Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The Flower of Silla

Jimin tossed and turned on the hard pallet that covered the stoney ground. He was tired and every muscle in his body ached in ways he hadn’t thought possible. His battalion had been marching for days and riding through the mountains had been particularly brutal. They’d had to put three of their best horses out of their misery after they’d become lame trying to make their way over the rocky terrain and they couldn’t afford any further loss of horses with the amount of supplies they needed for their men and women. Starting the next day the officers would march with their troops, leading the remaining horses through the mountains until they were on sturdier ground again.

The war with their neighbour, the Gaya confederacy, had been waging for too long. Both sides had suffered heavy losses and yet it seemed that neither side was closer to winning. Gaya wanted to take over Jimin’s father’s kingdom of Silla and their gathered intelligence suggested that they would then move on to conquer their larger neighbour, the kingdom of Baekje before moving on to their final target of Goguryeo. It was ambitious, to be sure, but that’s exactly why it could possibly work. Everyone underestimated the tiny nation with their vicious ruler before they’d attacked Silla and still, even as war raged on between the two, neither Baekje nor Goguryeo would ally with Silla against them, feeling that it wasn’t worth their time to become involved, willing to let Silla suffer catastrophic and debilitating loss as long as it didn’t touch their own kingdoms.

There was still a lot of mistrust and paranoia that had been carried over from centuries ago when there were no kingdoms, only insular, nomadic packs. It had been a miracle that some packs had begun to band together out of necessity and survival. Those ancient packs with their own Pack Alphas had chosen a single Head Alpha to guide them all. As time moved on, those Head Alphas eventually become known as The First Kings of the Three Kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, and also the Gaya Confederacy.

For a long time the territories mostly kept to themselves. There was trade between them, but only for what was strictly necessary. In Jimin’s lifetime, there had only been internal fighting within the realms themselves; local community and familial packs fighting over things like merchant routes and mating rights. There were too many communities with a lot of hot headed Alphas and very few Omegas to go around so when one presented in a family, it wasn’t uncommon for there to be skirmishes over who would have the right to court or even barter for them.

In the time of the nomadic packs, Omegas were often too soft to survive the hard lives of the time. They were beautiful and fertile to be sure, but they were physically smaller and since they weren’t allowed to learn how to fight or hunt, relegated to child rearing and food gathering, they couldn’t fend for themselves when their villages and packs were attacked. Omegas were often too weak to survive illness since they were the last to eat among the pack members, causing them to be frail and under nourished. This lead to more and more Alpha and Beta pairings and less and less Omega births. The mistreatment of Omegas had created a shortage that lasted centuries and yet, nothing had truly changed.

In the modern times of the Three Kingdoms, Omegas were considered precious commodities. If the Omega were very lucky, they were born into families that would cherish them and treat them lovingly. They would be pampered and cared for beyond their dreams and when the time came for them to mate, they would be protected by their loved ones, only to go to an Alpha that was worthy of them and would care for them in the manner to which they had been accustomed…so this was a very rare occurrence indeed. Only the highest of nobility had the luxury to treat their Omegas this way. Within the lower ranks of nobility, Omegas were well cared for, but trained to be the perfect Omega for their Alpha master. When the time came for them to mate, they were given by their families to an Alpha that could provide the family with either money, power or prestige, depending on what the family needed the most to ascend into a higher rank. These Omegas lived relatively pampered lives within a gilded cage.

Some were blissfully unaware of another way of life, but some were miserably conscious of it. Some were trophies to be paraded about, some provided pups for their Alphas and led quiet lives in seclusion and some were toys for their Alphas, abused and broken whenever their Alphas wanted an outlet for lust or rage. Often, the ones that survived were the petty, bitter and vicious matriarchs of the nobility that took pleasure in torturing those beneath them to give themselves some semblance of control in their lives. Jimin hated being in their company, but he couldn’t hate them. He couldn’t condone their behavior and, if he had the opportunity, would intervene from time to time, but they were more pitiable than anything. He avoided them as much as possible.

The Omegas of the peasantry were treated as nothing more than chattel. Highly coveted chattel, but chattel nonetheless. When they presented within a family, they were almost always sold shortly after to the highest bidder, whether it was a wealthy merchant that wanted an obedient mate or a city brothel wanting to purchase another whore for the elite. The purchase of an Omega often meant that the family would be safe and well fed for many winters and it was rare for an Omega to run away or protest, knowing that they would be responsible for the survival of their whole family. There were some that ran, that tried to live a life free from Alpha rule and oppression, but they usually didn’t last long on their own, either submitting to an Alpha that came upon them for protection and survival, or succumbing to death when no one would give them aid without giving themselves over. Unable to provide for themselves in a cruel world, it was their only true freedom.

Jimin was an Omega, but his life was like no other. He was the Crown Prince of Silla, General of His Majesty’s Armed Forces and Warrior Omega, a title held by no other before him. To his enemies he was known by a different name: The Flower of Silla. To them, he was exquisitely beautiful and alluring, but when one got too close, he was toxic and deadly.

When Jimin was born, his birth was heralded throughout the kingdom of Silla. There were festivals in his honour and everyone rejoiced in the miracle child that was born to the King and his Queen Consort. Theirs had been a love match, the rarest of the rare, especially amongst royalty, but their union had been plagued by infertility. The King was an Alpha, but the Queen was a Beta. It was unheard of for a ruling monarch to wed a Beta, knowing that their rate of fertility was far lower than that of an Omega, but the King couldn’t part with his mate and though they tried, they spent many years without bearing a child.

Ten years after their mating, the Queen had finally borne a son and for years he’d been the joy of the kingdom, doted on by his parents and their subjects alike. He’d been educated by the best scholars available, trained in the martial arts and the noble sports of archery and horseback riding. Jimin had an uncanny amount of dexterity, making him incredibly fast and precise. He could hit his target from farther than any other archer in the kingdom and could throw dangers with just as much ease.

Jimin was also uncommonly attractive and, even at a young age, was corded with lean muscle from his training. He had gained immense strength in his arms from his years of holding a bow and keeping tension in its string. His thighs were thick and heavily muscled and his core was incredibly strong from keeping his seat on a horse, something he did for hours and hours a day, finding joy and freedom in his daily rides and dressage training. Omegas from every noble house were presented to him as playmates and companions, hoping for a future place at his side and the royal court was sure that they had a prosperous future ahead of them with the promise of another strong, Alpha King.

It was a beautiful life until the day that the court physician announced that the 15 year old prince had stopped growing. At just five feet, nine inches he was noticeably smaller than an Alpha ought to be. Alphas were rarely ever shorter than six feet. The King and Queen were rocked by the news, sure that Jimin would be an Alpha, but they held out hope that he was perhaps abnormally short for an Alpha, while acknowledging that he might be a Beta and hoping that the kingdom wouldn’t be too disappointed. After all, Jimin was an extraordinary young man in every possible way.

That hope too was dashed when not even six months later, Jimin started to develop softer curves, his hips and buttocks became round and his lips and cheeks plumped. He became exquisitely beautiful rather than the uncommonly attractive that he had been known as before and his scent sweetened into the most delicious bouquet of summer flowers. On his 16^th birthday, the Crown Prince had presented as a rare male Omega and the kingdom mourned their idealized future with their strong Alpha King.

*****   

Jimin got up from the pallet on the floor, stretched his aching muscles, and went to pour himself some water from the pitcher on his desk. He shook his head as though he could shake away his thoughts of the past. Nights like these, when his brain wouldn’t shut off, were the hardest, especially in the midst of war when he needed to have a clear head. They’d received intelligence two days previously that a representative of the Gaya Confederacy was to meet with an emissary of Wa, a large kingdom Southeast of Silla, to make a formal offer of alliance to the heavily militarized kingdom which could turn the tide of the war in Gaya’s favour. They’d received details about the emissary’s date of arrival and location and it wasn’t good news. They were set to meet in three days, it would take another week and a half to get their whole camp over the terrain to where they needed to be, or it could take one man two days to get there by foot with meager rations. Jimin had spent hours in discussion with his officers arguing over logistics and who would best be suited to go on this stealth mission. Since there was only time for light foot travel, they’d settled on a plan to assassinate the representatives from Wa while on Gaya land, therefore implicating Gaya in their deaths and spoiling any hope for an alliance between the two. They needed an assassin who would be able to take out the pertinent representatives quietly enough that the rest of the entourage would be unaware and able to carry the news of their murdered delegates back to the Emperor of Wa.

There was only one person among the troops with the skill set to carry the mission off - The Flower of Silla.

Everyone in the meeting had agreed that Jimin was the only one who could do what needed to be done…everyone except Jeon Jungkook. Just thinking about it made Jimin’s blood boil.

“Anyone, but his Highness.” Jungkook had said as though his word was law. Jungkook was Jimin’s personal Chief Guard, appointed by his father and as such had no official rank in Silla’s army.

“You have no say in this, Jungkook,” Jimin had countered and when it looked like Jungkook was going to protest again, he simply continued. “I’ll be leaving at dawn,” he informed the group. “Please make sure that the supplies are ready, just a bed roll, dried meat and fruit to last five days, a full waterskin, and my weapons. I’ll have a small satchel with clothing and essentials, but that should be everything I need.”

“How can you all so calmly send your Crown Prince, the only heir to the throne, on such a dangerous mission alone? Have you no loyalty to hi—to Silla?” Jungkook had demanded, his scent spiked in anger.

The officers present had conscience enough to look guiltily at each other in the face of the guard’s question, many of their scents souring in response.

Jimin knew that it was because he was an Omega, even as celebrated a General as he was and valuable as a member of the royal family, he would always be an Omega. Centuries of conditioning and antiquated tradition couldn’t invest in that. If Jimin died in this war, which was a real possibility being at the forefront of it, everyone knew that there would be some other Noble or General, an Alpha, ready to take his place at his father’s side. Rumors were that General Park Hae-Jin, a popular and handsome Alpha, had arranged to remain stationed near the palace in order to endear himself to the King while Jimin was at war.

“While I’m gone, Jeon Jungkook-ssi is to stand as my proxy. Until I return, his decisions are mine. Is that clear?”

“Yes, your Highness,” the gathered officers affirmed in unison.

Jungkook wasn’t pleased and started to protest.

“Leave it, Jungkook. It’s done,” Jimin had hissed, low enough for only Jungkook to hear. The Alpha had let out a low growl in response, but it no longer phased Jimin and he’d walked out of the tent, ignoring it, with a final word to the quartermaster to have everything ready to go and outside his tent by the end of the night.

A sudden noise outside his tent brought Jimin’s thoughts back from the past. Walking over, he lifted the flap to discover the quartermaster arranging a pile of supplies under Jungkook’s watchful eye.

Confused by Jungkook’s presence, Jimin walked over to the Alpha and Beta as they were checking over the list in the quartermaster’s hand.

“Did you make sure that there was enough water? We can hunt and scavenge if our ration of dried meat and fruit runs out, but there’s no guarantee that we’ll find a healthy water source when we need it,” Jungkook mused. “Add another waterskin to the provisions that I’m to carry. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Jimin looked at the pile of provisions for his mission. There were two bed rolls and more food and water than he’d requested.

He was furious. It had been like this since they were teenagers and Jungkook had been assigned to guard the newly presented Omega prince. The Alpha had always butted into his business for Jimin’s ‘own good’, no matter what their difference in position was and somehow always seemed to get away with it.

In the past, it was because Jungkook had been his first foolish crush, but Jimin had forced himself to outgrow those ridiculous fantasies. He was a warrior and the Crown Prince of Silla. The feared Flower of Silla himself. War had gone on for so long that Jimin had had to grow up quickly and had taken on more responsibilities than he likely would have been allowed as an Omega if he hadn’t been so skilled and the need hadn’t been so desperate at the warfront. There had been no room for crushes for quite some time.

He supposed that Jungkook had simply gotten used to being able to do as he pleased. People rarely questioned him since he appeared to be Jimin’s right hand. Little did the public know that Jungkook had had no say in his posting as Jimin’s Chief Guard. The King had ordered him at 16 to remain at the newly presented prince’s side, to be his shadow and protector. Jungkook was the son of one of the King’s favourite Generals at the time and to have refused the post given to him by the King would have brought shame and humiliation to Jungkook’s well respected family.  But as time went on it was obvious that Jimin didn’t truly need protecting since he was far deadlier than anything that could come at him, Jungkook had been rendered practically useless at Jimin’s side.

Guilt often ate at Jimin. He felt that he was an albatross around Jungkook’s neck, keeping him from his own ambition and glory, that Jungkook had become more of a glorified nanny instead of the fierce warrior that Jimin knew him to actually be. Jungkook made sure that Jimin ate when he skipped meals, he was the one to notice when Jimin was near exhaustion and call an end to his excessive training exercises. Diplomatically, Jungkook often acted as a buffer to pests that wanted Jimin’s time. 

He did have his own kind of power as Jimin’s Chief Guard. Over the years he had become synonymous with Jimin in most circles. When Jimin was invited somewhere, it was always assumed that the invitation included the Alpha. If Jungkook gave any orders to the palace staff, it was treated as though it had come from Jimin. He was trusted in all of Jimin’s personal spaces and he handled all of Jimin’s arrangements. When no one else could convince Jimin of something, all Jungkook had to do was ask using his stupid, handsome face and his stupid Alpha magnetism and Jimin couldn’t help but be persuaded. As Jimin’s young crush grew, he became more and more helpless to refuse him.

Jimin didn’t know if his crush had ever been obvious, but Jungkook had never done anything to encourage him. He was always responsible and respectable, which made Jimin both resent him and love him more. The fear that kept Jimin awake at night over the last decade though was the fear that Jungkook resented him.

