Wildflower

Chapter 2; Jungkook

     I stare down the omega across from me. The wild glint in his eyes tell me everything I need to know and then some. Desperate. I've seen it many times from both alphas and omegas. At the end of their ropes. A longing for ending their miserable existence. Can't say I blame them.
       Leaning back in my chair, I decide to test him a bit. "What makes you think I would even bother to do something like that? You're worth more to me if I keep you under my thumb and whore you out." A truth we both acknowledge.
       He nods once, undeterred. "I know you've helped other omegas escape."
       My brow furrows. Well now. "How do you know that?" No one should know about that. Not here.
        He lifts his head high, his gaze almost disdainful. "I know that because the omega you helped was my brother. Your one and only omega lover."
       I tense up, unable to stop myself, my muscles freezing up as flashes of memories run through my head. Of the affair with the sweetest tasting omega I'd ever encountered. I couldn't help myself. I'd like to consider myself much better than these animals around me but he...he captivated me completely until I was unable to resist. And I regret it immensely.
        I took him as my own against his will, breaking his spirit into nearly nothing but hatred for me. I wanted to own him, cherish him, and he wanted to be free of me. In the end, I came to my senses and realized he was making me a monster. I simply did what I did out of my own best interest.
        After one last begrudging tryst, I drove him towards the boarders of the City and paid his token of freedom, banning him from this place and my sight forever. He never even looked back.
      I'll never be able to erase the smile that shone on his annoyingly pretty face as I left him behind and forever out of reach. From there...I have no idea what happened to him. I don't want to know. Don't ever want to think or hear his name again.
        "I'll earn whatever it cost...if you will just take me there and have them let me out. I can't do it as an omega—you know that. It has to be you."
       I nod solemnly. He's right. I pay those City boarder patrollers very well to let me do as I please whenever. They won't question me whether I pay them or not. I could give this omega his freedom....
Decisions, decisions...
      "Okay, let's say I agree to your little request. Do you have any idea how much a freedom token costs especially for an omega? Omegas are hot commodities around here. Rare and coveted. It's not gonna be cheap at all." I remind him. "You're also known. It could give me quite a few enemies if I let you go. I'll have a mess to clean up."
       He slowly releases a breath. "I know. I'm willing to work for it. I'll work at the bar or anywhere else you want."
       "Mhm. Determined, are we?" I roll my eyes. "What if I don't want you to work any of my places? A pretty omega like you with an attitude is gonna cause me nothing but problems among all the alpha customers. Fights for you will be breaking out every night." It's true. There's not many omegas left here. The rest have either escaped to freedom or died. Mostly the latter.
        "Okay, I'll do anything to earn it. I'll s-sell myself. I should be able to earn the money faster that way. I'll work double or triple shifts a day and give you everything. You have to swear you will really release me, though."
       "And what's to stop them from just claiming you and snatching you away? Do you have protections from that? Am I suppose to supply you like you're my personal whore?" I tsk. "Although I'm a serious businessman and do have a hand in everything that happens in the City, I actually don't peddle omega whores around. I stay clean of that." The business of flesh truly disgusts me. Reminds me of my own shortcomings...
       "Please. Please...I'll do anything." He begs and I know what that costs his pride.
       I glance over at the calendar on the wall and almost curse. I'd forgotten the day. "Fine. You're willing to do anything? Then become my omega for two weeks. I will introduce you to my family as my future mate and you will help me through my coming rut next week...once all that's over...I'll send you to the boarders." I offer. A deal.
        His eyes widen in shock. "Y-your mate? How can I know you aren't going to claim me for real and force me to stay here?"
       I shrug nonchalantly. "You don't but that's the risks. Take my offer or leave it. My family wants me to get mated and soon. Personally, I dislike omegas but I can use you to get them off my back. It's a win-win. When I'm done with you, I'll let you go whenever you want—wherever you want."
       He sits quietly, considering. I notice Taehyung and Jimin coming back downstairs and once more eyeing the omega curiously. They know my feelings on them.
       "Fine." Begrudgingly. "I accept but I want a contract." He demands.
       Smiling widely, I pull out a piece of paper and pen. "Lucky for you, contracts are my specialty."

