Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Taehyung did not know why his significant other avoided him so much, but as the months went by and the relationship progressed, he started to wonder whether it was a problem with him, or with the elder. 

They had mated due to convenience. The elder needed a mate to tend to his household duties, and Taehyung needed a saviour. Due to better relations between neighboring packs nowadays, and the development of wolves from tiny remote villages to larger settlements, it has become customary for unmated wolves who are looking for a mate to apply for a matchmaker to find a mate. The matchmaker would then show them potential candidates. 

This had been Taehyung’s initial route to finding a suitable mate, and his success rate had been low. Due to shortages in available omegas, he didn’t have to pay the matchmaker, and this seemed like a huge blessing. However, when he found out that every maker looking for a high-profile alpha had a secure job and financial status he realized that his chances were incredibly slim. The omega knew he was beautiful, but he was an orphan with a little sister to look after. His prospects were not high, yet still, he didn’t want to live a life filled with hardship anymore. He had his age on his side, so if he couldn’t succeed within a few years when his sister fully presented, then he planned to mate the first suitable alpha possible.

It was by chance that he had seen an ad at the matchmaker's office for a certain chief, who needed a mate. Instead of partaking in the matchmaking, the alpha had directly asked for resumes to be sent over to his address so he could look over them.

Such a high-ranked official was bound to get many applications, so when Taehyung was instructed to enter his house at a given time for the first initial meeting, he was shocked at being chosen.

The omega had dressed in his best outfit and spent hours in the library studying books on omega behaviour to appear as presentable as possible. Taehyung had already done this research before, but Chief Joen was on another level or prestige. However, when he entered and saw a lineup of 30 other omegas sitting outside in the hot sun his hopefulness faltered. They all had been invited in what seemed to be an interview process and Taehyung ended up being the last omega on the list. He already knew that his chances were lowered. All of the other omegas had a better shot, being the last one meant he was at the biggest disadvantage to the alpha and would be tired for the day, so he knew that he had to impress.

The alpha had seen incredibly cold and spoke very few words to him directly, his facial expression gave him little indication of what he was thinking. Taehyung hadn’t even been able to smell his unique scent to determine their compatibility because the alpha was wearing sent blockers. He was aware that it was customary for most soldiers to hide their scent from potential threats, and also to not affect training and other alphas with their pheromones, but he hadn’t expected to see the same alpha in his full work attire. It had intimidated him incredibly, such a stoic alpha could not be approached easily. Taehyung, already realised from that one meeting at the alpha, was married to his job, and the house would not be filled with laughter.

Somehow from that meeting, Jungkook decided to offer him the role. After a month of daily lunchtime dates, they were mated and living together. Their meetings consisted less of chatter and mindless conversation but instead discussed the future and how they would cohabit together. Jungkook was thorough and straight to the point, he had outlined many rules that he had. The alpha had been fair, however, and allowed Taehyung to include his input when asked. The omega knew from day one that tardiness would not be expected. Soldiers worked from dawn to dusk and never slacked off, Taehyung could tell that he would be treated the same.

Taehyung was not allowed to have any guests over in the house as the elder preferred to keep his house as his solitude. As he had expressed, it was the one place where he could have peace and he would like to keep it that way. Taehyung was also to perform for him every night to ease his tension. When he had first heard that it caused him to bristle up. Being mounted every night was not something he had anticipated, and had hoped to avoid. However, the alpha had clarified he wanted Taehyung to sing and play the various instruments that he could play. The omega had been gifted a grand piano and a violin for him to perform with, as well as lessons to sharpen up his skill within the first few months. He could not complain, he loved music, and if all that was expected of him was to sing a pretty song or play a little tune, he would be more than happy to substitute that for a day filled with manual labor. 

Some other rules consisted of keeping the house clean, being responsible for his laundry, and maintaining proper order in the house. The alpha had also subjected him to proper omega etiquette lessons, as high-ranking omegas like himself would present themselves differently in public. The teacher has been incredibly unforgiving, and as horrible as he had found those lessons, he learnt to be more confident and sharpened his speaking skills. 

Yet, despite forking out all this money on such lessons, Jungkook didn’t seem to care for anything he was taught. When they ate he insisted Taehyung eat with him instead of watching him silently, and huffed when he explained that he was to only eat after his alpha had finished. He found Taehyung’s formal bow when he entered the house trifling and the table setup of various cutlery for different foods too complicated for a simple dinner. Whilst Taehyung questioned the point of him suffering through those lessons for a full month, he couldn’t complain when Jungkook ended all the exhausting customs that he wasn’t a fan of either. The omega did have to thank the tutor for improving his confidence though, and her techniques for cleaning had also eased his workload too. 

That was back in July; it was now the first week of January, and yet it still felt like they were strangers.

His days were simple. He would wake up early in the morning to wake Jungkook for breakfast. If the alpha was going away for the night, he would prepare a bag for him and braid his hair to keep it tidy, he would tend to the household duties and run some errands around town. By dinner time, he would have the table set up, all ready for the alpha. He would do the laundry, heat water for a bath before bed and set up his clothes for the next day.

Most nights were filled with silence, with an occasional short conversation. They didn’t speak a lot, and it was something that Taehyung didn’t understand, but it was what Jungkook also wanted.

One day within the first month of mating, Taehyung had been excited about the upcoming summer festival. He was chatting away to one Jungkook, who, after a little while had slammed his fist down and shouted that he did not want to come home to noise. He dealt with it all day at work and did not wanna be greeted by it when you came home to his house with his solitude as he would mention over and over again.

Taehyung grew to slowly resent Jungkook, so it wasn’t him on snap but the lack of communication that they had, he felt like a puppet in his own house. He may have freedom, and was able to travel around a pack freely in the daytime but at home, he felt like a shadow on the wall. A maid.

Jungkook may not be unkind. He had given the alpha permission to tend to his heat, and those few days had always been the most pleasant time that they would spend together, the alpha would be diligent, tending to him, feeding him and knotting him ever so gently, but every time he would crave more affection from the alpha rather than be satiated. The clinical scenting he would receive in the morning and evenings when they would see each other and the snuggles they would do in bed didn't cut it. Taehyung had a loud and affectionate personality, the lifestyle he had chosen was too caging for him.

The alpha never seemed satisfied. Sometimes Jungkook looked at him like he was an inconvenience, and it made him want to keep away from the office as much as possible. Jungkook had spent more time there recently and would no longer accompany Taehyung to bed either. 

The Kim pack were in charge of Daegu, where they resided. Taehyung had picked up that attempted poisonings had been happening. There was a big investigation going on as to who had been doing this, and each time Jungkook would come back from another attempted poisoning even more frustrated than before.

Taehyung understood his mate had a taxing job; he understood why Jungkook had to go on trips for several days and worked long nights. The whole pack and many surrounding areas relied on his leadership. He didn’t want too much; he just wanted to be acknowledged a little bit more and feel more like a mate than a maid.

