Chapter Text
Taehyung and Jimin were sitting at their usual corner in the garden of Café 7; a place often frequented by the Performing Arts students since it was the closest to their department building around the university campus. Jimin wore a fitted black silk shirt clinging to his frame, the low neckline hinting at the subtle curve of his collarbones. A couple of silver rings caught the light as he absentmindedly tapped them against his coffee cup, the soft clink adding a gentle rhythm to their conversation. April breeze played with his freshly dyed caramel-orange hair, making it dance with an effortless grace. Taehyung had seen every phase of Jimin’s hair experiments over the years, and this—he decided—was the best yet.
"Yoongi’s going to love this," Jimin giggled, fingers tangling in his hair with a mischievous grin. "I’m sure he’ll paint it white by the end of the night."
Taehyung almost choked on his coffee. Jimin, unbothered as ever, simply smirked, swirling his drink lazily as if he hadn’t just said something so obscene in broad daylight.
"Do you have to say things like that?" Taehyung muttered, glancing around instinctively, as if someone might have overheard.
Jimin arched a brow. "Oh, please. You act like we haven’t had much worse conversations."
Taehyung opened his mouth to argue, but he had nothing to say. Jimin wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t the first time he casually mentioned his sex life, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last. And while Taehyung was always a little shy about it—never having any experience of his own—he couldn’t help but listen eagerly every time, his curiosity getting the best of him. His mind was quick to visualize suggestive things Jimin was telling, making him feel a little guilty for having those pictures of his friends on his mind. But it was hard not to imagine Yoongi’s hands running through Jimin’s hair, pulling at it in the ways Jimin loved, making Jimin’s mouth part with a moan with the force.
Taehyung blinked, forcing his attention back to the present. The waiter walking toward the open kitchen caught his eye, and he couldn’t help but notice the way the man glanced over his shoulder as he walked, eyes lingering on Jimin for just a second too long. Everyone in the campus knew Jackson was a “no balls”. But of course, leave it to Jimin to make heads turn; even a beta in his forties was no exception.
Taehyung smirked to himself, already accustomed to the attention Jimin effortlessly commanded. But then, an odd feeling prickled at the back of his neck. A feeling like people were looking at him.
They weren’t only looking at him, but eyes were shifting between him and the TV attached to the column in the middle of the café. There, on the TV, the news channel was on. And on the news, his face stared back at him.
Right next to it, was a picture of Jeon Jeongguk with a stern, cold look on his sharp face.
They were together in the same frame despite not being in the same place for years. The situation was beyond explanation. And yet, there it was—plain as day, undeniable.
There, on the bottom of the screen, an even crueler confirmation awaited. They were in the same sentence.
"Wedding of the Year: Jeon and Kim families joining hands"
The anchorwoman’s tone was precise and cutting, her voice threading through the air like a blade against taut skin.
Our country’s president Jeon’s son Jeongguk is reported to have proposed to Kim Taehyung, the oldest son of Kim Seungjae; the founder and designer of the famous fashion brand Gold & Black. Insiders revealed that the young couple is preparing to get married this summer, but the official date has not been revealed to the public yet. The ceremony will likely be held at the Ancient Jeon Castle as the tradition has it. Well, we are sending our best regards to the couple and we wish them all the happiness in the world.
The words didn’t land all at once—they crashed, tumbled, collided inside his skull in a deafening, dizzying spiral.
His hands felt distant, as if they no longer belonged to him.
How could this be real?
He had pushed Jeongguk out of his life years ago, and yet, with a single announcement, he was back in it.
Uninvited. Unavoidable. Inescapable.
He was brought back to reality with Jimin’s questioning tone. “I though you didn’t see him after the locker room incident.”
“I didn’t. Jimin… I swear.” Taehyung replied in distress unconsciously playing with the knots of the red rope bracelet hanging loose around his wrist, his faint scent turning sour minute by minute.
Taehyung wanted to be admired, to be accepted with his entire existence as if every piece of him was worth to be loved. He wanted to be adored and doted on by a sincere and kind heart. He wanted to receive love like Jimin received from Yoongi. He wanted to someday carry marking words just as meaningful as Jimin’s embossed at the side of his neck.
Marking words… The myth behind it quickly became his favorite bedtime story about wolfs his grandmother used to tell. Her version of the story spoke of a strong bond and feelings between a strong, handsome and caring alpha and a pretty omega. They were very much in love. That level of feelings was only allowed for an alpha and an omega as an alpha was one to show love at the highest level and an omega was always the one to receive it to the highest level. It was known. Only an alpha that loved and adored his omega was allowed to put a permanent spell of love on his omega lover. The words reflected the way the alpha felt about the omega, described the bond between their wolves. As the feelings grew stronger, the color of the marking became more apparent to the eye. Taehyung loved everything about that story.
