waves had danced in the background, and everyone made the most of the little sparklers as the couple walked down the aisle hand in hand, big smiles on their faces. Da-som has a babysitter in their hotel room, for the occasion, but they had gotten plenty of photos with their one year old earlier. Needless to say, taking photos on the beach is both beautiful just as much as it is messy. Somie, as they call her, had sand everywhere. It was fun, and Taehyung wouldn’t exchange the moment for anything else.

The reception is to officially start soon, and the guests are at the entrance of the outdoor venue looking at the seating chart Taehyung had so carefully put together.

“What table are we on, Moon?” Namjoon asks, coming up next to his pregnant mate. He wraps an arm around Seokjin, resting a hand on his stomach. Mira is at the grandparents, being spoiled, and being a little two year old ‘no’ spouting machine. A weekend away is much appreciated for the soon to be parents of two. This second one was a surprise. They had agreed on waiting at least til Mira was three for the next one, but oh well.

“Table 13.”

“Table 13?” The couple looked up to see Jimin and Yoongi looking at the seating chart too.

“Looks like we’re table mates again!” Jimin exclaims with a wide smile.

“Looks like we are,” the couple smiles in return.

The group have remained well-gelled together, and have religiously met up with each weekly for the past year. They round-robin their meetings, taking turns with hosting the weekly function. With time, they’ve learnt so much about each other, and at times it feels as though they’ve known each other longer than they truly have. Their chemistry as an ensemble is unmistakable, and undeniably genuine. Namjoon had once joked that they must be part of this amazing group in some other universe with the way they all work so well with each other.

“It seems Taehyung has put a lot more thought into this seating plan than we think,” Yoongi says, taking a glance at the arrangement. Hoseok is on their table too, his name marked with theirs on the chart. Soo-ah and him have been doing well, the omega is sadly not present at the wedding, but she’s in a much better relationship than she was before.

“He has. That little genius. An optimist is what he is. He believes in fate, and I bet he’d say something like that if he was here right now. We’re fated to be together, and it’s all because of that silly Table 13 at the wedding,” Namjoon clicks his tongue.

Table 13 holds more of a significance to them now than it did before.

“Funny, cause he only actually has 7 tables,” Jimin grins.

“As I said, it’s fate. Our Taehyung is just reminding us of it,” Namjoon repeats, the group of four walking under the entryway and out into the outdoor venue.

There’s a moment of silence that passes, the group drinking in the beautiful simplistic details of the venue. There are lights strung up over the wooden decking, and tables lit by multiple candles that act as the centrepieces. Flowers have been dropped sparingly on the tables, a beautiful accent to the twinkling lights. All the decorations are mere supporting actors to the main lead in front of them - the sea view. They had seen it at the seashore wedding just less than an hour ago, but with all the twinkling lights, it all looks more breathtaking.

“Taehyung knows his focal points,” Seokjin smiles, looking at the simple set up that is lifted up by the lights and views.

“Oh, he sure does. A true photographer, that’s what he is,” Namjoon grins, helping Seokjin along as they look for Table 13.

Unlike at the previous wedding, the table isn’t tucked away in some corner of the space. The table is proudly situated next to the presidential table. It’s so close that they could converse with Taehyung and Jungkook.

“Glad to know they aren’t hiding us away,” Yoongi says, pulling a chair out for Jimin.

The couple have reached many milestones in the past year. There’s no ring yet, but Jimin is patient, but Taehyung will tell you otherwise. Now with a shared apartment between them, and a dog named Holly, their relationship has blossomed into something pure and beautiful. Jimin’s the pied piper that has sung Yoongi out of his shell of introversion. Compared to two years ago, Yoongi puts himself out there more, and isn’t so stingy when it comes to handing out smiles. If a relationship could be colour coded, theirs would be green; it’s just so healthy, so full of life, and ever growing. It paid them to follow their own advice they had given to Taehyung… communicate.

“Oh, I’d disown them if they did that. Jungkook has passed out drunk on our couch too many times for us to be considered acquaintances,” Seokjin smirks, “I have plenty of evidence too.”

“I do too! But of Taehyung. Remember that time we had a night out without our alphas? He got so drunk he started citing poetry he had learned from university, before he sappily started talking about his amazing fiancé. Ah, he’s so whipped,” Jimin laughs, reminiscing.

“Babe, you better not have any embarrassing moments of mine,” Yoongi rolls his eyes, taking a seat next to Jimin.

“Oh, don’t you worry, I’ve got enough for all of us,” Seokjin cheekily says.

