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Chapter Text

It was a quiet, typical morning in the Palace. Taehyung had woken up as groggy as usual, took an inordinate amount of time to get ready because he fought his maid for the right to go to breakfast in his pyjamas and bedhead—a battle he lost in a dramatic fashion, and received and ignored a few dirty looks from the visiting relative when he joined the family in the breakfast room. He was busy spreading butter over his bread slice and stifling a yawn when a valet appeared at the door and announced a letter for the queen. Taehyung didn’t even bother lifting his eyes. Letters in the morning for either of his parents were the norm, and hardly his business. 

“Oh, how wonderful, Taehyung! So exciting.” 

Except this time, apparently.

Taehyung reluctantly turned his attention from breakfast to the queen, who had a strange twinkle in her eyes and a too-wide smiling face. Not a good sign.

“What is exciting, Mother?” he enquired politely.

“The king of Eldwyn answered positively to our proposal for you to marry his alpha son, Hayoon,” his mother chirped, passing the letter to her husband.

A few things happened simultaneously. 

The bread slipped from Taehyung’s fingers and fell back on the plate on its buttered side.

“We have to make an official announcement as soon as possible,” the queen said to the king, the cogs of her mind already in motion.

Their guest, Taehyung’s aunt and the queen’s sister, clapped her hands and exclaimed, “I knew it was a good idea to suggest the pairing.” 

The captain of Taehyung's guard stiffened at the edge of his vision.

And it was the last one that Taehyung noticed the most, although his eyes still stared at his mother. 

“You didn’t think to discuss it with me before sending a proposal?” Taehyung said slowly, attracting everyone's attention.

“Do you always have something to say, Taehyung?” His aunt asked sternly. 

Taehyung turned his head until he met her eyes. “Yes, if I have something to say, Ma’am. And in this case, as we are speaking about my life and marriage, I think I have the right to speak.”

The woman scoffed. She was the older of the two sisters and very traditional. She never hid her displeasure for Taehyung’s tendency to challenge rules and traditions. “It’s an arranged marriage with an excellent party. You are an omega prince, and he is an alpha prince. What’s even to discuss?”

Taehyung sighed and returned his attention to his parents, ignoring his aunt bristling at being dismissed. “I refuse to accept passively an arrangement in which I wasn’t involved.”

“Taehyung,” the king spoke for the first time, an undercurrent warning in his tone.

“Consequently,” Taehyung continued, ignoring the interruption, “I invoke the Right of the Hunt.”

The silence that followed his words was so heavy that Taehyung could hear his captain shuffle on his feet in his corner. He fought to suppress the smile threatening to lift his lips.

“Are you out of your mind?” The aunt lashed out, slamming her hand on the table and making cutlery and dishes clink. 

Taehyung looked at her again, but his expression was challenging this time. “You, out of everyone, should be happy that I want to respect traditions.”

“That is hardly a tradition!” The older woman retorted. “Centuries have passed since the last time someone used it.”

“A law does not lapse just because it’s not used, Ma’am,” Taehyung replied coldly. “Just because for centuries the Kingdom only had alpha princes and they have got whichever omega they have wanted, it doesn’t mean that I have to go with an arrangement without having proof that my future husband would be suitable. For me and the kingdom.”

Taehyung knew he was on more than solid ground. Being the first omega prince in centuries had come with its challenges, but also undeniable virtues. Among them, he was not required to train in the use of weapons. It was not an activity expected of a royal omega. As a result, Taehyung had been left to his books and studies, in which he excelled. Taehyung loved to learn, and since he realised that his status would give him less leverage than his predecessors when it came time to think about marriage, he had thrown himself into studying the laws and principles of the kingdom since its founding.

“The Right of the Hunt permits a prince to challenge an intended suitor to prove their worth through a hunt. Success in this pursuit would demonstrate skill, bravery, and the ability to provide and protect.” Taehyung cited, eyes moving between his aunt and his parents. “I don’t see what’s wrong with my request.”

“The Right of the Hunt allows more than the intended to participate and prove their worth,” the queen said, shock still evident. 

Taehyung shrugged. “That shouldn’t be a problem if my intended is the best choice, don’t you think?” He let silence stretch for a few seconds before adding, “Unless someone else should prove themselves worthier.”

“Are you really going to let him do what he wants? Disrespect your choices like this?” The aunt said, probably talking to her sister. Taehyung wouldn’t know, first because he couldn’t care less about what she was saying, and second because he was locked in a staring contest with his father. 

Even though he was supposed to feel closer to his mother as an omega, Taehyung had always looked up to his father. As an alpha, the king was a fair, cultured, and caring man. Taehyung hadn’t lied when he said that the alpha princes who came before him had gotten the omegas they wanted, but in his father’s case, he knew he had loved the queen before they’d even presented. He might not understand Taehyung’s choice, but he would never disrespect or undermine his rank or what he considered important.

“Is your mind set?” The king asked gravely, ending whatever side conversation was happening in the background.

“It is,” Taehyung confirmed with the same seriousness.

“Very well,” the king acknowledged, pushing back his chair and standing up. Immediately, everyone else around the table imitated him out of respect. “I shall have a letter prepared with the conditions required for the prince of Eldwyn. A royal proclamation will be announced tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Father,” Taehyung answered, bowing at the king. “I will retreat to my rooms now. I have lost my appetite and have a lot to think about. Mother, aunt,” he offered as a polite farewell before he took his leave. 

The prince ignored whatever reaction to his words might follow in the breakfast room. Instead, all his senses immediately attuned to the steps echoing his, almost perfectly in sync, yet still discernible to Taehyung. He didn’t say a word until he reached the wing of the Palace that housed his apartments and entered the large bedroom. 

“Come in, Captain, and close the door,” Taehyung said before the steps could stop outside, not slowing until he reached his vanity.

“Your Highness,” a strong, stable voice said from the room entrance, “it’s inappropriate.”

Taehyung didn’t turn around, sitting in front of the mirror instead. “It’s not a request, Captain.”

Three heartbeats later, the sound of a door clicking shut resounded in the room, and the prince turned his eyes towards it. It wouldn’t be the first time that his captain refused to obey an order he considered unsuitable for his responsibilities to follow the strict rules he abided by. 

However, it did not seem to be one of those circumstances.

Taehyung drank in the sight of Jungkook, standing tall and proud in his uniform, hands clasped behind his back, and dark eyes trained on his prince. He was the most beautiful alpha Taehyung had ever seen: his features were a deadly mix of soft curves and sharp lines; his dark hair fell in waves, caressing his cheekbones and growing a little longer on the back, covering his nape; light caramel-toned skin, unblemished aside from a small scar on his left cheekbone he got in his early training days, and the chocolate-button-shaped mole beneath his lower lip, something Taehyung liked and had always found as inspiring as distracting. Jungkook’s body was a work of art, the result of hard, diligent training: large shoulders, a defined chest visible even underneath the stiff layers of the uniform, a waist so thin that many omegas would envy, and muscular thighs on long legs.

Still, all of that disappeared on the occasions when Taehyung could openly meet his eyes. Round, doe-like, deep like a well of melted dark chocolate. Often impenetrable.

Often, but not always.

The prince studied the simmering emotions that escaped the rigid control of the captain in the form of a small frown between his eyebrows and the slight pressing of his lips together. Taehyung knew a storm raged behind the quiet surface of Jungkook’s eyes, but he wouldn’t let him see it. He was too loyal and rigid to “overstep,” as the captain would put it. 

Taehyung turned again towards the mirror and leaned his head to the side, long fingers going to pull at the corner of the patch on the gland on his neck. He took his time removing the scent suppressant, not wanting to irritate his reactive skin more than the medication already did. When his scent started filling the room, adding to the one constantly lingering on his sheets, Taehyung felt more than hear Jungkook’s sharp intake of breath. 

“What’s on your mind, Captain?” Taehyung asked softly, dropping the patch on the surface of the vanity.

“Do you require my assistance, my Prince?” Jungkook answered instead, evading the question.

My Prince. Taehyung wished. He turned on his stool in a rustle of silk until he faced Jungkook with all his body, and placed his hands on his lap. “I require your opinion. What do you think about my arranged marriage?”

A tick on the alpha’s jaw was all that escaped his rigid demeanour. “Their Majesties have surely chosen the most appropriate suitor for you.”

Taehyung hummed and rose to his feet, the folds of his short tunic draping around him and brushing against his trousers. He strolled towards Jungkook, attentive eyes immediately catching up with the slight shiver that shook the alpha’s body.

“Have they?” Taehyung murmured. Jungkook’s eyes didn’t leave his, not even when the prince stopped a hair away from their toes touching. They were about the same height, yet Taehyung struggled so much not to let his eyes roam over Jungkook’s face. He admired and hated the captain’s apparently stronger will. “Then, what do you think about my decision?”

“You have the right to request that your intended prove that he is worthy,” Jungkook answered, his voice slightly breathier because of their proximity.

“Indeed,” Taehyung confirmed, eyelids batting slowly, intentionally. “I want my future mate to be worthy. Reliable. Strong. Protective but confident in my capabilities. Caring. Devoted.” 

For every characteristic enunciated, Taehyung lowered his voice until it was only a whisper. The prince leaned forward and dropped his head until his forehead pressed against Jungkook’s shoulder, heedless of the epaulettes that could leave marks on his skin. The alpha stiffened beneath him, but Taehyung didn’t mind. He turned his face towards the alpha’s neck, mourning once again the lack of scent, suppressed by the patch. Where it was a matter of etiquette for members of the royal family to conceal their scent in public, for guards, it was a constant obligation, except in their quarters or on leave. The captain had never slipped in enforcing the rule in the four years since he had become the prince’s shadow.

Taehyung had no idea of how Jungkook smelled. 

“Do you think someone else might be all that, Captain?” Taehyung asked, conscious that he was breathing close to the alpha’s ear.

They stalled for no longer than two seconds. Then, the prince felt hands gently grasping his shoulders and mindfully pushing him away until the whole length of Jungkook’s arms kept them apart. Jungkook’s face was a mask of impassivity and duty, his eyes quiet lakes that showed nothing. 