Even if their relationship was strained, Jungkook still treated him like his mate and made sure he was respected, too.

A group of the higher-ranked officials, ones that were directly under Jungkook’s control, had come over that evening for dinner. Grudgingly, the alpha had admitted earlier in the day that he did not want to hold such a dinner but was pressured into it by his coworkers. Taehyung had been surprised when he had originally been notified of such a meeting; it wasn’t something very commonly done. But anyone would slowly be worn down by pressure if they were 

Taehyung spent the whole day cleaning the house, scrubbing every inch and double-checking every corner for dust. He knew he kept the house spotless, but had no wish to be accused of slacking on his duties. This wasn’t just Jungkook he had to impress, but other soldiers. He was excited though, despite not being invited ot said dinner. One thing he missed about having a family was hearing laughter, even if he wasnt in the room. It made the house feel warmer.

When he was washed and dressed, the sound of horses approaching could be heard from the outside and in a minute, the front door was opened by Jungkook. A flurry of deep voices followed by laughing and cackling at some jokes I’ve just made. Taehyung came back down the steps in a hurry, ready to greet everybody. The Alpha hadn’t specified how Taehyung should dress for such an occasion, so he kept it simple and plain. With the court he received Kook can start his form, which signifies his success.

“Ahh, omega Jeon,” a short but sturdy man greeted him first before Jungkook could introduce him. Taehyung smiled politely immediately, bowing his head only a little at all the alphas as a greeting, not too low to show too much respect as he was previously instructed to. He could see Jungkook’s lips pressing in a thin line at being beaten to the chase, but the alpha just turned away slightly and poked his tongue through his cheek.

The night has already started badly. “Good evening, was the journey pleasant?” Taehyung politely asked; he didn’t have anything else to say; he wasn’t going to be sticking around too long.

“Ahh, it was pleasant, not too cold tonight. Maybe it’s because we are greeted by such a warm host,” another taller, but younger-looking alpha cracked the joke, wiggling his eyes at Jungkook, who responded with a tight-lipped smile.

“Ahh, yes,” Taehyung chuckled politely. “If you come into the office, I have prepared some refreshments for you.”

He smiled and guided them into Jungkook’s office, which he had already set up. There were bottles of rum, brandy and various cups so that he didn’t have to serve them himself. He looks towards Jungkook as he accepts the alpha's coat to hang up, but Jungkook has already entered his office and taken the high seat. He didn't even get greeted by his own alpha.

He had been instructed not to serve the other alpha's drinks, but instead to only serve him. If they asked for a refill on drinks, then he was simply to put the drink at the head of the table, and the alpha's would have to serve themselves. As a higher-ranked omega, he shouldn’t be serving other alphas. After consulting with a bunch of other omegas later in the week, who were also married to firsts and seconds, Taehyung found out that this was not true, but was probably more due to Jung-kook's personal preference.

After hanging up the coats, he entered again, “When would you like to have dinner served?”

“Maybe in half an hour,” Jungkook responded this time, speaking to the younger one for the first time since he had entered the house..

“What will you be cooking for us tonight? I have been looking forward to the menu,” a taller and better-built alpha enquired. He looked younger than Jungkook, but he still carried the same weight on his shoulders. Taehyung was free to learn that all soldiers with a rank had a little ego, including his mate.

Before he could respond to the alpha, Jungkook had already spoken up, “We eat from the canteen. Taehyung usually prepares a few side dishes, but today he won’t be cooking at all. We will eat from the canteen as well.”

“Oh, I was hoping for a home-cooked dinner; my omega isn’t very talented in the kitchen.” The same alpha responded. Taehyung was taken aback by the insult. The alpha hadn't said it in a jokey tone either, so the blatant disrespect shown was abysmal. Seeing how Jungkook was treating him tonight worried him a lot. Did he get disrespected behind the scenes, too? Was this normal?

“That’s all,” Jungkook glanced at him and gave a short nod, the first proper acknowledgement he had received so far.

Taehyung checked that the food was ready and slowly laid out the dishes, serving his own alpha first. When he noticed how, compared to half an hour ago, his eyes were brighter and he had a small smile, it was clear that the dinner was going better than expected. 

“I heard you play instruments. Will we be an audience for a performance on that piano tonight?” The guy he had learnt was Mingyu from eavesdropping on their conversation, and spoke up. Taehyung liked him; he seemed very sweet and was Mina’s mate. He didn't know Mina too well, but they seemed to fit very well together.

Taehyung smiled. That was something he would love to do. So far, it would only be Jungkook he has performed for aside from his family and some festivals when he was younger. Performing for some guests would be a lovely occasion. When he had met up with some of the soldiers' wives in the past, they had taken turns to play at lunch, and it had been a lovely occasion as well. The idea got shut down as quickly as it was suggested by Jungkook, who abruptly raised his voice. “My omega is not here to entertain other alphas.”

His voice was stoic. The previous lax posture had straightened up with sharpness and even glared at the alpha who had suggested it. There was silence after the accusations thrown in the air. Taehyung tried to ease the tension a little. “It’s fine anyway, the piano needs to be tuned up, so playing for you guys would sound off-key.”

His statement to trick and a couple of chuckles eased the atmosphere up, and chatter resumed. He got Jungkook another pint of beer and cleared up any empty bottles before rushing back upstairs. His job for the night was over for an hour.

Taehyung was worried about Jungkook’s impression of his actions so far. There was no evidence that he had done well, but none either that he had failed. The only other person who had visited was Namjoon, Leader Kim’s son. They were best friends, and the alpha was one of the only people who outranked Jungkook. That was the only time Taehyung was instructed to serve someone else, but even then it was one drink. 

The alpha was possessive and cared about other people's perception of him a lot. Taehyung was told he bowed his head too much at other people in the past and even had jabs thrown at his choice of clothes for not looking pretty enough. The omega grits his teeth every time another command is thrown at him and does what he was told to do. Things were easier that way. He had witnessed Jungkook’s wrath on other individuals in the past, and it was not something he wanted to be the subject of. The alpha, who himself was a tall and burly man, had struck and toppled over an alpha who was half a head taller and double his weight. It may have been in self-defence, but the omega was still recovering from the sight. The huge beast of a fella was knocked out by one hit. Jungkook was the leader of the soldiers, a chief, for a reason. The alpha had never laid a hand on him, but words could hurt just as much; even his biting tone would wound Taehyung. 

Once the guests had left, Jungkook instructed him to come with him to study. Taehyung sat down next to him on the sofa. Usually, Jungkook likes to spend time alone reading a book or just enjoying a moment of silence. Jungkook gestured for the letters and an unfinished beer on the table. Teahyung reached for both and sat down next to the alpha, only to be scooted even closer by a hand on his waist. He tried not to blush at the contact. Jungkook wasn’t the most affectionate at certain times and would grasp his shoulders or waist to pull him closer to say something again. It was an act of possessiveness. The only times his touches became more forward were when he was drunk

“ Taeyeon’s report has come,” he murmured. Immediately gaining Taehyung’s attention.