“I had to pay for extra storage because of the number of photos and videos this man has,” Namjoon sighs, “he has three of the same photo at times. Mira has thousands. I don’t think we need that many.”

“Hey, we have to cherish the moments,” Seokjin smiles, patting his alpha’s cheek.

“I’ll speak for Tae, he’d say the same,” Jimin nods in agreement. The omega has already seen the photographer's storage solutions for all his photos. He has physical copies, and several copies of the same photos in multiple hard drives, and he even has them in the cloud.

“There’s a difference. Taehyung is a photographer, it gives him licence to do that. Moon, you just take a picture of everything and anything. You took a picture of Mira’s nappy the other day. We don’t need that,” Namjoon sighs.

“We do. It’s good blackmail material for when she’s older.”

“Hey, guys!” Hoseok appears, taking a seat at their table.

“How’s Soo-ah?” Jimin asks, waiting patiently as the beta pockets his phone.

“She’s feeling better. I wanted to go home tonight, but she insisted she’s fine,” he smiles.

“Whipped,” Seokjin smiles.

“We’ve still got seats. Were there other names on the chart?” Hoseok asks, looking at the two empty spots still at their table.

“I don’t believe so. I think they’ve kept the number of chairs the same for uniformity’s sake,” Namjoon shrugs.

The grooms soon are welcomed into the reception area. It was a choice by both to not have a bridal party, and it’s still so beautiful. Both of them reasoned that there were too many people they wanted to include, and having a large bridal party wasn’t ideal. So instead of choosing between all their friends, they played it safe. Taehyung and Jungkook still included their friends in the whole planning process. Work friends helped Taehyung send out the invites. Jimin and Seokjin were there to make the party favours with Taehyung. They all had some sort of hand, and they’ve made it abundantly clear that labelled or not, they are still what is making this day special.

It’s during the dinner when Taehyung and Jungkook suddenly appear, dinner plates in hand, wedding rings gleaming on their fingers as they pull out the empty chairs and sit down.

“Finally, right where we belong,” Taehyung smiles, sitting down on the seat with a huff.

“My feet are actually killing me. Why did you not tell us getting married was this tiring?” Jungkook grimaces in Namjoon and Seokjin’s direction. The married couple just laughed.

“Because I guess it’s not really the most important detail? It is hella tiring, but the experience and the whole day is irreplaceable. You can recover from sore feet, but it’s not everyday that you marry the love of your life. Just enjoy the day, and roll with the physical punches later,” Namjoon chuckles.

“We’re enjoying ourselves. A lot of walking, a lot of smiling. I’m beginning to thank my younger self for choosing to photograph rather than model. My face feels so numb from the smiling,” Taehyung says, and Jungkook reaches over to massage his cheeks.

“Oh, and don’t think you’ll be mating tonight,” Seokjin suddenly says, wiggling his brows.

“Why not?” Jungkook asks, eyes wide and curious.

“Trust me. Once you get out of those suits, you’ll both collapse on the bed and not open your eyes til tomorrow,” Seokjin laughs, recalling his own experience.

“I trust you, hyung,” Taehyung says, picking up his fork.

“Love, we said tonight tho?” Jungkook practically pouts.

“It’s tentative, Kookie. We still have to settle Somie in with my parents before we can think of alone time tonight. We’ll see,” Taehyung winks, and Jimin pretends to gag.

“Married couples,” he shakes his head.

“At least they’re married,” Hoseok coughs, lifting his wine glass to his lips and looking elsewhere.

“I heard that,” Jimin glares playfully.

“Your time will come, Min,” Taehyung reaches over to squeeze Jimin’s hand.

“It’s great to see your parents here, Kook. I’m glad that everything is going well,” Hoseok says, looking over Jungkook’s shoulder to where the Jeons and the Kim’s converse on a seperate table.

Jungkook follows his line of sight, smiling at the image of the two families getting along with smiles on their faces. Things with his parents had been rocky since he broke off the engagement almost two years ago. He didn’t speak to them for months, and only told them about their grandchild when Somie was two months old. It was under Taehyung’s insistence that he reconnected and reconciled with his family. They had been reaching out to him prior to that, but he did what he was once good at, he kept running away.

Taehyung had talked sense into Jungkook. Explained how important it is to him that their daughter grew up with her grandparents around. Jungkook had switched his ears off to his words, but when his parents appeared at his door one day unexpectedly, he knew he couldn't keep running forever. Understandably so, his parents were angry that he kept Taehyung and the baby a secret from them, but the moment they met the bubbly omega and their beautiful baby all of that anger evaporated.