“I’m sure the Prince of Eldwyn will be all that and more for you, my Prince,” the alpha said politely.

Taehyung stepped back, out of the grasp of Jungkook’s hands that immediately returned to the alpha’s sides. He turned his back and walked towards the large floor-to-ceiling window on the other side of the room. 

“That would be all, Captain. You’re free to return to your duties.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Jungkook said promptly. 

Taehyung didn’t need to turn around to know that the alpha had bowed before leaving the room and closing the door behind him. Once alone, the prince let his shoulders drop along with his head. He could still feel the hardness of Jungkook’s shoulder against his forehead and the warmth of his hands on his arms. 

Taehyung had fallen in love with Jungkook in the first year since the alpha had been assigned to his personal guard. The prince had flirted with the young captain several times, always finding a wall as polite as it was insurmountable. Taehyung's hope of breaking through Jungkook's armour had slowly weakened with each gentle refusal disguised as a sense of duty. The omega had begun to wonder if he was annoying the captain. 

Maybe the alpha already had a partner, even a mate. Mated guards also had to hide their scent. 
Or maybe Jungkook was too dutiful to ask Taehyung outright to stop his advances.
Or maybe he simply wasn’t interested in Taehyung at all.

Taehyung had stopped flirting with Jungkook but hadn't given up on dreaming. Some of Jungkook's behaviours confused him, especially when he felt the captain’s eyes constantly on him, or when the alpha maintained a close distance even on occasions when it wasn't necessary. So, when Taehyung had come across the Right of the Hunt one year prior during his long hours of digging into the archives, he knew he would invoke it whenever the topic of his marriage would be brought up.

And now there they were.

Taehyung had tried to show Jungkook how much he wanted one more time. Make it as straightforward as possible.

Should Jungkook decide not to participate in the Hunt, Taehyung would have no choice but to accept the evidence of the facts and, in case of failure, resign himself to an unwanted marriage.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Jungkook was going insane.

Going through his daily duties had been a struggle, and as soon as he reached his quarters, he slammed the door closed behind him, threw himself on the bed, buried his face in the pillow and released the animalistic scream that had been clawing at his throat since the morning, since that damned missive had arrived.

Jungkook had always prided himself on being level-headed, professional, and rational. He had taken the role as the captain of the prince’s guard for the high honour it was and vowed to carry out his duty with the utmost seriousness and commitment. 

Not that the prince had made things easy for him. 

In all honesty, Jungkook had been ready to be tested, but he had expected whims and ridiculous orders for the sake of exercising power. However, he had faced an entirely different challenge: specifically, the most stunning omega he had ever seen had been polite, kind, and full of the most endearing quirks. 

And, above all, flirty.

At first, Jungkook thought it was just the prince’s behaviour after getting comfortable with people. It hadn’t taken long to understand it wasn’t the case. Taehyung could be friendly, but he was never flirty aside from with Jungkook. And the alpha would lie if he didn’t admit it had been a struggle to keep his distance and respect the boundaries the prince had seemed so hellbent to break.

At some point, however, Taehyung had stopped. Whatever had happened had made the prince retreat into a more socially acceptable shell, one that felt terribly bothersome for the captain. Jungkook was not stupid: he knew he could never stand a serious chance with the prince because of their different social status, and that the royal likely saw him as an escapade while waiting for his true mate. But despite that, he had rejoiced in knowing that he was worthy in Taehyung's eyes.

Taehyung and his beautiful, perfect face, where even the hard lines would cut you with the same softness as a hot knife would sink into a stick of butter. Taehyung and his golden, unblemished skin dotted with dark stars, all positioned where Jungkook would have loved to kiss him. Taehyung and his stunning, mismatched eyes, full of the innocent wonder of a child one moment and of all the irresistibly hot promises to whisper in secluded corners the next. Taehyung and his hair resembling threads of gold, making him look like an angel, while giving him the allure of a living, walking temptation. Taehyung and his body, soft curves and never-ending legs, a wonder Jungkook had unveiled in his imagination uncountable times, layer after layer, peeling clothes off of the prince at the same pace as the captain shed his own, pleasuring himself at the thought of Taehyung's warmth, and hiding his shame for those forbidden desires in the darkness of the night.

And Jungkook had accepted that new estrangement from the prince. Mourned the loss but rejoiced in his closeness anyway. Perhaps thinking he could try to investigate what had changed at some point.

Until that morning.

Until the missive.

Jungkook had barely had time to register the news of the proposal when Taehyung had dropped his own bomb by calling the Right of the Hunt. And then, everything else had spiralled at a speed that had caught Jungkook entirely off guard. 

The captain would never usually have agreed to enter the prince's bedroom, but his alpha was so upset that he had no choice but to obey. When Taehyung had removed his scent suppressant, Jungkook had needed all his self-control not to corner the omega against his vanity and bury his nose in the gland on his neck. 

Taehyung’s scent was sweet, warm, and inviting, vanilla mixed with scrumptious strawberries. It wasn’t the first time Jungkook had smelled him, of course, what with him being Taehyung’s shadow almost everywhere. But usually, Jungkook would control himself easily the times Taehyung would bare his gland in the safety of his apartments or when taking a bath in the outside sauna. 

This time, however.

It was as if his alpha had sensed a threat to his territory and wanted to establish his claim on Taehyung. That and the fact that Taehyung had chosen that moment to flirt with him again had scared Jungkook so much that the captain had immediately raised the walls of duty and put distance between them. And Jungkook had hated himself when Taehyung’s scent turned sour, like mouldy strawberries in too much syrup. But he'd had no choice but to obey his principles and his prince's dismissal.

Now, in the quiet of his quarters, Jungkook ripped his patch from his neck and let his musty, earthy, and slightly rotting scent fill the room.

“I want my future mate to be worthy. Reliable. Strong. Protective but confident in my capabilities. Caring. Devoted.”

Every word had been a dart planted in his chest because Jungkook knew. He knew he could be all of that. And Taehyung… 

“Do you think someone else might be all that, Captain?”

The memory of how Taehyung had sounded whispering in his ear had Jungkook rutting against his mattress.

“I can be all that,” Jungkook growled, face turned sideways enough to breathe, hands gripping the pillow to prevent him from reaching down, where another kind of fire raged in his lower belly. He squeezed his eyes.

But he couldn’t, could he?

If it were true that the Right of the Hunt allowed any alpha that considered themselves worthy of the omega who launched the challenge to participate, nobody would expect competition for the prince of Eldwyn once the royal proclamation was out. Ultimately, it was a matter of proving whether the alpha prince would live up to the arranged marriage, not a challenge between different contenders. 

Not to mention that Jungkook didn't consider himself worthy of Taehyung anyway. How could he, when his origins were so humble? His family was honest and hardworking, but they were nothing more than servants of the Palace. Their greatest pride was their son and his career, which had taken him from being a simple soldier to the captain of the prince's guard, and his ever-present protection. He could never be closer to the prince than that. He was already lucky that he could bask in his light.

Jungkook forced himself to still the movements of his hips and not seek an outlet for his needs. It was the least punishment for daring to even think for a moment that he could be what Taehyung wanted and deserved. He rolled to his back and threw an arm over his eyes, sighing defeatedly.

When he finally fell into a fitful sleep, Jungkook dreamed of moonlit chases.

Chapter Text

The announcement that Prince Taehyung had invoked the Right of the Hunt following his engagement caused considerable surprise in the kingdom. There was no corner of the market, shop or corridor of the Palace where people did not comment on the fact. Some considered the act a rebellion; others commended the prince for wanting to ensure the kingdom went into capable hands. Rumours spread everywhere, from rifts within the royal family to the existence of a lover the prince cared so much for that he was keen to try and escape an arranged marriage through the most ancient courtship tradition.

Originally, the Hunt was a public event open to anyone, and the rules involved not just hunting, but also mating. The adrenaline of the challenge and the scent of the chosen omega were often enough to trigger the alpha's rut, resulting in the alpha claiming their prey on the spot. The omega had no choice but to submit to the other’s will. Participation in the Hunt was voluntary, and those who took part often did so because it was their last chance to find a mate. However, as civilisation had evolved and the omegas’ rights were introduced, forced mating had been considered criminal and outlawed. The Hunt’s rules became much simpler: the alpha would have to catch the omega before the latter reached the exit point of the hunting ground. If the alpha failed, the omega was free to reject them. If the alpha won, the omega would accept the engagement and go through with the marriage. While it didn't seem to change anything regarding the omega's choice of the alpha they would be bound to, they were spared the humiliation of having an essential and private act like mating reduced to a trophy.

The Hunt had been considered a rite of passage for many royals over the centuries. There had been a few rare cases where commoners had captured a member of the royal house, and the result had been honoured. But somewhere along the line, perhaps out of fear that power would fall into the wrong hands, or because the royal house had produced several alpha princes in a row with such a swarm of omegas at their feet that it would be them who would have to flee as prey, the custom for royals had been discontinued and then forgotten.

Until now.

After the first shock from the royal proclamation, work began immediately. The Hunt's ground, left to its own devices for centuries, had transformed into a dense forest that stretched as far as the eye could see from the city's northern edge. When the head of the renovation team came to ask the king what the orders were regarding the land, the king summoned Taehyung. 

“It’s your challenge, son. You should decide,” the king simply said.

Taehyung spent the next two days walking into the forest, accompanied by Jungkook and his guards. He didn’t talk much. A strange sense of solemnity had taken root in his chest as he walked along paths present only in his mind. The prince was acutely aware of the soft, subtle crunching of fallen leaves and twig snapping under his boots; the caresses of the leaves of the plants he passed, and how dangerous some of them could be if you didn’t know what they were; the wind rustling through leaves and how it could hide other sounds; the chirps of birds and the hurried, scared scattering of squirrels and other invisible animals as the group of human approached; the deep, earthy smell of petrichor after the recent rain and the intoxicating aroma of pine trees. The forest was ancient, thick, at times impenetrable, but most of all, alive. 

