Jin stared in surprise as he studied the scar above his hip, which seemed to have completely healed. He swept his fingers softly over it, feeling no instant pain, but there was a lingering soreness when he pressed against it.

Removing his fingers, he moved on to examine the smaller ones on the inside of his arms that were concealed, for which he was pleased. They, too, had been healed and looked different than the day before.

It was then that he wondered whether mating with an Alpha had helped cure his wounds, but instant skepticism crept in since he had never heard of something like that.

On the other hand, he felt stronger and more energized than before, and he knew it was due to his double mating tie with his Alpha.

He was relieved that Taehyung hadn't rejected him; otherwise, he would've been at a loss for what to do.

While there had been an Alpha in his past with whom he had intended to be mated, he knew it would be impossible to return to that Alpha after being rejected from Taehyung's region since he was confident he would have been sent someplace far beyond what he could imagine. It was the same thing that occurred to people who were pushed out of his parents' kingdom, and he knew it wouldn't have been any different, given how much power the current kingdom had.

Knowing that his life had changed and that the things of the past would no longer exist, he breathed deeply and exhaled, allowing his body to relax. He wasn't sure what the future held for him, but he knew that the things he had experienced in the past would no longer be possible since he was now someone's Omega, and even if the Alpha didn't care about him, none of it mattered to him because he knew he was safe.

Keeping that in mind, he let go of the past and the Alpha he had hoped to one day be with, determined to live in the here and now and build a future with the Alpha he was now with.

****

Taehyung's jaw tensed, but a blank and indecipherable look obscured his face.

"When are we visiting the Park's kingdom?" He questioned the guard sitting on his left.

The guard hurriedly looked through the list before saying, "It is the third place we will visit, sir."

"I need all the Alphas to be present during my visit. Make it clear that if they are not there, they will be hunted down and slaughtered with their families."

"Got it, sir; I will work on that now." The guard bowed and swiftly stood up to carry out the King's instruction.

Taehyung was on a mission to discover the Alpha that Seokjin had been thinking about; he could sense the emotions wrapped around Seokjin's thoughts as he thought about the Alpha, and it just fueled his rage and resentment.

******

Jin was amazed by the sight that greeted him as he entered the bedroom. The room seemed to have transformed, with an abundance of sunlight streaming in and filling every corner. A gentle breeze wafted through the room, coming from the balcony doors he hadn't noticed before.

The room had undergone a noticeable transformation, both in appearance and atmosphere. The person who had opened the doors remained a mystery, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude as the previous isolation and darkness had dissipated.

"Good morning, Prince Seokjin."

Jin's attention was drawn to the bedroom entrance by the sound of a voice he recognized. A smile formed on his face as he saw Hoseok, the King's secretary. "Good morning, Hoseok." He replied and bowed his head.

Jin's unexpected greeting took Hoseok aback, and his eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, there's no need to bow when greeting me. I should be greeting you like that, not the other way around."

"Sorry," Jin responded, fully aware that learning the necessary skills and knowledge for the new role would require a lot of time and effort. In his previous kingdom, he had grown accustomed to being greeted with respect but friendlier greetings. However, things were quite different in this new place.

Hoseok grinned, observing the apologetic expression of concern on Jin's face. "It's okay. How are you feeling today? The King has given me instructions... Wait, where is your bracelet?" Hoseok's concern grew as he noticed Jin's bare wrist, free of the bracelet he had explicitly told him to wear.

Jin's gaze followed Hoseok's, studying his wrist. "Umm.." His voice faltered as he pondered the whereabouts of his bracelet. Suddenly, the memory flooded back, and he remembered waking up to find the bracelet resting on the table beside the bed.

"It's over there." Jin gestured towards the table, his eyes fixed on the delicate bracelet that lay there. "I didn't take it off, though; I am unsure when it came off."