Why wouldn’t he? His career path had been stunted because Jimin had presented as an Omega and formality decreed that he required an Alpha guard. Jungkook could have been a General in his own right by now. He trained hard while Jimin did. He had one of the sharpest and most astute minds that Jimin had ever seen and knew that as much as Jungkook had done his best for him, his extraordinary talents had been wasted at his side. He was an Alpha who could do anything, but had no opportunities but the one that kept him chained to Jimin.

His feelings of guilt, however, didn’t stop him from being furious about having his orders disobeyed. He was the General of this unit of soldiers and he’d made his command clear.

He toed at the supplies, tipping over a little tinderbox. He leaned down to set it to rights before standing back up to look the quartermaster in the eye.

“There seem to be too many provisions, Haewon-ssi. I specifically remember asking for light provisions for one,” he admonished.

The poor quartermaster mangled the list in his hands in anxiety.

Jimin picked up the sword that lay beside his quiver and bow next, pulling the blade out of its sheath to inspect the metal in feigned curiosity before slamming it back into the casing. “I don’t use a sword. I wonder why this could be here,” he chided, not even bothering to look at the beleaguered Haewon, but focusing his piercing gaze on an unimpressed Jungkook instead.

“You know exactly why, your Highness,” Jungkook responded in a bored voice.

Haewon looked between the Alpha and Omega and backed away another step. “I was just following orders, your Highness.” He responded for himself, gesturing to Jungkook, indicating where the orders had come from.

Jungkook looked completely unapologetic.

“Yes, I understand that. The problem is that they weren’t my orders.” Jimin huffed.

The quartermaster looked between the two again, slightly confused. “Forgive me, your Highness,” he apologized with a deep bow, “I was under the impression…I thought…”

Jimin waved away the rest of Haewon’s response.

“They always do,” he muttered.

In a firmer voice he dismissed the quartermaster, telling him to leave the supplies for now and to pick up whatever was left over in the morning. The man scurried away, not wanting to get between the prince and the guard.

Crossing his arms across his chest, Jimin tried to stare the taller man down. “Did you tell the others that you were coming with me on this mission? I thought I made myself clear that I am to go alone.”

Jungkook walked past Jimin, lifting the flap to enter the prince’s tent, the smaller man following behind him angrily.

“I asked you a question, Jungkook!”

The Chief Guard spun on his heel and looked down into Jimin’s eyes, the prince surprised by the fierce intensity that burned in his gaze since Jungkook was usually so cool and reserved in most cases.

“Yes,” the Alpha responded curtly, “I told them that you and I would be gone for approximately five days and to prepare the provisions accordingly. I told them Kim Namjoon would take my place as your proxy. He’s a good senior officer. He’ll make good choices.”

Jimin couldn’t understand why he would go against him this way. Did the Alpha think that he truly wasn’t capable of doing something so important? Did he really have so low an opinion of his skills? How much more do I have to prove myself? he thought.

“Why did you do that? You know it’s dangerous already and too important to the success of this war. If Wa gets involved we might as well hand over the kingdom. I’m the one that has to do this and I need you to be here. If something happens to me, you have to be here to lead the troops. Kim Namjoon is fine, but you know that you’re the best one to take over my position. You’d already be leading an army if it you weren’t burdened with me.”

Jungkook openly scoffed at the words. “Burdened? You think…,” he cut himself off with a hiss. “If something happens to you, do you really think that I’d be in any position to lead anyone?”

Jimin couldn’t understand where this was coming from and he shook his head in response, confused by the words that almost sounded…tender.

“That doesn’t make any sense. I’m doing this alone,” he asserted again. “It’s better for everyone this way. Maybe I’ll prove to you, to my Father and everyone else that I’m actually worthy to be their Crown Prince, even as an Omega. The troops will have you if something goes wrong.”

Jimin felt the familiar despair in his gut, his constant need to prove that he was more than his Omega status. On top of that was the guilt over holding Jungkook back. That terrible feeling was another faithful companion on his never ending journey to prove his worth to everyone who wanted to put him in a pretty box.

He walked back over to his desk, took a drink from the glass he’d filled earlier and laughed bitterly. “What are you complaining about? You’ll be free of me for five days at least, if not forever. You won’t have to babysit me anymore. Come on,” he joked sadly, “that has to be a bit of a bonus. Just…take care of the troops and if things go wrong, tell my Father that I’m sorry.”

He couldn’t look at Jungkook anymore, too many emotions warred inside him. He wanted to yell. He wanted to cry. He wanted to beg Jungkook not to listen to him. He wanted to tell the Alpha that he was scared and that he wanted someone to care if he lived or died. Instead he just shook his head again and went to leave the tent to get some air.

Jungkook grabbed Jimin’s arm and spun him until he was pulled flush against the Alpha’s chest. He made no move to release him and Jimin could only stare wide eyed at the bigger man.

“That’s your excuse? That you have to prove yourself? That people would be happier without you?”

Jimin didn’t know how to respond to him. They had butted heads before in their ten years together, but never like this.

“That’s bullshit! Your father is an asshole if he can’t see your worth,” the Alpha growled, shocking Jimin who had never heard him say anything against the King before. “You’re twice the man he is. The troops love and respect you as their General and as their Crown Prince. So what if there are a few of the officers from noble families that are afraid of your father. They don’t count for anything in this war. They can take part in the big meetings and order people around all they want, but they aren’t the backbone of the unit or this country. These troops would fall apart without you and those idiots would have no ideas or strategies because they’ve all come from you.”

Jimin could feel Jungkook shaking and it rocked him as nothing else could. I don’t understand what’s happening, he thought anxiously. Jungkook never acted rashly or impulsively. He never spoke nonsense.

Jimin pushed out of Jungkook’s arms and carded his fingers through the long blonde hair that he’d taken out of his top knot before trying to sleep. He pulled some of the long strands over his eyes so that the Alpha couldn’t see how close to tears he actually was.

“That’s not true. I don’t know what I’m doing half the time. I try to do as my conscience bids, but how do I know that that’s the right course? They tell me that I’m too soft because I’m an Omega, that I trust too easily, I… I know that you don’t like me. I don’t know why you’re saying these things now. You’ve been forced to deal with me since we were practically children, I don’t…” He felt so close to a breakdown. “Why are you doing this to me? Why must you torture me? Just let me do this.”

Jungkook stared at Jimin who watched in astonishment as the Alpha’s eyes glowed red, even in the dim candle light of the tent. The ginger undertone of the brunette’s scent sharpened in frustration.

“Torture you? It’s been torture for me this entire time! Ten years of wanting you. How can you not know…?”

Before Jimin could question his meaning, Jungkook backed him up until he was pressed against his desk, one of the Alpha’s arms braced on it beside him and the other arm wrapped around Jimin’s slender waist.

“How could you have mistaken my feelings for anything else?” he whispered in the prince’s ear before sliding his lips across the shocked prince’s own.

Jimin pushed at Jungkook’s shoulder out of reflex to break the surprise kiss, but the Alpha was undeterred. He cupped Jimin’s face tenderly, caressing his cheeks with his thumbs as the prince stood frozen and unsure.

“How do you not know how much I’ve loved you?” He asked, leaning in to kiss Jimin again, moving slowly to give the prince time to reject him. Instead, Jimin’s eyes took on the glow of Omega blue and Jungkook took that as a sign, capturing the Omega’s lips again.

Jungkook deepened the kiss, licking across the seam of Jimin’s mouth. The Omega gasped and Jungkook took full advantage, sliding his tongue along Jimin’s, tasting and teasing until the prince melted in his arms and kissed back just as ardently.

This time when Jimin broke the kiss it was for air. He clung to Jungkook’s hanbok in a state of shock. He couldn’t have predicted this turn of events and his mind was reeling.

Jungkook held the Omega prince to him with one hand behind his head, massaging the scalp there through his hair in a way that was both comforting and intimate. His other hand was splayed over Jimin’s lower back so that the tips of his fingers dug lightly into the top of his perfect bottom. He was held firmly in place and Jimin found that he didn’t want Jungkook to let go. All he could do was hold on to the Alpha’s silk sleeves for dear life and pray that something would start to make sense.

Jungkook pressed his forehead to Jimin’s as they both tried to catch their breaths.

“You’ve never wanted an Alpha. I know,” he whispered between them. “I’ve tried to keep my distance, but I couldn’t stop my need to care for you, feed you, clothe you…I know I’ve been hard on you. I’ve tried to keep my wolf at bay for so long, when all I’ve ever wanted is to love you, be by your side in any way that you’ll have me.”

The hand in Jimin’s hair pulled gently, forcing Jimin to look up into the Alpha’s red eyes. “I’ve never wanted to dominate you, my prince. I’ve only ever wanted to be your other half. My strengths to your weaknesses and your strengths to my weaknesses. Have you truly never felt that? Do you still know me so little?”

Jungkook’s voice sounded anguished and Jimin was at a total loss. Could it be real?

Before he could answer his question, Jungkook had moved quickly, turning them in the direction of Jimin’s bed. Before the blonde’s heart could beat more than once, Jungkook laid him on the pallet on the floor and covered Jimin’s smaller body with his larger one.

Resting on one elbow, Jungkook held himself up and brushed the golden strands of Jimin’s hair out of his face with reverence.

“I’m begging you, Omega, my prince,” he whispered lovingly, stealing a kiss in between titles. Jimin usually hated when anyone used the title of his sub-gender, but out of Jungkook’s lips it sounded like heaven, seductive and possessive in the most wonderful way.  “Don’t leave me behind. Take me with you wherever you go.”

Jimin had never heard the stoic Alpha beg before. “But…I…” He could barely make out a coherent thought with their bodies pressed together.

Jungkook kissed softly beneath his ear, then lower over his pulse point and lower once more over the scent gland that was swollen and just begging to be scented by the Alpha. Jungkook nosed over it softly in the barest hint of a scenting, letting Jimin’s summer bouquet mix enticingly with his own sweet grass and warm ginger. Jimin groaned, wanting desperately to be covered in the intoxicating combination. 

“Don’t say that you’ll do this without me. Please,” he implored on the trail of another soft kiss.

“Ok…uh…” Jimin whispered in a daze, trying to fight through the clouds of his thoughts. “You can come.”

Jungkook jumped up from the pallet and cold air hit Jimin all at once as Jungkook’s body was suddenly lifted off of his. The Alpha brushed off the dust from his knees as he looked at the prince who remained on the floor.

“Good,” the guard said cheerfully, combing a hand through his dark brown locks. “We‘ll leave at dawn. You’d better get some rest, your Highness. I’m going to go wash up in the river – remember to put out the candle before you go to sleep.”

With a simple wave goodbye, Jungkook was out of the tent.

Jimin lay on the pallet unmoving, a wheezing sort of moan coming unbidden from his lips as he tried to understand…

What the…what just happened?

*****      

Jimin had barely slept in the night, tossing and turning on the hard pallet that Jungkook had laid him down on only hours earlier. It was rest that he’d sorely needed and the lack of it was making it difficult for him to get his thoughts focused on his mission. His mind turned constantly to the memory of Jungkook’s lips on his, the feel of his hard body covering his own…

Jimin shook his head for the hundredth time.

He was angry. What the hell was that last night? It was everything that he hadn’t let himself want in so long, but there was a part of him that still wondered if it had all just been manipulation, for Jungkook to get what he wanted from him. The old wounds of his past; the rejection, the prejudice, the obstacles, the heartache, played in the background of his mind. He knew that he was one of the fiercest creatures to walk the earth. He knew he was beautiful. He knew that he held power as a General in his Majesty’s army and also as the Crown Prince of Silla…and yet he questioned his innate desirability. Someone may want him as a prize, a deadly flower that came with a crown, but he couldn’t help wondering if anyone, Jungkook included, could ever truly just want…Jimin.

Remembering the way the Alpha had left him there after getting what he was after, made the biscuits he’d eaten for breakfast sit like a lump in the prince’s gut.

Moving quickly he gathered the few things he’d need and placed them in a satchel that he could sling across his body. He washed his face and body as best he could with a cloth and the small basin of water that had been brought to him before bed, the water had cooled and was bracing, which was just what Jimin needed to wake up fully and bring him back to focus.

As he opened the flap of the tent and stepped out into the darkness of the pre-dawn, he could make out the shape of his Chief Guard standing against a nearby tree. He was too angry to even acknowledge him, choosing instead to gather up his belongings. He tucked his bow into the holster attached to his quiver and swung them both over the opposite shoulder of his satchel. He added his bed roll and waterskin to the burden on his back and left the rest for Jungkook to carry as he started walking toward the road that would lead to the mountain pass to Gaya.

He fiddled with his sleeves as he walked. He wrapped wide gauzy strips of coarse silk around the end of each sleeve and again with leather strips so that the fabric from wrist to elbow wouldn’t get in the way when he needed to use his bow or the daggers that he’d tucked into his belt. He focused all his attention on that work and absolutely paid no attention to the Alpha who ran to keep up with him.

“Good morning, your Highness,” Jungkook called out. Jimin pretended he hadn’t heard it and kept walking, determined not to give the Alpha the satisfaction of seeing him flustered. Jungkook caught up to Jimin after only a few minutes, still shifting the provisions and weapons that he’d rushed to pack up. The Alpha was still breathing heavily as he ran in front of the Prince, effectively stopping him in his tracks.

“Your Highness, are you alright?” Jungkook asked. It was still dark out and Jimin knew that the guard couldn’t see his face properly, so he didn’t try to school his features but kept his voice steady as he responded.