In the end, when enquired about his decision, the prince simply said, “It stands unchanged, as it is meant to be.” 

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Taehyung didn’t invite Jungkook into his bedroom anymore. 

He paid attention to remove his suppressant patch only when necessary and when it wouldn’t overwhelm the captain. 

He didn’t search for physical contact despite every fibre of his being desperately yearning for it, unravelling what made him whole as if they individually wanted to escape the restraints.

He toned himself down a little more each day, the weight of the time passing by heavy on his shoulders.

His omega whined, begged him, pushed to take control, but the prince didn’t budge. 

He didn’t want to burden his captain. Didn’t want to risk pushing him away by being too much. 

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Jungkook bled behind his competent facade.

He was helpless in front of the soft sobs that sometimes he could hear from behind the closed doors of Taehyung’s bedroom.

He missed the sweetness of the prince’s scent, now almost perpetually tarnished by something unpleasant, something Jungkook couldn’t define, but that made his alpha jittery.

He watched Taehyung lose his sparkle day after day, the closer the Hunt approached, although his spirit sharpened and steeled.

His alpha growled, begged him, pushed to take control, but the captain, crushed between duty and his self-consciousness, could only keep watch.

Despite everything in Jungkook screaming that he needed to do something, he didn't want to overstep. Couldn’t.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

And then the day arrived when the delegation from Eldwyn, accompanying the alpha prince Hayoon, crossed the city gates in great pomp.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

“May I have the pleasure of your company for a walk in the garden after breakfast, my Prince?”

Taehyung lifted his head from his cup of tea, eyes meeting the black ones of Prince Hayoon opposite him. Before he could answer, Taehyung’s aunt jumped in. 

“Of course you may, Your Highness. It’s such a lovely day outside; a walk in the garden sounds like an excellent idea,” she chirped in an annoyingly high-pitched voice.

Taehyung smiled tight-lipped, suppressing the need to scream at her aunt to mind her business. Alas, he was more than aware that he needed to maintain a demeanour befitting his rank. After all, Hayoon was here because Taehyung had demanded that he prove his worth.

The alpha prince of Eldwyn had been their guest for a week, during which he had shown off his impeccable manners and conversational skills. And it was the latter that had somehow alerted Taehyung. There was something about Hayoon that was hiding in the shadows. It was in the use of certain words, in the tone of voice of some answers. The way the prince looked at him irked Taehyung and unsettled his omega. So far, he had avoided being in his company outside of family gatherings, but it was the eve of the Hunt, and thanks to his aunt's meddling, Taehyung could not avoid the direct invitation without sounding offensive.

Taehyung finished his tea and dabbed at his lips with the napkin. Clearing his throat lightly, he turned on his chair to stand up, eyes already searching for Jungkook and the request to escort him ready to leave his lips.

“Alone.”

Taehyung stilled. Slowly, he turned his head to look at Hayoon again. The prince was already moving around the table to reach him, one arm bent and offered for Taehyung to take. The alpha was smiling, but his eyes were obsidian mirrors, showing nothing. 

“I would feel more comfortable with my captain with me,” Taehyung replied softly, without taking his arm, and his hyper focus on Hayoon allowed him not to miss the quick, annoyed clenching of his jaw.

“Nonsense,” Taehyung’s aunt interjected yet once more, doing nothing to mask her disapproval. “You are with your future husband, an alpha, inside your Palace. Why would you need protection?”

“Aspiring husband,” Taehyung corrected, meeting his aunt’s gaze full on, his previous soft tone substituted by a steelier one. “And I didn’t say I needed protection. I said I would feel more comfortable.”

“Nonetheless, I request some alone time with you,” Hayoon spoke again, his pleasant tone somehow forced into Taehyung’s ears. “After all, I've obeyed all your conditions. Don't you think I can have one request fulfilled?”

Taehyung gnawed at his lower lip and glanced at his parents. The king met his eyes, but the prince understood immediately that his hands were tied. If his father had supported his request, he would have implicitly admitted that he did not consider the prince of Eldwyn enough for his son's peace of mind. The king’s eyes held questions, but, unable to get any answers, he could only nod slightly, inviting Taehyung to accept the proposal. The prince only had a second to notice his mother staring at her sister with an unreadable expression before he turned towards Hayoon and offered him the most polite smile he could muster.

“Of course, Your Highness,” Taehyung said, slowly placing his hand on the offered forearm over the expensive fabric. “It would be my pleasure to share my favourite place with you.”

Hayoon, looking somewhat appeased, placed his second hand over Taehyung’s, squeezing it in a way that raised the hair on the prince’s nape, and loudly announced that they were taking their leave. Taehyung searched for and found Jungkook's eyes in that split second of distraction. The alpha's posture was unnaturally stiff, and his eyes seemed to burn with the intensity of a bonfire. Taehyung wasn’t sure what Jungkook read in his gaze, but the captain nodded imperceptibly. Taehyung relaxed a little and let Hayoon take him away.

Once in the garden, he directed their walk towards the western side until they broke into a small clearing dominated by a beautiful ornamental fountain surrounded by well-groomed hedges. Taehyung had enquired about what the other wanted to talk about, but Hayoon hadn’t said a word, staring before him the whole time. But as soon as they reached the clearing and Taehyung came to a stop, Hayoon rounded him and grabbed his arms in a painful grasp, his fingers digging into Taehyung’s muscles, making him gasp.

“I knew you needed to be set straight,” the prince of Eldwyn growled, all pleasantries forgotten. “But it’s even worse than I expected.”

“What?” Taehyung croaked, eyes huge and alarm bells going off in his brain. 

“Listen to me, omega, because I will say this only once. After I play and win your little game tomorrow, I expect you to keep your mouth shut unless I ask you questions. You will respect and obey me. I won’t have the whole Eldwyn judging me because you don’t know how to behave.”

Taehyung stared, jaw slackened. Then, fury started boiling in him, rising hotter every second, until it blinded him. With a sound similar to a snarl, Taehyung snatched his arms away from Hayoon’s grasp, almost backslapping him in the act. 

“Are you out of your mind? What are you talking about?” Taehyung seethed, breathing heavily, barely resisting the impulse of pouncing on Hayoon and scratching his face with his nails until he bled. 

Hayoon quickly recovered from the surprise of Taehyung’s outburst. He partly ripped the patch from his neck and let his pheromones fill the clearance, trying to make Taehyung submit. “Don’t tell me nobody told you?” He smirked. “After the Hunt, you will come with me to Eldwyn to undergo a period of rehabilitation, where our educators will tame this inappropriate, rebellious spirit you have and shape you into the perfect omega, obedient and silent, bearing pups and serving your alpha.”

“I'd rather kill myself,” Taehyung said between gritted teeth, breathing through his mouth and trying not to retch there and then at the bitter scent burning his throat. 

“I won't let a beauty like you go to waste.” Hayoon moved closer, and when Taehyung stumbled back, he lunged forward until he grasped Taehyung’s wrist and yanked him against his chest. “My need to subdue and break you is almost as strong as my desire to fuck you until you beg me to stop,” he whispered in his ear.

“Let go of me,” Taehyung spelt out, desperately hiding the panic at feeling his omega struggling under the onslaught of pheromones.

“Let him go. Now.”

The commanding voice allowed no rebuttal, and Taehyung’s knees almost buckled under the flood of relief. Hayoon’s grasp disappeared, and Taehyung sagged against a firm chest behind him. A gentle hand held his shoulder to steady him, and the prince mustered all his strength to straighten and stand by himself, even if he only wanted to curl into Jungkook’s body and disappear.

“I was just making a few things clear with my future omega. Nothing that pertains to you,” Hayoon said nonchalantly, his hand patting the patch back in place. Then, the prince of Eldwyn sauntered to leave the clearing as if he owned the place, but not before mockingly bowing to Taehyung. “Enjoy your last night of freedom. From tomorrow, you will belong to me, and I will be the only alpha you will be allowed to be near.”

Hayoon’s obnoxious laugh faded into the distance until only Taehyung's raspy panting broke the quiet of the clearing.

“I followed as quickly as I could, but the king wanted to discuss arrangements for tomorrow,” Jungkook rushed to explain, keeping his voice low and steady but failing to hide his anger and concern. “Are you alright, my Prince?”

Taehyung silently thanked the moon goddess that he and Jungkook had long ago chosen this clearing as the location for the rare times someone asked the prince for private meetings. Jungkook could reach it from the back unseen and remain hidden behind the hedges, ready to intervene if necessary. It was just a case of bad luck that he had been held back this time, but Taehyung was still grateful that his captain had arrived to protect him.

“No, I'm not okay,” he whispered because there was no reason to lie to Jungkook. He realised he was shaking and lifted his eyes to meet Jungkook’s, already looking at him. “Please, Captain, take me to my room.”

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Jungkook couldn’t think straight.

The more he tried to regain control, the more the images from the garden returned to his mind.

He had smelled the alpha’s dominating, burnt pheromones when he was still at a certain distance from the clearing, and his already fast pace had turned into a full run. When he reached the clearing, the scene in front of him had nearly made his wolf tear through his skin and maul at the other alpha. 

Hayoon was holding Taehyung against himself by the wrist, his grip so hard that the golden skin under his fingers had turned white. The omega had been so distressed that Jungkook could smell the rotten strawberries and cloying vanilla despite the scent suppressor. The whole clearing was drowning in the alpha’s pheromones, something that should never have happened. The pounding of his heart in his ears had been so loud that Jungkook couldn’t make out Hayoon’s words, but Taehyung’s voice, his demand to let go, had cut through the haze with a razor's sharpness.

Jungkook still wasn’t sure how he hadn’t teared down the other alpha and let him walk away with that fucking grin and those damning words instead. They taunted him even now, in the safety of Taehyung’s bedroom, where the prince had asked him to stay. Jungkook hadn't hesitated for a moment. The memory of the prince’s body sagging against his, the way the omega shook and how Jungkook had desperately wanted to keep him close and safe was still too fresh. The aghast expression on Taehyung’s unnaturally pale face flashed in front of his eyes again, and Jungkook had to inhale deeply to avoid slamming his fist against the closest wall.