Really, what does it say?

The piece of paper was handed to him, and he grasped excitement. His little sister had just turned 16 and was involved in one of the best schools in the country. She was in Busan, which was home to an expensive boarding school that provided some of the best education in the country. Taehyung had originally wanted her at the one in Daegu, only half an hour away from the house. But Jungkook, who was paying for education, had insisted that Busan would be better with finer resources and better quality teachers as well. 

The alpha was not a fan of the Daegu school, even though it was the third best in the country. Taehyung would’ve been satisfied if his sister were enrolled in any fine higher education school, but he wanted her to have good prospects when she left and to not just be confined to be a housemate like he was; he wanted her to be a proper doctor, or an accountant, or open up her own business. Nowadays, with the right education, an omega could become a lot more powerful in the past, even if roles like being a soldier was still preserved for betas and alphas. However, this seemed to be strictly for wealthier omegas, and Taehyung was lacking in money.

“She’s doing well and she's acing all of her classes.” Taehyung teared up as he scanned the letter. His sister was progressing exceptionally, and it made him emotional. It had been about five months since she had started school; she had started a month after Taehyung had gotten mated. Even though they sent letters weekly to each other, updating each other, and everything that was going on, he still worried for her every day. Whilst she had risen in society, they were not from an affluent background, so he really worried about her ability to make good friends and not just superficial ones like he was surrounded with, Mina being one of them.

“That’s good,” Jungkook hummed in approval.

“I know, and all of her teachers are saying such good things about her. She's made some good friends as well. I’m so proud,” his voice cracked a little at the end, and he had to reach over for a napkin to wipe his tears.

“Why are you getting so emotional?” Jungkook questioned, not expecting the change in his scent.

“Because I’ve been worried about her this whole time, she’s somewhere strange and new and all alone. The letters have always been positive, but I still worry. It’s a huge relief to know she is thriving.”

“She’s a smart kid. I expected her to do well”.

Taehyung hummed, “Does the piano need to be tuned?” Jungkook asked.

“No, I was just saying that to ease the tension.” He responded, tensing up a little.

“Play something for me,” Jungkook commanded gently. The omega eased up a little at the request.

“Don’t you want something at bedtime instead?” he asked.

“No, I’d like something right now; it's getting late anyway.”

He reached into the shelf to get the sheet music and settled on the piano, hitting a couple of notes to check. It still sounded good. Once everything was perfect, he gently played a melody. Jungkook relaxed on the couch whilst gently tapping on the sofa headboard as he listened to such a beautiful tune.

At times like this, he was nothing more than the trophy, a little housewife to admire and play for his alpha, but his life was still better than he expected.

After that, he played a couple more songs at Jungkook’s request; his yawn signalled time for bed, no conversation, no praise, just immediate action.

Taehyung complied, silently tidying up his area and collecting two glasses onto the table to be cleaned up in the morning. He shuffles down the hallway, only to be surprised by Jungkook at the end, waiting for him. They ascend together. Taehyung goes to sleep once again with the same tension on his mind. Was this really the rest of his life?

Chapter Text

Taehyung was all bundled up in a warm fur blanket, enjoying his midday drink and sitting outside next to their fire pit, when he caught sight of six soldiers in the distance. They were marching down the stone path, brisk stomps of their feet could be heard from where he was. Their stern expression alerted him that something was going on, but to his surprise, he watched from the little hill that their house was on as they started progressing further down the lane right to him.

When they opened the gate and marched straight up to him, he stood up an alarm. The only reason that they would be approaching him would be because of Jungkook so either something had happened or he was needed. Stiff shoulders and stern expressions on their faces alerted him that this was not going to be a pleasant conversation.

Taehyung folded his arms onto his lap, keeping his head held high as he was supposed to do. The six soldiers stopped in front of him, crowding around the omega's chair in a circle as if to try and stop him from escaping.  The soldier in the front,  one with a green collar, two ranks below Jungkook’s, stepped forward and looked down on him in disdain. It was as if Taehyung was the most disgusting thing he had ever laid his eyes upon. 

“Chief Jeon has been arrested and imprisoned. As his mate, you are also under investigation for his crimes.” Taehyung didn't believe one word he was hearing.

If there was one thing you could say about him, Jungkook cared about his pack more than anything else. Any crime committed by him is a mistake. Jungkook was a rule follower through and through, thats why he got so high up despite his lack of prestige and lineage.

“And what crimes would that be?” Taehyung’s voice was meant to be confident but it wavered.

“He is being accused of conspiring with rebels to overthrow the leader Kim.” Taehyung nearly fainted.

There was no way that was true.

“You are to be arrested, however, under omega Kim’s orders, she has granted you permission to pack your bags before you leave. You are allowed one suitcase which will be examined by us before we leave.”

Taehyung hurried to start packing. He didn’t have time to think about the implications of what was happening, so he went to work on packing as many things as possible. Jungkook's overnight bag was already packed, so he left it alone. He opened his drawers and got out his medical box. He packed all their toiletries just in case that wasn’t soap as from Jungkook’s citings prisons were never in good condition and put as many warm clothesas possible. 

Spring was coming up but it was chilly . He puton his coat and his thick wool scarf. Almost forgetting his little prize box, he moved over the page before putting it also into the bag cases that were ready to post them and so were easy to pack. He was very glad that Jungkook invested in good quality suitcases as they fit a hefty ton and sported large wheels, the whole time he detested the officers all around him, watching his every move. 

To his surprise, the lead alpha grabbed his luggage and wheeled them out. He didn’t expect them to be helpful. If they were correct, and omega Kim had granted him courtesy,maybe a carriage awaited outside.

But it wasn’t a nice carriage, just like the ones you would travel to and from town, but a bleaker simpler one with the wooden benches used by offices for transport of goods. It wasnt one designated for prisoners thats for sure.

A hand  was placed on Taehyung’s shoulder by the same General from earlier, and he was guided towards the other soldiers one again. The strong grip on his shoulder, a bit too close to his neck, but he couldn’t say anything. He was so scared of what was going to happen.

“Hands behind your back,” the general stated and quickly rope tied security on his hands so tightly that he felt like his circulation would be cut off. Taehyung's mind wandered to his mate and what was happening to him.

The carriage had no windows, so Taehyung had no clue where they were headed. Despite the alphas wearing scent blockers, and he was too, the air was suffocating with tension. They all were staring him down with disdain, their gaze so cutthroat that he couldn even bear to look up dor even a second.