“I’m perfectly fine. We have a very tight schedule and no time to lose. I have an agent that will meet me tonight at the Jade Forest Inn as soon as we cross the border into Gaya. He has information that I have no intention to miss out on so I expect us to move quickly and keep quiet.”

Jungkook hesitated for a moment at Jimin’s tone before taking the order for what it was.

“Yes, your Highness,” the guard said quietly in return and Jimin could have sworn that he saw a look of disappointment on the Alpha’s face in the last remnant of moonlight, making his gut churn in unwelcome guilt.

Willing himself not to dwell on the feelings, Jimin pushed past Jungkook and continued on in the direction they needed to go, putting all his energy into focusing on the task at hand.

 *****

The day had flown by and the terrain had changed from the relatively smooth packed earth of the common road to the narrow and rocky footpath of the mountain pass between Silla and Gaya. It had taken a lot longer for the pair to make it through from one side of the mountain to the other than planned. The melting snow from the top of the mountains had caused landslides in the spring that obscured the path in places. Without the burden of horses and carts though, the two managed to get around the debris with some extra effort, making it through the pass as the sun showed the first signs of resigning for the day and the sky blushed a light pink.

Though Jimin forged onward, Jungkook could see that he was flagging. The Omega prince had been dragging his feet for the last mile at least and he looked far more pale than was his usual. Jungkook had suggested earlier in the day that they stop and eat something, but Jimin refused, only saying that they needed to keep going to make it to the Inn. Jungkook had watched him like a hawk and though he’d taken a few swigs from his waterskin and had eaten a strip of dried meat while walking, he wasn’t nearly as nourished as he should be for such an important mission. At that rate, Jungkook had serious doubts about whether the prince would be in any shape to meet with his informant at all once they reached their destination.

“Your Highness, I think you need to take a moment to rest and eat something. You’ve been going all day without a break,” Jungkook called out.

“I don’t need you to tell me what my limits are, Jungkook,” Jimin snapped, though he looked exhausted. “It will take us another couple of hours to get to the Inn. We should just keep going. We’re officially on Gaya land and I don’t want to linger in the open.”

Jimin took a few steps forward and tripped on a stone while dragging his feet. He refused to acknowledge that the Alpha might be correct. Keeping his gaze forward, he clenched his hands into fists and rolled his shoulders back in determination to keep going.

Jungkook couldn’t let it go on any longer, not when he could see that the Omega was willfully ignoring his own needs. Reaching out he grabbed Jimin’s wrist to keep him from continuing on.

“Wait!”

Jimin glared at the hand clutching his wrist. “What gives you the right to touch me like this? Let go immediately.”

Jungkook could see something in Jimin’s eyes that wasn’t making sense, he was angry, but there was something more than that.

“I’m your guardian,” he stated plainly, as though that was the end of it. “You’ve been avoiding talking to me all day and your scent smells like burning flowers. Did I make you angry somehow?” He asked before Jimin could respond.

The prince scoffed and yanked his wrist from Jungkook’s grasp.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why would I be angry?” he said coolly, “I’m just focused on what has to be done. This is too important. You don’t have to concern yourself with me.”

Jungkook placed a hand softly on the prince’s bicep. Jimin didn’t shake it off or say anything, he couldn’t make himself do it again. He was too aware of the placement of Jungkook’s fingers where they pressed lightly into the muscle and the heat from the Alpha’s palm that he could feel through the fabric of his hanbok. Memories of the night before flooded his thoughts, memories of finally being in Jungkook’s arms after nearly a decade of wishing he could be in them. His anger fizzled and left him with the raw truth about what he was really feeling; sad. Tears prickled behind his eyes, threatening to break free at a word.

Jungkook could see something break in the hint of Omega blue that leaked into Jimin’s usual grey eyes.

“No matter what, my prince, I’m always going to concern myself with you. It’s my duty.”

Duty. That was the word that could break him. The hot tears couldn’t be held back any longer.

“It’s your duty? It’s your duty to get me to do what you think I should do? Is that why you kissed me and told me that you love me?” Jimin’s voice broke. “Was it funny to have me give in to you so easily? Did you leave me lying there to go and have a good laugh because I’m a naïve fool?”

Jungkook squeezed his arm, but Jimin continued before the Alpha could deny it.

“Was there truly no other way you could think of to persuade me to allow you to come. We’ve spent ten years together and you felt that this warranted such a lie?” He sobbed, no longer caring what he looked like in front of the man that he’d carried a torch for for so long. Jungkook had seen everything that Jimin had gone through in the last decade, he could survive witnessing his heartache too, since he’d caused it.

Jungkook took Jimin’s other arm until he held the smaller man firmly and pulled him closer so he couldn’t escape. There had been some kind of misunderstanding and it needed to be clarified.

“What would make you think that I was lying? I confessed everything to you. I laid myself bare!”

“You left me lying on the floor!” Jimin yelled back, his voice cracking as his hurt bled through it. “You just got up from me and couldn’t leave fast enough…I…I felt so foolish.”

Jungkook cupped the prince’s face and brushed the tears away with his thumb as they fell. His own tears started to fall as he realized his horrible mistake.

“I’m so sorry, Ji- my prince. I never thought it would be taken in such a way. I wasn’t in control last night and I had to fight myself not to take you on that pallet. How could I let that happen when you deserve so much more. I went straight to the river and plunged into the cold water until the urges…uh…waned,” the Alpha blushed in embarrassment. “I should have come back to talk to you about it, but I thought that since we had to be away so early I should let you rest and that we could talk about it in the morning. I was wrong. So wrong. Will you forgive me?”

“I didn’t rest. I couldn’t sleep the whole night thinking that it was all a game to you,” Jimin pouted, unable to let him get off that easily.

Jungkook pulled Jimin to his chest and stroked his large, warm hand down the prince’s back soothingly.

“I’m sorry, your Highness. I’m an idiot,” he acknowledged.

“You are. A big one.” Jimin persisted. “When you left so suddenly, it hurt. It hurt me so much, Jungkook.” 

“Hmmm,” Jungkook’s deep rumble made Jimin shiver, “and why is that?” he asked, a hint of teasing in his tone.

Jimin lifted his head from where he’d been resting it on Jungkook’s chest and looked at the bigger man incredulously.

“What kind of question is that? Haven’t you heard me at all? It’s because I’ve always loved you and you toyed with those feelings. It felt like you ripped them out of me after I’d tried so hard to deny them, you exposed me and then left me all alone.”

Jungkook’s hand gently cupped Jimin’s head and guided it back to rest on his firm chest. Jimin didn’t resist.

“So you’re saying that you love me?”

Jimin sighed, realizing what he’d just admitted. He closed his eyes and took a breath. There was no point in denying it further.

“I love you,” he whispered hesitantly.

“You really love me?” Jungkook asked again.

Jimin sighed “Yes. I do…and you love me?”

“I do. Very, very much,” the Alpha affirmed.

Jungkook, leaned down to offer a kiss in reconciliation, which Jimin accepted. It was a sweet kiss, light and feathering.

When they drew apart, Jungkook combed his fingers through Jimin’s blonde hair that had been loosely tied back and brushed the remaining tears from the prince’s face, tracing his fingers over the soft skin, wanting to memorize each sensation on his fingertips. Jimin’s eyes fell closed and he hummed in contentment after the difficult day of travel and heartbreak.

“What should we do about this, hmm?” Jungkook asked softly, loving the scent of spring fresh flowers that Jimin was releasing in his happiness. “What would you have of me, your Highness?”

The prince opened his eyes to look at the man he now knew loved him.

“My name is Jimin.”

Jungkook laughed. “So it is,” he responded cheekily.

Jimin swatted lightly at the Alpha’s arm. “I think that if I love you and you love me, the least you could do is call me Jimin when it’s just us alone.”

Jungkook nodded his understanding and kissed the prince again for good measure.

“Alright then…Jimin, what would you have of me?”

Jimin purred in happiness upon hearing his name finally spoken by the Alpha after so many years of ‘your Highness’ and ‘my prince’. He wove his arms around the taller man’s waist, holding him with all his strength, almost in fear that if he spoke what he truly wanted, it would all disappear like a dream.

“I want…” He looked up again into Jungkook’s eyes, looking for and finding the encouragement to continue. “I want you to be my Alpha.”

Jimin could barely look at Jungkook again, for fear that he asked too much. To be the Alpha of the Crown Prince of Silla was a heavy responsibility and a role that came with a lot of unpleasant baggage. He knew that he was asking a lot, but war had pressed upon him the understanding that only the present moment was guaranteed. Jimin decided that he was so very tired of suffering. If Jungkook could be his Alpha for even one day, he would be well satisfied with this life and if his time came, he could journey to the next cycle of his life in peace.

Jungkook didn’t wait for Jimin to look at him on his own, he simply lifted the smaller man’s chin with the soft pressure of his finger underneath it, rewarding his gaze with another soft kiss.

“Then I will be your Alpha, body and soul, until my last breath, Omega. I’m yours for as long as you’ll have me,” he said reverently.

Jimin buried his head in Jungkook’s shoulder and let all his emotions out as his Alpha held him close. Jungkook picked his love up with ease and carried him over to the base of a laurel tree and sat, placing the prince in his lap.

“Shhh, I’m yours. I’m yours,” he whispered while rocking his Omega gently, knowing that he was letting go of years of emotion.

Jimin leaned into Jungkook’s neck and nosed at his scent gland, releasing the Alpha’s sweetgrass and ginger scent and letting it blanket him before rubbing his cheek over it to mix his floral bouquet scent in with it. The combined aroma was warm and natural and made both of their inner wolves feel a deep sense of peace.

“Are you feeling better now?” the Alpha inquired gently.

Jimin nodded and gave Jungkook a smile that almost stopped the guard’s heart. He hadn’t seen Jimin genuinely happy in almost the entire decade that he’d known him.

“I am now, if you’re truly with me.” Jimin answered honestly.

Jungkook pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. “Good. Do you think you could eat a little bit before we move on? I know you’re in a rush to get to the Inn, but it will do you no good if you pass out once we get there.”

Jimin smiled again and laughed, “Yes, Alpha.”

A sound erupted from Jungkook’s chest, a deep resonant rumble that he’d never made before, like a cross between a purr and a roar. It was cut off quickly in the Alpha’s surprise.

“Oh, you liked that?” Jimin teased. “Do you like it when I call you Alpha?”

Jungkook knew that he was teasing, but he wasn’t wrong. “Yes, I do. I want to hear you say it always.”

“Alright then, will you feed your Omega, Alpha?”

Jungkook chuckled and pulled some dried meat and fruit from one of their pouches. He tore off chunks and fed it to the prince who was grinning from ear to ear with each offering.

Jimin liked the feeling that they were like any other couple; the feeling that they belonged to each other, that they could be themselves with each other and let their instincts free. He appreciated that fleeting moment in time, sitting in his Alpha’s lap and being cared for by someone who loved him. He let it sink in, knowing that it had to be brief.

Taking the waterskin from Jungkook, Jimin took a long drink and then lifted himself off the bigger man with a sigh, handing the waterskin back and allowing the Alpha to carry it.

“It’s time,” he said wearily, looking up at the darkening sky. The sun had nearly set completely while they talked and ate, but war waited for no one. “Another few hours and then we can rest for the night…together.”

Jimin looked up at Jungkook through his lashes, slightly nervous still, but the brunette just smiled lovingly and took Jimin’s small hand in his larger one. He brought it to his lips and pressed a kiss across his Omega’s knuckles.

“Then what are we waiting for?” he said warmly.

They walked silently hand in hand as they headed for Gaya’s main road.

*****

They reached the Jade Forest Inn sooner than they’d anticipated. An old man with a cart filled with sacks of rice had come across the pair near the crossroads and offered to take them into the nearest town, thinking that they were a mated pair. Jungkook had surprised Jimin with an excellent impression of a Gayan satoori and so he let the Alpha do all the talking with the elderly man. He had him convinced that he’d come home from the war to mate while his Omega had his heat and that they were to spend the night at the local Inn before he would head back to the front lines. By the time the old man had dropped them at the Inn, they’d been gifted a bottle of rice wine and some sweet buns and sent on their way with well wishes.

Jimin watched the man and his cart drive away down the road into town and he couldn’t help but feel sad.

“I hate war, that greed and a lust for more power would make us enemies is some kind of abomination. Maybe I’m not fit to be King in saying so.”

Jungkook shook his head and wound his arm around the prince’s waist, pulling him close. “No, I think actually that that is precisely what will make you an excellent King. You would never go to battle lightly. You’ll always choose what’s best for your people. That’s something to be admired, Jimin.”

The prince felt a tingling warmth, both from Jungkook’s praise and the use of his name. He squeezed the hand that held his waist and gestured toward the door, suggesting they go inside.

The Inn was alive with people and music. There were people inside the main house and even more seated around tables set up in the vast courtyard, most of whom were drunk, judging from the pungent smell of makgeolli and sweat in the air.

Jimin scanned the courtyard and his eyes settled on a figure sitting at a small table in the corner of the yard. His woven bamboo hat was pulled low, over his eyes, but the hat and the long string of beads that hung around the man’s neck told Jimin he was a Buddhist monk. There were three purple heron feathers that dangled from the bottom of the beaded strap of the hat, the symbol that he’d been told to look for.

“I see the man I’m to meet. I have to do this alone, Alpha, so why don’t you get us a room for the night and find us a table? Perhaps we can indulge and eat some stew with these buns and the rice wine. I promise I won’t be long.”

Jungkook hesitated, not wanting to let the prince out of his sight. It went against all of his instincts, especially in enemy territory. Jungkook had had to take Jimin’s weapons since it was unseemly for a common Omega to be in possession of anything dangerous and they had to keep up the appearance in order to blend in.

