•Chapter thirty eight•

Do you hear that too? 

Taehyung felt uneasy.

It didn't feel like the normal sadness he felt when he recollected how Jungkook couldn't see him in his pregnant state or experience being with him.

It wasn't because he missed anything of his previous ways of living or his family either.

It was something odd, different, and he didn't know whether the cause of it was the sudden catching of his stomach muscles or whether this stress was causing these physical reactions.

He didn't like it.

It was clear from his facial expressions that he was feeling well.

He wasn't being very verbal about his problems anymore, rather just taking deep breaths and gasping every time his muscles tightened.

Is it happening? Taehyung wondered, now holding his breath when another small wave of what seemed like discomfort hit him and the muscles showed the same process of tightening and relaxing. It can't be, right?

All of a sudden this...

There can be no other reason for this kind of reaction from my body. It doesn't seem like normal pain too. This feels different, stronger.

We don't even have any medical help here.

If it's true, if it is really happening, how will I handle it?

It will hurt so much.

And just imagining the pain made him whimper, catching the attention of the other two people who were already watching him like a hawk, noticing every moment of his.

Taehyung gasped when he felt a strong kick, holding his tummy instantly, looking down. "Pup, don't d-do that. It hurts... Don't do that."

Him speaking to the baby didn't do any work in calming the child down. Rather, the intensity of the kicks worsened with the passing seconds, growing stronger than before.

"Fuck!" Taehyung cried. This instantly made Hyeon react by coming closer and holding him, hugging him. "Hyeon, it doesn't feel good! I f-feel so weird!"

"What's wrong?" Hyeon asked nervously, frowning at how he could practically feel the harsh movements on his hands resting near his waist. Taehyung let out a small cry and arched his back, one hand shooting to the ground to steady his body while the other clutched on his shirt near his stomach.

In a short while, the pain went away slightly and the omega took deep breaths, his heart beating so hard and rough.

Taehyung leaned on the alpha beside him, pushing away both his friends' hands from his stomach with a whine of pain.

It didn't feel good to be touched by them.

"What's happening?" Chohee asked, trying her best to stay calm. "Tae, stop being quiet, and tell us what's going on? Does anything hurt? D-do you think it's happening?"

"I don't know... " The male omega sniffled. "It hurt a lot a while ago. It's fine now. I don't know whether it will happen anytime soon."

"Should we ask for help from the villagers? They said they don't know about any sophisticated ways of giving birth because they all did it by themselves in their huts without asking others for help. They're ready to help us in case we need their help, though."

"I don't need anyone here, noona. None of them can do anything. I-I want to go back home."

However much he thought that this hut and this place was his new home, he continued missing the place he left behind. It was partially because of the luxuries he had there but mainly because his lover was there.

He came here for the safety of the child and his hyungs. He came here to continue having his self-respect which he would have lost if he stayed behind in the place he
was thrown out of.

But he wasn't happy even now.

He was going to give birth soon, and Jungkook would miss the precious time with his child before birth. He would miss all these kicks and movements or the constant growth the baby showed throughout the months.

There was no turning back now.

Taehyung will secretly go into the palace after his child is born and let Jungkook know about their baby. What happens after that will be in Jungkook's hands.

"Lay down," Chohee said, helping him to lie on the mattress which barely provided him any comfort. His hurting back hurt more because of how horribly hard the mattress was.

Even so, he tolerated it.

Chohee lifted his shirt to his chest. He hissed when the cold air hit his stomach damp with sweat. He arched his back slightly, grunting because he wasn't able to adjust himself with this huge tummy.

He wanted to stay laying down, but it started feeling too weird and uncomfortable so he sat back up. Chohee didn't question him, getting the answers to her questions just by looking at the omega's furrowed eyebrows, discomfort visible.

She slowly applied oil on his tummy. It did make him feel at ease slightly.

Hyeon went ahead to sit behind Taehyung so he wouldn't strain his back. He even offered a few fruits to the omega who refused to eat them.

It was calm for a while after that. Taehyung didn't have to face the waves of pain, and both of them were all were happy about that.

They didn't know how they will help him give birth or how they'll handle the situation.

"Once the child is out, you'll not remain a ball anymore... " Hyeon seemed to be whining. Taehyung rolled his eyes, turning his neck to the side to see the alpha's chin in disbelief.

"I'd be glad. I struggle to even get up and sit because of this disobedient baby who doesn't listen to me when I tell it to not kick or hurt me. All of you are so happy seeing me struggle, isn't it?"

"Of course, yes. You trouble us so much so it's only okay to suffer a little yourself," Hyeon joked, not able to resist the urge to lift his hand and place it on the omega's stomach as well, loving the roundness.

For a reason, he was so attached to this boy that he just couldn't see him suffer.

