Third person pov

"Take care, Tae. Remember we love you," Jennie says, chuckling when she heard the tiny human in her embrace sob. Taehyung had buried himself on her chest, feeling oh so selfish for leaving while they'll stay back in this hell.

"Stop crying, sweetheart," she cooed at him and pulled him away from herself to peck his forehead and cheeks.

"I-i want you to come along!" Taehyung whines, sobbing right after.

"It's not possible, love. You're really lucky that you have a beautiful bestfriend who cannot see you in pain. He came here and is now saving you, unlike all those people who loved us," She states a small sadness in her voice.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't do anything fo--" Jimin starts, a little uncomfortable while fiddling with his shirt's hem. Jennie quickly waved him off.

"Go now. Make sure he's happy," Jennie says as she looks at Jimin with worry and concern. The last thing she wanted now is Taehyung to face more sadness.

Taehyung bid a tearful goodbye to all his noonas who looked at him with adoring eyes.

They felt a little sad that they weren't able to leave but that didn't mean that they were envious of him.

Jimin held Taehyung's hand, tugging him softly as they walked out of the mansion. He pouted when he heard Taehyung sniffling.

"Baby, stop crying. It's alright or do you want me to take you back?"

"No!" Taehyung squeaks, looking at him with wide scared eyes, shaking his head.

Jimin was taken aback by his sudden outburst and realized that the boy really was shaken completely by what has happened to him in the past.

Just the thought of going back had got him so scared; he was so traumatized.

Jimin quickly hugged him and said, "I was just kidding. I'm not taking you there. Calm down, pup."

Taehyung melted into his embrace. Jimin scented him to calm him down, knowing very well that it helps him a lot. Sure enough, Taehyung was completely fine a while later, not crying or scared anymore but he looked really dull.

Jimin doesn't bug him. He just holds his hand and walks towards the forest to the place where Jungkook lives.

If he could, he would take Taehyung to Eunae first so he could meet his mom but he couldn't do that.

There was a chance that some warrior would see them in the town and tell Jungho about it.

That will only lead to the demon wolf finding about the relationship between Taehyung and Jimin.

Suddenly, Taehyung gasped and let go of his hand.

He looked at Taehyung, confused and gawks at him as he settled on the ground and took mud into his hand.

"Jiminie! It's soil!" Taehyung said, smiling brightly, eyes crinkling.

Jimin smiled wholeheartedly, realizing that it's the first time the boy had actually come out in the forest or anywhere away from a building.

Taehyung squealed as he held a flower in his hand. He grew overexcited as he touched everything-- the bark of the tree, the grass, leaves, flowers--he looked so happy and cute with a bright boxy smile etched on his face.

"Jiminie! All of these things look so beautiful in real life!" He says as he had always seen these things only through a phone or tv screen.

Even if Jimin brought him things, like flowers or leaves, it would all shrivel up until it reaches him.

Jimin joins him on the ground, after placing the suitcase safely. He picks up a flower and throws it on Taehyung's face.

His heart swelled with happiness when he heard Taehyung giggle.

He remembered their childhood when the omega smiled and laughed at every single thing but now, the sound felt so foreign.

Taehyung's smile, his cheery behavior, his fearless sweet self, everything was snatched away from him and replaced with tears and dread and he could do nothing about it.

He wasn't even there when Taehyung needed him.

They continued playing freely, without a care in the world, enjoying some moments of freedom and happiness before they were twisted into sadness again.

Taehyung laughed heartily, his eyes crinkling as beautiful and sweet sounds escaped his lips when Jimin started tickling him.

"J-Jimin! Ah! Please!" He says amidst his laughter but Jimin doesn't stop.

He was laughing along with him while attacking his tummy until Taehyung said him that he'll pee if he won't stop.

But even after stopping, Taehyung continued to giggle with a huge smile etched on his face, tears in the corner of his eyes because of laughing so much.

Jimin caressed his cheeks with love before then leaning down and nuzzling his nose on his soft cheek which was red.

"You look so pretty when you're smiling, baby. I wish I could see you like this forever."

"I will be smiling more, chimmy. I'm finally out of that hell after all."

You don't understand, you don't believe me when I'm telling you that Jungkook isn't any better than Jungho. 