“–can’t call out the Hunt.” 

Taehyung’s voice found its way to Jungkook once more, and the captain’s attention snapped on the prince pacing in his room like a caged animal. His blonde hair was in disarray, his face scrunched with anger, and he was still the most beautiful omega Jungkook had ever seen.

“It doesn’t matter that he threatened me. Once called, the Hunt must go on. He probably knows. It would explain why he felt smug and confident enough to reveal his cards.”

Jungkook couldn’t think straight.

A war was raging inside him, and he knew, he knew he should be listening to his prince, speaking to their royal majesties and making them aware of the events, and finding a way to defer the Hunt. But his alpha was fighting him, snarling at the mere idea of leaving his omega, his, must protect, must keep safe–

“Captain?”

Jungkook jumped, startled, and came face to face with Taehyung, so close that he would have gone cross-eyed if he had leaned forward just a little. The omega’s eyes were fierce, but Jungkook could see the underlying fear. 

“I have only two ways out,” Taehyung said slowly. “One is to win the Hunt. I am agile and fast, but–” I’m not sure if it’s enough with an alpha like him, is what Taehyung didn’t say, but Jungkook heard anyway. The prince licked his lips, and the alpha caught the movement at the corner of his eye. “Or,” he continued, fragile like the hope Jungkook could hear in his voice, “someone else will also accept the challenge and win.”

Jungkook couldn’t think straight.

“Someone else?”

“You,” Taehyung whispered, staring at him with those eyes for which the alpha would do anything.

But Jungkook was not good enough for Taehyung, he–

“Can’t.”

Taehyung recoiled as if Jungkook had slapped him. Eyes wide in shock, he took a step back, face pale.

“Do you really want to leave me to him?” He whispered, incredulous.

No, Jungkook’s alpha and heart screamed simultaneously. But he couldn't think straight, those nasty words circling in his mind.

Enjoy your last night of freedom. From tomorrow, you will belong to me, and I will be the only alpha you will be allowed to be near.

It was so wrong because– 

“He's a royal…” 

And a royal should be–

“...worthy.”

“Worthy?” 

The unadulterated pain and betrayal in Taehyung’s voice, how they were etched in every line on his face and displayed in the tears brimming in his eyes, were like a bucket of ice water on Jungkook. He had said something aloud, hadn’t he? Something that had hurt his prince, who was now progressively distancing himself from him as if he could not tolerate the sight, but could not take his eyes off him anyway. Like a horror so great that it fascinates you enough that you cannot look away

“So you’re saying I deserve to be treated like an object to own? To obey and nothing more?” Taehyung said, his voice trembling so much that it cracked multiple times.

And Jungkook couldn’t think straight.

But he also couldn’t breathe. He needed to get his shit together. He needed to explain because the tears streaming down the prince’s face talked about a heartbreak too big to be kept in. Taehyung’s omega had taken his careless words as rejection.

“Your Highness, that’s not—” he tried. Too little, too late.

Taehyung turned his back to him, his whole frame shaking so severely that Jungkook feared his bones would disintegrate any moment. 

“You're dismissed, Captain.” Taehyung’s voice sounded surprisingly stable, despite its weakness. “Find someone to relieve you from your duties today. You're too important to keep watch over someone worthy only of being told what to do.”

Jungkook felt like someone had pierced his chest with claws and was now ripping it open, ribcage and all. His alpha howled in pain and despair, and Jungkook almost fell to his knees.

“Your Highness–” he begged in a broken voice, but only the soft click of the en suite door closing behind Taehyung answered him.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Jungkook sat in the guardroom, back rigid and eyes lost outside the window. He couldn’t see anything but the betrayal in Taehyung’s eyes, the unfiltered pain. 

He felt numb.

How could he have hurt so much the person for whom he would not hesitate to give his life? Even if he didn’t consider himself worthy of the prince, how could he have been so careless, so inside his fucking head instead of being the pillar Taehyung needed? How–

“Captain Jeon! Thank the moon goddess, I found you!”

Jungkook was torn from his misery by the agitated voice of the Head Housekeeper. The middle-aged man looked troubled, his hands wringing nervously, and the captain made a superhuman effort to do what he had failed at with Taehyung: pay attention.

“Is something wrong?” He asked, taking in how the man’s eyes darted everywhere to be sure they were alone.

“It’s about His Highness, Prince Taehyung,” the man murmured. “The maids overheard members of Prince Hayoon’s staff gossiping about… about how Prince Taehyung’s aunt must hate him to set him up with Prince Hayoon. They… They said they are very traditional in Eldwyn. That Prince Taehyung will undergo rehabilitation to become a proper omega.”

Rehabilitation.

Proper omega.

Enjoy your last night of freedom. From tomorrow, you will belong to me, and I will be the only alpha you will be allowed to be near.

Jungkook stood up so suddenly that the chair tipped over behind him, and the Head Housekeeper jumped slightly, eyes wide.

“I need to find their majesties,” the captain croaked, unable to recognise his voice. He stopped long enough to squeeze the man’s shoulder in a silent thank you before bolting out of the room.

Jungkook had almost reached the wing of the palace that housed the royal apartments when he saw the queen emerge from them and walk down the corridor in his direction. Her eyes were lowered, and a frown marred her expression. When she perceived Jungkook’s presence and lifted her eyes, it took only a heartbeat for recognition to dawn in her gaze and relief to wash over her face. 

“Your Majesty–” Jungkook started, but the queen grabbed his arm and linked hers with it, diverting their steps towards the floor-to-ceiling window leading to the garden.

“Walk with me, Captain,” the queen said out loud, “I need to go over the details for tomorrow once more.”

Jungkook was about to protest when he noticed the thin line of the queen’s lips. He reined in his impatience and escorted her outside, following her lead when she moved towards the rose garden.

“The moon goddess sent you to me, Captain,” the queen murmured, her face schooled in a serene expression, but her voice anything but. “Taehyung is in danger.”

Yet another confirmation of his greatest fears, which only increased Jungkook's restlessness.

“My sister– I can’t believe she has been plotting behind our backs, that she hates Taehyung's character so much that…” The queen’s voice broke into a whimper, and she struggled to maintain her composure. “We should have checked. We should have. But she said we already had so much to do, and she would take care of the formalities for us. She betrayed us, Captain.”

Jungkook’s anger simmered at the bottom of his stomach. He had always despised the alpha woman and how she would constantly criticise Taehyung.

“If Prince Hayoon succeeds tomorrow,” the queen continued, agitated, “he will take Taehyung to Eldwyn. He will–”

“Rehabilitate him. Make him a proper omega,” Jungkook finished, spitting the last two words with all the hatred he felt growing in his chest.

The queen stared at him. “How do you know?”

“The Head Housekeeper. Some maids overheard the Eldwyn staff chattering about how Prince Taehyung’s aunt must hate him to set him up with Prince Hayoon. I was on my way to tell you when we met. But– I’m afraid that’s not all.”

Jungkook recounted the events of the clearing, leaving out no detail. When he finished talking, the queen’s eyes were blown in horror, and she staggered on her feet momentarily. The captain promptly supported her, as discreetly as he could, masking it as leaning toward a flower to examine it better. 

“You have to save him,” the queen whispered after a few seconds. She looked as pale as a ghost but had recovered enough not to raise suspicions. “We can’t cancel or postpone the Hunt, but you must protect him, Captain. It’s your duty.”

Jungkook grimaced, trying to hide the trembling of his voice by whispering. “His Highness dismissed me for the day, Your Majesty.”

The queen nodded. “Of course. The rules prevent the omega from having contact with alphas from noon of the eve. Even though it's not time yet, Taehyung must have decided not to take the risk of meeting Hayoon again and anticipate his isolation.”

Jungkook let her believe that was the reason. There was no need for her to know the reality behind his dismissal.

“However,” the queen resumed, looking at him in the eye, “this doesn't change that you swore to always protect him.”

“Your Majesty,” Jungkook exhaled, “How can I–”

“Whatever it takes,” she cut him off.

Jungkook stared at the queen, at a loss for words. Several seconds passed before the alpha whispered, “I’m not worthy.”

The queen watched him for long moments, silently contemplating. When she spoke again, it was with a bittersweet smile. "It was never your decision. It was never ours, either. I wish we had realised that sooner." 

Jungkook stilled when she turned to face him and put her hands on his shoulders. “Taehyung’s future is in your hands, Captain Jeon Jungkook. He always believed you were more than worthy. Prove him right.”

With those words, the queen turned and walked away, leaving Jungkook alone with his choice to make.

Chapter Text

The morning of the Hunt was shrouded in low, menacing clouds, a treacherous wind, and patches of rain, creating an atmosphere of impending danger. 

Taehyung observed it all from the window of the building he had been taken to at the first signs of dawn, escorted by his omega guards. He had spent the whole previous day locked in his room, his hurting omega whimpering softly while his human counterpart dealt with his own heartbreak well into the night, until exhaustion won and gifted both some hours of sleep so deep that not even nightmares managed to reach them—a blessing, as his wolf would need every drop of energy today

The rejection still stung like a fresh cut. There was no way of mistaking it, this time. His omega had taken it even worse: Taehyung hadn’t realised how, for him, Jungkook’s alpha was his mate until the unbearable pain that had crushed him after the Captain’s words.

“It hurts,” he whispered, almost breathed. “But we still can’t let Hayoon have us.”

His omega, closed in silence since they woke up, whimpered lowly.

Taehyung turned his back to the window and returned to the large table with the map spread over it. He had watched and studied it for so long that he felt nauseous at its sight, but his restless energy needed an outlet, and reviewing his strategy once again was as good an activity as any.