The journey felt like hours but it couldnt have been more than twenty minutes, thats how far the pack prison was. The was harshly escorted out of the carrgiage and into the blak building with a forceful hand pressing on center of his back, gangerously close to his waist. Taehyung's blood curdled at the feeling. It felt so wrong.

The room was no where near as bad as Taehyung had expected. It was a room with one tiny window with a metal bars at the very top. It would be pleasant in the summer, but with the coldnes of wind that was outside the room had nasty draft. The glass on the window was one small blessing.

The room had two single beds on opposite sides of the room. Each one had four chains on the wall, alerting him that whoever would stay in the room would be chained to the bed. His anxiety increased tenfold at the site. He didn't wanna be chained down to his stomach or back. He didn't want to be in chains at all, but to his surprise once again, he was just instructed to sit on the left and his hands were untied.

The suitcase he had bought in was opened in front of him rummaged through. All of the contents was emptied unceremoniously all over the floor. Every single pocket, every inch of his belongings was checked with some medicine packets he had packed. Left a little early. Once they deemed it satisfacrotr, all 5 soldiers left the room with no word.

He sat down for a couple of minutes to think over what just happened. Everything must have happened very quickly, it wasn’t even midday yet. He was here in prison before lunch which means they must’ve arrested Jungkook the minute he entered the office. He remembered that Jungkook had looked incredibly stressed last night. He had snapped at him multiple times during dinner, yet he even refused his bath and went straight to bed. 

He carefully packed all of the stuff back into the bags, dusting off the clothes that had touched the ground. He sorted it out into piles and the one blanket he was able topack was place don his bed. The room didn't have any blankets so it was a good idea to pack it. Hopefully Jungkook wouldnt be mind being covered by his coat and hat, Taehyung could see they would not be sleeping in the same bed together, and Taehyung did not like the thought of that. He wanted to seek his alphas confort.

The sun had already set when the door opened again and a beta soldier entered, completely ignoring him. Plain rice and soggy vegetables but no meat just beside the door. He didn't have an appetite anyway so eating wouldn’t be a good idea. But the omega knew that the meals they would receive would be far and few, so he forced the food down as quickyl as possible. When he was younger and his parents would force him to eat disgusting foods, he would mash it up and swallow without chewing. Right now he did the same. It was like the food was cooked in the most disgusting way possible as extra punishment. Where was Jungkook?

It wasn’t until later in the evening when the sun had already long gone that he heard a commotion outside. The door slammed open, frightening Taehyung who had just manaeged to fall asleep. Three guards were holding onto Jungkook, who looked tense but was not resisting. They slammed him down on the other bed and chained him to the bed as he resisted. A jug of water was placed down the water sloshing out onto the floor before the door, slammed shut and locked again.

Immediately after hearing a click of the lock, Taehyung rushed over to the bed to assess Jungkook. He had no shirt on, but he still was wearing his  uniform trousers, covered in dirt and blood. He asked when you realised I had his back covered in bruises and scabs from his lips, some of the process bleeding. Jungkook’s face was planted straight onto the bed, and he refused to look up. The chains were long enough that Jungkook could sit on all fours, and even maybe crawl off the bed and stand in front of it, but the alpha wouldnt be able to go any further.

“Alpha,” he said worryingly, “are you okay?”

“What the fuck does it look like” Jungkook muttered in response. 

“I’m going to start cleaning you up,” the lack of response didn't stop Taehyung from reaching for the jug  water which was probably for drinking and the gently wet washcloth he had  bought. Jungkooks back strained with tension whilst the omega  gently he wiped down the dirt, and every time he came near one of the open wounds tried to avoid them as much as possible. Taehyung poured cold water over them to try and soothe the skin. There was balm and needles in his medical kit to stich him up, but until the wouldnt scabbed more it wasnt a good idea. eventually the redness on his back cleared up and the skin wa slooking a lot less irritate than before.

An idea popped into Tahehyungs head but he wasnt sure on what to do. It had always worked on hsi little sister to aid the healing process, but notonce had he done it on his alpha. But then again Jungkook had never looked hti awful. Taehyung looked over at Jungkook as he cleared the bed and whispered. “Is it okay if I lick your wounds?”

A snort was the only answer he received.

Taehyung’s tongue darted out cautiously, his whole body tremoring as he leant down to slowly swipe over the wounds, the metallic taste of blood wasnt unfamiliar but it was unpleasant on his tongue. Once the whip marks had cleared up even more he straighted up to admire his handiwork. Jungkook had a lot of healing to go but was looking so much better than when he initially entered.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” He asked tentatively. After no response, Taehyung lifted himself off the bed and reached over to the alpha’s coat that he had hung up and gently covered him. “If you need anything, I’m right here. If you’ve got any soreness i bought some soothing cream, and some more clothes as well.”

The alpha responded by turning his head away from taehyung, finally moving from the position it was in earlier. The response was a clear sign the alpha did not want to interact with Taehyung and it hurt so badly. The omega was so confused and scared, and the thing he craved the most was his alpha.

He held in his tears as he settled into bed, turning away to hide his own humiliation. Jungkook is also humiliated, Taehyung tried to console himself. In one day he was stripped of his postiiton and put into such a demeaning position, and all right in front of his mate. Taehyung prayed that Jungkook would be more talkative in the morning, and would hopefully provide him more comfort.

Taehyung was unable to sleep, and woke up the minute he heard commotion outside. At first it was anxiety, wondering if the soldiers were comign in again, but once the noises died down he realised it was due to  shift changes in the early morning. He was up in minutes, but his body was exhausted. It was going to be a logn day and hopefully answers would be provided.

“ Alpha,” he whispered once, then louder when he received nothing. Jungkook must be having some well deserved rest. Seeing the alpha asleep made his heart hurt, whatever happened mustve been a big misunderstanding, it had to be. 

As he shuffled around in the bag, using the little water they had to wipe down his face and hands, he applied thick cream onto his face to combat the biting cold in the air. The scarf he slept with had done its job but it was still so cold. By the time he had brushed his hair and made himself look presentable, Jungkook’s eyes were now open and glaring at him. The bottom haf of his face was obscured by his arm, but from memory Taehyung knew his lips were pursed too.

“Do you need me to tend to you?” he whispered, unsure of what the alpha wanted. Jungkook turned his head once again just like last night so it was smashed into the bed. Taehyung sighed ad the mannerisms and decided it was not going to faze him His alpha was clearly being stubborn and too prideful to ask for help.

Taehyung started brushing the knots out of Jungkook’s hair. It was matted with dirt and grease, but slowly, as he gently worked on all the knots, the hair looked significantly cleaner than before. The alpha's face stayed fully flat on the pillow during this whole time, not one part of his body acknowledging Taehyung's actions. It was better this way; a quiet Jungkook was better than an angry Jungkook. Instead of securing it into a ponytail like the alpha usually supported, he started to massage his roots gently, easing any tension in his head and hopefully calming the alpha a little. Jungkook would sometimes request this exact thing when he had a rough day. The omega just hoped his actions would help Jungkook a little.