Hoseok let out a heavy sigh as he made his way over to the table. He picked up the bracelet and made his way towards Jin. With a gentle touch, he clasped the bracelet back onto Jin's wrist. Determinedly, he secured the bracelet onto Jin's wrist, ensuring a firm and strong hold.

"Ouch!" Jin gasped as the bracelet tightened around his skin.

"I am so sorry," Hoseok said, withdrawing his hand, ensuring the bracelet remained intact.

"It's okay," Jin whispered.

As Jin caught Hoseok's gaze, Hoseok's voice dropped to a hushed tone. "Please don't ever take it off. If you ever find yourself without it, and it's within your view, put it on immediately, and if you don't see it, alert me, please."

"Okay." Jin was perplexed by the significance of wearing the bracelet, which led him to ponder, "Why is it important for me to wear it?"

"You are mated with an Alpha who has the ability to read your mind and penetrate your thoughts. This bracelet keeps him from doing that. I believe he removed it."

Jin's eyes widened. "H-he can read my mind? How? I thought you said he gave it to me, though. If he wanted me to wear it, why is he removing it from me?"

"He can, I'm not sure, but the late King informed me. The late King left this behind and told me to deliver it to you. I don't know how much you know, but seeing your surprise may not be much. Our current King is quite different from previous Alphas.

Once mated, other Alphas can sense what their Omegas are experiencing, depending on their connection. On the other hand, once mated, our King can sense and know everything in your thoughts, even the details of your past. This bracelet provides a barrier that prevents him from reading your thoughts but does not prevent him from experiencing your emotions.

Jin was at a loss for words, unsure of how to react. He tightly held onto the bracelet, pondering whether Taehyung could sense the thoughts occupying his mind earlier.

"Don't worry. He knows about the bracelet, which is why he took it off, but he can't prevent you from wearing it. I'm letting you know in case you ever find yourself without it.

"Thank you, Hoseok. I am still learning a lot about my Alpha, and I appreciate you explaining it to me. I know he's unusual in nature, but I'm not familiar with much." Jin said as he was grateful to Hoseok.

Hoseok grinned, "You are welcome. Now, why don't you join me? I need you to choose the staff who will work closely with you to review this week's menu and decide what you want cooked for you. Also-"

"I don't think I am allowed to leave this room."

"The King has given me these instructions; therefore, you may leave this room. You have no restrictions inside the kingdom; the sole exception is that you are not permitted to leave. I've also been appointed as your assistant, so please let me know if you need anything."

"Oh." Jin was a little surprised. "Am I allowed to have visitors?" He wondered whether his brother would be able to see him since he had many questions that only Jimin could answer.

"No guests are allowed at this time. However, I know the King has arranged to have supper with your family when he returns from his scheduled trips."

"Okay."

"Don't feel awful. The visiting limitation does not simply apply to you. The King has implemented a rigorous protocol about guests entering and leaving the kingdom. Everyone must be examined and evaluated before they may enter."

"Oh, okay."

Jin was gaining a wealth of knowledge during his brief conversation with Hoseok, who appeared to possess an extensive understanding of all kinds of topics.

"Do you have any other questions for me?"

"No, I think I am clear on things now."

Hoseok responded with a smile, saying, "Good. Now, if you don't mind, I understand that we may need to postpone some of our original plans because you haven't had breakfast yet, and that should be our priority before proceeding with anything else."

"I am fine; I am not hungry." Jin had little interest in eating breakfast and didn't have much of an appetite.

"I am sorry, but it is necessary for the kitchen to prepare a meal for you. I am responsible for ensuring that you are properly fed and taking care of yourself, especially considering there is a chance you could be expecting." Hoseok attempted to clarify, hoping Seokjin wouldn't perceive him as pushy. He was fulfilling his duties.

Jin felt a wave of confusion wash over him as he hurriedly attempted to correct Hoseok's misunderstanding. "Despite being mated with the King, I haven't experienced any heat since arriving here. Therefore, I assure you that the King and I are not expecting. Still, I appreciate your concern for my well-being."