The map showed the whole expanse of the Hunt’s ground. There had not been enough time to draw a new one, so the cartographers had taken the one historically used last and checked whether significant changes had occurred beyond the forest growth, making the necessary adjustments. Taehyung’s eyes scanned paths that no longer existed and streams that had deviated over the centuries, hills that would suddenly appear between the trees and drops that the undergrowth might hide. He looked down at the small rectangle with the omega symbol in the lower-left corner, then up to the stylised gate representing the exit at the top-centre side of the ground. 

As if pulled, his attention fell to the rectangle with the alpha symbol in the bottom-right corner. Even though they would start from opposite, equidistant ends, he and Hayoon would inevitably converge towards the centre: one to reach the exit and the other to intercept him before he could.

“Your Highness?”

It sounded wrong because it wasn’t the right voice addressing him. Taehyung was grateful for it and hated it in equal measure. He turned towards the guard who now stood beside him, looking uncomfortable. 

“Yes, Minju?”

The omega presented a plate with fruit of different kinds, cut and ready to be eaten. “You should eat something, Your Highness,” she said. “It’s been hours.”

Taehyung diverted his eyes again to the map. “Thank you, but I’m not hungry.”

“Your Highness, please. The Captain would–” 

Taehyung’s eyes snapped on the omega and bored into hers with such searing intensity that Minju clicked her mouth shut and lowered her gaze.  “Then, please, do it for us, Your Highness,” she murmured, upset. “None of us wants to see you end up with that monster.”

And just like that, Taehyung’s anger, born from pain, dissolved into the quiet desperation that had been his companion since the previous morning. He sighed, took the plate from the other omega’s hands and picked a slice of sweet apple, popping it in his mouth. Even in the absence of scents, the happiness on Minju’s and the other two guards’ faces was enough to understand how sincere they were.

“Neither do I,” Taehyung said after swallowing, fingers already moving to a succulent slice of peach. His eyes moved towards the window, staring outside. “Neither do I.”

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

One hour later, fruit finished and jaw set, Taehyung exited the building door flanked by his guards. Many omega citizens had gathered to wish their prince good luck, and their voices rose in happy cheer at the sight of him. It warmed Taehyung, giving him respite from the dark and cold place he had fallen into. He smiled and waved, grateful that they didn’t know the dramatic backstage of the whole ordeal.

Taehyung’s smile fell while he approached the pole engraved with the omega symbol representing his starting point, and the king's minister, who would act as guarantor, standing beside it. 

“Your Highness,” the omega bowed respectfully. 

“Minister Shyn,” Taehyung offered back, eyes moving to stare at the ancient pole recently restored for the occasion. A shiver ran down his spine, and for the first time since he had made his decision, Taehyung understood it was really happening. 

Instinctively, his eyes darted in search of his Captain, before he remembered not only that Jungkook could not have been there as an alpha, but even if he were allowed, he would only be there out of duty. The prince briefly wondered if the alpha was still willing to be his Captain. Maybe Taehyung had gone too far this time. Jungkook was probably with the king, queen, noble court, and most of the citizens at the exit gate and had already submitted a request for another role. Maybe–

Taehyung’s attention snapped back to the present when a hush fell on the crowd. The minister unrolled a parchment and cleared his throat before announcing, loud and clear. 

“Hearken! Gather in solemnity for the Hunt, a sacred rite honouring the bond of strength and cunning. Today, the omega shall escape the alpha, racing toward the exit—a haven symbolising freedom. As the horn sounds, the Hunt begins for the omega. The alpha will soon follow into the shadows. In this moment, we honour both the hunter and the hunted. Let the solemn pursuit commence, binding our spirits in reverence.”

The silence was absolute when the minister lifted his eyes from the parchment to meet Taehyung’s. “May the moon goddess be propitious to you,” the man added in a lower voice.

Taehyung pushed down the bile that burned his throat and bowed his head in thanks. Slowly, he shrugged off the overcoat that had protected his lithe frame until then, letting it fall on the ground and leaving only the simple, white, short vest to cover his body. The prince then removed his sandals, his bare toes curling to feel the grass beneath them. 

His omega stirred in his chest and stretched, ready. 

For a single, wild second, Taehyung thought of turning his back and running away. Away from the Hunt, from Hayoon, even from Jungkook. Then, above the almost deafening beating of his heart, the deep, low sound of the horn spread through the air.

Before his brain could catch up, Taehyung was already running towards the first line of trees. As soon as he broke through, he removed the patch from his neck, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, surrendering to his omega. The sound of ripped fabric was the last sound he heard before his human consciousness was pushed aside to free the wolf. His senses, incredibly sharper than before, registered many things simultaneously: the consistency of the ground, yielding under his paws after the recent rains; the damp smell of the wet forest; the rustling of the wind through the trees. His eyes took in obstacles and possible trajectories at dizzying speed, and his body adjusted fluidly to the necessary movements.

Faster, the omega growled.

Faster, Taehyung agreed.

The prince had calculated that he would need three to five hours to reach the exit, depending on the thickness of the vegetation on his path. The rules of the Hunt granted him thirty minutes of advantage before the alpha would start his chase, and Taehyung was conscious that every second counted. At the same time, he knew that he had to pace himself. If he had used up all his strength in the initial sprint, it could backfire later.

Taehyung’s omega was agile and fast, but the rejection had put a shadow on him that he didn’t seem able to set aside, despite the impending danger. Although it didn’t impact the wolf’s sharpness and unbreakable drive not to be caught by the undeserving alpha, Taehyung could feel how much the idea of seeing the mate who rejected him upon reaching the exit gate weighed on his omega. Not enough to slow down. Not yet, at least. Taehyung hoped it wouldn’t get worse the closer they got to their destination.

In modern society, turning into the animal counterpart was not common. Over time, showing one’s wolf form had become reserved for their mate and immediate family. In the case of royals, this meant having very few opportunities even for solo runs, due to the constant presence of guards protecting them. Taehyung had been fortunate to be born into a royal family with modern ideas and fewer restrictions, and their palace included several miles of dense vegetation that allowed the prince more freedom than most to connect with his wolf. 

Despite all his studies, Taehyung had never found a specific event or moment that warranted such a decision. It seemed as if everyone had fallen into the habit of looking for connections more in the human form, knowing that if there were a bond of fated mates between wolves, they would find each other anyway. But it was inconceivable for someone like him, who had been fortunate enough to get to know his wolf better. They were two halves of the same person, and being connected gave Taehyung undeniable advantages, not least on this occasion.

Unfortunately, the alpha that would soon be chasing him might have an even greater connection, if his words were any indication of the ideas and rules of his kingdom. 

As if summoned from Taehyung's thoughts, the distant sound of a horn reached the prince's sensitive hearing, sending a shiver of dread down his spine. Taehyung’s bought time had come to an end, and the Hunt had begun.

Faster, Taehyung urged.

Faster, the wolf agreed.

Taehyung didn’t know how long he had been running when he slid on hidden mud and nearly toppled down a drop. His body jerked, and he managed to jump and avoid falling on his side, but as soon as his paws touched ground, the slight detour allowed him to smell them. Faint, still distant, yet powerful enough to be perceivable at a distance. Undeniably alpha pheromones.

And equally undeniably unknown.

The implication hit Taehyung like a boulder in his chest. The wolf flattened his ears against his head, eyes opening wide and inner eyebrows raising in fear. Instincts kicked in, compelling him to run, and the next second, his legs were pumping rapidly beneath him as he sought to escape the looming threat. Taehyung dashed through the underbrush, branches brushed against his fur, but he barely noticed. All that mattered was the distance he needed to put between himself and the danger he sensed. The sound of leaves rustling in the wind faded behind him, replaced by the steady thrum of his heartbeat. Strategy was thrown to the wind, and recklessness took over.

In all the scenarios he had imagined, the prince had never considered that more than one alpha could decide to participate in the Hunt. He had taken it for granted that everyone believed the challenge to be only a way to test Hayoon. The possibility that someone would decide to participate for their own interest had never even crossed his mind. Now, he had to escape the significant danger of his official chaser and avoid becoming bound to a stranger.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Time lost meaning.

In the haze of his wolf’s instincts in overdrive, Taehyung had changed routes so many times that he couldn’t find any of the markers he had memorised from the map. He had no idea how far from the exit he was, or how long it would take to reach it. His legs hurt from the prolonged effort, and the multiple scratches caused by low branches and narrow passages stung on his body. He could feel his golden fur encrusted with blood in some parts, but he couldn’t stop.

Taehyung hadn’t smelled alpha pheromones since that whiff, which put him on edge for some reason. It had been too long since the horn went off, and if another alpha had come close enough to be smelled, there was no way that Hayoon still hadn’t found him. His vanilla and strawberry scent was strong, no matter how much he tried to mute it. The tension soured it, but his omega pheromones were more than enough to track him.

Taehyung darted past a thick tangle of bushes and into an area where the vegetation was less dense. His ears twitched and picked up a sound: running water. It was distant but not too far, and it gave Taehyung a surge of confidence: he remembered the path of the streams and knew he could figure out exactly where he was once he could follow it. 

Faster, Taehyung encouraged.

Faster, his omega concurred, veering slightly to adjust their trajectory.

Then, the pungent, heavy scent hit like a physical blow, making the hair on the wolf’s neck stand up. His only warning was the sound of branches breaking, leaves violently displaced, and a heavy body launched into a mad dash from his right. 

Taehyung pushed his hind legs down with such force that his claws dug into the ground, and he leapt into the air. The effort of moving his body so quickly and suddenly made his muscles scream, but the adrenaline was coursing through his veins with such force that the pain became secondary to his survival instinct. Taehyung twisted his entire body in mid-air, wriggling to the point of almost somersaulting, and landed on all fours as the snapping sound of fangs closing sounded behind him. The prince whirled around, teeth bared, snarling.

Hayoon’s wolf was large and intimidating. His fur was light grey and white, and his eyes were the same impenetrable obsidian colour as his human counterpart. He lowered his stance on the front legs, muzzle pointed downwards, but his eyes never lost sight of Taehyung, and a low, pleased growl rumbled from his throat. 