Instead of relaxing his tense body, Jungkook just tensed up more. “What are you doing?”

Taehyung stopped his actions, surprised by the alpha finally speaking to him. His snappy tone did not surprise him, but it still hurt no less.

“I’m just trying to ease your tension a little.”

“Well, stop.” Jungkook batted his hand away, a clear sign of dismissal that had Taehyung feeling humiliated. No one was around to witness his embarrassment, but it still cut deep. His throat started to clam up, and the room suddenly dropped in temperature. With shaky breaths to control his emotions, Taehyung slowly wandered back to his bed, perched on the edge of it whilst staring at the alpha's figure once again.

“I just wanted to help,” Taehyung whispered to himself, not expecting an answer. He played with his fingers, clutching at his thick wool jumper in sorrow. 

“I don’t want it. Just leave me alone,” the response came just as biting as before. It left the omega in shambles. Their bond throbbed slightly, making Taheyung feel faint. The tension was killing his soul. Taehyung hated conflict, and despised tense situations even more. The room was caging him in, he had no way to leave, and it was horrible.

Taehyung's lips wobbled whils the scrambled a way to reduce Jungkook's anger, the room was pungent with his wrath and it seemed to get worse every second the omega reciprocated his despair. His scent soured. An idea came into his head, something that no matter what the situation arose, would lead to Jungkook's muscles relaxing.

The omega started singing Jungkook’s favourite song, soothing himself in the process. His soft voice filled the painfully silent room, and a gentle waver in his voice didn't ruin the sweetness of his tone. But just as he finished the first two lines of this song, Jungkook slammed his hand on the bed, startling the poor omega. 

“Stop” the words were the calmest since he had opener his mouth, yet it made Taehyung's tears finally fall.

"Sorry," he mumbled once again before hurriedly cowering under the sheets, facing away from the alpha. Taehyung curled up in a little ball and used the soft blanket to hide his face. He held his breath as he tried to muffle his sobs but no matter what, he knew the alpha was aware.

All he wanted was comfort from his mate, the man who swore on their union to always protect him. The cuts in their relationship seemed so small before, but now the omega understood that they were bigger than ever. What could they do now?

Chapter Text

Taehyung could barely sleep all night. His mind was plagued with the alpha's actions. Yet somehow he woke up in the early morning to the sounds of chatter outside. He tensed up, expecting someone to enter, only to realise it must have been a change of guards. The sun was slowly rising, and the room was filling up with light. The back of his throat ached, and his eyes were sore. He already knew a cold was coming soo;, the room seemed to have warmed up in the night, but it still had a nasty draft from the window.

When he finally plucked up the energy to get up and freshen himself just a little, Taehyung noticed a pair of eyes on him. He had exited the bed in one swift motion, standing abruptly to prevent himself from delaying his wake. It was a tactic he had to use every morning to wake up with his alpha. If he had no responsibilities,, he would easily waste the whole day in bed. It was just as he had swung around that he made eye contact with the alpha, who was now sitting up on the bed, the coat put on backwards so his back was still bare. Jungkook's head was angled down, eyes cast upwards in an intimidating glare towards him. Half his face was obscured by his hair, doing nothing to reduce the wrath in his eyes.

Taehyung stood awkwardly in place, completely unaware of what to do. If it weree back home, Jungkook wouldve recovered almost immediately from any form of annoyance he showed, going back to being respectful. But clearly from his stiff scent and demeanouror, the alpha was still very much fuming. The omega hated this side of the alpha; it seemed like he was getting the full brunt of his anger, almost like he caused it in the first place.

Taehyung resolved, no matter what ,to coax the truth out of the alpha today. What was happening? He deserved to know.

“Morning, alpha,” he greeted as normal, immediately turning away to shuffle to his hairbrush and face cloth. The jug still had a little bit of ice-cold water, so he used it to rinse his mouth. As he braided his short hair, he could feel Jungkook's gaze burning his back.

Only once he finished did he turn around to acknowledge the alpha once more. “Will you need anything?” He questioned, gesturing towards the suitcase.

After a long,, hard stare, Jungkook huffed and gestured to his back, which Taehyung understood immediately.

The omega retrieved his medical box and hurried over to the bed, where the alpha had already turned around so his back was now facing the omega. The wounds looked so much better today. When Taehyung had been younger, he was led to believe whips would completely ruin the skin they touched, yet the markings on his back were clearly only surface-level cuts. They had almost entirely scabbed up; some lines just like scratches. He gently placed the balm over the skin once more and retrieved some larger plasters to cover the areas where the lines had overlapped. Jungkook stayed tense the whole time, not once letting out a peep.

Once he stood up again, Jungkook turned around, which was when Taehyung finally got a proper look at his face. One of Jungkook's eyes was nearly closed from swelling, and a nasty bruise had purpled on his forehead. “Alpha, what about your face?” he questioned, already opening the medical box again. Before he could rifle through again, Jungkook had snatched it out of his hands and grabbed a palm-sized plaster. He ripped it off and unceremoniously stuck it on his face. It covered his eye enough, but was a wrinkle in some areas, something Taehyung would've easily sorted if he was were one sticking it on. The act of defiance was enough for the omega to feel anger. 

He took the medical box back and packed it into the suitcase again, huffing back to his bed where he lay down staring at the ceiling.

It was after nearly an hour, or maybe even longer, of silence that he spoke again.

“Alpha, is any of this my fault?” he asked, receiving no answer immediately.

“What are you on about?” Jungkook’s voice was a lot softer than last night's, but still had the same level ofannoyance inn it.

“Us being here,” he clarified.

“No,” the answer was final and abrupt, so Taehyung didn't speak further.

Then why are you being so mean? he thought to himself.

It was several minutes later when he heard the alpah let out a frustrated grunt that he spoke again. “This is hard for me, too. One minute I'm at home then the next second I find outsmyself ide you’ve been imprisoned. I have no idea what’s going on. Today I don't know what to do. I’m worried about you, about me, about us. It’s hard on me too, and I just want to know what will happen because eventually they are going to question me about whatever crime you committed, and I have no idea what to say.”

“I didn’t commit any crime,” his tone this time had the same anger from last night.

“And I believe you, I never thought you did, and now we’ve got a deal with the consequences,” it was true, Taehyung fully stood by his alpha, and believed front he bottom of his heart this was a misunderstanding. The state of his mate left so many questions on his mind tho,ugh. 

Jungkook turned his full body around to face him, making taehyung also turn his head to the side. The alpha was looking at him in distrust.

“Do you actually believe me?” Jungkook’s tone was sceptical, a scoff mixed into the words. It made Taehyung bristle.

