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“His Majesty, the King,” the guard announces, pushing the door open before bowing deeply.
As Taehyung enters the royal court, the hall falls into complete silence, the alpha’s musk scent filling the room. Officials line both sides of the chamber, heads lowered in reverence, unmoving.
He walks to the dais and takes his seat.
With a single lift of his hand, the court begins.
Park Dohyun, the Minister of Internal Affairs, steps forward and hands a sealed scroll to the guard stationed beside the dais. The guard accepts it and presents it to the king.
“Your Majesty,” Dohyun says, voice steady, “This scroll was delivered to me this morning by an undercover official. I believe its content raises a threat to national security.”
Taehyung opens the scroll and skims it in silence.
The report details illegal arms dealings in the Chonghwa pack along the southern border of Joseon. It further suggests the involvement of Lim Woojin, the Minister of Trade & Market.
He folds the scroll carefully and sets it aside.
“Minister Park,” Taehyung says evenly, “You understand the consequences of accusing a member of the royal court.”
The hall stills.
Dohyun lifts his head. “I’m do, Your Majesty. I stand by my sources. Should these claims prove false, I will accept any punishment you deem fit.”
“Very well,’ Taehyung says. “You will oversee this matter and begin the investigation immediately.”
Dohyun bows deeply. “I accept, Your Majesty. I will proceed with utmost care and report every finding directly to the throne.”
The court proceeds with different ministers coming forward and updating Taehyung on ongoing developments.
The court is about to end when Choi Minjae, the Chief Minister, comes forward and bows low. “Your Majesty, there’s one thing left to discuss.”
Taehyung lets out a slow, deliberate breath, his jaw tightening.
“After the death of the royal consort during childbirth three years ago, the throne remains without a Queen. Such prolonged absence invites uncertainty, both within the court and beyond it,” Minjae states.
Taehyung does not appreciate personal matters being raised in open court, least of all by the man standing before him. Minister Choi, the father of his late wife, was already pressing his next offering.
Taehyung lifts his head slightly.
“I have heard the court,” Taehyung says. He pauses just long enough to make the silence uncomfortable.
“There is nothing further to discuss today. The court is adjourned.”
—-
After the moon rises and the palace settles into a calming quiet, Taehyung walks through the corridor. Stopping before the door, he motions the guards to refrain from announcing his presence.
He opens the door slowly, careful to be silent.
His effort goes in vain when the small figure on the bed notices him. The boy squeals and jumps out of the bed, running towards his father.
The boy squeals and jumps up, running straight toward his father. Taehyung bends down and lifts Yeonsung into his arms, spinning him once. The child’s giggles echo through the room.
The nursemaid, who had been coaxing the prince to sleep, bows deeply and slips out in silence.
“Why isn’t my Sungie asleep yet?” Taehyung scolds gently, pinching the little boy’s cheeks. He chuckles when Yeonsung groans, trying to catch Taehyung’s large hands with his tiny ones.
“Missing you,” the boy confesses, his mouth stretching into a yawn.
Taehyung’s smile falters.
Balancing the weight of a king’s crown and a father’s heart was growing harder with each passing day. With Misoon gone, the child had no one to lean on. Taehyung was grateful to the nursemaids for caring for Yeonsung, but gratitude could not replace family. His son needed him. Needed Taehyung, the father, not the King.
He smooths Yeonsung’s hair, his touch soft.
“I missed you too, my little star.”
Drawing the child close, Taehyung presses Yeonsung’s head to his chest and begins to hum a lullaby his mother once sang to him in the quiet hours of night. He rocks gently, holding his son as if the world might fracture if he lets go.
If Taehyung were to remarry, would that person be able to give Yeonsung the love he deserves?
And what if their desire proves to be stronger than their morality?
Choi Minjae had been pressing Minsoon’s twin, Minhyuk, onto Taehyung for some time now. The old man had even proposed marriage on the day of Minsoon’s death.
Taehyung looks down to find Yeonsung already fast asleep. He would fight the world if it meant protecting his child, his blood. If Choi Minjae thought he could control Taehyung’s personal life, then he was up for a rude awakening.
Taehyung places Yeonsun on the bed. His lips lift in a small smile when the boy scrunches his nose, taking taehyung twenty years back. He places a kiss on his son’s head. “Father will try to spend more time with you.”
—
True to his promise, Taehyung decides to bring Yeonsung along with him to the Chonghwa pack. After Park Dohyun had reported back with solid proof against the Minister of Trade, Taehyung wanted to confirm them in person. He also saw it as an opportunity to take his son out of the palace walls.
