The morning light seeped into the room, highlighting the disarray of the bed and the overwhelming evidence of the night before. Jungkook stirred first, his body feeling the satisfying ache of exertion. He sat up, running a hand through his tousled hair, and surveyed the scene. The sheets were damp and tangled, the air heavy with their shared scent.

He glanced down at his chest and arms, the faint sting of scratches drawing his attention. Angry red lines marked his skin, left by Taehyung’s desperate grip. His lips quirked into a faint smile as he traced them with his fingertips.

He fought me, but in the end, he gave in. This is the proof.

The alpha swung his legs off the bed, careful not to disturb the figure curled up beneath the sheets. Taehyung was still out cold, his body completely spent. Jungkook glanced at him, the omega’s flushed face buried in the pillow, his frame trembling even in sleep.

Jungkook moved quietly to the bathroom. The warm water of the shower washed away the remnants of the night, but the marks Taehyung left on his body were impossible to erase. Jungkook’s gaze lingered on his reflection in the mirror, his chest rising with pride.

His body bore the marks of the night before—scratches and faint bruises scattered across his skin. Each one was a reminder of Taehyung’s resistance and eventual surrender, and Jungkook cherished them like trophies.

These scars… They’re his gift to me. His way of giving me a piece of him.

When he returned to the bedroom, Taehyung was still fast asleep, his face turned to the side, his lips parted slightly. His frail frame looked even smaller beneath the oversized blanket, and Jungkook’s chest tightened. He crouched beside the bed, brushing a stray strand of hair from Taehyung’s face.

Taehyung stirred slightly, a faint whimper escaping his lips as he tried to move. Jungkook’s hand moved to his cheek, cupping it gently. “Don’t,” he murmured. “Just rest.”

But Taehyung shifted again, his brows furrowing as he let out a weak, pained groan. Jungkook moved quickly, sliding an arm beneath his back and helping him sit up. The motion drew a sharp gasp from Taehyung, his body trembling from the effort.

“Careful,” Jungkook said, his voice steady as he supported Taehyung’s weight. “I’ve got you.”

Taehyung’s head lolled weakly against Jungkook’s chest, his breath shallow. Jungkook reached for the glass of water he’d set on the bedside table earlier. He brought it to Taehyung’s lips, tilting it gently. “Drink,” he coaxed. “You need it.”

Taehyung’s lashes fluttered as he opened his mouth slightly, allowing Jungkook to help him sip the water. A faint trail dribbled down his chin, and Jungkook wiped it away with his thumb.

“That’s it,” Jungkook murmured, his tone softer now. “Just a little more.”

Once Taehyung had finished the water, Jungkook laid him back down and disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the silence as Jungkook prepared a warm bath.

When the bath was ready, he returned to the bedroom and gently scooped Taehyung into his arms. The omega let out a faint whimper at the movement, his head lolling weakly against Jungkook’s shoulder.

“I know it hurts,” Jungkook murmured as he carried him into the bathroom. “But you’ll feel better after this.”

Lowering Taehyung into the warm water, Jungkook held him steady, his hands careful yet firm. Taehyung flinched slightly at the contact, his muscles sore and overstimulated, but the warmth began to ease the tension in his body.

Jungkook’s hands moved methodically, washing Taehyung with a tenderness that felt almost out of place given the intensity of the night before. He worked in silence, his focus entirely on the omega in front of him.

“Let me take care of you,” Jungkook said quietly, his fingers brushing over the faint marks on Taehyung’s skin. He didn’t miss a single detail, ensuring every inch of Taehyung was cleaned and cared for.

Once the bath was done, Jungkook wrapped Taehyung in a soft towel, drying him off before dressing him in fresh clothes. He carried him back to the bedroom, where he’d already replaced the soiled sheets with crisp, clean ones.

Taehyung barely stirred as Jungkook tucked him in, his body too weak to do much more than breathe. Jungkook sat beside him, brushing his knuckles gently against Taehyung’s cheek.

“You’re so fragile like this,” Jungkook murmured, almost to himself. “But that’s okay. I’m strong enough for both of us.”

He left the room briefly, returning with a tray of light breakfast—soup, toast, and some fruit. Placing the tray on the bedside table, Jungkook propped Taehyung up against the pillows once more.

“Eat,” he said, scooping a spoonful of soup and holding it to Taehyung’s lips.

Taehyung’s eyes fluttered open weakly, his gaze unfocused as he obediently opened his mouth. Jungkook fed him slowly, his patience uncharacteristic but unwavering.