“Yes, it’s not like you to do anything so awful, and from what I hear, the rebels are trying to overthrow the council you serve,” Taehyung stated firmly, asserting his opinion.

“It doesn’t matter. The trial isn’t going to be for a few days. I didn’t commit any crime, so they can’t produce any concrete evidence that it was me. It’s just a game of waiting now,” Jungkook's voice finally returned to a level of normalcy Taehyung was familiar with. It eased the tension in his heart significantly. A few days, He could survive that.

“Okay.” And with that, Jungkook was once again facing away from him.

It was later in the day, nearing midday after they received breakfast, bread and another jug of water, that Taehyung was escorted outside.

When the door opened to reveal 2 soldiers he had not seen before, Taehyung had tensed up immediately, even more so when he saw Jungkook's expression.

“ Elder Kim would like to see you,” the soldier announced, walking towards him to grab his arm. Taehyung shuddered from his hold, even more so when he saw his alphalpha'ser.

“You don't have to hold him, he can walk by himself,” Jungkook ordered, glaring at the alpha whi, chin up like he was still the chief and not a prisoner. The soldier scoffed at him yet obeyed his command, walking towards the door again as Taehyung hesitantly buttoned his jacket. Jungkook jaw stiffened as he stared down the alpha, who was doing the same. Taehyung looked at him in wariness, unsure how to proceed. Jungkook nodded his ehad a little in his direction, signlaling him to go. 

Taehyung followed the soldier out fo the room, maintaining distand behind him.The alpha would keep looking behding him to check his place as they walked down the corridor, one that had similar metall doors all along it for th either prisoners that redised there. There were two guards situated at the entrance, ones that Taehyung once again did not recognise.

He was surprised to see elder Kimg directly outside that door, her mouth in tight line as she watched him exit. The hardness in her brows softened when their gaze met, Taehyung bowed in respect. The pack leaders wife was a formidable women, the mates were old yet ran a tight ship in their giant pack. The Kims were a massive family that had leaders in a lot of the smaller packs, including Taehyung's. Somewhere along that lineage Taehyung had inherited the surname Kim, except his family held no distinct land or titles.

“Taehyung,” she greeted warmly despite her pinched expression. “How was last night.”

“Difficult,” he answered honestly, finally leting our a breath he had been holding for the past few minutes. Elder Kim looked behind at the guard before ushering Taehyung away from the entrance towards a bench nearby.

“Its no place for you to be,” Elder Kim muttered. “I tried getting you out of the sentence but the order had been put through, and the law is the law. My mate has been looking into this whole mess, i dont believe any of this nonsense.”

“Whats been happening?” Taehyung enquired, he was finally hoping to receive a full explanation.

“What do you know?” she responded instead.

“All i know is that my mate is accused of trying to overthrow your leadership, and is linked to the various crimes comitted recently.”

The elder nodded along. “Its sounds so simple doesnt it, but i dont know how any of tis happened. I know Jungkook is a honest alpha, i have known him since he was a pup. But the evidence was significant enough for him to be thrown into prison. The news is being kept very top secret, you can probably notice how there is only one building here.”

Taehyung finally looked around their surroundings and noticed hwo there was only one building, prisons tended to have separate buildings yet this was rather small, only 2 stroeys and as big as that corridor.

“Taehyung,” the elder snatched his attention back.

“I have no idea how this will end up, the evidences are all pointing towards Jungkook. Its not just one document, theres multiple details that all coincide with various atacks and Jungkook’s prescence. Namjoon has been working non stop to find a solution but the trial is in a few days and i am concerned about the outcome.” her face scrunched up at the words. Each new piece of information was slowly causing Taehyung's heart to sink further and further into the ground.

“You have only been amted for 6 months, your bond is fresh. If you stay you will be tried just like your mate and will be exiled or imprisoned alongside him. If he is guilty it is going to be a death sentance,” bile started rising inthe youngers stomach, the day just kept getting worse. “As you have not been together long i am giving you an out. You can leave now and separate from Jungkook and be relocated soemwehre else. I will help you do this too. If you refuse then we cannot do any more.”

The omega thought about her words, they sounded grave. She was the first person to greet taehyung when he had mated Jungkook, and was a friendly neighbour whenever he would walk to town. Elder Kim was very fond of the alpha, which made her words all the more daunting.

“Theres a chance he is comepltey innocent though isnt there? And if the case cannot immediately result in a full verdict there will be more trials right?” Taehyung fought back, trying to come up with a solution.

“Well yes,” the elder responded.

“Do you really believe he did anything?” He enquired.

“Its about what i believe, its about the judge ruling,” she hesitantly answered.

“But what do you believe?” he asked once again.

She took a long pause to think. “I believe it is bullshit, he was the most loyal and throrough soldier i have met, daresay even more than my own son. Right now i dont know what to believe.”

“Then i will stay,” Taehyung said with finality.

Elder Kim seemed taken aback by his answer. “Taehyyung, are you sure?”

“Yes,” he responded, nodding to convince himself even more. “If i was in Jungkooks position i would want the same. I signed up to be his mate and that was a life sentence, il stick by him.”

Elder Kim stared at him in silent awe. “You are a good mate, he better treat you well, he must take really good care of your family.”

The compliment snapped taehyung out fo his trance. During this whole sitauton not once had he thought ofhis sister. “If Jungkook is found guitlyt what happens to my sister?”

Elder Kim pursed her lips. “You would be imprisoned but seeing as it has only been 6 months i highly doubt they would do more than exile you. You would be barred from entering any of our territories, so you would be forced to leave. Your sister is fine as she is already in another pack. Essentially you would live your life as if you never met Jungkook.”

The answer was enough for him. “I will trust my alpha.”

“Okay,” elder Kim shook her head. “I thinky ou are crazy, but i respect your integrity. Il make sure the guards allow you to leave that wretched cell whenever you please, and will make sure you are fed the same meals the soldiers are. Its too cold for you to eat scraps.”

Going back into the cell felt weird. Jungkook was looking at him expectantly when he entered, but refused to open his mouth. Once he saw Taehyung sit back on the bed after the door swung closed, he huffed and turn around once again, ignoring his mate. For once that day Taehyung was glad witht he silent treatment.

As elder Kim had mentioned, they received food not long alter that was a lot better. Actual warm rice with some side vegetables and another jug of water. The food was finally palatable.

The meal was tense, but Taehyung had stoped caring, a few more days of this and he would be out. Jungkooks eye patch had pealed off, and th eoemga took notice. Without a word he reached for the cloth and water, moving toward the alpha with littel regard for the others actions. Jungkook didn't fight as he wiped the swollen eye clean and added some balm on his forehead too.

Jungkook couldn’t hide his scoff as Taehyung reapplied the bandages once more. The sound grated Taehyung's neves.

“What's so funny?”