       An hour after the contract is formed and signed, I send Yoongi down the hall to a spare bedroom he can use for the time being. Taehyung and Jimin shake their head at me, disapproving.
       "I can't believe you're seriously gonna do this." Taehyung grumbles. "If you fuck up, we're all going down. Our family is mental. All purity despite their dirty hands. I don't think they will accept him as he's a whore from the streets."
       Jimin nods. "I know you're sympathetic ever since you got rid of Seokjin but you have to let that go. You can't save everyone."
       I glare at him for even bringing the omega's name up. "What does he have to do with anything? It's been years. I'm over it. I'm a business man, remember?" Tucking and rolling my sleeves, I eye the growing crowd entering the bar. "This is a great opportunity to get everyone off my back about mating and, as you know, all omegas are street whores." I remind him curtly.
       "But you're not actually gonna mate him." Tae points out. "They're gonna find out and then what? You promised him freedom. Father will be pissed when he learns it's a ploy."
        "That's my problem to deal with later. Much later."
        "You like him." Jimin ponders, eyeing me. "Seriously like him. I've seen you watching him from a distance when he's out on the streets. I'm honestly surprised you let those brutes damage him considering the few I've seen you kill without him even knowing you were his savior."
       I scoff. "What makes you think I've killed any alpha over an omega?" Sure, I've killed a lot but nobody but me should know the specifics.
       Rolling his eyes, he crosses his arms knowingly. "You follow him, I follow you. I've seen enough."
       Annoyance sparks inside me at the privacy violation. "What the fuck, Jimin?!"
        He sniffs. "You left me bored and alone while Tae ran errands. I had nothing better to do than stalk you. I don't regret it." He smiles, baring his teeth. "Give me a fucking job to do to ease my mind. I'm tired of being treated like glass in here!"
       Closing my eyes, I count down from ten and force myself to relax. "It's not that I like him, per se. It's simply convenient."
       "How so?"
       "He's one of the last decently kept omegas in the City. He's not been broken or scarred and he's still young and pretty. He's desperate and believes me his savior. I can use that to my advantage."
       "Oookay." He frowns. "But how would you know he'd even come to you eventually? You've been watching him for months."
       I nod. "Because every single alpha he's encountered since then has made sure to plant the seed of freedom into his mind. Everyone knows Jeon Jungkook is the only possibility of that. He needs me. Technically all omegas should be banging on my door but, as I said, there's barely any left that haven't given up."
       Tae huffs. "And you're getting rid of all the decent ones left!"
       I take in his words, trying to get him to understand my thoughts on it. "I just think it's unfair. You know, we alphas used to cherish and worship those omegas. They were practically considered Holy and loved accordingly. Ever since the disease and decline of omega mortality...it's just simply unfair. Those few left here just suffer constant abuse and rape. These alphas claim to want an omega to own and get pregnant but they end up going crazy and killing them before they even have a chance to birth new generations of alphas and omegas. If we don't spare the few remaining omegas left...there eventually won't be any more alphas, either. I've just been considering the bigger picture."
"Maybe so but there's not much we can do about it. Even you, Jungkook. You aren't God. You can't fix this. Spare this omega if you want but at least be honest with yourself and your true intentions."
        They both leave me alone with my thoughts. I stare at the contract with Yoongi. His blood print still fresh on the page. Curiously, I lift it up and inspect it.
For some unfathomable reason, I press it to my lips to it and lick it. The taste hits my tongue like a spark of electricity and I feel a pulse jolt throughout my body.
He tastes even better than him.
       Odd. What a peculiar thought.
Despising myself something horrible, I clench my fist and crumble the contract before throwing it to the floor. I really need to get a grip.
Yoongi is nothing like him. It's not going to go the same way this time.