Jimin could see the struggle on his face. “I promise that I’ll be fine. I have a dagger under my hanbok if something happens and you know that I know how to handle myself. Please trust me.”

“I do,” the Alpha acknowledged.

“Good, now kiss your Omega like a good ‘mate’ and I’ll meet you inside.”

Jungkook cupped Jimin’s cheeks in his large hands obediently and slid his lips across the others’. In a heartbeat, Jimin parted his lips to allow the Alpha to make the kiss deeper, welcoming the tongue that moved against his own. It was over too quickly for the Omega’s liking, but he supposed that they shouldn’t overdo it. Still, that should affirm their story about being a newly mated couple.

Jimin sighed dreamily. “That will do, I suppose.”

Jungkook laughed and added a small peck to his love’s lips. “Let’s do what we need to do and I’ll meet you inside once you’re done. Please, be very careful.”

Jimin only nodded as he watched the Alpha turn and disappear into the main house to procure their room.

Turning back to the corner of the courtyard, he was unsurprised to see the dark figure turned toward him. He couldn’t see past the bamboo hat he wore, but he knew that the monk had been watching them.

As he approached the table a familiar scent tickled his nose, a light fragrance of jasmine and honey. Jimin’s eyes widened in wonder as the monk lifted his head, revealing the face of an old friend.

“Min Yoongi!” Jimin cried in a half whisper.

The man smiled a gorgeous gummy smile at the prince as he sat down at the small table.

“My old friend,” Yoongi replied, not wanting to use an honorific title when there were too many ears listening.

“How is it you? How are you here?” Jimin asked. It has been many years since they’d seen each other. Yoongi had been one of the Omegas that had been thrown at him as a playmate when they were young by the man’s ruthless noble parents who hoped for him to be a marriage candidate once the prince presented as an Alpha. Three years older than Jimin, Yoongi had presented as an Omega long before Jimin did. Even when it was expected that Jimin would present as an Alpha, Yoongi had never expressed a desire to be his mate, much to their parents chagrin. Instead they’d become confidantes and friends in a world where that was not so easily done. One day, however, Yoongi stopped coming to court and even after Jimin kept asking, no one would tell him what had happened to the boy.

Yoongi’s smile was sad as he answered. “I’d heard that you presented as an Omega. I can’t say that I’m surprised, you and I were always kindred spirits. You know how hard it is to be an Omega, especially a male Omega.”

Jimin took the other man’s hand in acknowledgement and nodded for him to continue.

“The long and short of it is, my parents were angry that I wasn’t getting your attention in any marriageable way. We were friends, but I wouldn’t flirt with you or chase any of the other Omegas away. They were terribly disappointed in me and had suddenly arranged for me to marry an older, very wealthy Alpha in another province since I was of no use to them to get to you. You know that I’ve never cared for Alphas…I’ve never been persuaded that way. I couldn’t do as my parent’s asked and I ran away to the temple and begged the monks to take me in. Surprisingly, they did and after a while I traveled with some of the monks here to Gaya before the war to set up another temple. I’ve always been loyal to you though, my friend. I never forgot our time together. The Gayan King is cruel. He abuses his people and power and his thirst for conquest has no end. If the war isn’t stopped, I fear the loss of life will be far beyond what we’ve seen. It will spread like a disease until there are only remnants of our people left.”

Jimin’s heart broke for the other Omega. He was such a quiet and kind soul.

“I’ve been happy, Jimin. Please don’t be upset. I’ve lived my life as I’ve truly wanted for quite some time, I’ve been far luckier than most. Please don’t be uneasy about that.” Yoongi said, seeing the heartbroken look on the other’s face.

“How is it that you have news for me, Yoongi?” Jimin asked instead of probing into his personal life further.

“We have many officers and nobles that come to the temple, as you can imagine. They all assume that the Heavens align with their personal ambitions and pray for their own victory rather than the greatest good of all. And yet there are some that come that are full of compassion and gentleness. There is such a one that has come the last few weeks, the Omega of the Chief State Councillor.”

Jimin gasped at the information. The Chief State Councillor had the most power in the country after the King and the Crown Prince. He had the greatest influence over the King than any other noble. If the information was coming from the mate of such a person, it had to be important indeed.

“She has come to me weeping because her mate has invited, by order of the Gayan King, an emissary from Wa to their home to discuss an alliance. She said that the alliance is hesitant at best and worries that she will cause the party some great offense. She fears their violence as she’s heard her mate discussing with other officials the plans that the Emperor of Wa has, should he enter into this war. It’s to be a bloodbath and Wa has threatened the Gaya Confederacy with war themselves in the past. She wants nothing to do with it and fears for herself and her children. Her mate bought her from her family when she was quite young and she has no particular love for him, but she is utterly devoted to her children. She’s a sweet and sensitive thing.”

Jimin felt for the poor woman, that she was in such a difficult position.

“She came to me today to tell me that the emissary is, in fact, more than any regular emissary. He’s a Prince of Wa, the second son of the King himself. Rumor has it that he is particularly vicious and has a terrible record of violence with Omegas. He’s been mated three times, all of which have ended in untimely and violent deaths that are never investigated. It’s said that he travels with a small entourage and will reach the villa by noon tomorrow. They’ll have a feast for the party tomorrow evening and will begin business the day after. There isn’t much time to lose, I’m afraid.”

Yoongi placed his hand over Jimin’s. It gave the prince comfort to have the kind touch of another Omega in such a time of stress. The monk could sense that and squeezed his hand warmly before breaking more bad news.

“My prin- Jimin. I must tell you this and it pains me to do it because I fear what your response will be…”

Jimin took a breath to brace himself.

“The entourage the prince brings with him are not diplomats and guards. They’re all elite Imperial warriors. They’re ready for treachery, though they believe if it is to come it will come from Gaya and not Silla.”

Jimin sighed. “At the very least, that plays into our plan to frame Gaya for the assassination.”

Yoongi looked sadly at his old friend and squeezed his hand once more. 

“Yes, but that means that there is much more of a risk to you. You may not make it out alive. These are warriors that have trained their whole lives. They’re watching for any attack and I worry for your safety.”

“I’ve also trained my whole life, Yoongi. You know this,” he countered, resigned. “You know that I find no joy in what must be done. You, more than anyone, understand that life is sacred, and yet if I don’t do this, many thousands of people will suffer and die horribly, more than there have been. If I do this, it’s likely the war will end. Gaya is at the end of its resources and Silla also can’t afford to advance. It will all just…stop. If I can make this work. Even at the cost of my own life.”

Jimin bowed his head, not wanting to let his old friend see the tears that started to stream down his face.

“I don’t want to die. I want so badly to live, Yoongi,” he whispered brokenly. “Now that I have so much to live for…”

Yoongi looked at Jimin thoughtfully for a moment. “Was that Jeon Jungkook that I saw going into the main house? General Jeon Jihoon’s son?”

“Yes. It was.”

“Is he an Alpha?” he asked.

“Yes. He is.”

Yoongi’s heart broke for Jimin. “Is he your Alpha?”

Jimin’s voice broke on a tiny sob. “Yes.”

“I’m so sorry, my friend. I’m so sorry that this burden is on your shoulders. It’s unfair that you are asked to sacrifice so much when the Kingdoms abhor a strong Omega like you, yet their fate is in your hands.

You know, all the Alpha soldiers that come to the temple have no true desire to atone for their wrong doings. They want quick and easy absolution so that they can do it again and again and think that their souls won’t carry the stain into their next life…but I see you, Jimin. I see your desire for justice and peace. I see that you’re a soul of compassion and protection. I’m proud of who you are and what you’ve become, my old friend…and if you bring peace to these lands, I will always offer a prayer of gratitude for your life until my last day.”

“Thank you,” Jimin wept quietly, bowing to his friend in gratitude. “Will you offer a prayer with me now? For where I must go? I’m…afraid.”

Yoongi nodded and put a comforting hand on his fellow Omega’s shoulder.

“May you know yourself forgiven for all the harm you may have thought and done. May you live a life of peace and loving kindness until you depart this life. If you are to pass from this life, may it be a good and peaceful death, and through the triumph of your death, may you be able to benefit all other beings. In all the hours of your remaining life, may you walk a loving path in hopeful courage. Go in peace, Omega.”

Jimin took his friend’s hand from his shoulder and kissed it in gratitude, too emotional to express his gratitude in words.

“You blessed me with your friendship all those years ago, Jimin. I will pray for you now, that all that comes to pass is for the highest and best good for all people and that you are guided along whatever path that must be.”

Jimin sniffed and set his back straight once more. “Thank you, Yoongi. It means more than I can tell you.”

“I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I hope to see you sitting on the throne of Silla one day. You’d make a magnificent King.” The monk whispered.

Jimin bowed again and smiled genuinely. “I would hope to do the best for my people should that ever come to pass.”

“If it does,” Yoongi hesitated. “If you do come to the throne, will you send word to me at the temple here? I should like to come home and I know that you would make it safe.”

Jimin’s heart swelled. “I will. If I come back from this, one day I will call you home to my side. I would love to have your friendship again.”

The pair spent a few minutes more discussing their memories of home and the time they had together as children. For Jimin, it was a blessing to remember that he hadn’t always been alone as he tended to think himself to be. He’d had a friend like Yoongi and then Jungkook had come into his life, regardless of the ups and downs. He felt blessed to have had them both.

Yoongi brought the subject back to Jimin’s mission and told him that he’d arranged with the mate of the Chief State Councillor to have a number of entertainers come to perform for the Prince of Wa’s entourage at the feast that would be thrown for them. Jimin was the Flower of Silla and as an Omega had trained in the arts of song and dance. He’d turned them into weapons just as deadly as his bow or his daggers. It was a good plan to get him as close as possible to his target. He also explained that he’d arranged to have the gentle Omega and her children come to stay at the temple for a few days so that they wouldn’t be there if there was to be bloodshed, so Jimin didn’t need to worry about them being hurt. He’d have to be careful of the servants, but there would be no children. Finally, Yoongi handed Jimin a thick wooden tag with a name carved into it. It was the identification tag of a hermit who had passed away in the mountains days ago. Yoongi had gone to check on the man, but he’d died in his sleep. He was mentally ill and had no family. There had been rumours in the village about a lunatic in the mountains and so everyone had given it a wide berth. Yoongi, however had gone many times to bring the man some company and kindness, even though it was rejected more often than not. Having the tag meant that Jimin could leave it at the scene of the crime and the blame would be placed on a citizen of Gaya. A citizen who had no family that revenge could be taken on. It was just what they needed.

It was a full day’s ride to the village from the Inn and passage had been arranged already for Jimin to leave at first light.

Jimin got up from the small table. The courtyard had cleared considerably as people had drunk their fill and had likely gone home to their mates. A new stream of customers were starting to trickle in, likely single Alphas who wanted to drown their sorrows all night. It was a good time for him to slip into the main house to meet Jungkook.

Turning to the older Omega, Jimin made his final bow to his friend who returned it to the prince, bowing deeply.

“Go well, my friend, be at peace…and bless you.”

“And you, Yoongi.” Jimin said wistfully. “Until we see each other again.”

“Heavens willing,” the older Omega agreed.

With a final wave, Jimin headed toward the main house and his love.

*****

Jimin allowed himself the luxury of having a late meal with his love. Aside from the pieces of meat and fruit that they’d eaten in the forest, this was the first time in their ten year relationship they shared a real meal together as partners. The Innkeeper was under the assumption that they were already mated and so made no comment about their public display of affection.

When they retired to their room they spent time in each other’s arms, sharing moments of soft kisses and even softer touches while they lay together on the large, comfortable futon that had been laid out for them on the floor. Neither of them wanted to talk about the meeting Jimin had had with the monk, but the time came when they had no choice

“There’s nothing more that I want than to stay with you in my arms like this forever, but I know that we are here for Silla and there is too much to be done for me to be selfish any longer,” Jungkook admitted. “Did the monk have the intelligence that you needed?”

“He did,” Jimin replied and accepted the warm squeeze from the Alpha when his scent soured a little bit. He told Jungkook what he could about the meeting, Yoongi’s identity, the identity of the emissary, the warriors that accompanied him, and the location of the gathering.

“This is far more dangerous now. We’ll have to refine our plans. How long will it take to reach the villa? Is there transportation there?” the Alpha asked.

For some reason, Jimin felt a sense of deep unease. “It’s uh...not until late morning. We’ll figure things out on the way. Let’s not think about it tonight, I’m unbearably tired and need to rest.”

Jungkook looked surprised at the lack of further information, but Jimin was still his prince and a worthy General in Silla’s army. He was nothing if not careful and precise when it came to battles, big or small. He could trust that everything had a plan.

“Alright, my beautiful Omega, as you wish. I leave it to you.”

Jimin wanted to weep with guilt. He knew what a gift it was, an Alpha ceding authority to an Omega, especially an Omega that was theirs, was unheard of. Jungkook was a rare Alpha indeed and he hated lying to him. He didn’t know why he felt such a sense of foreboding when he thought of telling him the entire plan, including that they were to leave at first light, but there was a deep seeded instinct that told him to hold back for now.

“Can you just hold me in your arms tonight? Please?” he begged softly. “I just want to be held by you and forget that everything and everyone else exists. Just hold me until I fall asleep. Is that alright?”

Jungkook pulled his Omega closer, back into the warmth of his arms. Jimin snuggled in as closely as he could, practically laying on the Alpha, with his head resting on his chest. He lost himself in the rise and fall of his breathing and the steady heartbeat under his ear. Jungkook said nothing else, but hummed an old lullaby until Jimin’s eyes closed and he relaxed into sleep.