“Nothing, Nothing at all. This whole situation, me being here. You”

Taehyung straightened up and glared at Jungkook, taking offence. He was sick of the alphas brooding,  it was getting irritating now. It was the second day they had been imprisoned, and he still was being given the cold shoulder like he was the one to throw him in.

“What about me?”

“I don’t see why you're here. You gain nothing from this. They gave you an out, and yet you still are here, looking after me. I have lost my rank, I’m nothing now, so why are you here? Are you sadistic?”

“What do you mean, why am I here? I am your mate. I am supposed to be by your side.”

“Yes, mate. Like that means anything”

“Of course, it means something. It means a lot.”

“Not really. It’s not like either of us are together for anything except for personal gain. I needed a mate to secure my rank, and you needed me so you could social climb and secure your sisters future.”

“Is that how low you think of me?” Jungkook didn’t respond, he just met Taehyung's accusatory eyes.

“Yes, maybe we both entered this with our agenda, but mating is for life, and I plan to stick by it. Even if you fall from your position, it doesn’t matter, I will still be by your side because that’s what I signed up for. I’m your omega, your mate. You should treat me with more respect than you do right now because your soldiers, your friends, and everyone can betray you at any moment. But I won’t ever do that!”

“Really? You wouldn’t turn away from me?”

“No. Do you see me here next to you? I had a way out and I chose not to because we are together. You can be treated like trash in an instant, but me, in this whole world there’s only one thing you truly have and that is me. I am bonded to you for life, and through thick and thin, I will stay by your side. I will be here with you till the day I die, and I will never betray you. I don’t care how we started, but we are now each other's halves, so instead of scoffing at me and looking at me like I am not worth your time you should start treating me like your other half because that’s who I am! I am part of you whether you like it or not so I will no longer tolerate this disrespect.”

“You should’ve just left me.”

“I don’t understand how you can just push me away like this when all I have ever done is stay by your side. Why do you act so immaturely when you're supposed to be a leader? It feels like I’m talking to a pup right now. Even though you fell off, you still have the chance to regain power, defend yourself and prove your innocence. If you want me to leave, then say the word, and I'll go. I have no wish to be with someone who doesn’t want me around. But judging by the way you have always discarded me, I’m pretty sure I already know the answer.”

Jungkook steamed in for a while, but as the hours passed and the omega didn’t come back, he changed his tone. Jungkook was the senior and the alpha; he should be the mature and level one, yet his little omega was the only reasonable one. Taehyung was right; the only person he truly had in this world was Taehyung, and that was for life. 

Jungkook didn’t have any family, and none of his friends were truly loyal to him; they were only loyal to his rank. The past two days, he had been wallowing in despair instead of looking forward and cultivating an action plan. That was what he was good at: surviving and conquering. He was innocent; he knew he was. Someone had framed him because they knew his routine so clearly. Officers who always bowed in respect to him had been the same ones to beat him down with no hesitation. But Taehyung, his omega, hadn’t looked at him like a criminal once. The first thing he had done was tend his wounds.

He owed Taehyung an apology; the omega deserved a lot more credit than he had graced him with. He was the only person he truly trusted right now.

When Taehyung came back, he was tight-lipped and avoided eye contact. Jungkook took note of his reddened nose and slightly chapped lips. The omega had chosen to sit out in the cold all day rather than stay with him.

“Your food.” He left a small bowl on the floor and turned his back on the alpha, ready to leave once again.

“Taehyung.” Jungkook grabbed the omega hand, and the chain rattled from the sudden movement, now taut from being stretched to the max. “Stay.”

“I’m not talking to you anymore until you treat me with some respect. I’m done with your rude words and your shouts. It’s the least I deserve.” Taehyung was still, but his back was still facing the alpha, refusing to back down just yet. Disobedience was foreign to the alpha, having become so used to the quiet meekness Taehyung usually showed around him.

“Please," the alpha uttered the word softly. He tugged the younger onto the bed, and the sudden change in the tone incited Taehyung to sit down in curiosity. 

“I want you to stay. I may not act like it, but I chose you for a reason.” Jungkook’s voice was gentler than the younger one had ever heard from him. It was almost like he was talking to a pup, but he couldn’t tell. The tone was too unfamiliar to him to distinguish.

“Not just because my scent was the only one you could tolerate?” Taehyung curled his lip in amusement. As much as he wanted to enforce some tension into the situation, the gentle expression on the alpha told him not to.

“No, your resume was good. And I haven’t had a reason to doubt you once; I may not have acted like the past few months. We have been mated, but I do want you to stay by my side.” Jungkook shuffled around on the bed so he was perched on one elbow, giving the omega more room to sit down on.

“Then why did you act so cold? It was like I was barely visible to you in the house, and when we did see each other, you barely acknowledged me.” If they were to converse, then Taehyung wanted to talk about it all. He had so many questions, and he was ready to ask. Their previous conversation had left him a little too stunned for words. He had just assumed Jungkook wasn’t a fan of his, but to think that his opinion stooped so low was a slap in the face.

“Because you got what you wanted. Money and security.”

Taehyung scrunched up his face, trying to tame his anger down a little. “Just because that was what I asked for doesn’t mean that is all I wanted. I wanted a bond where both of us were happy and living together. Even if we never fell in love and it stayed a mating of convenience as long as we kept each other satisfied, I would’ve been fulfilled. That is what mates strive for: to keep each other happy and smiling. To make sure they never feel alone. I don’t care what you think. I have fulfilled my role as a good omega very well; I have prided myself in making sure I did everything correctly.”

“That’s true. I can’t fault you, honestly. The house is so much warmer with you in it; before, I would just treat it like a hotel. It was simply a place for me to rest. But ever since you entered, I look forward to coming home every day, to be greeted with your smile and hear you sing for me.” The change in tone gave the omega whiplash. One minute he was being insulted, the next he was praised and complimented. He studied the elder's face to figure out what exactly he was playing at, but the alpha looked as honest as normal.

“Do you like to smile when I greet you?” Taehyung couldn’t think of a smarter response. 

“Yes, I do. It relaxes me every single time I see it. Sometimes, it’s brighter when you are in a good mood, but even when you aren’t, there’s always a little smile on your face when you greet me.” Jungkook’s voice was soft, but he was sincere. Taehyung realised once again how little Jungkook knew about traditional omega housewives. It was their duty to welcome the alpha every day with a warm smile. Most times, it was done out of obligation rather than a fully sincere greeting, but he kept that to himself once he saw the endearing smile on the alpha's face.

“Then why were you so rude?” he murmured, returning the smile.

“Because I felt a bit used. I know we asked each other what most alphas and omegas want, but I gave you a good allowance, and each month, it was used up fully. I felt a bit like a piggy bank.”

“But that money went to worthwhile places. A lot of it was spent on things i actually need.”

“It’s fine. I trust your word.”