Apart from nursemaids and guards for his son, the only person to accompany him was Jimin, his friend and bodyguard.
After checking into the lodge, Jimin informed him that the illegal weapon dealing was supposed to take place at dawn the next morning. The dealings often took place on the southern outskirts of the pack, where they shared borders with the neighbouring kingdom.
For now, Taehyung decides to take Yeonsung to the market. As Taehyung was undercover, no one knew the man walking between them was the King himself. The market is smaller as compared to Hansang, the capital, but no less lively. Children running around, voices raised in laughter and play.
Jimin follows them at a safe distance.
Yeonsung, perched in Taehyung’s arms, giggles when notices two boys tumbling to the ground as they struggle over a balloon. It bursts with a sharp pop, and the boys immediately start to wail.
“You shouldn’t laugh at others, Sungie,” Taehyung scolds lightly.
He approaches the vendor and buys three balloons, paying him generously. He gives two of them to the boys who stop crying at once. Their mother, a beta, bows deeply.
“Thank you, my lord,” she says, hesitant. “But I fear those balloons won’t last long either.”
Taehyung chuckles, “That’s all right. As long as they are happy.”
He gives the remaining balloon to Yeonsung. Before Taehyung can even take a step further, the boy squeezes it too hard and it pops.
Yeonsung squeals, as laughter follows.
—
While Taehyung and Yeonsung are at a shop buying clothes for the latter, Yeonsung nudges Taehyung’s shoulder.
Taehyung turns towards the boy to find him pouting, “What got you pouting?”
“Hungry,” Yeonsung rubs his little hands over his stomach. Taehyung coos.
“Come, let’s get some food for our dear highness,” Taehyung says. He pays the merchant and takes the bags.
They find an eatery right in front of the shop they just stepped out of. Taehyung takes a seat and settles Yeonsung onto his lap. There aren’t many people around.
He calls for the helper and asks him to bring porridge for Yeonsung, and a bowl of samgyupsal for himself.
After the helper leaves, Taehyung turns his head slightly and spots Jimin in a corner. The bodyguard had followed the father-son duo to the eatery. Their eyes meet briefly. With a single flick, Jimin gets the message. The bodyguard rises and follows the helper, positioning himself close enough to watch as the cook prepares their food.
—
The sky deepens into shades of orange, and the air grows cooler. Taehyung helps Yeonsung into the sweater he bought earlier at the market.
“Bunny,” Yeonsung squeals, pointing at something behind Taehyung.
Taehyung turns. He finds a man in old, off-white robes, standing at a stall, selling pottery.
A breath leaves Taehyung’s mouth when the man’s doe eyes meet his.
The air shift.
Without realising, Taehyung is moving towards the stall. The scent of vanilla mixed with cinnamon hits his nose and he finds himself chasing it.
An omega.
“Need bunny,” Yeonsung giggles, pointing at a clay toy.
Taehyung looks at the toy then at the man, his mind seems to have stopped coordinating. “Uh- this,” words tumble out of his mouth.
“Bunny,” his little boy whines. And that seems to get taehyung out of the stupor. He clears his throat, and points at the bunny, “How much for this?”
“Ah, this one’s for two bronze coins,” the man replies.
Taehyung brings out a silver coin from his pocket and offers the man, “Here,” he notices the broken black string tied loosely around the man’s right pinky finger.
A broken bond.
Just like his own.
The omega seems to notice it too. His eyes flickering to Taehyung’s hand, lingering for half a breath too long.
“I don’t have a change,” the omega murmurs.
“You can keep it,” Taehyung says as he picks up the small clay toy and offers it to Yeonsung with a soft smile. The boy grabs it and giggles after kissing it.
When Taehyung looks up again, the omega is smiling, not at him, but at Yeonsung.
Then he lifts his gaze to Taehyung. “You may choose another toy,” he says gently. “Any one the child likes. Then we’ll be even.”
“Hey omega,” a beta woman calls sharply from behind Taehyung, “your stall fee is due today.”
Jungkook hums and brings out the silver coin Taehyung gave her moments before, and hands it over to her. She weighs the coin in her palm and leaves, moving to the next seller.
“They charge you a fee for your stall?” Taehyung asks.
“Yeah, tax,” Jungkook shrugs.
Taehyung has not imposed any tax on sellers who do not earn more than a set amount. Just one look at Jungkook and his stall and anyone could tell he is not eligible to pay tax.