Except it was a lie. In reality, it didn’t have to do with love at all. It required an alpha and an omega having sex with each other; the alpha putting a knot inside the omega and biting the neck at the same time. And those words, they were usually nothing but the alpha’s family name. The mark wasn’t even permanent; not like a tattoo everyone could see at all times. It was just a swell of skin, no color, no presence for the most time. Only became visible for the ones in closest distance, especially soon after a sexual encounter was initiated between the marked couple. But it faded too. Like every other feeling, it faded too… That was the harsh reality of it. That summed pretty much how it was going to go between him and Jeongguk if the gruesome wedding was to happen.
But on the other side, there was the story between Jimin and Yoongi. Always giving Taehyung hope to be loved in a similar way. He still remembered the first time he saw the words on Jimin’s neck. 사랑… It was the prettiest thing Jimin’s body had. And it had a dark purple color. So, to the alpha, Jimin was “love”. Despite it being the biggest gift an omega could receive -in Taehyung’s opinion- Jimin was flushed with embarrassment at those days when the word “사랑” was clearly seen on his neck, shining in purple dots of glitter smeared, outlining the word. Yoongi was proud. Maybe too proud… Unlike many other alphas who would consider it as a display of too much feelings controlling him, he was proud to declare his love for the omega to anyone interested enough to take a look at the prettiest soul residing on earth in the wrong way. Taehyung was so happy to see his friend catch a happiness he could only hope and wish for. His best friend had unique marking words. His mother had too. He wondered if he was going to be lucky enough to have one for himself too. It felt like wishing for a miracle. But with his whole heart, Taehyung believed in miracles. He’d seen miracles.
It was almost a miracle how a stoic, cold looking person like Yoongi was able to turn into the kind and caring lover for Jimin. The omega didn’t even know the half of it; it was seen in the way Yoongi was watching him when Jimin was doing nothing at all; when Jimin didn’t even know he was being looked at. It was love and only the purest form of love in the alpha’s eyes at those moments. That was something Taehyung hoped he would receive from his own lover someday. But what could he possibly receive from Jeongguk?
~~~
It came in different shapes and feelings to Jeongguk, how he wanted Kim Taehyung in his life.
Jeongguk was four, Taehyung six, when they met for the first time. Their parents introduced them, expecting polite greetings, but instead, Taehyung pulled Jeongguk into his world of laughter and mischief. For Jeongguk—who had been raised in a home of quiet discipline, heavy with expectations—Taehyung was a revelation. He taught him how to get his hands dirty, how to play without rules, how to make friends, how to breathe.
As they grew, Taehyung remained his escape. Jeongguk, naturally reserved, followed him through childhood, through playgrounds and school corridors. Taehyung was the reason he learned how to socialize, how to navigate the world beyond duty and discipline. From kindergarten to high school, they walked the same paths, their bond unshaken.
He was fifteen when his wolf knew Taehyung was his.
At fifteen, Jeongguk’s world shifted. His wolf awakened—far earlier than expected. The moment it surfaced, it knew. Instantly, he became a legend. The prodigious son of the president, a pure blood alpha. People revered him. Worshiped him. Even before, Jeongguk had commanded attention, but now, his presence alone made people lower their heads in deference.
It became apparent just how magnificent he was during the annual wolf competitions, where the entire high school gathered on the sports field to witness their best and strongest shift into their wolves and go head-to-head in speed, strength, and agility trials. Only the oldest students were allowed to compete—seniors who had trained for years to showcase their power. Yet, Jeongguk, barely fifteen, was given an exception. No one questioned it. How could they? He was him.
The moment he shifted, gasps rippled across the field. His wolf was enormous—larger than any who stood before him. Thick, powerful legs dug into the earth, his fur a flawless mix of deep charcoal and silver, gleaming under the afternoon sun. His honey-gold eyes darkened—shifted—to a smoldering crimson as he locked onto his prey.
He didn’t just win. He dominated.
By the time he stood victorious, the entire school buzzed with his name. Awe. Reverence. Even fear. He felt their gazes, felt the weight of their submission. And yet—his own eyes searched for just one person.
Taehyung.