*****

Jimin woke up in the middle of the night, clutching at his chest and trying to fight off the remnants of fear and panic brought on by the horrific nightmare that had seemed so real. In it, he and Jungkook had battled with the Prince of Wa and his band of Imperial warriors over and over and over again. Each time, Jimin had watched as his Alpha was killed in different ways while trying to protect him. Each time, Jimin stared down at him, cold and lifeless, covered in blood.

He bit his hand to keep from crying out and waking the man sleeping beside him. It was still a couple of hours until dawn and Jimin now knew why he’d been so reluctant to tell Jungkook the truth the night before. He’d known all along that this was a mission for him alone. He had skills that Jungkook didn’t and if a life must be sacrificed for Silla, he couldn’t let that life be his Alpha’s. It would be both the most selfish and most selfless thing he’d ever done, but he had to complete this mission alone.

He worked quickly in the darkness of pre-dawn, emptying out everything from his satchel but what he needed for the mission; a bundle of clothing, small pots of pigment and his set of daggers that could be concealed underneath his garments. He’d leave behind everything else, including his bow and quiver in order to travel lightly and appear as though he were a simple Omega performer, appearing as commissioned to entertain during the Chief State Counsillor’s feast.

There was approximately one hour before dawn. Just enough time to write a letter to his sleeping love explaining everything, asking for forgiveness…and saying goodbye. Tears stained the page as he wrote. When he was finished, he sealed it and left it on the small desk near the foot of the bed. 

Dawn was about to break, he could hear life stirring outside and knew that his transportation would be waiting. Jungkook had stayed asleep while he prepared, but Jimin couldn’t trust that he would remain so for long once the light broke through the window.

He took a long last look at the sleeping Alpha who remained curled around Jimin’s side of the bed, protecting a phantom. He took in the warm, dark brown of his hair that fanned out on the cushion beneath his head and the smile that remained on his face while he slumbered. He wanted to weep, knowing that smile would disappear soon. He memorized the smallest details from the tiny scar on his cheek to the veins of his hands, burning the image into his mind, not knowing if he would ever see his Alpha again.

Jungkook fidgeted in his sleep and Jimin knew that his time was up.

“Alpha…Goodbye. Thank you for loving me,” he whispered on fresh tears as he slipped out the doors and into the breaking dawn to find another wagon waiting for him. This time it was filled with people rather than sacks of rice, musicians and dancers that were also on their way to perform at the feast.

It was time to leave ‘Jimin’ behind and become the Flower of Silla.

*****

It was early evening when the group arrived at the gates to the villa, Jimin blended in easily, saying nothing, but going through the motions of getting ready to perform. He was on the list to sing and dance for the Prince of Wa and Chief State Councillor as the last performance of the evening before they retired.

His first task was to transform himself into an exquisite, seductive creature. His plan hinged on him becoming utterly alluring in order to be summoned to the prince’s rooms after his performance so that he could do what he needed to do without the servants or innocent guests being harmed and hopefully escape with his life.

Jimin carefully unrolled his bundle of clothing and hung the pieces out to air. Layers of thin, nearly sheer, gossamer robes danced in the breeze from an open window. Each layer was a different hue of pink that complemented his skin tone perfectly. The inner most robe was the darkest dusky rose and the outer most robe held the barest hint of a blush pink. When layered one upon the other, they were opaque enough to protect modesty, but still hinted at what was underneath with each movement that he made, causing the fabric to flutter and reveal just enough to entice.

He stripped down to his inner most undergarment, foregoing anything else that might restrict his movement and allowing more of his tantalizing skin to be shown. Omegas were known for their exquisitely smooth and flawless skin and showing it was known to drive Alpha’s absolutely wild with desire.

Putting on the robes, layer by layer, he tied the final piece securely and spun to inspect the movement of the garments…gorgeous. If only he were dressing for Jungkook. He could imagine the soft, deep growling noise he’d make as he tried to take the layers off. Jimin sighed wistfully, banishing the thought. He couldn’t afford to be unfocused.

Next he took out the tiny pots of pigment. He lined his eyes with black, creating a smoky look that would have Alphas hooked with a glance. He used the red pot to add the barest hint of a blush to his cheeks and mixed a small amount of the pigment in with a glossy substance from another pot containing bees wax and a light nutty oil that made his lips look shiny and as if they’d just been bitten. He combed his stunning long hair until it shimmered like fine gold. He only had a tiny silver mirror to examine himself, but was well pleased when he was finished styling and applying everything.

Lastly, Jimin strapped daggers around his hips and thighs in places where the fabric wouldn’t expose them. He was known for being an expert with the bow, but he was just as talented at handling daggers and it made him an extremely dangerous foe.

It wasn’t long before he was called to the main hall where the prince and his men gathered with the Chief State Councillor and his associates. The prince and councillor sat on a dais at the head of the room and other nobles sat at small tables along the sides, the Imperial warriors behind them against the walls, watching everything. Jimin quickly counted the number of men and deduced what number of them would likely be staying in the prince’s rooms. There were six Alphas that stood nearest the prince and they would likely be the inner circle of his personal guard. If he could get an invitation to the prince’s rooms, he would have a much smaller number to take down than if he tried anything too soon.

Jimin nodded to the musicians that occupied a corner of the room near the dais. The beautiful sounds of lively music filled the room and Jimin closed his eyes for a moment to get himself into his role. This mission was to entice and he let his eyes become hooded and subtly extended a leg so that a hint of it showed through the layers of robes. He could already smell the scents of arousal in the air as all the Alphas in the room had their eyes on him.

The music began to build and Jimin snapped out two fans that he had borrowed from one of the other performers, one in each elegant hand. The movement drew the eyes of every Alpha, exactly as he had hoped. The music was played to perfection and each note was ecstasy as Jimin danced and swirled to the rhythm. His robes floated around him with each movement, revealing and then concealing his delicious skin like the tide’s ebb and flow. The fans in his hands accentuated the fluidity of his dancing and kept the room riveted with each flair and snap.

As he moved he watched the prince, whose eyes never left his form for a moment. In fact, the man had been sitting forward on his seat for the entirety of the performance. He’d been snared.

When the dance was over, Jimin bowed deeply, letting his costume slip suggestively from his left shoulder to expose the creamy skin there to the prince, exposing his unmarked scent gland. It was like catnip to an Alpha and he smelled his victory as the prince’s scent of bamboo and amber spiked along with the scent of every other Alpha in the room.

The musicians began to play again and this time Jimin sang. It was a seductive song of longing, a sophisticated call to a lover. He closed his eyes as he sang, thinking of Jungkook, of his Alpha’s lips on his, the feeling of each calloused finger on his skin. Jimin let his own floral scent become an intoxicating bouquet of yearning. When he opened his eyes and looked at the prince, who was practically panting in desire, he knew that he’d succeeded.

The foreign prince leaned over in his seat to whisper in the Chief State Counsillor’s ear, something that made the Gayan official smile smugly. The man waved his hand to summon two of his Beta footmen over and gave them some instructions.

The two Betas came straight for Jimin and it was a struggle to not instinctively defend himself. He knew what was about to happen and he had to let it play out, as much as it made his skin crawl. The men quickly grabbed him by his arms and held him firmly as he was hauled up toward the dais. He could have easily handled the men, but he had to make himself look weak and fragile.

The Prince of Wa, looked down at Jimin and smiled lecherously as the Chief State Councillor stood and spoke to those gathered in the room.

“Alphas! It seems as though our esteemed guest has discovered that Gaya has the prettiest flowers to pluck,” the man called out to the crowd, who laughed as though they weren’t witnessing an innocent Omega being taken prisoner.

“He expressed his gratitude for such a warm welcome and hopes that Gaya and Wa can negotiate a great alliance, but it seems this one’s beauty has overwhelmed his Highness and he will now take his leave until tomorrow.”

Jimin was dragged from the hall after the prince, putting up a mild fight to keep up his appearance which resulted in the exuberant jeers of the gathered Alphas as they passed. As Jimin expected, six of the prince’s Imperial Guard followed closely behind, stopping only as they entered the suite of rooms that had been provided for the prince. All the warriors, but one, stayed in the outer room while the Prince and the Betas that had Jimin in tow entered the inner bed chamber.

The servants threw Jimin on a raised bed covered in expensive silks and furs and left the room with a deep bow. The prince, however, turned to the Alpha warrior that had entered the room with them and spoke openly in the language of Wa, believing that an Omega entertainer wouldn’t be able to understand the language. Jimin, however, had learned the languages of all of their neighboring kingdoms since he was a child and could understand perfectly what they were saying.

“Keep the men out of this room tonight. I imagine that I’ll be very busy and I don’t want to be disturbed until midday tomorrow. Understood?” The prince smirked. Jimin wanted to punch him in the face, just once, before he killed him.

“Yes, my Lord. What about the others? They have asked about their own entertainment since it has taken so long to travel here and they are…restless.” The warrior asked.

“Once we have aligned with this kingdom to fight in their war, the men can take as many of their Omegas as they want in payment. They can take the whole damn country of Omegas, the Betas too for all I care. They’ll owe us that much. They’ll fall if not for us and from what I’ve heard, Silla is nearly as done for as Gaya. It will be too easy to take both countries for ourselves and you can tell the Alphas that they’ll be neck deep in slick by the end of it. I’ve heard that Silla is known for their exquisite beauties and I’ll knot the whole lot of them myself, though I can’t imagine that there are any as beautiful as this one here,” the prince said, leering at Jimin who pretended not to understand.

“Get out now, I want to have my fun.” The prince waved the head of his Imperial Guard out the door and turned to Jimin on the bed.

The man stalked closer, like a mountain tiger, his eyes blazed red with lust. Jimin shivered, not in desire, but revulsion, though it didn’t look that way to the Alpha who let out a pleased growl.

“Beauty,” the foreign prince growled out in a mangled accent of the common tongue of the Three Kingdoms. “Come.”

Jimin shook his head and put on a look of shy hesitation. The Alpha seemed annoyed, but continued to walk toward the bed, settling himself down on it and pulling the Omega roughly by his wrist so that he was sprawled across his lap. He brought a hand down hard on Jimin’s backside and the pain that was felt through the thin layers of his costume made him gasp and cry out in genuine pain.

“OBEY!” the prince yelled using his Alpha voice. Jimin instantly went lax in the man’s lap, making the Alpha rumble in satisfaction. “No move now,” he added.

He slowly petted over Jimin’s backside, taking his time to squeeze the flesh through the fabric, making the other prince whimper at the violation. He smacked the Omega again, harder this time and Jimin cried out again from the sting.

The Alpha stood from the edge of the bed and flung Jimin back down on it. The layers of his gossamer robes had parted and his legs were exposed, making the Prince of Wa’s eyes darken again in lust. The man trailed his long fingered hands up the expanse of Jimin’s legs, parting the robes further as he went until his meager undergarments were exposed as well as the empty dagger sheath that was strapped to Jimin’s thigh.

The prince pulled back slightly as he looked at the sheath, confusion plain on his face. He looked up to Jimin’s face only to find determination there as he felt the white hot pain of a dagger stabbing through the side of his throat. He couldn’t make a sound beyond a muffled gurgle as his vision began to blur and his thoughts could barely form as he fell onto the Omega beneath him, clutching at his shoulders for purchase.

Jimin waited, with no sympathy, as the foreign Alpha choked on his own blood and more sprayed from the wound he had given him. In moments, the prince was dead and blood soaked through Jimin’s pink robes and into the bed beneath him. He pushed the lifeless Alpha off of him and scrambled up to tear off the bloody costume he wore.

Opening the prince’s wardrobe, he searched through it and pulled out one of the more simple garments. It was similar enough to a hanbok and short enough that it didn’t drag on the ground, despite their height differences. He rolled the trousers over a few times and tied them tightly to make them fit well enough that they wouldn’t hamper his movement. Finally, he pulled the dagger from the prince’s throat, wiped the blood on the bedclothes, and dropped the wooden identification tag that Yoongi had given him on the floor to be found later by the other Imperial warriors.

Killing the prince had been too easy. An Alpha’s arrogance had always been his secret weapon. Jimin had trained for years with Jungkook until he could resist the compulsion to obey an Alpha’s voice at will. There was no one who could command him and that was one of the many unexpected weapons he wielded.

The bigger challenge would be getting out of the next room alive. There were six Alpha warriors waiting and it would be a miracle for him to kill them all, especially without injury. No matter what, his mission was complete. Even if they killed him, there was nothing to identify him as the Crown Prince of Silla or even that he was from Silla at all. The identification tag would ensure that Gaya received the blame for the murder of Wa’s prince. He could be at peace knowing that at least.

He closed his eyes and brought into his thoughts the only motivation he needed to try to live…Jungkook. He sent a prayer to the Heavens that his love was safe and prayed that he could see him once more if the spirits were willing.

Gripping the daggers that he’d hidden in his clothes, he braced himself to open the door. He had only moments, once it was open, to kill as many of the Alpha’s as he could before they reacted. They were skilled and seasoned warriors though and he didn’t dare take for granted that he had much of an advantage at all.

1….2……..3!

Jimin flung the door wide and with his sharp reflexes threw as many daggers as he could. Three of them sunk home. Two in the throats of the warrior Alphas and one in the eye of another. A forth dagger grazed another man, but didn’t do much damage.