He is about to ask Jungkook more when Jimin approaches him. Directly.
“I was just informed that the weapon dealing has been preponed to tonight. Same location,” Jimin whispers.
Taehyung nods. He takes a note to investigate the tax related matter later.
He turns to Jungkook, their eyes meeting briefly.
Taehyung turns around and leaves.
—
After the father and son disappear into the crowd, Jungkook drops to his knees.
What was that?
The moment their eyes met, his heart had begun to race, wild and uncontrollable. It takes effort to steady himself, to keep instinct from driving him to bare his neck and submit to the alpha he has just met.
He forces himself upright, gathers his things, and hurries home.
Even as he walks, his thoughts refuse to settle. He can still feel it, the brief brush of the alpha’s fingers against his palm. Jungkook would swear something had passed through him in that instant.
He lost his fated mate when he was ten years old. He remembers nothing of his childhood now, save for the pain that followed when his string of fate broke. It is said a broken string marks the death of one’s fated mate.
Jungkook stops walking, lifts his hand, and stares at the frayed end of the black thread hanging from his left pinky.
The alpha’s string had been broken too.
Was this a sign?
Will the alpha return?
Jungkook should have asked the man’s name. He had never seen him before, and yet something about him felt achingly familiar.
He exhales slowly before stepping into his hut. He sets his satchel down carefully in the corner, making sure none of his clay pieces crack or fall.
Then turning to the figure sleeping on a mattress, dulled and torn from years of use.
“I’m back, Grandma” Jungkook smiles softly, making his way towards the old lady. He crouches down and helps her sit up.
“Oh, Junkook, you are back,” She lifts her shivering hand and cups his face with her palms, her smile brightening.
Jungkook notices the grains sticking on her lips, “You are Yeot again, didn’t you?” Jungkook whines as he takes a cloth from near her bed and cleans her mouth. She would always ask for Jungkoo to bring her her favourite rice candy. And Jungkook being the filial grandson would love to bring it to her everyday, only if the village physician had not told him not to give her any sweets.
“It was Seokjin hyung, wasn’t it?” He sighs when she doesn’t answer, looking anywhere but at him.
He sighs and brings her hands closer to hold them, “They are not good for your health, Grandma,” he says softly. He caresses her wrinkled hands. Seokjin was their neighbour. He was a couple of years older than Jungkook. His husband, Namjoon, was a merchant. Jungkook had known them since they shifted here eight years ago with their two children, now their family has expanded to seven.
“You love those sweets more than me,” he whines.
His grandmother gasps, “I would never,” she says.
Jungkook chuckled, “Then promise me you won’t eat them anymore.”
Her mouth turns down in a pout, “I can’t,” she whispers.
“Grandma,” he tries to sound stern but fails badly. Laughter follows.
—
After settling a sleepy Yeonsung at the lodge under the watch of his nursemaids and guards, Taehyung sets out with Jimin toward the outskirts of the village. Midnight has already fallen by the time they reach the area where the weapons exchange is said to take place.
If the accusation proves true, Taehyung will not spare his ministers.
Reports of burglary and murders have surfaced across the nation in recent months, terror spreading quietly through its packs. Illegal weapons, traded in secret, have armed those who prey on fear, extorting money at knifepoint and vanishing before help can arrive.
Hours pass with no sign of movement. Whatever was meant to happen tonight does not, and the absence feels deliberate.
Taehyung realizes the deal was never meant to happen tonight.
“Jimin, let’s return to the lodge,” Taehyung says. “Something isn’t right.”
—
As they near the lodge, Taehyung hears screams. He runs.
The place where the lodge was supposed to be now burns in hot, red flames.
Taehyung’s heart stutters. The wooden walls of the lodge seem to collapse like a house of cards.
“Yeonsung-ah,” Taehyung whispers.
Memories flash in his eyes.
“Gguk-ah,” Taehyung screams as his mother holds him in her arms as the house in front of them burns in flames.
“Taehyung-ah,” his mother sobs. “My boy, I’m so sorry.”
“No. Mother, Gguk is fine, look, look,” Taehyung says desperately. He lifts his wrist with shaking hands. “Look Mother, the red string, it’s still—”
Taehyung stops abruptly as a sharp pain shoots through his hand. He gasps. The red string in his hands starts turning darker.
Taehyung whimpers, gasping for breath as hot pain travels through his body. He can hear his mother's scream for his name but before he could respond, his stomach churns, and he tumbles over vomiting blood.
His body too young to cope up with the loss of his mate, he falls into the arms of his mother.