“Yeah, it’s nice. I didn’t think my parents could ever be amiable, and talk about something other than the family business. Taehyung certainly brings out the best in people,” the alpha smiles, looking over at his husband with a loving gaze. He recalls the time they first gathered for dinner with his parents, Taehyung had broken the ice without trying. The omega drew out laughs he had never heard from his parents before. It just made the alpha love him even more, if that was even possible considering how much he loves him already.

“I do not. I just say some silly things that make people giggle,” Taehyung shakes his head.

“No, you do. You really do. I’m a testament to that fact, and I would testify to that in court. You, Kim Taehyung, have brought out the best in me,” Jungkook smiles. For a second the rest of the world blurs around them, and it’s just them. They’re in their own bubble, and their eyes are only focused on each other.

“Sap,” Taehyung breaks the moment.

“For you. Remember?”

“You’re both saps,” Seokjin snorts, stuffing his face with some seafood. Everyone else agrees with a laugh.

“The sappiest person is the one who came up with the idea to have a Table 13 in a seven table reception. That’s the real sap,” Jimin says.

Taehyung blushes.

“I think it’s cute,” Jungkook vouches for him, “I agreed with him. It’s good to remember our roots. We get to look back at how far we’ve all come.”

“It’s crazy, don’t you think? We were all strangers on Table 13, nothing but a bunch of strangers. None of us should’ve really been there in the first place, but we all were. Almost two years ago you guys were pregnant, but not with the same baby,” Taehyung points out, smiling at the glowing omega before turning to Yoongi.

“You barely said a thing that night, and now you joke around so freely. Jimin was single, and I was a hopeless romantic. Hoseok was grieving for a love he thought he’d never have, but fate had other plans. Jungkook could barely even smile, and he didn’t know what love was,” Taehyung chuckles, and Jungkook reaches out to hold his husband’s hand.

“We’ve all come such a long way. Who would’ve thought I’d be married, and have a pup?” Jungkook laughs, a gleam of a tear in his eyes.

“And it was all thanks to Table 13,” Namjoon smiles, “I have lifelong friends on that table, and I’m glad we all showed up that day even though we all had reasons not to.”

“Me too. I wouldn’t have found someone who loved me for who I am - tired nurse and all,” Jimin seconds, placing a hand on his alpha’s thigh.

“Thanking my lucky stars for that night,” Yoongi whispers.

“See. Table 13 shouldn’t be forgotten. It’s a memorable place, and we’ve all come full circle,” Taehyung gestures to the table. Everyone smiles reminiscing; despite how cheesy it all is, it’s simply a fact.

“Yoongi hyung, I think you might wanna tell Jimin your plans for another Table 13,” Jungkook grins, already standing up and commanding the crowd’s attention with a smile clink of his wine glass.

Jimin frowns in confusion, squeezing Yoongi’s hand back when he squeezes then let’s go. The alpha stands, clearing his throat. His neck goes red, realising how many pairs of eyes are now looking in his direction.

“First off, I wanna thank our lovely couple for letting me do this here. You’re both so selfless to have offered to share your special day. Secondly, I want to talk to my beautiful omega,” Yoongi says, breathing deeply before turning to meet Jimin’s eyes. The omega’s breath hitches, the realisation dawned on him.

“There’s a lot I wanna say, but in front of everyone, I feel like I’ve got stage fright. I think everything can be summed up in three words. I love you. I love you more than anything else, and I don’t think I’ll love the same again. Park Jimin,” Yoongi pushes his chair away before getting down on one knee and procuring a ring box out of his pocket, “will you marry me?”

With bated breath, the alpha and the crowd wait for Jimin’s response.

“Yes, you silly alpha,” Jimin chuckles tearily. Yoongi slips the ring on his finger as the crowd cheers, Jungkook and Taehyung being the loudest. They share a quick kiss with a promise to continue later.

“To many more Table 13s to come!” Jungkook toasts.

Taehyung loves it here. He absolutely loves where he is right now; a beautiful seaside resort, with a handful of people he loves, celebrating his marriage to a man he knows so well and loves so much. He loves it. There’s nowhere else Taehyung would rather be, cause nothing could beat this moment in time.

“I’m so glad we had this funeral,” Jungkook comes up next to him, securing an arm around his waist as they begin to sway to the music.

Taehyung frowns, “Funeral? This wedding celebrates our new life together.”

“I know. I’m putting to rest the Jungkook that didn’t have Taehyung. I’ve found eternal love, and now I believe in it.”

Fin