“You’re doing well,” Jungkook murmured, his voice low and soothing. “Just a little more, and then you can rest again.”

By the time Taehyung had eaten as much as he could manage, his head was already drooping, his eyes struggling to stay open. Jungkook set the tray aside and laid him back down, pulling the blanket up to his chin.

As Taehyung drifted off again, Jungkook sat beside him, his hand resting lightly on the omega’s hip. The room was quiet, save for the soft sound of Taehyung’s breathing.

“You’ll be fine,” Jungkook whispered, his voice filled with quiet conviction. “I’ll make sure of it.”

And he did. Over the next few days, Jungkook tended to Taehyung with a dedication that bordered on obsession. Every waking moment was spent ensuring Taehyung’s well-being, his touch uncharacteristically gentle, as though afraid he might break the fragile omega even further.

Jungkook’s tenderness wasn’t born out of guilt—it was something deeper, more primal. Seeing Taehyung so weak and vulnerable ignited a protective instinct within him. He wasn’t just caring for his mate; he was staking his claim in a way that no one else ever could. Taehyung’s frailty made Jungkook hyper-aware of his own strength, and for once, he used it not to dominate but to shield.

In the mornings, Jungkook would carefully rouse Taehyung, his deep voice low and soothing as he helped him sit up against the pillows. The first day, Taehyung flinched at Jungkook’s touch, his body stiffening in fear, but Jungkook only cupped his face softly, brushing his thumb over his cheek.

“You need to eat,” he murmured, his tone almost tender. “You’re too weak.”

He fed Taehyung himself, spoonful by spoonful, pausing whenever the omega seemed overwhelmed. When a faint trail of soup dribbled down Taehyung’s chin, Jungkook wiped it away with his thumb before pressing a soft kiss to his temple.

“Good,” he said, his voice laced with an odd pride. “You’re doing well.”

Despite his tenderness, Jungkook’s presence was suffocating. He hovered constantly, never leaving Taehyung’s side for more than a few moments. Even when Taehyung managed to drift off to sleep, Jungkook remained in the room, his dark eyes fixed on him as though guarding a precious possession.

Bathing was another ordeal. Jungkook insisted on carrying Taehyung to the bathroom, cradling him as though he weighed nothing. The omega had tried to protest weakly, his voice barely above a whisper, but Jungkook silenced him with a firm yet gentle, “Don’t argue. You can’t do this alone.”

The warm water soothed Taehyung’s aching body, but the intimacy of Jungkook washing him left him trembling—not from fear of being hurt, but from the sheer vulnerability of it. Jungkook’s hands moved with a surprising delicacy, his fingers brushing over bruises and marks without applying pressure.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Jungkook murmured, his voice so soft it was almost unrecognizable. “I’m just taking care of what’s mine.”

At night, Jungkook would tuck Taehyung into bed, ensuring the blanket covered him snugly before sitting beside him. He would press soft kisses to Taehyung’s forehead, his temple, and sometimes the corner of his lips. Taehyung never resisted—not because he wanted it, but because he didn’t have the strength.

Even in his gentleness, there was a possessive undertone to everything Jungkook did. He treated Taehyung as something fragile yet entirely his, a contradiction that left the omega conflicted.

One evening, Taehyung had managed to sit up on his own, his strength slowly returning. Jungkook had noticed immediately, his eyes lighting up with an intensity that sent a shiver down Taehyung’s spine.

“You’re getting better,” Jungkook said, his voice filled with quiet satisfaction. He reached out, brushing his fingers over Taehyung’s wrist where faint marks remained. “See? I told you I’d take care of you.”

But as much as Taehyung’s body healed, his mind remained in turmoil. The memory of Jungkook’s brutality haunted him, yet the omega couldn’t deny the strange comfort in Jungkook’s care. The dichotomy was maddening—how could the same man who had hurt him so deeply now be the one ensuring his survival?

Each soft kiss, each whispered reassurance, chipped away at Taehyung’s resolve, leaving him trapped in a web of fear, gratitude, and confusion. Whether Jungkook’s presence was comforting or suffocating, Taehyung couldn’t yet decide.

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I hope you guys are enjoying the book so far. I was thinking of adding a Q&A Chapter at the end of this book (like the manhwa authors do,, I always find them super cool). In it, you can ask any character (or me, the author) a question and they’ll answer it.

Lmk how you like the idea.