“You Majesty,” Jimin shakes Taehyung's out of his nightmare, “Young prince wasn't here when the fire took place.”
“Huh?”
“A passerby saw some men running with a crying kid towards the north,” Jimin says.
It takes Taehyung a couple of moments to gather himself and run to the north, Jimin on his side, ready to fight.
—
Jungkook wakes up before dawn everyday to collect sand from the riverside. He is on his way when he hears a child's cry. Curious, he follows the noise. Spotting two figures in the dark clothes, trying to coax a child.
Jungkook hides behind a tree and overhears them arguing.
“I told you to sedate him” the first one shouts.
“We are not allowed to hurt him,” the second one whisper-shouts.
When moonlight falls on the crying child's face, realisation structs Jungkook. He had seen the child before. It's the alpha's child who came to his shop yesterday.
Jungkook holds the shovel in his hands tight. Although it was supposed to be used to gather sand from the earth, Jungkook was sure it could also work as a weapon.
He slowly rounds the tree and before the figures could realise, he swats the shovel on the head of the one who wasn't holding the child. The man tumbles down and groans in pain.
Jungkook turns to the other when he puts the child down and runs towards Jungkook. “Who the hell are you, Omega?”
He grabs Jungkook's jaw and pushes him back on a tree. The hard wood collides with Jungkook's body and a gasp leaves his mouth.
Jungkook tries to get the man's hands off of him but the alpha was too strong compared to Jungkook. A smirk curls his lips as a nasty thought comes into his mind. He kicks on the man's groin and as expected, the man tumbles down and screams in pain.
Jungkook takes this as an opportunity to run towards the child. He picks him up and sprints. The first man Jungkook attacked had already gotten up and was now running after them.
“Hey you, stop, or I'll kill you,” the man hollers.
Jungkook holds the child closer and runs as fast as he could, the child wailing in his arms.
As Jungkook notices the borders of the pack becoming closer, a sigh of relief leaves his mouth. But before he could run further, sharp pain shoots through his shoulder. Jungkook tumbles over and falls down. His palm shielding the child's head from the impact.
Jungkook tries to get up but to no avail. He gets ready to face the man but soon hears voices that do not belong to the man who was following him. It belonged to the alpha Jungkook met yesterday, the father of the child in his arms.
He sees the alpha crouching in front of him, “H-hyung,” Jungkook whimpers before darkness consumes him.
—
“Mother, Father,” Jungkook screams. The burning house at a distance now. The eight year old boy tries to get out of his nursemaid’s grip but his body is too young to fight the adult. “Please, Grandma, let me go to my Mother and Father. They are waiting for me,” he wails.
“I can’t, young master,” she sobs. She crouches down and brings him to her arms, “Those who attacked your house today are going to come after you. I can’t let that happen, young master.”
“I don’t care,” the boy sobs, “Please let me go to them, to Hyung.”
—
“Hyung,” Jungkook gasps. His eyes open wide. He looks around and finds himself in an unfamiliar room. He tries getting up but pain shoots through his shoulder. He falls back, his back hitting the mattress. “Aah,” a moan leaves his mouth.
The gates open and a woman enters. Her eyes widen when she sees him awake. She bows and leaves quietly.
What was that?
He hears commotion and soon the door opens again. But this time it's a familiar face. The alpha.
“What's your name?” Jungkook croaks out.
“This is the first thing you ask me after waking up?” The alpha chuckles.
He sits down on the chair placed next to the bed Jungkook is lying on.
“Are you ashamed of your name, Alpha?” Jungkook raises a brow.
Taehyung's mouth falls open. “I'm not,” he huffs out. No one is allowed to call the king by his name. “I have a beautiful name.”
“Then why won't you tell me your beautiful name?” Jungkook complaints.
“Is that really important right now?,” Taehyung says. “You are covered in bandages and you are persisting to tell you my name?”
“I’m injured, unable to get up, and I don’t even have the right to know who you are? How do I trust you that you won’t hurt me?” Jungkook scoffs and
“Taehyung”
A whisper.
“Huh?” Jungkook meets his eyes.
“You heard it. I’m not saying it the second time.” Taehyung says.
“Okay. I’m Jungkook”
Taehyung’s heart stutters.
Jungkook.
Gguk.
The one who died nearly twenty years ago, leaving Taehyung mate-less. And for some reason, even before Taehyung knew this person’s name, he reminded Taehyung of his Gguk.
“Taehyung?” Jungkook says, bringing Taehyung to the present.
