— Jungkook held his breath, his heart pounding as he waited for Taehyung’s answer. The silence felt heavy, pressing down on him. He could feel the small movements of Taehyung's fingers in his grip, the hesitation clear as day.

It was like a knife cutting through him—sharp, painful. For a moment, fear took hold of him. What if Taehyung said no? What if he refused, right here, in front of everyone? What if, after everything, Taehyung still chose to walk away?

But then, finally, Taehyung's voice broke the silence. "I do." Jungkook exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His grip on Taehyung's hands tightened, his entire body reacting before his mind could catch up.

The words should have soothed him, should have filled him with relief. They didn't. Because Taehyung's voice was flat, emotionless. He said the words like they were nothing—like they were just something he had to say, not something he wanted to.

Jungkook's grip on Taehyung's hands tightened, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. This wasn't how it was supposed to feel. This wasn't the way he had imagined hearing those words from Taehyung. Jungkook knew it. He had forced this bond,

taken away Taehyung's choice. And now, standing here—his Husband, his omega, his future—he felt the weight of it like a heavy cloud hanging over him. But none of that mattered. Not right now. Right now, all that mattered was that Taehyung was here.

That he had said I do. That no one could take him away. The priest's voice faded into the background as Jungkook focused on Taehyung—the way his lashes lowered, the way his fingers trembled just slightly before going still. He looked breathtaking, standing there in soft ivory,

his skin glowing under the golden lights of the hall. His scent, despite the tension between them, wrapped around Jungkook like a quiet lull. 𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦 The priest gestured for the rings, and Yoongi, standing by Jungkook's side, exchanged a glance with Seokjin before

handing them over. Jungkook took the ring first, his fingers steady as he slid it onto Taehyung's ring finger. His eyes flickered as the metal settled against the omega's skin, gleaming under the lights. He glanced up to find Taehyung staring at it too, his expression unreadable.

The priest then nodded toward Taehyung, who swallowed hard before hesitantly taking Jungkook's ring. He carefully slid it onto Jungkook's finger, his lips parting slightly as he stared at the band resting against the alpha's skin—the one he had placed there.

The priest smiled at the two of them, his voice warm as he declared, "With the blessing of the Moon Goddess and under the sacred vows you have spoken today, I now pronounce you bound as mates, as husbands, and as soulmates destined by fate. May your union stand strong through

every storm, may your love find its way even in the darkest of nights, and may the bond between you only grow stronger with time. It is with great honor that I present to you—Alpha Jeon Jungkook and his mate, Jeon Taehyung. You may now seal your vows with a kiss."

A hush fell over the hall as Taehyung and Jungkook turned to face each other. Jungkook's eyes were soft, filled with something deep and unspoken. But Taehyung… his gaze was unreadable, distant. There was no happiness in them, and Jungkook felt the hesitation in his own body.

His hands hovered near Taehyung's waist but didn't land. He hesitated to step closer. Then he saw it—Taehyung squeezing his eyes shut, bracing himself. Jungkook's heart clenched painfully, but he still closed the distance, his lips ghosting over Taehyung's before

pressing in gently. For a moment, the world blurred. The background cheers, the rustle of fabric, the faint scent of roses—it all faded as he felt Taehyung's soft, petal-like lips against his. It was barely a kiss, just a touch, but for Jungkook,

it felt like the universe had shifted beneath his feet. But then, as quickly as it happened, Taehyung pulled away. Jungkook barely had time to process before he noticed the faintest flush dusting the omega's cheeks. His breath caught. His fingers twitched.

And before Taehyung could retreat any further, Jungkook instinctively reached for his hand, gripping it tightly. The priest's voice rang through the hall, announcing, "You are now married. Welcome Jeon Taehyung."

— Taehyung clung tightly to his mother's dress, his slender hands gripping the fabric as his body trembled. He buried his face into her shoulder,his breaths uneven. Hana held him just as tightly,her fingers cradling the back of his head,her own eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"I don't want to be alone," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I won't even see Grandma often anymore… and now you're leaving too." Hana gently shushed him, pressing a soft kiss to his temple. "You're not alone, baby. We're still here. We'll always be here."

Taehyung shook his head against her shoulder, his grip tightening. "It's not the same. I won't wake up to you and Dad talking in the morning. I won't hear Hyung complaining about his friends. I won't—" His breath hitched, and fresh tears spilled down his cheeks.