As the three Alphas fell to the ground, the remaining Alphas whirled in Jimin’s direction, drawing their swords and advancing on their target. Jimin held his ground while he clutched his remaining two daggers in his hands. He knew he had to keep his wits about him in order to be able to dodge and deflect the heavy swords when his own weapons were so much smaller, but he had the advantage of being able to strike in close range. As the first Alpha swung his sword with the intention of decapitating Jimin, the Omega ducked down and swiped his leg across the floor, tripping the man mid-swing. He took advantage of the man being down by jumping on his armored chest and cutting across his exposed throat. He didn’t stop for a moment before flying up from the downed Alpha to meet the last two as they both charged him at the same time. As though he were dancing with his fans, he spun and flipped effortlessly, stepping out of range of each sword swing and back into range to make cuts along whatever flesh he could expose. He’d taken as many kicks and punches as he’d given, but he had avoided the blades.

Everything in his body hurt as he took down one more Alpha and turned to face the final one. The woman growled in rage at seeing her fallen comrades around her. They fought viciously for a while, the Alpha was relentless with strikes, trying desperately to cleave the Omega in two. Jimin’s opening came suddenly as the warrior tripped over one of her comrades and became enraged again seeing his slack face. It made her sloppy for just a moment and Jimin managed to strike home one last time, slicing one dagger across the back of the Alpha’s leg and then jumping up to strike down into the woman’s exposed scent gland with the other, causing an eruption of blood and the acrid scent of frantic Alpha. He pulled back and stabbed down into the flesh again, finally stopping the desperate gurgles of sound the warrior made as she died and fell lifeless to the floor beside one of the others.

Jimin fell to his knees and placed his head on the floor. He was exhausted and dizzy, his body was surging with adrenaline and it made him feel shaky and nauseated. His chest heaved as he tried to wrestle back control over his breath and nerves, but it was all cut short as he felt something jab him in the side. He choked on a gasp as he turned his head to see one of the Alphas that he’d thought had been dead looking him in the eyes. Blood pumped from the open wound in his throat, the place where Jimin’s dagger had landed when he’d thrown it. The Alpha had pulled the dagger out and now it was stuck in one of his ribs. Jimin watched as the final spark of life faded from the warrior’s eyes and a smile of triumph remained frozen on his motionless lips.

Jimin’s flesh both burned and felt numb at the same time. It took him precious moments to finally stand up. He stumbled over to one of the tables in the room and tore strips of cloth from the table linen to wrap around the hilt of the protruding dagger, knowing that if he were to take the blade out, he would likely bleed to death very quickly. He wrapped another length of cloth around his middle to stabilize the whole thing and stumbled toward the door, praying that the rest of the Imperial warriors and the Gayan councillor’s household and guests were still busy and celebrating at the feast some distance away.

Outside, was pitch black save for the tiny lanterns that had been lit along the pathway to the main house and courtyard. All he had to do was to avoid the lit path and make his way to the back of the villa where he knew there was a small gate that led to a vast garden and beyond that to the forest. He didn’t know what he was going to do once he got there, he could only think in singular steps, his mind was so fuzzy around the edges. All he could think was getting to the forest where he could hide.

Jimin blindly stumbled through the darkness though sparks of light danced in his eyes. He knew that he didn’t have much longer before he’d likely pass out. By some miracle he reached the gate and slipped through unseen. The garden was completely dark as he tried to feel his way toward the forest beyond it. He stumbled over raised beds of exotic flowers and even waded through a small pond. The water only came up to his knees, not even coming close to the bandaged side that he was protecting, but it made the too-big trousers that he’d stolen from the other prince’s wardrobe too heavy and the garment slipped down over his hips. It was all he could do to toe them off under the water, leaving him in only a long tunic and robe in the cold air of the night.

He could see the outline of the forest just ahead of him and he gasped in relief knowing that he could find a place to hide. Only the gods knew whether or not he’d survive, but at least he could rest. He was so very tired.

Only steps from the dense wall of trees, Jimin was pulled backward by his collar, his body too weak to have steady footing, and crashed into a body that he could barely make out in the darkness, even as he was forced to turn around.

“What have you done, you traitorous swine!!” the man screamed, spittle landing on Jimin’s face. It was the Chief State Councillor. He must have gone to check in on the prince and found them dead. He must have known his own life was now also on the line that they had been murdered in his home and that’s why he wasn’t surrounded by Imperial warriors. Perhaps he hoped that in finding the culprit, the remaining soldiers from Wa would let him live.

Jimin was too tired and weak to fight any more. He’d tried. He’d tried so hard. He hoped that somehow Jungkook would know that. He hoped that his people were now safe and that he would be granted rest in his next life.

The Chief State Councillor raised his own sword to strike Jimin down. The Omega prince closed his eyes and let his last thoughts be of his Alpha, imagining Jungkook’s handsome face looking back at him with unconditional love. Tears finally fell as he accepted his defeat and let go of his need to remain strong. He gave in and let go.

Nothing happened. He waited with his eyes closed as seconds passed before he heard an odd gurgling sound. He opened his eyes again curiously only to find the Chief State Councillor looking down at him with horror and a sword sticking out from his barrel shaped chest.

The sword suddenly disappeared again, leaving a gaping, bloody wound and the man’s body fell as it was pushed to the side. Jimin couldn’t even give it another thought because his vision was filled with the one face he’d longed to see one last time before he passed from this world: Jungkook.

*Earlier that day*

The light hit Jungkook’s eyes gently and he stretched leisurely in happiness. He’d held his Omega the whole night as they slept as he’d longed to hold him for ten long years. Regardless of the mission they were on, his inner Alpha felt more at peace than he could ever remember it being.

He turned toward Jimin’s side of the bed to reach out to his prince and pull him back into the comfort of his arms, but sat up quickly when he realized that the Omega wasn’t there. His eyes quickly scanned the room and there was no sign of him.

Confused, he got up and rushed to put his clothes on. He wouldn’t have expected Jimin to leave the room when they were trying so hard to keep a low profile and an Omega alone would not have gone unnoticed for long. There was no need to go out for food when they had their own provisions.

A terrible feeling filled his gut.

A sealed letter caught his eye on the tiny desk near the foot of the bed. It hadn’t been there the night before.

Please, no! He thought as he tore the seal open and read the words Jimin had left for him:

            My Alpha,

By the time you read this I’ll be on my way to complete the mission. Please forgive me for deceiving you. I’m not leaving because I want to. I’m leaving because the information I received last night makes it too dangerous for the both of us to go. I fear that it would be impossible for both of us to make it back alive and I can’t bear the thought of something happening to you, when it feels so inevitable. This truly is something that I alone can do and I ask that you trust me one last time. Be angry at me, hate me if you must, but know that I love you more than my own life and I’m choosing to be selfish this one time because it’s the only thing that I can give to you right now.

All my life, I fought for a place in a world too determined not to give me one. I built up my barriers, layer by layer, and you tore through them as though they were wet paper. Hearing you say that you loved me made me feel as though I had a place for the very first time, and it was by your side. For one glorious day, you made me feel whole and alive. What a gift to have been given before I depart from this life, if that is what I must do.

I won’t throw my life away carelessly, I swear that I will try to come back to you. Make your camp near the mountain pass and if I’ve not returned in two days, return to Silla and tell them what’s happened. If I succeed, even at the cost of my life, I pray that Silla prospers for ages to come. I am a servant of my people and this is the duty that I must accept so that they may live.

I will face the feared Prince of Wa as well as his Imperial warriors. They will be on their guard and I honestly believe that perhaps this is why the gods had the Prince of Silla be born as an Omega, the one being that no one ever expects to fight. This is the way I can save the country. Perhaps the Heavens will let me be happy in my next life. I would live it with you, if your soul will have me.

If I don’t return to you, promise to remember me. Is that too much to ask when I’m being so cruel? While I wait to be reincarnated with you, I promise to be with you in the light of the sun in the morning and the caress of the rain. Hear me whisper to you on the wind. Like the dawn appears each day and the darkness falls each night without fail, I’ll be with you in the light and in the shadows.

The love we give never ends. I’ll take your love with me into the next life and I will love you too, forever.

All my life people have thought that, as the Crown Prince, I must have everything. In truth, there has never been anything that was truly mine but my heart.

It was my joy to have given it to you. Keep it with you always.

I love you, Jungkook. My Alpha. I love you so much. There’s so much left to say, but I don’t know how to do it this way. Please believe that I’d do anything to come back to you. Please forgive me for it all. Live for me.

Your Omega,

Jimin

Jungkook crushed the paper in his hand and let out an anguished howl. Jimin! His soul cried. He wasn’t foolish enough not to understand Jimin’s intentions, he knew that if what he’d said was true than his presence would complicate things, but surely there had to have been a way that he could have helped, that he could have been closer to Jimin’s side. Why did the fool always feel like he was expendable?

Because it’s true that no matter how hard he tried, after he presented as an Omega, the whole world made him feel that way.

He wanted to scream.

Jungkook saw that Jimin had left behind everything except for his satchel and even then, half the contents had been spilled out on the floor. The Alpha gathered everything up quickly and strapped it to his back, grabbing Jimin’s bow and quiver as well as his sword and rushed out of the Inn and onto the streets of the village, not at all sure what he was going to do next. Jimin had kept the information about where the Emissaries from Wa were staying to himself. He knew that they were at the villa of the Chief State Councillor, but he had no clue where that was and asking for directions now would likely cause suspicion once Jimin completed his mission. Jungkook was a big Alpha and that tended to draw attention.

All his life, he’d prided himself with being level headed and disciplined, but in that moment he felt like a chicken with it’s head cut off, running around instinctively, without thought. He couldn’t think. He needed to think…

“Jeon Jungkook-ssi?” A quiet voice called from behind him. He turned around and was faced with a familiar woven bamboo hat.

“Min Yoongi-ssi!”

*Back at the Villa*

“Is this a dream?” Jimin whispered, his voice, barely audible in the night. He couldn’t even lift himself up from the ground. He was so weary. He only had the energy to lift his hand to reach out toward the image of his Alpha’s face. “Have the gods granted me this one last vision?”

Jungkook knelt down and, as gently as he could, picked up his love’s frail body, being very careful of the dagger that was still imbedded in his side.

“It’s me, Omega. I’m here. I’m here…” he whispered brokenly as he carried Jimin into the safety of the trees and out of the line of sight of anyone who might be looking.

“Alpha?” Jimin cried weakly.

“I’m here. I have you. I love you. You’re going to be ok.” Jungkook whispered over and over again, moving further and further into the dark canopy.

After he knew that they couldn’t be seen, Jungkook lay Jimin down on a soft patch of mossy grass.

“Stay here. Don’t move, no matter what. Can you do that for me?”

Jimin could only nod imperceptibly. 

“I’ll be right back,” the Alpha assured, kissing his forehead reverently.

Jimin didn’t even notice the passage of time as he waited for Jungkook to come back. It felt as though he were floating and the tiny spots of light that blurred around the edges of his vision began to move as though they were tiny falling stars. He tried to make them stop falling, but found that the more he tried, the more of his vision they obscured. His breath began to falter and he finally understood what was happening…this was it.

He felt warm hands braced on either side of his cold face.

“Jimin, I’m here. I’m back! Stay with me. I moved the Councillor’s body back to his villa and left him in the same room as he Imperial warriors with his sword in his hand. They’ll either think he was in on the betrayal or that he died fighting the assassin. They won’t quickly think to look back here though.”

Jimin tried to give Jungkook a sad smile. “So glad…to see you. One. More…Time.

“No, Omega. You’re going to be ok. Fight! Stay with me.” Jungkook cried. “I found Yoongi, he gave me a horse and cart. I’m going to get you home, my love. Just don’t leave me.”

“Don’t want…to go.” Jimin croaked faintly.

Jungkook was seized by despair. How could he have been allowed to finally share his love with Jimin, only to lose him within the span of a day? How could the Heavens be so cruel? Hot tears fell and soaked into the bloody tunic that Jimin wore.

“Alpha…” Jimin tried to whisper, “Let me…lie here…with…you. Keep me close…until I sleep.” He struggle for breath. “When I’m gone…t-take me…take me home to Silla.”

The pain in his side began to fade. There was nothing there now, no feeling at all.

“One…more…moment…” he breathed.

“No, no no!” Jungkook wept. “Please don’t go! Jimin! I love you. Don’t go!”

The only thing that Jimin could feel was the cold and the only thing he could see now was darkness. Jungkook’s face faded from his vision so he held it there in his mind, desperate to hold it until he couldn’t any longer.

“Sorry… Wanted to… live a life with you…my…Alpha.”

The last word was barely spoken, but it reached Jungkook’s ears and something finally clicked in his mind.

He could do it. He could save Jimin!

“I can save you!” he cried as he pulled Jimin back into the cradle of his arms. “I know what to do now. I promise it’s all going to be ok. Stay with me, Omega, I can’t let you go.”

As the darkness consumed him, Jimin wasn’t sure if he’d actually heard the words or if they were just a manifestation of the last wish in his heart.

 *****

Jimin slowly became aware of the presence of light through his eyelids…

Is this what it’s like to be dead? It….hurts, Jimin mused. Gods! Why does it still hurt?

He must have groaned out loud because there were hands on him in an instant, brushing over his face, his arms and finally clutching at his hands.

“Jimin! Jimin! Are you awake? Can you hear me?”

Is that….Jungkook?!

“Come back to me. Please. I’m right here. You’re safe. You’ll be ok now,” the unmistakable voice of his love crooned to him.

Jimin tried to speak, but only managed to groan again, causing the Alpha to squeeze his hands in encouragement.

How was he alive? He was absolutely sure that he had been dying. There had been no doubt, so how could he now be waking up?

“J-jung…” he struggled.

“Shhhh. It’s alright. It’s me, I’m here.” Jungkook answered and Jimin felt lips press against his knuckles.