He found him in the crowd, watching—but not like the others. His gaze held no reverence, no trembling awe. When Jeongguk approached, Taehyung only smiled, wrapping him in a warm hug. Affectionate. Brotherly. Not the way an omega should look at an alpha. Not the way he should be looking at Jeongguk.
Something in Jeongguk burned. He wanted Taehyung’s respect. His submission, just like everyone else. No, more than that—he needed it.
So, he provoked him. Taunted him. Pushed him.
Until one day, he pushed too far.
The next day, Taehyung was gone.
Gone from their school. Gone from the family gatherings. Gone from his life as if he was never there to start with.
Jeongguk told himself it didn’t matter.
He had other people lining up, bowing their heads, offering their submission, their affection, their bodies. Romantic interests, casual encounters—he never lacked anything. But as he grew older, as relatives teased him about choosing a mate, his mind circled back to one person. His expressive eyes and warm, sincere smile remained stuck in his memory.
He was eighteen when he knew Taehyung was his omega.
He saw it—on Instagram, of all places.
A party. A celebration. Taehyung’s second gender, now made public information at the age of twenty.
Jeongguk stared at the screen, fingers tightening around his phone.
Taehyung standing under the soft glow of the chandeliers, the deep violet of his dress hugging every delicate, newfound curve from the small swell of chest to the curves of his waistline, ending right over his mid thigh. The jeweled crown atop his head glistening, framing the sharp elegance of his features. His bare legs a mesmerizing contrast to the softness of his upper body, a vision Jeongguk wasn’t ready for.
His face was ethereal, his eyes deep and expressive, dusted in soft plum and shimmer, accentuating every hidden emotion. A single gem at the corner of his eye caught the light like an unshed tear. Lips tinted in berry, skin luminous beneath the dark strands of his tousled hair.
He was stunning. And the world could see.
Jeongguk’s jaw clenched. His wolf snarled.
Anyone could see his omega like this. Anyone. And it drove him insane.
The realization struck like lightning—Taehyung was out in the open market. And Jeongguk had done nothing to claim him.
Weeks passed before his wolf finally calmed. But then he saw Taehyung on TV.
It wasn’t just an ad—it was a statement.
The screen faded in to reveal Taehyung, poised and breathtaking, walking side by side with his father on a grand podium. The stage was bathed in golden light, the air thick with anticipation, as if the world was holding its breath.
Jeongguk’s stomach twisted.
It looked like a debutante ball. A formal presentation. Taehyung’s father, the mastermind behind the luxury brand Gold & Black, wasn’t just advertising a new collection—he was presenting Taehyung to the world.
A jewel on display. A prize to be admired.
Taehyung moved with effortless grace, draped in gold and black, the fabric whispering against his skin with each step. He exuded confidence, his chin lifted high, his presence commanding. The crowd watched in rapture. Cameras flashed. Voices murmured in awe.
Jeongguk’s insides were hot.
His omega, paraded like an object. A commodity. And worst of all, it was public. Strangers could see him like this. Dream of having him.
His wolf roared in protest.
If only he were Taehyung’s alpha. If only they were a public affair. Then, and only then, could he have Taehyung where and how he wanted.
The moment he saw Taehyung on that podium, he realized—he couldn’t wait any longer. The world needed to know. Taehyung was his.
And Jeongguk would make sure of it.
Yet, every time he brought it up at home, saying he really wanted Taehyung as his mate, his parents always dismissed it, not taking him seriously. And Kim Namjoon—his personal assistant and only confidant—while not outright opposing the idea, was firmly against the way Jeongguk wanted to go about it. He kept suggesting doing it the right way. To Namjoon right way was to chase the omega, woo him.
Jeongguk refused to chase. He was an alpha, a pure blood at that. Omegas were coming to him, to present themselves, to submit. It was the natural order of things.
So, he waited.
He followed Taehyung to university. Kept him close, but never closed the distance. He never made a move to approach the omega, but knowing Taehyung was within reach settled something restless inside him, his wolf appeased just enough to let him be.
But time was cruel.
At the age of twenty, with Taehyung already in his senior year of college, Jeongguk felt the weight of time pressing against him. After the graduation, only God knew how a business graduate and a performing arts graduate’s paths would cross.
It was time he took matters into his own hands. If Namjoon refused to do things Jeongguk’s way, then Jeongguk would simply remind him who he worked for—and make sure the news got out. The world would know the truth. That Taehyung was his. That he had always been his. No one, not even Taehyung, would be able to object once it was public knowledge.
Because Jeongguk didn’t ask for what he wanted. He didn’t beg. He didn’t chase.
