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The dining room hummed with quiet conversation as the pack gathered for their weekly meal. On the last day of the week, the pack usually took their dinner together, and it was always a lively affair. Especially since Yijeong, Namjoon’s and Yoongi’s child, had been born several moons ago. Taehyung liked being here; he loved the high ceilings, the doorways that were intricately carved, the warm floor, and the painted walls. It was where Jeongguk and he held their mating ceremony, and every time he sat down to eat, he remembered the festive decorations that were put in place back then.
Today, Jeongguk and Jimin were huddled over what appeared to be a spice ledger, whispering about a new shipment, while Taehyung focused on the fragrant stew in front of him. Him and Seokjin had been on cooking duty today, and he was rather pleased with the result. He was just about to take another spoonful when Hoseok’s cheerful voice broke through.
“Taehyung,” Hobi began, leaning forward with his trademark radiant grin. “How do you feel about dancing at the Lunar Festival?”
Taehyung blinked, the spoon halting halfway to his mouth. “Me?”
“Of course, you!” Hobi laughed, waving his spoon in the air. Taehyung was lucky none of the stew splattered onto his robe. It was newly washed. “It’s tradition for an omega to perform during the opening ceremony, and this time, I thought it’d be fun for the two of us to do it together.”
Taehyung glanced around the table, his brows knitting. “Why not Jimin? He’s amazing at dancing. And isn’t he usually the one who—”
“Jimin’s always at the warehouses these days,” Hobi explained, his tone light but reassuring. “He won’t have time to rehearse properly. Besides”—he tilted his head, a teasing glint in his eye—“I’ve always wanted to dance with you, Taehyung. I think we’d make a great pair.”
Heat crept up Taehyung’s neck. “Me? Dance? I’m not exactly…” He trailed off, his voice small. “I’m not sure I’ll be very good.”
“Nonsense,” Hobi said, reaching across the table to squeeze Taehyung’s hand. “You’ve got great rhythm—I’ve seen you tapping your feet when you think no one’s looking.” His grin softened into something warmer. “And it’s not about being perfect. It’s about having fun and sharing a moment with the pack. Don’t worry—I’ll teach you everything you need to know. A little practice goes a long way!”
Taehyung glanced nervously at Jeongguk and Jimin, hoping for their input. Jeongguk smiled and gave an encouraging nod, while Jimin, ever the soft-hearted one, leaned closer.
“Hobi’s right,” Jimin said gently. “You’ll have a great teacher. It will be great, you’ll have so much fun!”
Despite their reassurances, Taehyung felt a sting of self-doubt creeping in. But when Hoseok’s expectant gaze lingered on him, filled with nothing but warmth and sincerity, he found himself nodding.
“Okay,” Taehyung murmured, resolving himself. “I’ll try.”
Unfortunately, the next few days ended up being rather rainy, so it took them almost a full week to start rehearsing. As if to make up for it, the day was especially bright. The courtyard in Seokjin’s and Hoseok’s part of the compound was awash in golden afternoon light. Taehyung peered around curiously, as he had rarely been here. It looked roughly the same as their part of the estate, but instead of the gorgeous plum tree, this courtyard featured a small pond with beautiful lotus flowers and other greenery that attracted all kinds of birds and dragonflies. Taehyung resolved to come over another time to draw the scene.
Suddenly, Hoseok clapped his hands, tearing Taehyung away from his drawing plans. “All right, Taehyung. Show me what you’ve got.”
Taehyung fidgeted, a nervous feeling sweeping through his gut, his hands twisting the hem of his sleeves. “What I’ve got is two left feet, Hoseok-hyung.”
Hoseok chuckled, waving him over. “Come on, we’re just starting. No one’s perfect at the beginning. I want to see your natural movement first. Just take it easy.”
“Relax, he says,” Taehyung muttered under his breath.
Still, he stepped forward, his feet moving stiffly as he tried to mimic what little he remembered of his former and this pack’s traditional festival dances. It was clumsy at best, and more than once, he wasn’t sure how to continue, heat rising to his face as Hoseok watched.