Moments passed and it was all he could do to take in his surroundings without being able to open his eyes. He could smell his Alpha’s scent of sweetgrass and ginger mixed with the smell of honey water and underneath that a sour tinge of sweat. There was something cool and wet that had been placed on his forehead and his body felt chilled, despite furs that covered him.

His muscles ached everywhere and his head was pounding. He definitely wasn’t dead. His mind turned to the dagger wound in his side, but he couldn’t feel the blinding, burning pain that had been there. Now he was aware of a tender ache and what felt like bandages wound around his middle.

He could hear people talking some distance away, but couldn’t make out what they were saying, as though they weren’t in the same room.

“Where?” Jimin croaked out through dry lips.

“You’re home. You’re in Silla, at the palace,” his Alpha answered.

Silla!

Jimin cracked his eyes open with great effort. They were dry and crusty around the edges so that his eyelashes stuck together.

“Hold on a moment,” Jungkook muttered under his breath and a moment later Jimin felt a warm cloth sweep across his eyes, wiping away the sticky crust. The cloth passed over the rest of his face and his neck, cleaning and refreshing him. It was such a tender and loving action and Jimin’s heart seemed to come awake before the rest of him did.

He tried to open his eyes again and was thankful that though the room was well lit, it was tolerable and his eyes adjusted quickly to it when they opened fully.

Jungkook looked at him with the most hopeful expression. It was obvious to Jimin that he’d cried recently, the Alpha’s eyes were red and puffy.

Jimin squeezed the other man’s hand, which still held his own, with the meager strength that he had. He was still so very tired.

“L-Love…you” Jimin cringed at the sound of his voice that was strained and raspy.

Jungkook didn’t seem to mind. He pulled Jimin’s hand to his lips again and kissed the inner palm of it before holding it against his cheek, letting his own warmth seep into Jimin’s cold flesh.

“I love you too, so much,” Jungkook replied. “I know that you have questions, but let me go get the physician. You’ve been asleep for nearly four days and we weren’t sure when you’d wake up again. Yoongi-ssi helped me get you back through the mountain pass and back to the camp. After that we rode straight through to the palace.”

Four days? How is it possible that I’ve recovered so quickly?

Jungkook stood to leave, but Jimin didn’t let go of his hand. The Alpha leaned over and gave him a very chaste, barely there brush of his lips over the prince’s own.

“Be good. Rest for a moment and I’ll be back before you know it.”

Jungkook’s smile made him truly feel that everything was going to be alright. For ten years the Alpha had been cool and stoic beside him, always holding himself back. To see his warmth and unconditional love made Jimin feel joy that he didn’t know how he could ever articulate. No one ever told him that the happiness of the person he loved could surpass all other happiness he’d ever known himself.

Jungkook was true to his word and moments later he arrived back at Jimin’s bedside with Kim Seokjin, the Royal Physician.

“You’re the luckiest Omega in all of Silla, your Highness. In fact, I would venture that you’re the luckiest soldier to come out of this war. I don’t know of a single one that could have survived with a wound like you had. I didn’t get to see it when it was fresh, but there’s no way that there wasn’t damage to your liver with the size of the blade that was stuck in you,” the older Alpha said, not mincing his words. “If your mate hadn’t done what he did, you would certainly have died on Gayan soil, a horrible end for a Prince of Silla.”

Jimin’s eyes went wide.

“Mate?” he asked hesitantly, looking at Jungkook who looked sheepish, but not apologetic, as he confirmed what the healer had said.

“When you were dying in my arms in that forest, I remembered something from when I was presenting as an Alpha,” he started. “When I began to present, I’d broken my arm just days before and yet, within the seven days of my rut, my arm had healed miraculously. My father explained to me that there are two times in our lives when we have an intense period of healing energy surge through our bodies; first when we present as our sub-gender as our bodies go through rapid changes. Alphas tend to grow muscle and our bones become more dense and resistant to injury in order to protect our families and defend our territory. Omegas become more fertile and their bodies will rapidly gain or lose weight in order to be in optimal health to bear children. You know, too, that for a male Omega, their first heat is always the worst because it’s at that time they grow an entirely new reproductive system.”

Jimin did, indeed, remember. He remembered the agony of his presentation heat and how he felt like his insides were melting. He’d been made to bite down on a piece of soft wood in between his nursemaid pouring bowls of herbal concoctions down his throat and the previous Royal Physician sticking him with hundreds of acupuncture needles in order to stop the extraordinary pain. He shuddered just thinking about it.

“My father also told me that something happens similarly with Omegas when they receive a mating bite. It…it goes back to the time when mating was even less voluntary for an Omega than it is now, when an Alpha could claim any Omega they wanted as their mate and did so…violently. That same intense healing period happens for the Omega so that they can survive whatever damage an Alpha had done and carry on to produce offspring.”

Jungkook looked terribly uncomfortable talking about it, but it all made so much sense. Jimin knew about male Omegas having to grow a reproductive system because he’d lived through it himself, but everything else that his love had just told him was completely new to him.

“Most people are aware of what happens during the presentations of their own sub-gender of course, but they’re often too embarrassed to talk about it with others. The mating healing isn’t talked about in polite society because of its violent past.  And most people will never experience it because mating is rarely ever done when an Omega isn’t perfectly healthy. It’s the reason why mating bites heal almost instantly, leaving only a scar, but people just seem to accept that as a fact and don’t tend to question it any further. If it was still well known, there are some Alphas who might decide to take advantage of the fact that they could do whatever they wanted. Physicians don’t share the information with anyone unless it’s absolutely necessary,” Seokjin added gravely.

“I was lucky that my father told me. My mother had a serious accident while my father was courting her and since he was close to your father, the King, he was offered the services of the previous Royal Physician. He told him that he could heal my mother with his mating bite. He was asked not to share the information unnecessarily with others, but when I presented he told me. I believe it was fate’s hand, leading me to that Gayan forest with you.”

Jimin let his tears fall then, they slid down his cheeks before Jungkook could sweep them away.

“You’re stuck…” he coughed, his throat just too dry to speak further. “Water…please?”

The physician quickly poured water into the small copper bowl while Jungkook helped Jimin to sit up, braced in his arms.

“There you go, drink it slowly,” the older Alpha advised.

“Thank you, Seokjin-ssi. I really needed that. May I have some more?” Jimin asked, so relieved to have his thirst quenched. He drank the next bowl down and handed it back to the healer before snuggling further into Jungkook’s arms.

“I was trying to say that you’re stuck with me now, whether you wanted to be or not. Poor you,” Jimin joked half-heartedly. There was a part of him that worried that the Alpha had done it just because there’d been no choice and that he might later come to regret their new bond.

“Jimin, do you remember the last thing that you said to me before you blacked out?” Jungkook asked him.

“No, it’s all very hazy. I remember trying to get away. I remember you killing the Chief State Councillor. I remember knowing that I was going to die…but it’s all quite vague.”

“Hmm,” his Alpha hummed in response. “That’s the bare bones of it. However, before you became unconscious you told me that you wished you could have spent a life with me. It was that moment that I remembered what my father had said to me and I knew that I could save you.”

Jungkook took Jimin’s hand into his own again and played with his fingers anxiously, not looking his Omega in the eyes while he spoke.

“I didn’t just mate you because I knew you’d be healed, Jimin,” he paused, taking a breath. “I mated you because I was selfish and I couldn’t imagine a life where you weren’t in it. I couldn’t let you go and I didn’t ask your permission. I’m sorry about that, but I’m not sorry that you’re alive. I know how much you’ve valued the right to choose and I took that away from you. I hope that you’ll forgive me for it and I promise that I’ll never take away your choice again.” His voice was tight with worry.

“I’d already known that there was no other Alpha for me but you, Jungkook. I knew when you told me that you loved me that I would do anything to be your mate. The only thing that I was truly afraid of was that the King wouldn’t approve. Even though he and mother were a love match, it’s tradition for the next in line to the throne to mate politically.”

Jimin’s eyes went wide again when he realized the implications of what he just said.

“My Father! Does he know?”

Jungkook chuckled softly. “He knows. When we brought you back, he stayed by your side with me until he was begged to go back to court. He’s not an easy man, but I really believe that he loves you. When he found out that we were mated, he wasn’t really happy about it at first, but was surprisingly accepting after we’d spent the day talking about you. I think perhaps he was worried because you and I hadn’t shown any sign of a relationship before and he was worried that you would be unhappy.”

Jungkook shook his head and laughed again. “I told him how in love with you I am, how in love with you I always have been. Do you know how awkward that was? I had to say that to the father of my new mate who is also my King.”

He leaned in to kiss Jimin’s cheek gently. “The things I do for you.”

Jimin smiled and felt warmth flooding his insides with happiness, chasing some of the lingering ache away.

“I think that his Majesty’s friendship with my father helps, but in all honesty I think he worries more about your happiness than he would ever admit. If you tell him that you’re happy, he’ll be satisfied.”

Jimin let out a breath of relief. “Despite his love for my mother, my father has very traditional views about my kind,” he sighed. “My father hasn’t understood me since the day I presented as an Omega. We used to be close, but everything changed after that. What you’ve said though…I can believe that of the father I once knew as a child. Perhaps there’s hope that I haven’t been such a disappointment to him after all.”

Jungkook brushed Jimin’s blonde hair back from his face and kissed his forehead tenderly. “Perhaps more than just physical healing can take place now.”

Jimin allowed a purr to come up through his chest. Resting against Jungkook felt so good and safe, as though everything was settling into their rightful places.

Seokjin cleared his throat, sorry to interrupt the tender moment.

“Your Highnesses,” he began, pausing when Jungkook looked startled to remember that the title now also applied to him. “Yes, that means you too,” he affirmed to the younger Alpha.

“As I was saying, you were on the brink of death, my prince, but the mating bite did what it needed to do and your body has healed beautifully. You don’t seem to have any internal bleeding and the ribs that had broken have mended as well. You do have a scar and you’ll be sore for a while since you haven’t moved or had anything to eat or drink in days, but otherwise you are healthy and well and you can leave the infirmary as soon as you’re ready. I’m sure that your mate is anxious to have you to himself. He’s been fretting like a mother hen for days now.

Jungkook made an indignant ‘tsk’ sound as he glared at the older Alpha. Seokjin made the same sound in return, unimpressed by the new prince’s show of aggression.

“Thank you, Seokjin-ssi. I’d like to go now. I’ll be happy to be in my own space again. It’s been two years since I’ve been home.”

Turning to Jungkook, he linked his arms around the man’s neck. “Will you help me to walk? I don’t want the people to be worried and if I have to be carried, news will travel that I’m weak. If I hold onto your arm then they will just see me going for a nice walk with my Alpha.”

Jungkook stood up and helped his love to stand. As soon as Jimin was on his two feet, he felt dizzy, but was steadied by Jungkook’s supportive grip. It took him a moment to gather his strength, but he found it again as he dropped his arms from Jungkook’s neck and hooked one around one of Jungkook’s so that they could walk arm in arm to Jimin’s suite of rooms.

Once there, Jungkook called for some food and fed his mate as much as he would eat before he lay Jimin down on his bed to rest further.

“What can I do? Is there anything that you need from me?” Jungkook asked lovingly, sitting down beside his love and helping him out of the layers of clothes.

“I can’t believe that I’m still tired after sleeping for four days, but I truly feel that all I need is rest. Will you stay with me though? Lay with me until I fall asleep?” Jimin responded as he got under the silk blankets.

Jungkook lay down beside him under the covers and pulled him into his arms so that Jimin’s head was cushioned on his chest. He stroked his hand through the long golden strands of his hair with one hand and rubbed circles on his back with the other.

“How about I stay with you wherever you are for as long as we live?” the Alpha whispered to his sleepy love.

Jimin snuggled in further, finding the most comfortable place against Jungkook’s side.

“Honestly, that sounds like Heaven to me,” he yawned, finally relaxed and at peace by his Alpha’s side, where he quickly drifted off to sleep.

 *****

It had been days since Jimin woke up in the infirmary and no one was happier about his full recovery than he was. He no longer had any pain and aside from the small scar on his side, no one would have any idea that he’d been at death’s door only the week before.

In the days since waking up, Jimin and Jungkook had gotten used to their new life together as mates. Jungkook had moved, of course, into Jimin’s suite of rooms at the palace and as Jimin felt better, they’d begun exploring their connection and bodies freely. Reveling in the luxury of being mates with someone they loved. They found themselves to be so in tune with each other that it was hard to believe that they’d been able to keep their mutual love from one another at all. It felt natural in every way to be together and though other people had questioned their sudden closeness, Jimin simply counted his blessings and ignored the bitter mutterings of those less fortunate in their own matings.

That morning Jungkook stood near the window of their suite while royal servants set up their breakfast and did a quick tidy of the room. When they’d gone, Jimin got out of their bed and went to where Jungkook stood, letting the Alpha enfold him in his arms. The Omega wound his arms around his love’s muscled waist, pressing himself into his chest and rubbing his cheek into the silky softness of his robe. Jungkook threaded his fingers loosely through the hair at the nape of Jimin’s neck and scratched his scalp to elicit an appreciative hum from his mate.

“Mmmmm…my love, why are we wake so early? No one expects either of us to be up before noon today, I’m still ‘technically’ recovering” Jimin complained even while pressing a kiss to the larger man’s lips.

“You’re fine, you ‘technically’ recovered days ago and we can’t put off being seen in court much longer,” he laughed. ”Your father has been sending messengers every day to tell us to visit him and have our mating presented officially in front of the inner court and noble officials.”

 “Mmmhmmm” came the muffled response from the collar of his robe.

Jungkook pulled his fingers from Jimin’s hair, provoking a “hmpf” sound from his mate. He simply laughed as he pulled the grumpy Omega toward the trays set up on the small set of tables in the middle of the room.