He took. And Taehyung would be no exception.
~~~
Inside the study, the air was thick with tension, silence pressing between the president and his wife like an unspoken verdict. The crystal ashtray on the desk gleamed under the dim light, an unholy contrast to the scalding anger simmering in the room. Jeon Byungwoo crushed another cigarette into it, the sharp crackle breaking the stillness like a gunshot. The past few hours had been a blur—relentless phone calls, reporters clawing for statements, advisors scrambling to contain the chaos. Their son had set the country ablaze, and they were now at the center of a storm they never saw coming.
Jeon Soyeon stood by the window, her arms folded tightly, gaze fixed on the darkened city below. “You should be denying the rumors, not standing here like this is just a minor inconvenience. This disaster should have never made it to the news.” Her voice was clipped, but beneath the ice, there was something unraveling, something dangerously close to snapping.
Byungwoo rubbed his temple, his exhaustion creeping into his tone. “Your son seems to have a different approach. Maybe it wasn’t a right decision to follow your gut and dismiss every time he said he will marry Taehyung. Maybe he wouldn’t have decide to go behind our back to prove his determination and this could be fixable. I will deal with Jeongguk. But if Taehyung is the one our son loves and wants to marry, and Taehyung —”
Soyeon let out a sharp laugh. “You think love makes a difference?” she scoffed. Soyeon turned, eyes flashing with something unreadable. “You know Taehyung cannot be Jeongguk’s omega. God, I don’t even know if he can be called an omega.”
Byungwoo sighed, the weight of history pressing against his chest. “That boy should not have to carry the burden of his parents’ choices. He has done nothing wrong. You know that. There was a time you adored him.”
“That was before.” Her voice was quieter now, but no less biting. “Before I had to think about what it would mean for our son. I have nothing against Taehyung. But that doesn’t change the more than a hundred years of Jeon dynasty which is not mine but yours, and the certain rules that come with the name of it.” Soyeon replied. “Not everyone is allowed to carry the name Jeon, right, that’s what I heard from your parents when we were preparing for our own engagement. Were you not there, were you not agreeing with it?”.
“It was different,” he said, voice firm but lacking the sharp edge of hers. “We had no obstacles. We both were willing to follow tradition. I won’t stand in the way of our son’s decision if it’s sincere and he’s willing to take entire responsibility of his actions. If he truly loves and wants to marry Taehyung”
Soyeon ran her fingers through her perfectly styled platinum blonde hair, disrupting the smooth lines, frustration bleeding through the cracks. “Jeongguk doesn’t even know the first thing about Taehyung” Her lips curled, voice dripping with something close to fury. “And guess who is the one so keen on keeping another family’s secret even if it meant catastrophe for his own.”
Byungwoo’s jaw tightened. “I will not break disrespect my friend’s trust”.
“Then go ahead,” she snapped, voice rising to a scream as she hurled the marker in her hand across the room. It hit the bookshelf with a dull thud. “Let this marriage happen and watch it be the biggest failure the Jeon name has ever seen.”
The door creaked open. Jeongguk stepped in, his presence commanding as always, yet his expression unreadable. His mother turned to face him, her gaze sharp but expectant.
Jeongguk didn’t bother with pleasantries. “It has to be Taehyung.”
His mother’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Jeongguk—”
“My wolf already made the decision.”
“That does not mean you have to follow it,” she countered swiftly. “You are the heir of this family. You should have enough control over yourself to choose the path that best serves our legacy. If you choose logic, your wolf will follow.”
Jeongguk’s jaw tightened. “And why isn’t Taehyung the logical choice? What does he lack?”
Silence stretched between them. His mother faltered, not because she had no answer, but because she couldn’t say it aloud—not with her husband’s unspoken command hanging over her like a weight.
The president finally spoke, voice firm. “This discussion is over.”
Jeongguk’s eyes flickered to him, but there was no room for argument in his father’s tone. “You decided to take matters into your own hands,” his father continued. “Going behind our backs, making the announcement public—fine. But understand this, Jeongguk. I will not risk this family’s reputation by appearing uncertain. The wedding rumors will not be denied. That means it is now fully your responsibility to make it work. Make it flawless. Make it worth this family.”
His gaze was like iron. “This family is not a playground for you to do whatever you want. The wedding will take place this summer, exactly as the world expects. How it happens—that is your concern.”
Jeongguk clenched his fists at his sides, every muscle in his body taut. He had one obstacle out of the way; his parents. And it was a good enough start.