Every nerve in Taehyung’s body was alight with fear, his heart beating like crazy. He lowered himself slightly on all four, muscles taut and ready to spring. He snarled louder, but didn’t move, conscious that if he tried to run away, the alpha would be on him instantly and all would be lost.

Hayoon jumped forward, his powerful legs sending him towards Taehyung faster than the omega expected. He growled, a jolt of adrenaline commanding his body to move to the side. But before the prince could move, a dark, massive shape intercepted the grey wolf in midair, colliding with him on his side and sending him to crash to the ground with a yelp.

Taehyung jumped backwards, startled.

The second alpha was even larger than Hayoon. He was black as coal from head to toe, with thick fur, long legs, a broad skull, and strong, candid teeth revealed by the upper lip raised in a vicious snarl directed to the other alpha. When the black wolf turned to stare at Taehyung, his eyes were burning red, but instead of trying to pounce on him as the prince expected, he snapped his teeth together and jerked his muzzle towards the forest.

Taehyung was dumbfounded. Was the alpha suggesting he ran away? Was it a trap? Why would he let him go instead of trying to catch him? Why–

A loud growl snapped Taehyung out of his uselessly spiralling thoughts just in time to see Hayoon attacking the black wolf. The omega hurried back a few steps when the two massive wolves collided again, claws and fangs searching and finding targets in a battle of dominance.

Breathing heavily, Taehyung glanced at the forest behind him. With the alphas busy with each other, he had a real chance to escape. And if he could reach the stream and jump into the water, he could hide his scent enough to make them lose his traces. He began to back away, his belly touching the ground in an attempt to remain unnoticed, his eyes fixed on the ongoing battle. 

Quiet, Taehyung implored.

The omega didn’t reply, but his movement became even stealthier.

When the prince reached the treeline, he was about to turn and sprint when a gust of wind brought a scent other than Hayoon's nauseating one to his sensitive nose. Something that had eluded the omega until then.

Burnt sandalwood.

There was no doubt that it was coming from the black wolf, who Taehyung now understood was holding back his pheromones despite the other alpha's attempt to overpower him. 

But that wasn’t what stopped Taehyung’s wolf, making any desire to run away evaporate. He had had a brief whiff of that same burnt sandalwood the day before, so weak that he had thought he had imagined it, and then forgotten about it in the wake of subsequent events.

It had happened in the gardens when Hayoon had let go of him and backed away, easing the onslaught of his pheromones. 

When Taehyung had sagged against–

Jungkook, the human whispered, incredulous.

Alpha, the wolf howled.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

If hell existed, it would probably be better than what Jungkook was going through.

He had not found peace since he had spoken to the queen and understood the exact extent of the danger that Taehyung was running into. The alpha had also tried to talk with the prince again, but the two guards he had placed outside his quarters had informed him, not without embarrassment, that His Royal Highness had expressly said he did not want to see him. That hadn’t stopped him from coming back three more times to ask if everything was okay and if the prince had shown signs of needing anything, but eventually, Minju had stepped forward and gently pushed him away.

"We have everything under control here, Captain. Please don't make this harder for everyone, including yourself," she had murmured gently.

Unable to do otherwise, Jungkook had locked himself in his rooms, skipping dinner, his stomach tight and heavy as a boulder. But even there, he couldn’t find peace. His alpha had been furious with him and his stubbornness. He had howled in pain since Jungkook’s careless words had made the one he considered his mate feel rejected, and he had refused to talk to his human counterpart, pacing restlessly until Jungkook’s head was splitting in half from the headache.

Sleep unreachable, the Captain had tortured himself with horrible images of Hayoon and his disgusting victorious smile, Taehyung taken away, Taehyung subjected to who knows what tortures to break his spirit–

Taehyung taken away…

–reduced to a silent and meek spectre, or worse, if he didn’t bend–

Taehyung taken away…

–mated to Hayoon.

Taehyung mated to Hayoon.

No.

Staring at his reflection in the mirror, eyes wild, dark shadows underneath, face haunted, Jungkook had felt more than seen the flash of red, the refusal bubbling increasingly stronger until he had been out of his door, half undressed in the early hours of the morning, anger burning so hot that the Captain hadn’t even noticed where he was going, not until his alpha had howled loud in joy and challenge, and Jungkook had regained consciousness as a wide-eyed alpha was handing him the simple ceremonial robe outside the building in the Hunt’s starting area.

Hayoon had thrown a tantrum when he had seen Jungkook in the alpha house and had tried to have him expelled by arguing that the Hunt had been called only to prove his worth. However, the guarantor had rejected the request, stating that no footnote had been made to the universally known rules of the Hunt. Therefore, the participation of other alphas was perfectly legal. Jungkook couldn’t be sure, but it seemed to him that the minister had a satisfied light in his eyes as he silenced the prince.

It had been three hours since then, and Jungkook and the prince hadn’t exchanged a word. Jungkook had managed to push some food into his stomach and stay on a side while Hayoon grumbled with his guards. His mind was still a jumbled mess of thoughts, but the door opening to let Hayoon imperiously walk out ended the time for reflection. As Jungkook stepped out of the building, the roar of voices that greeted him nearly made him lose his balance in surprise. Eyes wide, Jungkook took in the crowd of alpha citizens gathered at the site, chanting his name cheerfully. The Captain was utterly speechless. He ducked his head between his shoulders and waved awkwardly as he closed the distance with the alpha-marked pole symbolising the starting point. 

As he passed by an alpha Palace guard who had come to control the crowd, Jungkook heard her mutter, “Word’s out. Good luck, Captain Jeon.” Jungkook didn't have time to respond. His attention was already on his opponent, who had a stormy expression, clearly unhappy with the support for the Captain. 

The solemn words pronounced by the minister guarantor flew right above Jungkook’s head. His alpha stirred in his chest, ready for the challenge, and the thrumming of his heartbeat almost deafened him. Excitement, he realised. He should be worried, scared even. But he was excited. 

The deep, low sound of the horn spread through the air, and Jungkook sprinted forward in the crowd's roar, breaking through the first line of trees and almost simultaneously turning into his wolf form.

Finally, his alpha growled, immediately taking over and veering sharply to the left.

We only protect Taehyung from that fucker, Jungkook warned from his place to the sidelines of their shared consciousness. He needs to reach the exit gate untouched.

The wolf huffed, and Jungkook could feel him roll his eyes. We protect our mate because he is ours, the wolf answered, emphasising the last word

Jungkook’s wolf was large and strong, but also fast and agile. He and his human counterpart spent long nights on runs, roaming freely into the royal grounds as the Captain's status allowed. They rarely stayed away from Taehyung’s apartments for long, but exercise was Jungkook's passion, and his alpha loved running just as much. Generally, the relationship between the man and the wolf was excellent, despite both being stubborn and competitive. The only point of disagreement was Jungkook's stubbornness in refusing to consider himself worthy of the prince, an idea his alpha found deeply offensive.

Faster, the alpha growled.

Faster, Jungkook agreed.

Jungkook was used to leaving his alpha in control when they were in wolf form, taking the opportunity to let his mind wander freely while his counterpart was allowed to let his instincts run wild. And although he couldn’t fully relax with the impending danger looming over Taehyung, it was difficult not to be lulled into his usual mental space. Immediately, all his doubts and questions came back with a vengeance.

What was he doing? Sure, he wanted to protect Taehyung from Hayoon and prevent that undeserving beast from tainting the beautiful work of art that the prince was. But why the excitement? He didn’t want to chase Taehyung, try to catch and have the omega for himself…did he? His alpha was convinced they were mates, fated to be together, but Jungkook knew better. Maybe in the wolves' world, choosing mates was more straightforward, but in the human reality, nobody would ever deem Jungkook worthy of a prince, much less a rare gem like Taehyung.

You can be so clueless sometimes, his wolf snorted.

What are you talking about? Jungkook retorted, annoyed at being interrupted in his descent into existential crisis.

Omega has already chosen us. Both of us, the alpha deadpanned.

The simple statement shut Jungkook up. If once upon a time he could have thought that Taehyung might have considered him only for some fun, the prince’s words the day before–

"Or someone else will also accept the challenge and win."

–had sent a shiver down Jungkook’s spine, even in his confused state, because it had felt like Taehyung explicitly said he wanted–

"You."

–him to be that someone. 

The alpha snorted mockingly, and Jungkook was about to let out a series of creative explicatives when both the wolf and the human froze at the whiff of vanilla and strawberries reaching their nose. 

Faint. Far. 

But they were too attuned for too long to the heavenly scent not to be able to perceive it even when it was just ephemeral, like a ghost. After all, they had spent a lot of time chasing even the lightest traces of it wherever they could, both in wolf and human form.

The next moment, they were on the move again, rushing in the direction indicated by the wolf's sensitive sense of smell. After a short while, the alpha growled softly in his chest, frustrated.

What is it? Jungkook asked.

We’re too on edge. Omega perceived our pheromones. He doesn’t know them and is running away. We scared him.

Jungkook felt his heart lurch into the wolf’s ribcage. The last thing he ever wanted to do was scare Taehyung. The Captain would cut off a limb to make the prince always feel safe. His alpha seemed to have the same mindset because he picked up the pace, muting his pheromones and scent and trying to be as quiet as possible.

If Omega is scared, he might be careless, the wolf growled anxiously, his powerful body moving as carefully as possible to avoid making any sounds that would make Taehyung think he was being chased. 

Jungkook was cursing himself for not thinking about how Taehyung might react to the signs of the presence of another alpha that he couldn't recognise when the nauseating scent of crushed strawberries spiked in the air in front of them, immediately overpowered by another one.

An alpha, known one.

A red mist took over Jungkook’s eyes, his instant, raging anger mixing with his wolf’s, sharpened by the most spine-chilling fear both had ever felt. Cautiousness thrown to the wind, the alpha rushed forward in a chaos of broken twigs and ripped-off leaves. When his view finally cleared as he entered a small, more open space, it took his brain a split second to process what was happening before the alpha launched himself into the air, slamming into his opponent with his full weight, knocking him far away before he could reach his target.