“You shouldn’t be calling me by my name,” Taehyung says sternly.
Jungkook scoffs, “Are you the King? Why can’t I call you by my name?”
Taehyung sighs. It will be difficult to deal with Jungkook.
“Jungkook,” Taehyung sighs. “I need to discuss something important.”
That got Jungkook’s attention.
“Firstly, thank you for saving my son,” Taehyung bowed. If Jungkook would have been aware of Taehyung’s identity, he would have gotten a heart attack by now because kings never bowed in front of anyone. Not even the heavens.
“It’s fine,” Jungkook clears his throat. “How’s the child? Is he okay?” Jungkook asks.
“Yeonsung’s fine now, thank you.”
“Can I meet him?” Jungkook asks.
“Of course, as soon as he’s up, I’ll bring him to you,” Taehyung says with a soft smile.
Jungkook hums.
“Why did those people want to hurt your son?” Jungkook wonders. “Are you rich? Did they want your money?”
“Maybe,” Taehyung mutters, “Do you remember their faces?” Taehyung asks.
Jungkook nods.
“Okay,” Taehyung nods, “You are going to stay with us for the time being, until I catch the culprits.”
“What?” Jungkook’s eyes widen, “No, I- I can’t. I mean, I will help you find them, but I have a family to go back to. My grandmother might be alone. She is old and is dependent on me. I don’t even know for how long I’ve been here.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I have asked my subordinates to bring her over. You will find her in the room next to yours. You can meet her after you get better.” Taehyung assures.
“But-”
“You have seen their faces, Jungkook, and so have they. They will try to harm you, even your grandmother. Until this is sorted, please be my guest. I promise to protect you.”
Jungkook nods slowly, taking in the information.
Taehyung stands up, adjusting his coat, “Please rest well. I’ll send someone over next morning. Please tell them everything that happened that night.”
“Okay,” Jungkook says.
Taehyung walks to the door and stops. Then turns slowly to look at the figure looking back at him. Their eyes meet and they stay like that, a moment passes and Taehyung clears his throat and leaves the room.
Jungkook closes his eyes, Taehyung’s face flashing behind his lids. He takes a deep breath. His body needs rest, he reminds himself.
—
The next day Jimin knocks on his door after Jungkook is done with his breakfast and medicine. Jungkook recognises him from the day at the market.
Jungkook tells him everything he knows about the men. Jimin asks some questions about the men’s attire, weapons & faces, then leaves.
—
On his third day, Jungkook asks his physician if he can walk now, and as soon as he gets the nod of approval, he makes his way to the room next to his.
When he looks at her on a clean bed and in new clothes, his eyes sting. He was informed that he was unconscious for three days, so it had been almost a week since they saw each other. His grandmother opens her arms wide and Jungkook melts down in her embrace.
—
In the evening, when Jungkook enters his room, he finds it occupied with two figures sitting on the bed. The alpha, and his son.
As soon as Yeonsung sees him, he jumps from the bed and runs to him. “Bunny,” he squeals.
Jungkook chuckles and bends down, wincing at the pain shooting up his shoulder.
“Bunny hurt?” Yeonsung asks, his eyes wide in worry.
Jungkook realises the child is calling him bunny. He smiles softly, “A little bit.”
Tears start gathering Yeonsung’s eyes, breathing heavier. Jungkook panics and looks at Taehyung for help.
“Jungkook is recovering, Sungie,” Taehyung makes his way to them and picks Yeonsung in his arms. “We have talked about this.”
“I’m okay,” Jungkook says, getting Yeonsung’s attention. “Look, I’m smiling,” and Jungkook smiles widely, showing his teeth.
“Bunny okay,” Yeonsung giggles, pointing at Jungkook.
Taehyung then puts Yeonsung on the bed and Jungkook follows behind. He sits at one corner, and on another corner sits Taehyung. In between them, Yeonsung rolls over and starts laughing as Jungkook makes funny faces at him.
Something stirs in Taehyung. It looks almost domestic.
He clears his throat and gets up. “I need to go. Yeonsung, come, let Jungkook rest.”
When the door closes behind them, Jungkook finds himself smiling
—
Days pass. Yeonsung and Taehyung visit Jungkook everyday. Yeonsung sometimes sitting on bed beside Jungkook, playing with hair. Taehyung would watch them silently, sometimes scolding Yeonsung to be careful of Jungkook’s injury.
Jungkook would ask him about the progress of the investigations and Taehyung would tell him that it was going well and he had clues against some people involved.
