"Taehyung,"
Eun-Jung's voice dropped to a low, dangerous growl as her eyes once again fell on their hands. "I am only going to say this once. I don't care who he is—just throw him exactly where this filth belongs. Right now."
Taehyung's jaw tightened.
"And I told you," he said calmly but firmly, "I mated him. Why would I bring him here just to throw him out?"
"Oh my! You are serious," Jimin drawled, lips curling into a smirk. Jimin hadn't moved far. Still leaning lazily against the staircase railing, "Hana's got to hear this."
He cupped his hands around his mouth theatrically and called out, "HANA! Sweetie, come here—you've gotta see this."
"Jimin," Taehyung growled.
"What?" Jimin asked, feigning innocence. "I'm just trying to help everyone stay informed." He tilted his head, eyes flicking toward Jungkook with mild curiosity.
Taehyung let out a sharp exhale, fingers pressing against the bridge of his nose. "Jimin.. Can you not?"
Jimin raised a finger, as if about to deliver a lecture.
"First of all," he said, flicking Taehyung's forehead "that's hyung to you, brat.. and second..", he leaned in, his voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper—low enough for only Taehyung to hear. "Second… I'm the only one keeping this place from turning into a funeral home right now, so… you're welcome."
Before Taehyung could respond, soft footsteps echoed from the stairs.
"Taehyung?"
Hana's voice was hesitant, her honeyed scent drifting into the room just moments before she stepped into view. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene, her expression shifting from confusion to something brittle as her gaze fell on Jungkook, "What's going on?"
Her breath hitched as her gaze darted to the fresh mating bite on his neck.
"Jungkook?" she whispered, disbelief lacing her tone.
Jungkook tensed under her stare. Instinctively, his fingers curled around the collar of his jacket, tugging it up as if to hide the mark. The fabric brushed against the sensitive bite, and he flinched slightly, his jaw tightening as he quickly dropped his hand.
Eun-Jung's gaze flickered to Hana. "You know him?" she asked, her tone quieter, almost puzzled.
Hana blinked, her eyes flickering between Taehyung and Jungkook. "Yes… but what is he doing here?" Her voice cracked on the last words. Her gaze lowered to the hands still clasped. The pieces clicked.
"What… what is this?"
"Hana.." Taehyung interrupted before she could spiral further, turning to the maid. "Sarah, take him to my room."
The omega's grip on Taehyung's hand tightened as if he feared being abandoned. Jungkook's wide eyes darted to Taehyung's mother, then back to Taehyung, silently pleading. But before the maid could move, Eun-Jung's voice cut through the air like a whip.
"No." Her command was absolute. "He's not going anywhere near your room."
Taehyung turned fully toward her now, posture rigid, his alpha instincts alert. "he's my mate. Where else would he go if not my room?"
Eun-Jung's fury ignited, scent spiking like wildfire. "He can go to hell for all I care," she shouted, her voice trembling with rage, "but he will not go to your room. Only Hana has the right to go to your room."
Taehyung exhaled hard.
"Mom, Why would Hana have any right to me—or my room?" His voice was steady, but laced with growing heat. "I never promised her anything."
"You never refused!" She shrieked.
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"You said it once—once—that I should marry her. I didn't even respond. And now I'm telling you I married Jungkook because I love him. Why are we still doing this?"
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Jungkook's gaze dropped, cheeks flushed. That lie—love—was a beautiful one, painted just for him. The alpha's words felt like a shield, protecting him from the storm raging around them… lying to his own mom and family just to keep his dignity.. giving this ugly forced marriage a beautiful name.. Love.. a fake crown on a forced bond.
"Well, this just got interesting." Jimin giggled as he leaned back against the frame.
"Jimin," Eun-Jung's glare could slice steel.
"Sorry, sorry," Jimin said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I'll just… observe." But his smirk betrayed him, as he winked at Taehyung, "Still proud, though."
Eun-Jung ignored him, her focus locked on Taehyung. "Tell me, then. What do you see in him that's worth this mess?"
Taehyung's gaze softened as he turned to Jungkook. The omega stood quietly, his hands trembling ever so slightly. "In this boy," Taehyung said evenly, "I see everything I've never found in anyone else."
And then the air shifted. Denser. Heavier.
The sound of approaching steps made Jungkook tense—and then nearly crumble.
The moment Sang-Ho walked in, the whole room seemed to bow to his presence. Alpha dominance poured off him like storm clouds, pressing down on every breath. Yoongi followed, eyes unreadable, face carved in stone.
Jungkook whimpered—barely audible—but Taehyung felt it.
Without thinking, he reached out. Jungkook's fingers dug into his arm, anchoring. His trembling body leaned into Taehyung's side as if only that closeness kept him from collapsing.
Sang-Ho's voice rolled in.
"What's this nonsense I'm hearing?"
His eyes landed on Jungkook. The omega took another step closer to Taehyung instinctively, trying to hide behind his mate.
Taehyung knew he had to stay strong—for both of them. If his mother knew the whole truth, she would fight to her last breath to throw Jungkook out, and that wasn't a risk he could afford. the omega by his side, clinging to his jacket like it could protect him from their stares. His big, doe-like eyes remained hidden behind the curtain of his bangs, but Taehyung could feel the nervous energy radiating off him, still… he mourned the lose of the bond.