My mate, the alpha snarled towards the other wolf, splayed on the ground.

My prince, Jungkook seethed before turning to search for the omega wolf.

And moon goddess, he was breathtaking even in his wolf form. His fur was golden and cream, his frame slightly smaller than Jungkook’s but robust and well-muscled, his legs long like his human counterpart’s and equally beautifully proportioned. He was elegant and regal, staring at Jungkook with wide, golden eyes, ears pinned back, his tail tucked low, and a tense, hunched body.

Run, Jungkook shouted in his mind.

Omega can’t hear us. Only mated wolves can communicate through the bond, his alpha growled before snapping his teeth together and jerking his muzzle towards the forest in a silent command to the omega.

A loud snarl snapped Jungkook’s attention away from Taehyung before he could understand if the prince had fled, just in time to see Hayoon attack. The two massive wolves collided again, claws and fangs searching and finding targets in a battle of dominance. Pheromones and scents weighed down the air, trying to overpower the other and force him into submission.

Jungkook almost didn't feel the claws and bites reaching him. The adrenaline was flowing too strongly. The need to take down this ignoble wolf, crush him under his paws, force him to run away with his tail between his legs and never raise his unworthy eyes on Taehyung again made the pain risible. It was exhilarating—the power. And from the hidden recesses where Jungkook had pushed his ego and desires, a roaring and blinding fire exploded, snapping the Captain's self-imposed chains.

He’s mine, Jungkook growled, his alpha rumbling approvingly. My–

A howl. Jungkook turned to the sound as if commanded, in time to see Taehyung’s eyes flashing an intense blue.

–mate.

Chapter Text

The black wolf’s eyes flashed an even more intense red for a moment before the alpha returned to the fight, his bites viciously targeting Hayoon’s muzzle.

Alpha wants us, Taehyung’s wolf rejoiced.

The prince, focused on the ongoing brawl, acknowledged the words late. What?

Alpha’s eyes flashed red, the wolf said as if it explained everything, clearly over the moon. 

Taehyung couldn’t share the same excitement as his wolf, not only because he was worried for Jungkook, but because the Captain’s words still echoed in his mind. Even if the alpha wolf had somehow staked his claim, it didn’t mean his human counterpart felt the same. He was probably acting out of honour to protect Taehyung from Hayoon, nothing else. But he wouldn’t ruin his wolf’s joy with selfishness, not after how much he had suffered. And luckily, he seemed too happy to pay attention to his human counterpart’s quietness. 

A high-pitched, pained howl abruptly stopped Taehyung’s mulling over, snapping his attention back to the small clearing.

Hayoon’s wolf lay on his side, one of his hind legs wounded by a bite. Jungkook’s wolf towered over him, a large paw pressing on his shoulder, keeping him down. The black wolf was bent forward, his muzzle close to Hayoon's throat, growling threateningly with his fangs bared. After excruciatingly long seconds, the tension abandoned the defeated prince's frame, and he stuck his neck out for Jungkook's teeth, signalling his surrender and submission. Jungkook growled one last time in warning, louder, before slowly backing away, his authoritative gaze direct and unwavering, and his lips still curled.

Alpha is strong, the omega wolf gushed, pleased. 

Taehyung, stunned by how quickly Jungkook had subdued Hayoon, didn’t even notice that they had moved until the strong, powerful scent of sandalwood and musk filled his nostrils, and he realised they were nuzzling the alpha’s neck. For his part, the black wolf seemed more than pleased with the situation and didn't waste a second in lowering his muzzle and burying it in the thick fur on Taehyung's neck, tickling him pleasantly, his warm breath so close to the omega’s main gland making the prince and the wolf shiver. 

However, the presence of the defeated alpha didn’t sit right with any of them in such an intimate moment. After staring down at the other wolf one more time, Jungkook nudged the omega’s side, pushing him gently. The message was clear: reach the exit and safety. 

The omega didn’t spare Hayoon a single glance before launching himself into the forest, closely flanked by Jungkook, who remained alert the whole time. While a wolf that had submitted should no longer pose a threat, it was hard to say whether Hayoon, though injured, wouldn't try some other desperate last-minute trick, although now Taehyung reeked so much of Jungkook that it would be tantamount to attacking an already mated omega. 

Alpha wants us, the wolf chanted the whole time, and Taehyung couldn’t help but smile.

He certainly wants you, the prince answered, and this time, no longer lost in the euphoria, his wolf caught up.

You know it doesn’t work like this. You humans just overthink everything.

Taehyung didn’t answer, and the wolf didn’t push. 

The two wolves reached the nearby stream a few minutes later, stopping long enough to lap at the water and clean themselves. The alpha licked dirt and blood off the omega’s fur thoroughly, and Taehyung’s wolf let him, enjoying the caring gesture. 

Free to head straight for the exit, Taehyung and Jungkook reached the final clearing a little over an hour later. There, specially prepared by the Hunt organisers, lay three open boxes, one with the omega symbol on the far left and two with the alpha symbol on the far right. Inside were clean tunics and trousers, loose and simply cut.

Well, no more avoiding a clarification, I guess, Taehyung sighed, after the two wolves nuzzled each other again before trotting off to their respective crates. Jungkook had checked the area thoroughly, sniffing the air and circling the clearing until he was confident that there was no danger for the prince to be alone.

Alpha is probably more preoccupied than you, the omega chortled, gently grabbing the clothes between his teeth and heading into the thick of the nearby bushes. Just don’t let him stay stuck in his head.

Taehyung only sighed. After one last bit of encouragement, the wolf backed away and let the prince regain control. Taehyung felt his body return to its human form and groaned softly at the sore muscles from the prolonged exertion. He slowly pulled on his clothes, his mind swirling with questions and doubts.

Why did Jungkook participate in the Hunt? Was it really only to keep Taehyung safe? Or had he perhaps understood Taehyung’s request? Minju had let slip that the Captain had returned to his quarters multiple times the night before. Was it just a sense of duty or something else?

Overthinking, his wolf huffed.

Taehyung pressed his lips together. It was true. There was no point in going in circles when the person with the answers was just beyond the vegetation. But the truth was, Taehyung was scared. Scared of ending up heartbroken again. He was not sure what he would do in that case. Steeling himself as much as he could, Taehyung ran his fingers through his hair in a half-hearted attempt to fix himself, and stepped out into the clearing.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Jungkook had been an idiot. He could see it now, just as clearly as the heartstopping vision of Taehyung in simple, cream clothes identical to Jungkook’s, slightly too big for his frame, giving the Captain the illusion that the prince was wearing his clothes.

How could he ever have thought that giving up on Taehyung was a good idea?

The prince looked collected, sauntering in the clearing, golden hair blazing like a halo in the sun's rays that filtered through the leaves. But his eyes didn’t quite meet Jungkook’s, and it made the Captain’s heart squeeze in his chest. Now that Jungkook had finally accepted that his self-consciousness and low self-esteem in deserving the prince had been his worst enemies all along, keeping him from seeing how set Taehyung and his wolf were regarding who they wanted, he could also recognise the damage his behaviour had caused.

And even if some doubts still floated around him about being a worthy mate for Taehyung, Jungkook would no longer let them decide for the prince.

His bare foot finally moved, initiating the first step, and more followed until he reached the spot where Taehyung had stilled when he had noticed the Captain come forward. There, Jungkook stopped, his toes nearly touching Taehyung's in the luscious grass. Slowly, as if not to scare the omega, his hands reached out until his fingers could wrap around the prince’s dainty wrists, turning them around and sliding skin to skin until he was holding Taehyung’s large hands in his. Jungkook’s eyes followed the movements with rapt attention, taking in the path of goosebumps rising on the prince’s arms, until a shiver shook the omega’s whole frame. Then, he voiced the most pressing question.

“How did you know it was me?”

Taehyung’s hands twitched a little in Jungkook’s hold. The Captain could hear the prince’s deep inhale, anticipating his lovely, rosy lips opening to speak. 

“Your scent,” the prince murmured, voice so low it could get lost in the gentle rustling of leaves around them. “I smelled faint, burnt sandalwood in the garden when you protected me.”

The Captain hummed lowly, reminiscing about the events of the day before. “You did? I was furious. Maybe the patch couldn’t contain my rage.”

Taehyung didn’t speak further, and Jungkook kept staring at their joined hands, gathering the courage to speak his heart out.

“My prince,” Jungkook whispered, and even to his ears, the devotion was evident. “My everything. Can you forgive an idiot?”

Taehyung’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently, and the alpha forced himself to lift his eyes, meeting the downturned curve of Taehyung’s trembling lips first, his regal nose, and finally, his beautiful eyes shining with a liquid quality, still running away from Jungkook.

“I hurt you,” Jungkook continued, still whispering, as if the moment was too sacred to be disturbed by any noise. He couldn’t help but stare at Taehyung, even if the prince was not looking at him. He hadn’t removed his hands from the alpha’s hold, and it was enough. “I’ve been careless. I was so angry. I couldn’t understand how anybody could have a chance to have you and treat you like that. It messed up my mind.”

“You refused.” Taehyung swallowed around words stuck in his throat. “I told you I only had two ways out. I asked you to be one of them. You refused.”

“I–” Jungkook stopped, trying to put order in his thoughts, find the right words. But when he felt Taehyung’s hands starting to pull back, he instinctively strengthened his hold. Fuck the right words, he thought. He had had too many of them already. “My prince. All this time, I never thought I was good enough for you. How could I, a soldier, son of palace servants, be worthy of the brightest star in the kingdom? And when the queen mentioned your arranged marriage, I– I knew you were deserving of an alpha prince. A king, even. Even if it killed me.”

“And yet,” Taehyung interrupted, eyes finally meeting Jungkook’s, unshed tears still glistening, but also fire burning into the chocolate-couloured depths, “my prospective husband lay somewhere in the forest, injured and defeated, submitted to the real alpha,” he almost growled. The prince tightened his grip on Jungkook’s hands as well, hard enough that the Captain felt the fingertips dig into his tendons almost painfully. He didn’t even flinch. 