He never explained more. Never gave names. Just vague details.
Jungkook wasn’t dumb. Living in this place, he had realised that Taehyung was rich and an important man. He was respected among the staff who never raised their head in front of him. Jungkook would notice that they would even gasp when Jungkook would call Taehyung by his name. Although Jungkook was aware of the rule that no one was allowed to take the King’s name, he was sure Taehyung wasn’t one because the King lived in the palace at the capital. The place he was in was a mansion. Why would the King live here?
So Jungkook concluded that Taehyung must be some rich merchant. Nobles now-a-days did this all the time, asking their workers not to call them by their names to get a sense of respect like the king gets.
He was telling this to his grandmother one day when she suddenly paled, “W-what? The King?”
“Oh Grandma,” Jungkook chuckles, “He’s not.”
Only then did she take a breath of relief.
—
The misunderstanding doesn't last longer because as soon as the kidnappers are caught and Taehyung has put the ministers behind the bars, he takes Jungkook and his grandmother to the palace in the capital.
Jungkook's mouth falls open. “Y-you are the king?” He raises a finger pointing at Taehyung.
And Taehyung tries to hold back a smile. All along the last month, Jungkook has been talking to him ‘Taehyung this, Taehyung that.’
“It's not funny,” Jungkook pouts. He hits Taehyung's chest when he bursts out laughing.
Taehyung holds both of Jungkook's wrists. “You're raising your hand at the king?” Taehyung raises his eyes and says with a mock sternness.
“What? No- I-,” Jungkook stutters, his cheeks turning red due to the closeness between them.
Taehyung notices and clears his throat. He drops Jungkook's hands and takes a step back, looking away.
Jungkook takes this as a cue to run out of the room.
—
When Jungkook goes to meet her grandmother later, he notices her pale face.
Jungkook rushes to her. “What happened grandma?”
“He's the king,” she states.
“Oh, yes, but don't worry Grandma, we've seen he's a good person. He will keep us safe here,” Jungkook places a hand on hers.
“Keep us safe?” She scoffs. “No one associated with the crown is safe.” Her voice carried an unknown bitterness.
Jungkook opens his mouth to say something but then a knock on the door halts their conversation. Jungkook turns, “Please come in.”
A small head peeks in. Yeonsung.
“Oh baby, come here,” Jungkook says and opens his arms.
The boy runs and hugs the omega.
“Gguk,” Jungkook’s heart stutters at the nickname. “Come with me. Want to show my toys,” Yeonsung says.
Jungkook turns to his grandmother. A nod. A promise that they will talk about this later.
He follows Yeonsung to his room where the boy showers Jungkook with all his toys. Now that Jungkook knows Taehyung's identity, he understands how there's a room dedicated for toys for the small boy and how nearly half a dozen nursemaids follow him all the time.
He plays with Yeonsung until the night falls. They have dinner without Taehyung as he is busy with further investigation. Then they go back to their respective rooms.
—
“I don’t care,” the boy sobs, “Please let me go to them, to Hyung.”
Youngja holds him tightly.
Then it starts. Jungkook’s scream tears through the deserted forest.
Youngja pulls back in panic, “What happened, young master?”
Pain shoots through Jungkook’s hand, “My hand,” he gasps.
Youngja holds his hands and notices the red string pulling at the boy’s hand, “This is not good,” she mutters in horror. “The bond is calling for you.”
She had to act fast if she wanted to save the child’s life. This was risky but even if Jungkook went back, there was still a possibility that Minjae would strike.
She pulls out the pin in her hair and starts chanting. And before the boy could decipher what is happening, his red string is cut short.
A moment passes.
The boy falls into her arms.
—
Jungkook wakes up with a start. His chest heaves. Sweat glistening on his forehead under the moonlight.
This wasn't a dream. It couldn't be.
Jungkook brings his hand in front of his face and stares at the broken string.
In the dream, it was his grandmother who cut his string.
It was too vivid to be just a dream.
He decides to talk to her at sunrise.
—
The next morning, as Jungkook is making his way to her room in a hurry, he bumps into someone. He closes his eyes for the impact but the floor never comes. Instead, warm hands cage him in the arms of the person before him.
A deep breath and he is met with the scent of musk. It's comforting. Jungkook's heartbeat aligns with the one in front of him. He knows the scent. The alpha who makes his heart go haywire every time he is in the vicinity.
“There there, what happened? Your stress pheromones are everywhere,” Taehyung whispers in his ears.
Jungkook's heart fights to come out of his chest. He looks up to meet Taehyung's eyes.