He has anger issues too. I've never seen him in a calm state before. I'd only always found him glaring, hitting or yelling at someone. I know he tries to be better, but it just isn't possible. 

I don't want him to do all that to you. 

Jimin thinks. He hugged Taehyung like as if it was his last time, completely having Taehyung wrapped up in his arms. They stayed like that for a while before Taehyung said that they should really get going.

"Jiminie, how old is... J-Jungkook?" He uttered Jungkook's name in a whisper, blushing crazily.

"Um..." Jimin thinks for a while, the blush adorning Taehyung's face going unnoticed by him. He answers, "Twenty two. He turned twenty two today."

Taehyung's heart sank. He was wishing that the built trueblood wasn't old enough to recognize his mate yet, but his wish didn't come true.

He bites his lip, walking right beside Jimin who was holding his hand.

He is older than eighteen... then why didn't he recognize his mate?

He pouts. He was determined to go to his mate's house and make the elder recognise him as his mate.

He wanted the older to love him and fall for him like he did as soon as he got to know about mates.

"We'll be there soon," Jimin announced, holding onto Taehyung stronger, afraid that he'll have to let go of that hand after a while.

Finally, a mansion, a really beautiful one with dark walls and beautiful glass windows came into view. It was big but smaller than the mansion Taehyung was previously in.

The house was not really inviting or welcoming. It really seemed like he didn't belong there but yet he looked at the house with a dreamy expression.

The house was his mate's, which means it was his own. A one he'll be living in now, a one where he will be protected.

His hopes of having a life full of happiness increase drastically just by seeing the house of his mate.

He smiled widely and looked at Jimin. He grew confused when he sees the elder practically fuming in anger.

"What's wrong?" Taehyung asks, softly. Jimin just shakes his head. They opened the gate and entered it, Jimin going forward and ringing the doorbell.

They waited patiently and the door swung open a while later, revealing a messy-haired Jungkook who was squinting as he looked at both of them. He looked like he just got up from bed.

Taehyung couldn't breathe. He was blushing furiously because of the way Jungkook looked. The overly dominating scent of his mate clouded his senses and made him weak. Oh, how badly he had missed his scent.

"What the fuck?" Jungkook growled, eyes hardening as soon as they landed on Jimin who looked back at him with rage. 

Jungkook's stance turned protective, this being one of a few habits he had developed when coming across strangers because of not being able to trust anyone. 

And Jimin... no. He couldn't trust Jimin ever.

"Jungkook," Jimin muttered, equally as angry as Jungkook. Taehyung wondered why they seemed so tense and furious.

"Why are you here?" Taehyung's mate asked Jimin, and the dominance in his voice made Taehyung whimper inaudibly.

"I've come here because you're father wanted me to give you a present as it's your birthday today," Jimin said uncomfortably as he glanced at Taehyung with guilt.

"What? I don't need anything. Take whatever he's given back to him and tell him to stop fucking troubling me," The eldest among the three said without sparing the little omega a single glance. 

Taehyung feels a tad bit bad because of his words. He didn't like being treated like an object. He knew Jimin said whatever he did because he had to do it and Jungkook didn't even know what the 'gift' was yet.

"I can't do that. You know he won't accept him back."

"Him? What? Why would he send me a... person?" Jungkook asks, in disbelief.

"He's a s-slave," Jimin muttered, again disgusted at himself for calling Taehyung that. 

Upon hearing his words, Jungkook's expression first turned perplexed. He looked at Taehyung for the first time with his dark eyes scrutinizing the omega. 

Jungkook respectfully look away after realizing that he was making Taehyung scared by his harsh glare.

Soon, the trueblood understood that Jimin had brought him this boy as a '"present". Jimin looked all uncomfortable too, so the trueblood concluded that this young boy was someone close to him. 

Just the thoughts that his father is treating people like objects and sending them around as "gifts" to satisfy himself disgusted Jungkook. 

Jungho was so inhuman. The boy looked so young that it bothered him terribly. His heart clenched when he noticed he many bruises decorating his body and knew that it would his worst decision if he sent back the poor boy. 

Why does that man think that he has a right over their bodies and wishes? 

So pathetic.

Jungkook just exhales deeply in anger. He can't fucking go against the dumb demon wolf and send him back the boy because if he does, then there was a high chance of that lunatic killing the boy.