Hana's arms tightened around him, her own heart breaking at the pain in his voice. "I know, sweetheart. I know." For a long moment, they just stood there, mother and son clinging to each other in a desperate attempt to hold onto the life that was slipping away.

Then, Hana slowly pulled back, wiping his tears with gentle hands. "It's time for me to go." Taehyung stiffened. His hands trembled at his sides before he abruptly reached out, grasping her hands. "Where are you going?" he asked, his voice small.

Hana blinked. "Home, baby." Taehyung was so overwhelmed that he spoke without thinking. "Then I'm coming with you—just until you all leave." Hana quickly shook her head. "Tae—" "I want to be there when you go, just to see Dad and Hyung one more time before you leave me here."

Hana's face softened, but she hesitated. Taehyung took a step forward, his voice pleading. "Please, just for a little while—" Before he could say anything else, Hana cupped his face again, her touch firm yet gentle. "Baby… you can't."

Taehyung frowned, his brows knitting together. "Why?" Hana sighed deeply, brushing her thumb over his cheek. "You know what Jungkook's grandfather said, Tae. Omegas don't leave their alpha's room on the first night." Taehyung's jaw clenched. His fingers curled into

fists at his sides. "I don't care about that," he muttered. Hana's expression turned pained. "Taehyung, for me, please. You have to respect their ways. You're part of their family now… you have to accept that." His eyes burned, his chest aching. He hated this. He hated the

way everything had been decided for him, the way even now, after everything, he still had no choice. But this wasn't just about him anymore. So, taking a shaky breath, he forced himself to nod. Then his mother wrapped her arms around him once more,

and he sobbed into her embrace one last time, his fingers gripping her tightly, memorizing her warmth, her scent, the way she felt in his arms. And then, with a final kiss to his forehead, she stepped back. The door opened. She walked out. And Taehyung was alone.

The room was stunning, decorated beautifully for the night. Every detail carefully arranged, every candle flickering softly. But to him, it felt empty. Hollow. Dull. Like his life.

Taehyung sat there, completely still, the silence in the room feeling heavier by the second. It pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe. His hands trembled slightly on his lap, his mind a mess of emotions he couldn't even begin to sort through.

What was he supposed to do now? He had been so sure—so certain—that he would make Jungkook pay for what he had done. But what about himself? How would he survive this? Taehyung swallowed hard, his throat burning. No family of his own. No children of his own.

The thought made his chest tighten painfully. He had always imagined a future full of love—finding a kind, caring alpha who would treat him well. Someone who would give him a warm home, where their pups would run around, laughing and filling the house with joy.

Jungkook had taken that away from him. Ruined everything. The bitter truth settled in his chest like a heavy stone. He didn't know how to grasp it, how to accept that this was now his reality. But he had to. He had no other choice.

With a shaky breath, Taehyung forced himself to move. He pushed himself up from the bed, his limbs feeling heavier than ever, and walked toward the closet that Jungkook's mother had shown him earlier. His clothes were already there, neatly arranged like always.

His mother had done that—made sure he had everything he needed before she left, just like she always had when he was home. But this wasn't home. His vision blurred, and he squeezed his eyes shut, pressing his lips together tightly. You need to pull yourself together,

he told himself. Crying won't change anything. Taking a deep breath, he reached for a warm sweater, suddenly feeling like his body was growing colder by the second. He pulled it close, clutching it tightly for a moment before he turned and walked toward the bathroom.

It wasn't like he couldn't change in the closet—the space was large enough, more than enough—but a gnawing unease clawed at his chest. What if someone walked in? No, not someone. Jungkook. He couldn't risk it. He didn't want to be seen by him.

So he stepped into the bathroom instead, closing the door behind him before quickly changing into the sweater. The warmth of the fabric did little to chase away the cold creeping into his bones, but he exhaled slowly, grounding himself. And then— The sound of the bedroom door

opening. Taehyung's body went rigid. He didn't need to look. He didn't need to guess. He knew who it was. The scent that drifted in—the one he had unwillingly grown accustomed to—wrapped around him like a ghostly whisper. Stormy rain and oakmoss. Jungkook.

For a moment, Taehyung didn't move. His fingers curled into fists at his sides, his heartbeat loud in his ears. This was it. This was their first night. And his family—his mother, his father, his brother—were relying on him.