“What happened?” Taehyung repeats.
“Bad dream,” Jungkook mumbles.
“Will a kiss make it better?” Taehyung chuckles.
Jungkook's face turns red. How could the alpha be so brazen?
He pushes the alpha softly and runs for his life.
—
Instead of his grandmother's room, his feet take him to the gardens. His breathing hard, his back rests on a tree.
What was that?
He knows the alpha has never said anything he didn’t mean.
He had seen the way Taehyung looked at him. The way he was so gentle with him when he talked.
“Did Taehyung want him just as much as Jungkook wanted him?”
Jungkook closes his eyes.
When he opens it, a shiver runs down his spine.
A man in a mask, all black attire, stands before him, his sword resting on Jungkook’s neck.
“W-what do you want?” Jungkook stutters.
The man doesn’t say anything, his hardened eyes boring into Jungkook’s soul. “Your life, you filthy omega.”
Jungkook doesn’t have time to register when another figure comes out from behind him and the sword clatters on the floor.
The scent of musk fills the air. Taehyung has the man’s throat at the tip of his sword.
“Who sent you,” Taehyung growls.
The masked man says nothing. Just lies on the soil, waiting for the eventual death by the king himself.
Soon the guards fill the area, “Take him to the dungeons,” Taehyung orders.
As soon as the guards leave with the intruder, Taehyung rushes to Jungkook.
“Are you okay?” Taehyung holds Jungkook’s face with his hand, eyes searching for any injury. He sighs in relief when he finds none.
Tears gather in Jungkook’s eyes and as soon as Taehyung sees them, he brings Jungkook’s face to his chest.
Jungkook’s sobs tears through the garden. Taehyung notices Jungkook’s trembling hands holding Taehyung’s robes tightly.
Taehyung runs his hands through the omega’s hair. “It’s okay. I’m here. No one can harm you.” He whispers.
They stand there for a while until Jungkook’s breathing comes to a normal pace.
When Jungkook pulls back, Taehyung leans forward and places a kiss on Jungkook’s forehead.
Jungkook closes his eyes and sighs.
Then Taehyung moves downwards. He kisses Jungkook’s eyelids softly, then moves to another one. He places a peck on the nose.
Jungkook opens his eyes.
Taehyung looks at him, waiting, as if asking for permission.
Jungkook nods, and Taehyung presses his lips to Jungkook’s.
They both feel the tingles in their chest. Jungkook doesn’t realise if it's his or Taehyung’s heart that is beating so loud. It feels as if their hearts have synced.
Jungkook gasps when Taehyung holds his jaw and licks Jungkook’s lips. As soon as Jungkook’s mouth opens, Taehyung takes it as a cue to dive in. Jungkook melts into the kiss.
He feels like he is floating, his knees giving out, but Taehyung holds him in place. He pushes Jungkook back until his back meets the tree.
When they pull back, Jungkook heaves for air. His breathing hard, eyes closed.
When he opens his eyes, he notices Taehyung looking at their hands. Jungkook follows his eyes and when they fall on their intervened hands, he gasps.
The string.
Their strings are connected. It’s turned to bright red, glowing.
Jungkook feels dizzy.
How could this happen?
He has never heard of two mateless people’s string connecting.
Only fated mates’ strings are connected as one. So how come Taehyung and Jungkook’s string connect as if it was never broken, as if they are… fated?
He looks up and finds Taehyung’s eyes filled with tears, “Gguk, you are alive.”
The name, the string, the dreams.
Jungkook’s vision blurs. “Hyung,” he whispers before falling into Taehyung’s arms.
—
They first met when Jungkook was five and Taehyung was seven. Jungkook’s father, Jeon Junsoo, was a physician. When the plague hit the kingdom, lots of people lost their lives. Junsoo worked hard to save everyone who came to him.
One night, royal guards appeared at his gates. The crown prince was sick. The royal physician was old and couldn’t survive. Junsoo took care of the prince for days, and the prince got better and recovered. Soon Junsoo was promoted to be the royal physician.
He tried to save as many people as he could but unfortunately, the wife of a minister couldn’t survive. It was Choi Minjae’s wife.
The man started harbouring hatred towards Junsoo, blaming him for his wife’s death and scheming in silence.
Soon Junsoo’s family was given quarters near the royal palace. That’s when, while running after a chicken, Jungkook bumped into the crown prince. Jungkook fell down and started crying. Taehyung hugged the boy, urging him not to cry or his mother would scold him for being a bad boy.