“So let me ask you this, and it will be the only time,” Taehyung asked angrily, but Jungkook could see the fear flashing in his eyes. “Do you, Alpha Jeon Jungkook, Captain of my guards, still believe you are unworthy of me? Will you still step back and let me go?”

“No.”

Taehyung closed his eyes for a moment, his body relaxing a little.

Once upon a time, Jungkook would have hesitated. His mind would have conjured up nearly a dozen valid reasons to justify his cowardice. He would have let someone else have Taehyung just because this person had a higher status than Jungkook. 

Not anymore. 

Without breaking eye contact, Jungkook slowly lowered himself onto a knee, an action he had done before, but the intensity of his gaze and the situation made it completely different. Judging by the sudden heaviness of Taehyung's breathing, the prince could feel it too.

“You are my fate,” Jungkook pleaded, like an oath, “and even such words cannot explain it. The salvation that saved me from weariness, would words like these be able to describe it better? Even if many days pass, even if my feet bleed, I’ll stay by your side, if you want me.”

For a few eternal seconds, Taehyung remained as still as a statue. Then, in an instant, Jungkook found himself sitting on the ground, an omega prince straddling his lap, large hands holding his face, and Taehyung's devastating mismatched eyes staring at him from the closest distance.

“You’re such an idiot,” Taehyung whispered, his breath brushing Jungkook’s skin before the space between them disappeared.

Being kissed by Taehyung was like approaching the sun: scorching hot and all-consuming. 

It began softly, a tentative brush that quickly turned into something deeper as they melted into each other. Taehyung’s hands found their way to the back of Jungkook’s neck, pulling him closer, while fingers intertwined in hair, grounding them in the moment. As their mouths moved in a fervent dance, Jungkook snapped out of his stupor. With a low growl in his throat, his hands gripped Taehyung’s waist, drawing a soft moan from the prince that the Captain rushed to swallow. Each press of lips was a plea, a promise, deepening into something primal—a rush of heat that made the world around them fade into nothingness. Each swipe or plunge of their tongues into each other’s mouths ignited the need for more, closer, deeper.

Taehyung was an assertive kisser, not scared of taking what he wanted, but keen to give just as much. Jungkook eagerly let him have all he wanted and demanded back without restraint.

Time lost all meaning as they surrendered to the wild beating of their hearts, lost in the intoxicating taste of desire and longing. When they finally pulled apart, breathless and trembling, their foreheads touched, eyes still closed, each feeling the echo of that burning kiss deep within. It was then that Jungkook noticed the salty aftertaste on his tongue. His eyes snapped open, and his hands immediately searched and found Taehyung’s face. The wetness under his palms alerted him to what he would find even before he saw the copious tears streaming down the omega's golden skin.

“Did I hurt you?” Jungkook asked, panicked.

“So much,” Taehyung replied with a hiccup. His fingers wrapped around Jungkook’s wrists before the other could react to his words, and kept the alpha’s hands in place. “You hurt me every time you turned me down. Every time you walked away, it was as if you couldn’t wait to put space between us. You were so eager to leave. I thought– I thought you had a mate, but that whiff of sandalwood– and then your refusal to– but then you were here, and I thought it was because of your sense of duty. But our wolves– and what you said–”

Jungkook freed his hands and wrapped his arms around Taehyung in a single movement, pulling him close against his chest. His fingers carded in blonde locks when he pushed the omega’s face against his neck, releasing calming, reassuring pheromones to placate the distressed prince.

“I’m sorry,” Jungkook whispered, battling the tears pricking his eyes. “I’m so sorry. I never thought you were suffering because of me. You were right. I’m such an idiot. My wolf has called you his mate for the longest time, and I should have known that the moon goddess would never pair two souls if they couldn’t be together. I let my insecurities win and took the choice away from you.” 

Jungkook’s fingertips massaged Taehyung’s head gently, while his other hand drew soothing circles on the prince’s back, the omega’s tension slowly melting away under his ministrations and scent.  “For what it's worth,” the alpha murmured hoarsely, “it killed me every time I walked away from you, when all I wanted to do was take you in my arms and kiss you senseless. Make you mine, Claim you for myself.”

Taehyung’s body shook with a violent shiver at those words. The prince gently pushed himself away from Jungkook’s body, the captain’s arms accommodating his movements without completely letting go, until they were face to face. Even with bloodshot eyes, tear-streaked cheeks, and kiss-swollen lips, Taehyung was the most beautiful, otherworldly being that ever graced Earth with his presence. Of that, Jungkook was sure.

“Good,” Taehyung said, “because you are about to do just that, as the winner of the Hunt.”

Jungkook’s eyes widened. He could feel his alpha rumble in his chest, eager to please his mate, but the captain reined him in. “I would love nothing more than to mark you as mine here and now,” he growled. When Taehyung opened his mouth, he pressed his index finger over his lips, shutting him up. “But I won’t do that. We deserve much more than a clearing at the end of a challenge, with hundreds of people waiting beyond that line of trees, and another alpha poisoning this forest with his presence.”

Taehyung’s expression, at first disappointed, relaxed into one of understanding. Jungkook took it as a sign to continue, his finger moving to caress the omega’s lower lip.

“You will go out by yourself now.” Once again, the alpha cut off the protest before the prince could voice it. “Because you are the winner of the Hunt. You fought for your freedom and deserve to show it to the world. Later, we can talk to their majesties and have our time.”

“Not necessarily in this order,” Taehyung said against Jungkook’s finger. His tongue flicked out to lick the fingertip, and Jungkook’s whole body burned with desire.

Then, Taehyung stood up. He stared down at Jungkook, a whirlwind of promises dancing in his eyes, before turning away and walking through the bushes towards the line of trees. The captain stayed where he was, exhaling shakily. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around it; not only did he kiss Taehyung, but the prince wanted him back just as desperately. He wanted to be his mate.

A roar of cheers broke the quiet, scaring a few birds that hastily flew away. Unable to contain his curiosity, Jungkook rose to his feet and quickly brushed his clothes from the grass and dirt. He slipped through the undergrowth and reached the last row of trees just as the cheers turned to a murmur of confusion. Jungkook peered out from behind a trunk, careful to stay in the shadows, brows furrowed.

Taehyung was standing in the open, midway towards the exit gate, his back to the latter, eyes unyieldingly staring at the forest he had just left.

Waiting.

It took Jungkook a moment to understand that the omega awaited him. His fierce prince was willing to wait for the consummation, but not to stake his claim publicly.

And the alpha was nothing but weak for whatever his mate wanted.

The cheers of surprise, excitement, and jubilation that went up when Jungkook dropped his cover and stepped out into the sun were even more deafening than those that had greeted Taehyung. Contrary to when he had started the Hunt, the alpha didn’t shy away, keeping his head up proudly, confidently walking towards his omega, who was looking at him with pride. Taehyung extended his arm, and Jungkook took his hand effortlessly. The captain noticed their limbs slotted as if they had always belonged together. 

The king and the queen were waiting for them a few steps behind the exit gate, and as soon as they stepped under the threshold, Taehyung was pulled away and disappeared into his father’s hug. Before Jungkook could react to the sudden loss, he was engulfed in the queen’s arms.

“Blessed be the moon goddess,” the omega whispered in Jungkook’s ear, trying and failing to keep her composure. “Finally, her light has reached you and cleared your mind. Thank you for proving to my son that he was right about you the whole time."

“Whatever it takes,” Jungkook replied softly, emotions choking him a little at the open acceptance already shining through the royal’s words, his body awkwardly standing with his arms circling the queen’s frame at a noticeable distance.

Above her shoulder, Jungkook met Taehyung’s eyes, sparkling with mirth. He would need to get used to these new developments, and he was pleased to notice that he didn’t mind in the slightest.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Later, after reaching the quiet of his bedroom, Taehyung closed the door softly and turned around, sauntering towards his captain standing in front of the vanity. Jungkook’s eyes didn’t leave his, not even when the prince stopped a hair away from their toes touching. In a re-enactment of days before, the prince leaned forward and lowered his head until his forehead pressed against Jungkook’s shoulder. He turned his face towards the alpha’s neck and inhaled the strong, warm mix of sandalwood and musk with satisfaction.

This time, Jungkook didn’t push him away. Instead, the alpha moved his head to look into the mirror, staring at their reflection before meeting the prince’s eyes.

“What?” Taehyung enquired with a hint of mischief.

“I should have looked at our reflection together earlier,” the alpha answered slowly, his voice low and deep. “Then I would have seen that no one else looks good at your side.”

Taehyung laughed, ecstatic. “I have to say I do love when your alpha takes over. He seems like one who knows what he’s doing.”

In the blink of an eye, Jungkook moved. He bent on his knees and grabbed Taehyung's thighs, his fingers digging possessively into the meat. The prince yelped and swayed slightly, instinctively gripping the alpha's shoulders for support. As if he had been waiting for this moment, Jungook hoisted him in his arms, wrapping Taehyung's legs around his waist and supporting his entire weight as if it were nothing. The alpha smirked at the omega's shocked expression and suddenly laboured breathing.

“Well, now you’ll see what happens when the alpha and the human are aligned about the omega prince they want, sweetheart.”

Carrying Taehyung towards the bed, Jungkook realised, even as he silenced Taehyung's giggles with a kiss, that this wasn't just a culmination of the burning desire he was bound to feel for his chosen one. As the world outside faded away, leaving only the soft rustle of sheets, the wild beats of their hearts, and the satisfied hums of two wolves, Jungkook finally understood that it was about being one with his mate— no matter how much his human rationalised it, his wolf knew far better about cosmic connections, and matters of the souls.

It still wasn't clear to him how long it would have taken to come to his senses if it hadn't been for the arranged marriage and Taehyung invoking the Hunt. But as his omega lay in his arms, spent and content and carrying his mark, Jungkook realised he would always find his way here. He had nowhere else to go; nobody else to be with. His only place was forever by the side of his prince. His omega. His mate.