Finally, Taehyung stopped, throwing his long, already tousled hair over his shoulder with a frustrated huff. “I told you. I’m awful at this. Why did you even ask me?”
Hoseok’s smile didn’t falter. He stepped closer, resting a hand on Taehyung’s shoulder. “Because it’s not about being perfect. It’s about learning together and having fun. Do you really think I’d ask you if I thought you’d fail?”
Taehyung looked away, his throat tight. “But what if I embarrass you in front of the pack? What if—”
“Taehyung.” Hoseok’s voice was soft but firm, cutting through his spiraling thoughts. “You won’t. And even if you stumble, I’ll be right there with you. Alright?"
Taehyung swallowed hard, nodding despite the nervous knot in his chest. “Alright.”
“Great!,” Hoseok said, turning around so Taehyung was looking at his back. “Then let me show you the first few steps and you can start to follow along whenever.”
Over the next week, their practices continued. Hoseok was endlessly patient, guiding Taehyung through the steps with a warmth that steadied him when his nerves got the better of him. But even as Taehyung improved, and they danced together with laughter filling the air more often, something still lingered beneath the surface—an uncertainty he couldn’t shake.
One evening, as they sat on the edge of the pond taking a break from practice, watching the dragonflies buzz around and sipping cool tea, Taehyung hesitated before speaking. “Hyung?”
“Hm?” Hoseok looked up from tying his hair back, his usual brightness tempered by the soft glow of twilight. Sweat was still clinging to his temples from the practice they just finished.
“Why are you so nice to me?” Taehyung asked softly.
Hoseok blinked, startled. “What kind of question is that?”
Taehyung shrugged, picking at a loose thread on his sleeve. “I mean… you don’t have to be. I know how people see me.”
“Taehyung, what are you talking about?” Hoseok’s voice was warm but curious, his brow furrowing slightly.
Taehyung hesitated, his fingers fidgeting. “I used to be… I am just an attendant,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. “On top of that, I am an omega who loves other omegas. The omega mate of one of the alphas that was born in this pack. That’s not exactly normal, let alone acceptable, for most people.”
Understanding dawned on Hoseok’s face, but he didn’t interrupt, letting Taehyung stumble through his thoughts.
“People don’t say it outright, but I know what they think,” Taehyung continued, his voice tightening. “That it’s strange, that it’s wrong. Even back at my old pack, it was always this unspoken… thing. It wasn’t as if Jimin and I were open about our affections, but that doesn’t mean people didn’t suspect anything. They just chose to ignore it, since we’re both omegas and would ‘come to our senses’ anyway. What I mean is…” His throat tightened, his gaze dropping to the ground. “I guess I don’t know how you feel about it. About me. Loving Jimin. Loving Jeongguk.”
Hoseok’s expression softened, and he shifted closer, resting a gentle hand on Taehyung’s knee.
“Taehyung,” he said quietly, “Do you think I care about that?”
Taehyung’s voice wavered. “I don’t know. Do you?”
“I don’t care what anyone else thinks,” Hoseok said firmly. “You’re not strange. You’re not wrong. You’re Taehyung.”
Taehyung’s gaze lifted hesitantly, meeting Hoseok’s steady eyes.
“I’ve known Jeonggukkie for a few years before he was mated to Jimin, you know?,” Hoseok continued. “He was so shy around me, at first. But when he opened up, I realised how he carried his heart on his sleeve, and especially how he really longed for companionship. For love.” He turned over to Taehyung, looking at him directly. His face was warm and earnest.
“I see how much you love him. How much you love both of them,” Hoseok said, his voice as sweet as the expression on his face. “And I see how much they love you. That’s what matters. You’re part of this pack now, Tae. You belong here.”
Taehyung’s chest tightened, a lump forming in his throat. “But—what if people talk? There will be people from other packs at the Lunar Festival. What if they think it’s… wrong?”