When Jungkook’s newly appointed nursemaid Youngja found them, they were laughing. She saw their string connect and glow. Soon everyone in the kingdom came to know that the crown prince has found his fated mate. It was too early, but not uncommon.
The whole kingdom celebrated.
Years passed and their bong grew only stronger.
But Choi Minjae was not happy about everything happening. The royal physician’s family had started getting the treatment reserved only for royals. People would bow to them. Respect them.
Their son was going to be the mate of the next king. Some were jealous even, but Minjae - he was not just jealous, he detested them. And that’s how one night he set a fire to Junsoo’s house when everyone was sleeping.
When the house started burning in flames and screams spread, Jungkook was taken away by his nursemaid Youngja. Jungkook’s mother, too injured to be saved, begged Youngja to take her son away from the throne and to keep him safe. She had known that if Jungkook lived here, he would keep getting attacked by the greedy monsters.
Youngja ran away, taking Jungkook with her. The trauma had left the boy with no memories of the past. She took him to her hometown pack down south and started living there.
In the palace, everyone grieved Jungkook and his family’s death.
A few years later, Taehyung lost his mother to another plaque that broke out in the kingdom.
When Taehyung came of age, Choi Minjae manipulated the king and married off his daughter to the crown prince. Taehyung agreed reluctantly, for the crown, to provide an heir.
A couple of years later, the King died of chronic illness and Choi Minjae got even more power in the kingdom as the Father-in-law of the new King.
Years passed but there was no heir.
Taehyung couldn’t warm up to his wife. She was a good person and would never push Taehyung but the crown needed an heir.
She died in childbirth.
The nation mourned for their queen.
But Minjae, he was furious, not because his daughter died, but because his power would be weakened. So he suggested Taehyung to remarry to Minsoo’s twin, Minhyuk.
Taehyung declined.
Three years passed and Minjae couldn’t take it anymore. He concluded Taehyung wouldn’t marry unless needed for the crown. Since the kingdom already had a crown prince, there was no actual need for the queen unless Taehyung wanted it.
And hence he started scheming the kidnapping and murder of his own grandchild.
For him to take the child away, Taehyung had to be away from the kingdom, and that’s when Minjae shook hands with Park Donghyun who then presented Taehyung with fake information about weapons dealing on the southern borders. They reported to Taehyung how people were using those weapons to spread terror throughout the kingdom. Everything was going well but then Taehyung decided to take Yeonsung with him.
They had to change the plan.
They hired local gangsters to bring Yeonsung to them when Taehyung was away, but then Jungkook appeared out of nowhere and saved the child, alerting Taehyung.
That’s when the whole plan went downhill.
Taehyung was alert now.
He started the investigation and soon caught the men who kidnapped his son. They were of no use as they were following orders from unknown sources and soon were punished.
Taehyung also took minister Park Donghyun to the dungeons for false reporting and incident and endangering the throne.
He was found murdered in the dungeons before investigation could even move forward.
—
Jungkook opens his eyes to find himself in his room. He looks around to find maids near the door.
His lips turn down in a pout when he doesn’t see Taehyung there.
Memories rush to his mind. Old and new.
“Where’s Hyu- Um, where’s the king?” Jungkook asks the maids.
They look at each other.
“You don’t know?” he asks, and they shake their heads, then look down.
“Okay,” Jungkook says as he gets off the bed and makes his way outside.
He sees Jimin standing in front of his door. The King’s guard bows deeply, “Your Majesty, the King has assigned me as your bodyguard, to ensure your safety.”
Jungkook is taken aback. He knew Taehyung trusted Jimin with his life. And Taehyung assigning him for Jungkook’s safety made something stir in Jungkook’s heart.
He nods and makes his way to his grandmother’s room. He now knew she wasn’t her real grandmother, but the love and care she gave him over the years wasn’t any less.
When he meets her, she knows right away, from Jungkook’s eyes, from the red string glowing from his finger.
“I only wanted your safety and wellbeing” she sobs into Jungkook’s shoulder when he brings her to his arms.
—
The masked man is tortured and finally gives out the name.
Choi Minjae.
The man wanted Jungkook dead because he heard rumors from the palace that Taehyung had an omega. He couldn’t take the risk. The boy was a thorn in his plans and hence he decided to kill him.
That is all Taehyung needed to strip Choi Minjae of his pride and soon he executed everyone involved in the deed.
—
Soon Taehyung and Jungkook got married.
A few years later, the crown prince was blessed with a baby sister.