“There you go then. If you had any issue with my spending habits, you could’ve just asked. If I had money, then the house would be filled with expensive items, and I would ask for a raise in my allowance, but I have never asked that even once. You’ve got something out of a relationship .to allow some help to secure your job. You need someone in the house to tend to all of your needs, it’s not like I’ve pursued you for the wrong reasons. We both entered this meeting with an agreement”

Jungkook hummed in agreement; he couldn’t counteract Taehyung’s point, and he knew he was right. “I suppose you’re right. At least now we can work in change.”

“Why exactly did you need to find a mate? I understand that most higher-ranked members do the pack, but why is it such a big deal? You were already a chief, so why did you need me to secure your role?”

"Because, without a mate, I am not tied down to anything. Once you are mated, everything revolves around your partner and your children. It is a form of control. If I ever misbehaved,  they would use you as a tool to punish me and keep me in line, because if it’s just about me, then I would be a lot more reckless, but now that I am mated, anything that harms me will in turn, harm you and our future pups. That's why all of the other council members made it.”

“They didn’t  use me to punish you, though.”

“That’s because I didn’t act out of line. I’ve been accused of committing a crime”

“Use me as a bargaining tool. They wouldn’t harm you, but they were trying not to let me see you, et cetera, because I may leave the city. Often, you are partially bound to the house, and everything you do requires some form of authorisation from me now. So it just means that you are a bargaining chip.”

“Well, that’s great then, isn’t it?”

“I have been dealing with the constant abuse for years now. I was only able to fend it off for so long before they actively threatened to strip me of my title. It’s not just about control but security, too. A mated alpha is a lot less temperamental and calmer.”

“Why didn’t you just get mated quicker? It probably would’ve made your life easier not to hear all those complaints”

“I have no family. I grew up completely in the barracks with other soldiers; that’s all I know, and that’s what I am good at. Family shit is not a strong suit of mine, so doing all of this is out of my league. I just avoided it for as long as possible because I was simply doing well enough without anyone in my life. Dealing with you was difficult, too, because I simply didn’t know how to handle you apart from the most basic activities. “

Taehyung scoffed then. Now it was Jungkook’s turn to question him. “Why are you laughing?”

“I can’t believe this. This whole time, I was worried that I hadn’t fulfilled my job properly or that I was unsatisfactory. But it’s simply because you’re a child, a coward.” The fire had returned to his eyes, and Jungkook was flabbergasted. Where did his sweet little omega go? Was Taehyung always this sharp?

“Coward?”

“Yes. All this time, you have been shying away from your duties as an alpha just because you didn’t know what to do. That’s cowardice. You may have so many achievements under your belt, but you failed at the other half.”

“Failed? I have failed you?” Jungkook’s eyes were popping out of his sockets as the accusations flew through the air. A few tendrils of hair fell forward, covering one of his eyes. The alpha tucked it behind his ear as Taehyung curled his lip in annoyance.

“Yes. You have made me feel so inadequate this whole time; the house doesn’t even feel like a home to me, yet you are happy that it’s homier with me in it now. It’s not even for a good reason, either. Honestly, my respect for you has decreased a lot. Even if you had committed those crimes, my respect for you would still be higher than it is now. I honestly can’t believe the reason you were so short with me these past few months was that you didn’t know how to be a family man and settle down. Your communication skills are poor, too. There are so many books written about this stuff, what a stupid reason.”

Jungkook opened and closed his mouth a few times in shock, unsure of how to respond after hearing all of that. After a while, he settled down and slumped back a bit, unable to defend himself. The only person who could judge him as a mate was Taehyung, so if he found him inadequate, then that was that. It wasn’t like getting ranked by his higher-ups during monthly evaluations; if Taehyung thought he failed, then he had failed. 

“Fucking hell. That hurts my pride a lot to hear, especially from my omega. Well, looks like I have a lot to prove now, but I’m willing to do so when we leave.” Even when his morals were low, Jungkook never backed down from a challenge.

“We may not even make it out of here.”

“No, we will. Like I said, they have no proof. The worst they could do is strip me of my position and lower my rank for neglecting my duties, if I did that, but they can’t punish me for the crimes they are accused of. We will get out of here soon.”

“Yet you spend all this time moping,” Taehyung. 

“Cut me some slack. Everyone that I surrounded myself with turned their back on me in the blink of an eye. They didn’t even follow protocol. I willingly went to get questioned, yet they still beat me before I resisted. Some of those guards will get punished whether or not I am too.” Jungkook’s poised, calm demeanor shifted into coldness, the anger seeping through now.

“I hope they do, they hurt you,” Taehyung gently ran his arm down Jungkook’s back, where the whip marks were healing. His bruises were also looking a lot better, but it still hurt him to see his alpha like that. The previous agitation depleted and the urge to groom his alpha returned. The elder relaxed at his gentle touch and softened his growing agitation. 

Taehyung stood up and walked behind the alpha, settling behind him to brush his hair with his fingers. The alpha eyed him curiously but relaxed back down when he felt the familiar hands tugging at his hair. Taehyung was getting annoyed at seeing his hair still out. He didn't try tying it up after the other day, but now it was getting on his nerves. Jungkook hummed in contentment at the familiar soft hands massaging his roots, Taehyung did know how to be a good omega.

“I’m glad we will leave soon, this place is awful, even stepping outside for a while doesn’t help.” He fastened the ponytail as tight as possible to ensure the hair wouldn’t slip out. To his dismay, a few short strands at the front came loose. 

There was a question burning at the tip of Jungkook's tongue. “Have I fulfilled my duty as alpha well? Even if I haven’t been the kindest to you?”

Jungkook had made sure all of Taehyung’s physical needs were met, even if not emotionally. The alpha cared for his sister and provided him with a life of more comfort than others. He treated him kindly during his heats, and even on their mating night had made sure Taehyung prepared himself. Even then, Jungkook had carefully stretched him out to ensure comfort. The bite was gently done as well, the alpha had practised biting into bread before their mating to ensure he didn’t bite off a chunk of the omega's flesh. Emotionally, Jungkook was crap. If he had been asked this days ago, the answer may have been yes, but after finding out the truth Taehyung definitely couldn’t say that.

Taehyung looked away. It hit Jungkook’s ego with the lack of reaction. I have to say something for him to understand what he thought. He stood up and walked towards the door.

“You know Jungkook, even if both your legs fell off and you were bedridden for the rest of your life, I would be by your side. Even if people ridiculed me, I would still come home to you every day.”

Taehyung left.

Jungkook understood the unspoken words. Taehyung didn’t trust him at all, and he failed to provide security. 

Came back later at bedtime, he settled in the bed next to drink his water, but Jungkook was still not acknowledged. What Taehyung said, and it is time to change his outlook completely. He wasn’t educated on relationships, but he knew just like any alliance effort from both sides. Maybe it is because he had nothing to lose now, or maybe it was because he only wanted to focus on the one person by his side.