TAEKOOK. Kim Taehyung is a male omega whose beauty is unmatched, but that does not stop his fated mate from rejecting him when they come of age to recognize each other. The reason is that Taehyung carries the mark of a barren tree, which signifies i...
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The scent of blood and ozone still clung to Yoongi, a grim perfume from the recently concluded battle. He pushed open the heavy wooden door of the cabin assigned to him and Jimin, the temporary sanctuary in Obsidian that Jungkook had insisted upon. The moment the latch clicked, a blur of cream and silver launched itself from the dim interior.
"Yoongi!"
Jimin, his beautiful omega, was a whirlwind of relief and terror, with their small son clutched protectively against his chest. The pup, only months old, whimpered softly, his tiny face mashed into Jimin's shoulder as his parents' scents enveloped him. Yoongi’s heart, which had been a drumbeat of war moments before, softened instantly. He wrapped his arm around Jimin, pulling both his mate and their precious little one into the unyielding safety of his embrace. The familiar, comforting scent of Jimin – honeysuckle and rain – washed over him, chasing away the metallic tang of fear and struggle.
"It's over, Jiminie," Yoongi murmured, his voice rough with exhaustion and a profound sense of release. He buried his face in Jimin's hair, feeling the tremors that wracked his mate's slender frame. "The battle. It's done. Obsidian is safe. Evergreen is safe. We won."
Jimin sagged against him, the words sinking in, bringing with them a wave of overwhelming relief that finally broke the dam of his composure. Tears, hot and heavy, streamed down his face as he sobbed against Yoongi’s chest, his fists clenching the fabric of Yoongi’s tunic. "Oh, Yoongi... I was so scared. So, so scared."
Then, through his tears, a fresh wave of panic seized him. "Taehyung... Yoongi, you have to find him! He... he protected us. When Kihyun's monsters broke through, Taehyung... he protected us. He told Kihyun to take him instead, to leave me and our son alone." Jimin choked on a sob, pulling back just enough to look up at Yoongi, his eyes wide and pleading, mirroring the fear that churned in Yoongi's own gut. "What if they… what if they kill him? His unborn pup, Yoongi! Kihyun and his cannibal wolves..."
The horror in Jimin's voice was unnerving. Yoongi tightened his grip, trying to project a calm he didn’t entirely feel. He had known about Taehyung's sacrifice, as the news had spread like wildfire among the pack members who witnessed it. However, hearing it from Jimin and seeing the raw terror in his mate's eyes made it real and agonizing.
"Shh, Jiminie, shh," Yoongi soothed, carefully stroking Jimin's hair. "Listen to me. Taehyung will be safe." He met Jimin's gaze, willing his mate to believe him. "Even though Luna has lost her godly powers, Jungkook will find him. He will save him."
He paused, gathering his thoughts, letting the conviction solidify in his voice. "Jungkook's pterolycus... it's ancient, powerful beyond anything Kihyun could ever imagine. His wolf is enraged, and a furious Endymion is a force of nature. He will tear Kihyun apart, limb from limb, for daring to lay a hand on Taehyung. He will track down Kihyun and save his mate."
Yoongi’s words, firm and imbued with the absolute certainty of an Alpha who knew a fellow pack leader, had a calming effect. Jungkook's pterolycus was a being of unmatched ferocity and protectiveness when provoked. The thought of it, unleashed and driven by the primal need to protect his mate and unborn child, painted a terrifyingly beautiful image of retribution.