"Dad," he sighed. "I mated him."
Eun-Jung's scent, thick and bitter, chocked the room.
"But why?" She demanded. "Why him?"
Taehyung looked weary now.
"I just told you."
"We'll disinherit you." Mr. Kim's voice was a slow rumble.
Taehyung barely blinked. "If that makes things easier for you… please, go ahead."
His calmness only seemed to stoke the fire.
"At least tell us why, Taehyung," Eun-Jung said again, eyes flicking toward Jungkook like he was something rotting.
This time, Taehyung didn't speak right away. He pulled Jungkook close instead, brushing his jaw against the bite on Jungkook's neck—marking him again … rigt in front of everyone. A wave of scent followed: earthy rain, grounded and sure. It curled around Jungkook's lavender, subtle but unmistakable.
A warning?
A promise?
A declration.
Mine..
"In this boy..." he smiled faintly, "I see everything I've never seen in the spoiled omegas of our so-called 'upper society.'" The contempt in his voice as he emphasized the last words sent a ripple of unease through the room.
The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of his words pressing on everyone present. Sensing the tension, Taehyung took a steadying breath. He had to win this battle—not just for himself but for the trembling soul at his side.
Then—
"And you realized that just now?" Hana stepped forward. Her voice trembled, scent sour with hurt.
"Huh?" Taehyung blinked, momentarily caught off guard.
"Because ten days ago, I was everything to you. I.. I was enough for you. Hana was enough for you. So why now?"
Taehyung's gaze softened as he looked at her, a pang of guilt flickering in his chest. "That's because I hadn't met Jungkook back then," he replied simply. "Hana was everything because I hadn't seen past her."
He turned to Jungkook, "When I met Jungkook… I realized Hana was never the one. I was just too blind to see it."
Hana's scent shifted even more, hurt radiating from her like a bitter wave.
"Shut up, Tae," Yoongi's jaw tensed, "That was cruel."
"hyung, please" Taehyung countered, his tone sharp. "This is between me, Mom, and Dad. I don't think anyone else should interfere."
Yoongi's brows shot up in disbelief. "Did you just talk back to me?"
"Yes, I—"
"Enough," Mr. Kim's voice boomed through the room like thunder. His piercing gaze landed on Jungkook "Send this boy to a room."
Taehyung didn't even flinch, also keeping his omega grounded with his hand wraped around his waist. Turning to Sarah, the family maid, he gestured toward Jungkook. "Take him to my room," he instructed firmly.
Jungkook hesitated, casting a brief glance at Taehyung. "It's okay," Taehyung murmured, giving his hand a final reassuring squeeze before letting go.
Jungkook's instincts screamed for him to drop his gaze, to tilt his head and show his neck—submit. But he didn't. Not fully. His eyes, though wide and glassy, held Taehyung's gaze as Sarah tugged gently at his sleeve.
As Sarah led Jungkook away, Taehyung watched the omega retreat with his head bowed low, half his heart aching for the boy and half hiding his satisfaction. Jungkook's presence in his room was the first step to claiming his rightful place in this house.
"Good luck!" Jimin called after Jungkook with a playful wave, earning himself a sharp glare from Eun-Jung.
"Jimin," Yoongi groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"What?" Jimin grinned, completely unbothered. "I'm just being polite. Besides, someone has to make this interesting."
"Jimin, enough," Yoongi growled.
"Fine…" Jimin huffed, folding his arms. Then, like a five-year-old, he stuck out his tongue and darted off toward the other side of the spiral staircase.
Taehyung straightened, bracing himself as his father's eyes bore into him. This wasn't over—not by a long shot.
—
jungkook was quiet, each step slow and burdensome, when the Sarah led him to the door, and left him there. The warm lights casting a soft gold across the neatly arranged space. Jungkook stepped forward slowly, his fingers still trembling around the hem of his sleeve.
He hadn't even realized he was shaking.
That's when he noticed him—leaning casually beside the door, arms crossed, one leg slightly bent, like he'd been waiting all along.
Jimin.
Jungkook blinked.
He hadn't heard him leave the living room. Hadn't seen him walk past. He wasn't even sure how Jimin had gotten here before him.
This wasn't the cheerful, teasing Jimin from the living room.
This Jimin was quiet. Still. Eyes sharp, scent controlled down to the faintest trace—like a trained omega who knew how to hide everything behind pretty smiles and sugar-laced words.
Only now?
No smile.
No sugar.
Just something unreadable.
Jungkook swallowed hard, his own omega instincts prickling beneath his skin in confusion.
He took a step back when Jimin moved forward—slow, deliberate— until he was right at Jungkook's side. Too close.
Jimin leaned in, his voice barely a breath:
"By the way," he whispered near Jungkook's ear, colder than winter air,
"you better be worth all this. Or this house will eat you alive."
Jungkook's breath caught.
His heart thudded.
And then—Jimin just… smiled. Sweet. Polite. Terrifying
He turned and walked away like nothing had happened, leaving behind the lingering scent of cold roses in the air.