Why would he want an innocent person to get killed? 

He would do anything he can to save the life of a person. Even if he is harsh and rude like his father is because growing up in a bad surrounding had made him like that, he was still a much better person than the demon wolf.

More much human that that demon. 

His eyes raked over the figure of the lean boy who was looking down shyly, fumbling with his fingers. He felt his inners churn in pity. 

He hated having anyone near him, but now, he had to let this boy stay with for for god knows how long.

He will certainly let him stay here and live as he wants to, but the thought of having someone near himself made his mind go hazy. 

 Even though he pitied Taehyung, it made him anxious and irritated to have someone near him. 

That's how Sangmi moulded him to be by forcefully distancing himself from everyone. 

And the conditions of his were far away from being the best. He didn't trust himself, didn't known himself; he couldn't accept that bringing this boy home would be a good idea. 

Fear. 

He felt fear for the boy. 

But he isn't used to being selfish and thinking just about himself. He decided that he'll let the boy live with him. 

If he had to learn to be softer and trust more people, he will do so. That was much better than letting a petal like omega suffer. 

"Get in," he told the omega who unconsciously held Jimin tighter, scared out of his wits suddenly.

"I said: get in. And if you don't want to do that then go away from here," Jungkook snarled at Jimin, not even a slightly bit angry at the omega but directing his irritation towards Jimin.  

 He glared at Jimin, forcing himself to show his dislike towards him. He used to like Jimin, still does slightly too, but he just couldn't forget that his life was only made worse by Jimin. 

Taehyung felt tears brimming in his eyes at the harshness in his voice.

Jimin growled at him and took a step further threateningly, but Taehyung held him back from attacking the male. Jungkook just stared at Jimin with bored, challenging eyes.

Why matie? You were supposed to love me and treat me well... then why are you doing this? Taehyung thinks.

"I said--" Jungkook did not complete his sentence, and Taehyung flinches at the harsh, rough tone. He quickly let go of Jimin, grabbing his bag he walked into the house.

Jimin scowled at Jungkook as his bestfriend scurried further into the house.

"Jeon, I swear, if anything, anything happens to him, I'll kill you." Jungkook just rolled his eyes, getting terribly annoyed.

"You should've thought about that before bringing him here."

There was no threat in those words. 

Jungkook would rather kill himself than hurting someone so pure intentionally.

Jimin took a step forward, his hands itching to hit the older. He knew that Jungkook wouldn't, ever in his life, mistreat someone innocent. 

He didn't know him that much, but he knew enough. 

Jungkook wouldn't assert his dominance on anyone. 

If it's an omega then there wasn't a chance of him doing such a thing. 

"I'm not kidding, Jeon. He means a lot to me. If he's hurt in any way, I'll make sure you regret it."

Jungkook snickered, taking a step forward and towering the younger, easily dominating over him, being a trueblood. 

He knew that Taehyung meant a lot to him. He could see it in his eyes, and he has no problem in keeping the boy in his house to save his life. 

But he still had a huge problem with Jimin. The one who's always been his worst to him--was the one who was requesting--no, ordering him to do something. 

What does he think of himself? 

After several times of pushing him into danger by lying to Sangmi, he was here, acting like Jungkook owed his entire life to him. 

What does he think of himself? 

"I told you two years ago to leave me alone and not show me your face again, didn't I? Then why are you here? Why don't you just leave," his voice was anything but soft.

Jimin suddenly felt the air being knocked out of his body. He remembered that day like it was yesterday when everything in Jungkook's life turned upside down, and those events aided him to became like this.

It was, in simple words, horrible.

"Look, you told me to leave and I left. I listened to you. Now you listen to me. Taehyung has had enough. Don't make him suffer more," his voice wavered, hoping that Jungkook would listen to him.

The door was closed shut on his face, making him jump slightly as he was startled.

He looked at the closed door with teary eyes. He believed that Taehyung will be fine there. 

He didn't think much about the little information he has about Jungkook's other half. 

They were same anyway, right? He didn't know. The only one who would know is Hoseok, but it was better to not ask the alpha. 

Please don't do this. My baby... my Taehyung-ie deserves more than this harsh treatment and sadness.

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