Hoseok leaned in closer to Jin, his voice barely above a whisper. "Seokjin, it appears that you may not be aware of this, but the Alpha you are mated with can impregnate you even when you're not in heat."

"W-what? That's not possible." Jin couldn't contain his shock.

"I mentioned before that he is different from others. This factor has prevented him from being intimate with other Omegas, and I think this should apply to all Alphas, whether they are in a committed relationship or not.

A lot fewer Omegas would be utilized solely for sexual gratification, only to be discarded afterward. I find that incredibly bothersome and frustrating!" Hoseok couldn't help but express his thoughts, driven by an undeniable belief. However, upon noticing the expression on Jin's face, he quickly offered his apologies.

"Sorry, I may have become a bit carried away. I find it frustrating when Alphas treats Omegas and Betas as objects of pleasure, only for them to be later rejected.

I have many thoughts about our King, but I must admit that I have a certain level of respect for his ability to endure until your arrival. I'm sure it took tremendous strength and discipline on his part. However, it's worth noting that his focus has always been unique."

"I hate to bother you with this question, but I don't have anyone else to ask. Please forgive me, but are you implying that the King had never been intimate with anyone?" Jin couldn't help but feel overwhelmed as he delved deeper into the myriad of complex details he was taking in.

Hoseok nodded, "yes, you didn't know?"

"No."

"I suppose he would not have revealed that. I didn't know until recently, but I'm not shocked. I've never seen him close to an Omega. I believe his goal has always been to become King and kill people."

"K-kill people?"

"Yeah, he's notorious for it. Don't be discouraged if people don't interact with you much throughout the kingdom; it's not because they dislike you or anything; it's because they are frightened of your Alpha. He has a reputation here, but I would rather live in his homeland than elsewhere. I've met other kings and royal families who make me feel inferior, and they're not afraid to take advantage of people. Our King isn't like that; I'm just afraid of dying in his presence, but I've never felt unsafe, which may seem strange, but it's the truth."

*******

"I don't like it here."

Kim Namjoon, an Alpha and cousin of Taehyung, who also served as Taehyung's right-hand man, glanced at the King in disbelief, "You don't? The Min family is the owner of this kingdom. They are kind-hearted people who have maintained a neutral stance between the kingdoms for countless generations.

Someone here, close to our age, holds a strong position as the future ruler too. His name is Min Yoongi, and you might not have had the opportunity to meet him during our previous gathering since he was away preparing for his upcoming responsibilities. However, he is a highly respectable individual and someone you will like."

As Namjoon talked in the background, Taehyung's gaze wandered, and he inquired, "What is the distance between this kingdom and the Parks?"

"The distance isn't too great; there should be a trail that links the kingdoms."

"Is this Min Yoongi mated to anyone?"

"I am not sure, but because we are meeting with him, I am certain we will find out whether he is or not. Why are you curious?"

"Just curious," Taehyung replied with a sly grin and confidently moved ahead.

Namjoon quickly positioned himself in front of him, obstructing his path. "Taehyung, it would be unwise to engage in a conflict with them. I know the expression on your face, but you need to pay attention to what I have to say. The Min family has always been kind to us, and it's important to maintain a good relationship with them.

I understand that this may not hold a lot of meaning for you, but it's important to acknowledge that you have transitioned from being just Alpha, Kim Taehyung, to assuming the role of a King. Alongside this, you now have an Omega who relies on you, and an heir is possible soon."

Taehyung scoffed, "I have no intention of killing anyone," he retorted, brushing past Namjoon. "Not today, anyway."

"Taehyung, I need your word that you will not kill anyone in that kingdom," Namjoon said firmly, wanting Taehyung to understand he was serious.

Taehyung turned around swiftly and fixed his gaze on him. With a calm expression, he replied, "I can't give you that. There is a likelihood that someone might provoke me, and I will need to respond appropriately."

"What is your problem with this kingdom? I do not know of any actions they have taken against us."

"I want to know why my Omega has been here before."