Hoseok smiled faintly, squeezing Taehyung’s knee. “Then let them talk. They don’t get to define your happiness. And if anyone tries to make you feel small because of who you love, they’ll have to go through this pack and most importantly, me, first.”
Taehyung let out a shaky laugh, a tear slipping down his cheek. “You’re not just saying that?”
“I’m not just saying that,” Hoseok said firmly. “I mean every word.” His smile widened, bright and reassuring. “You make Jeongguk and Jimin happy. You make all of us happy, you’re a wonderful addition to this pack. That’s all that matters to me.”
For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight in Taehyung’s chest eased. He let out a slow breath, his lips curving into a small, relieved smile.
“Thank you, hyung,” he whispered.
“Anytime.” Hoseok ruffled his hair with a teasing grin. “Now, does this mean we can get back to practicing? You’re not getting out of today’s last run-through just because you got emotional on me.”
Taehyung laughed, swiping at his tears as he stood. “Fine, fine. But you’d better be ready to catch me if I mess up again.”
Hoseok winked. “Always.”
The night of the Lunar Festival arrived sooner than Taehyung would’ve liked. They spent hours decorating the main courtyard with all sorts of flowers and produce from the farms nearby. Harvesting season was slowly coming to an end, and the evenings were getting colder. But as if the weather knew that the people wanted to celebrate today, the air stayed mild even as the skies darkened and the moon rose above them.
The air in the compound was abuzz with activity. Members of nearby packs, members of the local farming families as well as the pack’s attendants relatives had all come to celebrate, wearing their finest clothes and enjoying a variety of foods that both the alphas and omegas of the Jeon pack had spent countless hours preparing. Taehyung tried to enjoy the food, and attempted to talk to a few people as Jeongguk, Jimin and he made the rounds, but his stomach was increasingly tying itself in knots in anticipation for the performance. His scent must have shown it, as both his mates leaned over sporadically and subtly scented him in an attempt to calm him down.
As Hoseok gave him a sign from the other side of the courtyard, where they’d erected a makeshift little stage for the performances shown tonight, Taehyung let out a deep, trembling breath. The time had come.
Jimin, noticing his shift in demeanor, squeezed his hand and leaned forward to give him a brief, encouraging kiss. His subtle peach scent enveloped him once more, making his nerves settle. “You can do this”, he said, his eyes full of encouragement. “You practiced so hard, and Hoseok-hyung is going to be there with you at all times. Go have fun, jagiya.”
Taehyung’s chest was suddenly alight with a different kind of flutter that didn’t arise from nerves. Even after all these years, Jimin still had that effect on him. He hoped that would never change.
As he turned to go to the stage, Jeongguk caught his eye and gave him a look filled with love and confidence. “I’m excited to see what you and hyung have been practicing for. You’ll do wonderfully”, he said.
As Taehyung stood behind the stage, nerves once again alight in his veins, the echo of his mates’ words were all the encouragement he could have ever needed. The sound of drums and flutes filled the air, accompanied by the cheerful chatter of the gathered pack. Instead of daunting, they now sounded full of promise.
“Ready?” Hoseok appeared beside him, his smile warm and grounding.
Taehyung took a deep breath, nodding. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
When they stepped onto the stage, the world seemed to shrink to the rhythm of the music and the steady presence of Hoseok beside him. Their movements weren’t perfect, but they flowed together—graceful, joyful, and entirely their own.
As the final notes rang out and the pack erupted into cheers, Taehyung felt something he hadn’t in a long time: belonging.
Later, as the pack celebrated under the moonlight, and Jeongguk and Jimin had had their fill showering him in praises, Taehyung found Hoseok again, pulling him into a tight hug. “Thank you, hyung,” he murmured, his voice thick with gratitude.
Hoseok squeezed him back, his laugh soft against Taehyung’s shoulder. “Anytime, Tae. You’re family.”
And for the first time, Taehyung truly believed it.