He only had alpha friends before, so the sense of protection towards his only omega friend is so high that he would strangle the person to death if they hurt or disturbed him.

And the child... Hyeon loved the child so much too. So much that he wished that it didn't come out so early because Taehyung would leave after its birth.

He didn't want them to go away.

He wanted them to stay with him. He wanted to see the baby grow into a beautiful or handsome person before his eyes just like he saw it grow inside his friend.

Maybe... Maybe it was just that he saw this child as his own because his child...

"You won't leave me here alone, right?" Hyeon asked. "I love this village that took care of an orphan like me, but I'm not going to let you go, Tae."

Taehyung chuckled, nuzzling his head on Hyeon's shoulder. "I didn't like your suspicious self when we first met, but it's impossible to not see you as worthy of love after all that you gave me. I'm not leaving you behind here, but when you come with me, don't think that my husband will let you live there without making sure you're no threat."

"Bitch, you aren't married yet." Hyeon rolled his eyes. "The king will grow to love me for sure, maybe he'll love me more than he loves you."

Taehyung just snorted at that. Was there anything or anyone that Jungkook can love more than him? Absolutely not. He didn't even need to worry about such things.

"Anyways, how hard does alpha go on--"

Before Hyeon could complete his dirty question, Taehyung shushed him, getting alert after hearing something peculiar.

"Do you hear that too?" The omega asks, sitting up straighter and stopping Chohee from massaging him to concentrate on the sound. "Do you hear those footsteps? I can clearly hear the loud footsteps; none of the villagers wear such boots."

"It's late in the night," Hyeon exhaled shakily because he could hear the sound clearly. What made it worse was that the people seemed to be heading towards them, the sounds getting louder. "Who could it be?"

They stayed in silence for a while, waiting to what is happening and what they should do, Chohee gasping once the footsteps stopped right outside their door.

The three froze when they heard a knock on the door, the person outside seeming hesitant and soft in his actions.

*-*-*-*

Jungkook received Hoseok and Jimin's letters, both directed towards him and not Taehyung. 

Both of them were requesting him to arrange for Taehyung to go to Yoongi who was extremely distressed now. 

It didn't take too long to reach where Yoongi was. The three of them knew that their letter reached the palace and Taehyung should've been with them by now, but there was no sign of Taehyung going to them.

If Taehyung didn't reach them in a while from now, they would surely just come to the palace. It was too obvious that something was wrong already. 

Taehyung's safety was at stake. Jungkook had sent several people for protecting the boy. 

However, he hadn't known that the commander of the soldiers hadn't told the guards to guard Taehyung from Mira so they didn't know that Mira was a danger to Taehyung. 

Somehow, Jungkook felt distressed. I didn't mark him so there is no chance that I'm feeling Tae's emotions, but I know that this distress is born because of something related to Taehyung... Jungkook thought. As soon as I handle Yoongi hyung, I will rush to my mate and protect him myself. 

Mira would have given birth by now, but my priority is Taehyung. I will make sure that he is safe first before doing anything about Mira and her child. 

She wasn't alone anyway. She had her loyal ladies-in-waiting with her, and all those maids would always give her side because they weren't working under the king. They were being fed and paid by the queen herself.

About the guards that Mira took along with her, they'll follow her command thinking that she's still a rightful queen who can rule over them.

She would manage. Jungkook didn't quite care about her anyway.

I need to bring Mira and her child back first, take a paternity test of Mira's child, then prove to everyone that the child isn't mine and that I wasn't even married to her. All this was fake from the very start. The proof will be the fake priest who conducted the marriage ceremony. 

Tae will be able to come back here without any hindrance after that.

Then my Tae will be my queen and my husband. 

Now the only thing left was for him to handle Yoongi. 

How to do what? he didn't know. Taehyung didn't want Yoongi to know where they were living. Taehyung had requested him to not trouble his brother with all this. 

But there was nothing he could do right now. He was forced to let Yoongi know that Taehyung had and that's why their letters weren't being answered.

Jungkook had thought for so long, talked to Youngmi about it too, but they could come up with no other solution. 

He realized that he was wasting time now.

Despite sending people to guard Taehyung, he felt distressed.

That's it. 

This couldn't go on for long. 

Even if it did trouble Yoongi, Jungkook had to tell him why, in what conditions, and how long Taehyung has gone for. It will upset the beta a lot that secrets have been kept from him, but Yoongi would do everything to help Jungkook to convince Taehyung to come back to the palace. 

That's the only thing Jungkook wanted now. 

He wanted to officially end things with Mira and bring Taehyung to the palace as the rightful queen.

He quickly put on his cloak and glanced at a few guards, ordering them with his eyes to stay where they are and not follow. 

He left with fast steps, hoping with all his might that nothing goes wrong. 

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