“Come, there are some of your favourites here; rice, kimchi, grilled short ribs, spicy stewed fish – and look,” he lifted a pot lid and smelled the delectable aroma of the liquid within, “your favourite ginger tea.”

He poured a cup for his love and one for himself, putting a liberal amount of honey into both before handing one to Jimin.

“It’s my favourite because the smell reminds me of you,” Jimin hummed in happiness. He took the cup and held it up to his nose, breathing in deeply. “Alright, this is almost worth it,” he said as he took an appreciative sip.

As he sipped his tea, he slowly strolled over to the window that Jungkook had been looking out of. Despite his complaints about rising early, he never tired of watching the sunrise as it illuminated the inner palace and the light that filtered in through the window frame was warm and bright.

Jimin set his tea on top of one of his bookshelves near the window and stretched like a cat in the sun’s rays. One side of his robe slipped off his shoulder.

From behind, he heard Jungkook’s appreciative growl.

Jimin looked over his exposed shoulder to see the Alpha watching him from their bed, his cup covering the grin on his face. The Alpha took a long sip of his tea and continued to stare at him leisurely.

“Heavens, you’re a beautiful sight,” he finally said.

Jimin hummed happily and turned to face the windows again. He was incandescently happy and couldn’t quite believe that he was allowed to be so. He had a mate that loved him, a kingdom that was secure and a future that held possibilities he could never have dreamed of.

He stretched again in the sun and shifted so that his golden blonde strands of hair fell over his bare shoulder seductively. As he turned to face Jungkook, he let the other shoulder of his robe drop, holding it closed loosely in the front.

Jungkook sucked in a breath at the deliberate tease.

“What are you doing, Omega?” he asked, his voice a low growl.

“Me?” Jimin countered, even as he walked toward him and let the robe slip further down, exposing more of his arms and back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Alpha.”

Jimin stopped only a foot away from where Jungkook sat on the bed and turned his back to him once more, showing him a better view of the breathtakingly smooth skin that was exposed.

The Alpha growled, and in that moment Jimin let the robe drop completely from his body.

Jungkook was up in a flash and pulled the Omega backward until his back was flush with Jungkook’s chest. “I think you know exactly what you’re doing, my stunning prince.”

Jungkook maneuvered Jimin’s face so that he could kiss him slowly, thoroughly, thankful that they had the whole morning to themselves.

Jimin moaned appreciatively into his mouth and rocked his hips back against Jungkook’s, trying to get as close as possible, only the silk of the Alpha’s robe between them. Jimin could feel his hard length pressed against his behind.

Jimin turned then and ran his hands up to Jungkook’s shoulders, pressing him back down to the bed while nipping at his lips. When the Alpha was sitting, Jimin knelt beside him.

Jungkook reached out to stroke his love’s soft skin, the warmth of it instantly igniting the heat that coiled in his belly. He ran his calloused thumb over one of Jimin’s pretty pink nipples and was pleased when the Omega bit his lip in response.

The Alpha looked into the glowing blue of Jimin’s eyes, seeing the arousal that was apparent in them. He knew that red had likely seeped into his own. Their scents spiked to fill the room with decadent flowers and spice that they could taste on their tongues.

He leaned forward and pressed warm kisses to Jimin’s plush lips, nipping and sucking at them as the kisses deepened and they became lost in their passion. Jimin closed his eyes, lost in the heady heat until he felt the Alpha’s fingers brush his shaft. His eyes snapped open and locked onto Jungkook’s as his mate’s long fingers ran along his erect length. His eyes glowed fiercely with his awakened passion and Jungkook gave him a self-satisfied smile as he stroked him, pulling him toward the edge.

Jimin moaned and pulled Jungkook’s mouth to his again as he rocked with the rhythm of his hand. The Alpha’s thumb slid over the slit of his crown, pressing into it to elicit another gorgeous moan from his love. As they kissed, their tongues found a similar rhythm of press and withdraw.

Jungkook’s other hand grasped Jimin’s hip and pulled it toward him. At his signal, Jimin swung his leg over and straddled the Alpha as he continued to stroke him with his hand. He was panting and keening in delicious ecstasy and Jungkook couldn’t think of a more perfect sound. He could tell that he was losing himself to their lovemaking and nothing made him feel more satisfied than pleasing him.

As Jungkook’s one hand kept its pace, his other slid over the curve of Jimin’s bottom to press a finger into the warm, slick heat of his entrance. Jimin was no longer panting, but struggling for breath, unable to catch it as he tumbled toward release.

Jimin’s hands flew to the tie of Jungkook’s robe and clumsily undid the knot so he could tear it open and put his hands on the Alpha’s fevered flesh. He rubbed his hands over the sculpted plains of his chest, scraping his nails over Jungkook’s dusky nipples and down to the Alpha’s own rigid erection. He stroked him at the same pace the Alpha had set, matching the rhythm which only brought him closer to his own climax.

Jungkook leaned in to kiss his firm chest and the Omega’s head fell backward as his whole body quaked.

“Jungkook!” he cried, too close to the edge to be able to say anything else as he found his release. Jungkook held him still against him as his fingers made sure that he was thoroughly undone.

Jimin rested his head on Jungkook’s shoulder, catching his breath while his heart pounded in his chest. Feeling too glorious for words, Jimin pulled himself up to kiss his love again before removing himself from Jungkook’s lap and kneeling again beside him on the bed.

Without another word, Jimin took him in his hand and began to stroke again, long lazy strokes that made Jungkook’s eyes roll back in pleasure. The Alpha collapsed, falling backward on the bed as he let his legs fall wide open while his mate caressed him.

Jimin was awed by Jungkook’s complete trust and bent over his lap to place wet kisses to the head of his shaft. Jungkook hissed as the Omega took the Alpha’s throbbing head in his mouth with the sweetest pressure, running his tongue over the slit and releasing the whole thing with a ‘pop’ of his lips before starting the process all over again.

Jungkook wanted to fist his hands in his mate’s hair, to take control, but he resisted, barely. His inner Alpha was so close to the surface.

Jimin could feel the tension building in Jungkook’s muscles, his thighs, taut and quivering. He raked his blunt nails through the dusting of hair that covered them and drove him further into madness by cupping his heavy sack and squeezing gently.

“Ughhh – “

Jimin looked up from his work, spearing Jungkook with his heated gaze and with only that look, commanded him to watch as he took him fully into his mouth and sucked his way back up again.

Jungkook couldn’t help it, his hand went straight for his hair. He caught himself before he fisted his hand within it, instead he stroked the Omega’s hair, like the precious thing that he was, and ran his fingertips down Jimin’s spine to grasp his bottom and squeeze it as Jimin was squeezing him.

Jimin’s mouth on him was heaven, but it was quickly becoming too much.

Jungkook squeezed his mate’s bottom again and pulled it toward him. Jimin released him from his mouth in response and smiled seductively at his leading. Quickly acting on his guidance, he straddled him again and grasped the Alpha’s length in his hand to position it at his slick coated entrance, savoring the feel of him there. Jungkook grasped Jimin’s hips to hold him still above him and slowly pressed up to bury his tip inside.

Jimin purred, a deep rumbling sound, and slick dripped from him as he was breached. He wanted to lower himself onto his mate, to impale himself, but Jungkook held him prisoner as he pressed and retreated in the shallowest of strokes.

Jimin’s muscles began to tremble, not in strain, but frustration, until the Alpha finally let him sink down to take him fully.

Jungkook pulled himself up into a sitting position so that he could pull Jimin against his chest and kiss him as they sat, joined. They shared long, languorous kisses as Jungkook rocked into his Omega and Jimin stroked himself while riding him.

In that moment, nothing else existed. They stared at each other in rapture. Jungkook brought his hands up to sweep Jimin’s hair back and caress his face while he kissed his mouth deeply.

“I love you,” he whispered.

Jimin closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to his love’s. “Jungkook –“ he managed to say weakly as he rolled his hips over the Alpha’s and Jungkook could feel the quiver of Jimin’s muscles again that told him the Omega was close once more.

As though he weighed nothing at all, Jungkook stood up and switched their positions while still sheathed deep within him. He sat Jimin on the bed and knelt in front of him on the thin mattress, lifting the Omega’s legs to rest on his shoulders as he began to stroke inside him again.

 “Gods, Jimin –“

The prince’s hard cock bounced in perfect sync with Jungkook’s thrusts and the Alpha couldn’t take his eyes off it.

“P-please! Uh…please…Alpha!” Jimin cried in ecstasy.

Jungkook eased Jimin’s legs down and bent them so that they dropped to either side of their bodies, opening him wide. Jimin couldn’t hold on any more, his hand flew to his throbbing length and stroked himself again until he screamed and sobbed his release.

“Yes!” Jungkook roared, not letting up for a moment as Jimin’s orgasm went on and on. His channel tightened reflexively around Jungkook, mimicking the suction of his mouth on him from earlier.

One, two, three strokes…and his rhythm was broken. Jungkook collapsed on top of his Omega as his knot began to form at the base. He quickly pressed the bulb inside Jimin, grinding his hips in to bury himself as deeply as possible, locking them in place while he pulsed inside of his mate, coming hard and fast as Jimin held him tightly.

They drifted in relaxed bliss for a while until Jungkook’s knot went down. Jimin moaned as he withdrew from him, but smiled contentedly as Jungkook lifted him up and settled him back in the center of the bed where they could lay comfortably.

“Mmmm, that was a better breakfast than I thought it would be,” Jimin sighed as he shifted in his Alpha’s arms.

Jungkook looked over at the trays of food that had stayed untouched, but for the two cups of tea.

“I agree,” he smiled and squeezed his mate tightly to him. “That will make a better snack anyway…later.”

“Yes, much later,” Jimin agreed just before he let himself doze to the sound of the Alpha’s heartbeat.

 *****

Two months after Jimin and Jungkook’s return to Silla, word came to the palace that the Gaya Confederacy had declared defeat.

Jimin’s assassination of the Prince of Wa had served its purpose. The Emperor had been outraged and had rescinded the help they’d originally offered to help them overpower Silla. There were whisperings that Wa would take revenge on Gaya’s betrayal, but nothing had yet come of it.

Silla had actually gained territory before a truce had been called and the kingdom was grateful for the war’s end. They were weary and poorer for it, but could now recover and focus on prosperity rather than survival.

Jimin’s part in ending the war had to be kept vague for the most part. It wouldn’t do to have the secret of the assassination out where it could be divulged to Gaya and Wa and cast them back into war. Luckily, Jimin wasn’t concerned with glory and only cared for the health and safety of his people.

The war though had taken a toll on Silla’s King. He was weary and worn from the years of stress and found his crown to be too heavy a burden to bear alone. It was decided that in light of Jimin’s service and his willingness to sacrifice for the good of his people, the King would step back from his duties, leaving most of the governing to the Crown Prince. The King would remain a figure head for the most part and retire to the royal villa with his queen to live peacefully.

Jimin accepted the change with grace and humility.

The first thing he did when he’d been given the news was to write to Min Yoongi and tell him that it was safe to come home and that there would be a place for him by Jimin’s side as a trusted advisor and friend.

A formal event was arranged in the royal court to celebrate the investiture of the Crown Prince’s authority where Jimin and Jungkook entertained the Inner Court Officials, Military Generals, and all the Alphas of Silla’s noble families. It had been a beautiful event, full of pomp and ceremony, but something troubled Jungkook as the evening went on. Throughout the night, the officials and noble Alpha’s all approached him first before greeting Jimin.

He hadn’t noticed it at first, but as it continued it became glaringly obvious to him. Jimin looked at him with a question in his eyes, having not noticed it himself, likely because he was used to the behaviour.

When the Chief State Councillor of Silla, the elderly Alpha that would be working with Jimin the most, walked past the Crown Prince to greet Jungkook first, the younger Alpha was fuming.

“Alpha Highness, I’m happy to see you well this evening,” the man simpered.

That was all Jungkook needed. He walked over to the dais where their two thrones sat and walked up to them, turning to hold a hand out for his mate.

Jimin looked surprised, but trusted him explicitly and took his hand to join him at the head of the room.

“May I have your attention,” Jungkook’s voice rang out through the chamber. All people turned at once to look at him.

“It has come to my attention that some of you are under a misconception,” he began as people around the room looked uncomfortably at each other. ”I am here as the mate and consort of your Crown Prince. I will aid him and serve as his confidant however he needs me and it’s my honour and privilege to support him in all things. Though your Crown Prince is an Omega and that is an unprecedented event in the history of Silla, he has saved the country with his own skills and wisdom. He has put the welfare of the people of Silla ahead of his own life and has trained with Kings, warriors, and scholars to earn his right to govern. Your own King has entrusted this country to his son’s good governance and you, as subjects of Silla that have benefitted from your Crown Prince’s actions in ways you may never know, do owe him your allegiance and loyalty.”

Jungkook took a step down to where the rest of the room stood, leaving Jimin standing above him, looking at him with love and adoration.

“Yes, I am his Alpha. I am not, however, your Alpha. He is.”

With that, Jungkook turned to his love and got down on his knees, he raised his hands in the air, crossing the palms of his hands together and bowed to the floor with deep reverence and respect to his ruler.

Jimin’s eyes welled with emotion as he watched the rest of the gathering follow suit.

Later that night, when they were once again alone in their room, Jimin welcomed his Alpha back into the cradle of his body and showed him the same love and reverence in return.

Years later, when the old King had passed into the next life and Jimin became King with Jungkook by his side, his reign was recorded as one of the most peaceful and prosperous in the history of the Three Kingdoms. Stories were told for centuries afterward of The Flower of Silla, The Great Omega King.