"I think-... I think I'm in love with you."

Taehyung noticed the change in his scent first.

It felt as if someone had turned up the dial on his intoxicating scent, nostrils taking in the overwhelming aroma.

He was smiling, two front teeth peeking out from behind his lips and eyes squinted cutely.

It reminded Taehyung of a baby bunny, pale cheeks visibly pink as he looked up at the beautiful skyline clearly trying to contain his happiness.

It made Taehyung's heart stammer in his chest, finding it hard to breathe when Jeongguk reached out to lace their fingers together.

He gazed up at his mate lovingly, eyes expectantly waiting for Jeongguk to return the words to him but he didn't.

His scent settled quickly, smile more nervous than happy as he pulled Taehyung towards a bench and took a seat.

"W-What's wrong?" Taehyung asked softly, brows furrowed in confusion and fear when Jeongguk turned to him and gripped his hand tighter.

"I have a confession to make," he said slowly, eyes serious as he turned his body to face Taehyung completely.

His scent was bitter, Taehyung didn't like it one bit.

His heart was beginning to hurt from not having those words said back to him and his eyes were filled with tears but he tried to suck it up.

He was embarrassed, the thought of Jeongguk not feeling the same for him coursing through his mind despite trying to reassure himself otherwise.

"I need you to listen to what I'm about to tell you... As much as I want to take you in my arms and kiss you right now, there is something you must know."

His words made Taehyung's lower belly feel funny, heart fluttering at the thought of Jeongguk wanting to kiss him.

But the alpha looked incredibly serious and somewhat fearful. Of what, Taehyung did not know.

It made him afraid of what the alpha would say.

What could he possibly say?

"Alpha you're scaring me..." Taehyung whispered, bottom lip quivering as he sniffled lightly.

He made no attempts to soothe Taehyung, deep down knowing that his confession would hurt him much more.

But he couldn't confess his feelings back to him until Taehyung knew the truth.

He couldn't erase his actions nor could he take it back, he could only hope that Taehyung would forgive him so that they could move on.

It kept him up at night, knowing that the omega didn't deserve how he was treated simply because he chose to believe other people's words about him.

"The evening before your arrival to the palace, I went to the village in disguise. I was confused and exceptionally angry about the idea of an arranged marriage."

Taehyung listened quietly, looking down at their laced fingers on his lap as Jeongguk continued on.

"So, I went to a bar, thinking I could drink my problems away but imagine my surprise when I hear your name leave an alpha's mouth,"

Jeongguk took a deep breath, hand in his tightening almost painfully as his scent grew in bitterness.

A low growl stumbled from his lips as he seemed to recall his memories, making Taehyung nervously wait for the story to continue.

"They said you had slept with a few men from the docks and you had other alphas after you,"

His words were sharp, body extremely tense as he clenched his jaw and attempted to control his breathing.

He only noticed Taehyung's limp grip on his hand a few seconds later, suddenly afraid of the omega's reaction to his confession.

"I-I don't understand," Taehyung whispered shakily, warm tear sliding down his cheek as his voice was filled with hurt.

His words felt like a slap to the face, making Jeongguk swallow harshly when he pulled his hand out of his.

It hurt, looking at him hurt as Taehyung stared back at him with pained eyes.

His scent was no longer sweet, anxiety and sadness leaving his body in waves as he sniffled loudly.

And Jeongguk could not believe how much of an asshole he had been to hurt someone like Taehyung.

"You-... You believed it?" He questioned, voice frighteningly soft as he stared back at Jeongguk's guilty expression.

It made sense.

How the alpha had treated him upon meeting and forced him on his knees.

He had already made up his mind about Taehyung without even getting to know him.

Jeongguk stayed silent for a second too long, giving Taehyung the answer to his question.

The omega inhaled shakily, hands balled into fists in his lap as he bit his lip harshly.

"I was upset at the thought of you giving yourself to others when you were already promised to me. It was foolish of me to have treated you the way I did when we met. Words cannot express how sorry I am."

Jeongguk's voice was almost desperate, heart dropping in his chest when Taehyung let out a small sob.

"So you treated me like a waste of space because you chose to believe a rumor instead of asking me directly?"

His voice was rising quickly, displaying signs of anger and frustration as he looked up to meet Jeongguk's gaze.

He wiped a tear away harshly, unable to help himself from feeling upset at the way Jeongguk's clear sense of pride clouded his judgement.

"Tae-"

"I've seen the box of protection you keep in your drawers. How dare you judge me when you're no better yourself."

Jeongguk had never seen this side of Taehyung.

Had never seen him so visibly upset and angry as he got up from the bench, looming over him as he sat on the bench stiffly.

He hadn't waited for Taehyung so how was he in any position to judge him?

"Don't- Don't touch me." The omega spoke harshly when Jeongguk reached out to grab his wrist.

His alpha instincts were telling him to show the omega his place, to make him stand down and submit.

But he knew he deserved it, all of it.

Taehyung was crying, perhaps more angry tears than sad but he was incredibly hurt as he inhaled loudly.

"The alphas in the village, they-... They would try to touch me forcefully. They were angry because they couldn't take advantage of me like they wanted to. Two of my closest hyungs kept me safe from their dirty hands."

Taehyung's voice cracked as he spoke the truth, quickly noticing the way Jeongguk's eyes became a dark red shade.

His hands balled into fists and his jaw clenched at his words, low growl rumbling in his chest.

"As hard as it might be for you to believe, I have never given myself to another man."

With that he was turning on his heel and sprinting through the garden, pain filled sobs coursing through his body.

-

Taehyung was running.

He didn't know where, mind replaying Jeongguk's words over and over again in his head as he stopped to catch his breath.

A heartbreaking sob stumbled from his lips as he leaned against the palace walls, covering his mouth to stifle his obnoxious crying.

Why couldn't he wait? 

Why couldn't he get to know him first like Taehyung had wanted all along?

He had dreamed of prince charming since he was a child, naively believing that Jeongguk would accept him as he came.

It was true that he had changed, by courting him but he was still deeply wounded by the humiliation Jeongguk had forced upon him when meeting.

He felt lost. 

He stumbled multiple times as he ran past the stables, ignoring Wooshik's concerned gaze in the distance.

The forced submission when meeting, the cold glares and disgust in his eyes now all made sense.

It made the omega release a wet sob as he hugged himself in attempts to find comfort, only pitying himself further as he recalled Jeongguk giving him his very first orgasm.

"A slut," Taehyung whimpered, realizing Jeongguk hadn't known in that moment how special it had been for him.

The omega's bottom lip quivered as he recalled Jeongguk's rough hands caressing his body, touching him in places no one else had ever done before.

Every moment he could think of where he was so sure Jeongguk was opening up to him was ruined by the thought of the alpha believing a lie about him.

He knew it shouldn't bother him as much as it did but the fact that Jeongguk treated him differently because of it made him upset and hurt.

He needed to get away for a while.

Think about what to do and how he could possibly forgive Jeongguk for his treatment.

His heart ached at the fact that his love confession had quickly become a shit show, making him exhale loudly.

He touched the cold pendant necklace around his neck with shaking hands, hiccuped sigh leaving his lips.

A warm familiar voice flooded his ears as he closed his eyes momentarily and thought back to when those exact words were said to him not long ago.

"If you ever need anything I'm here for you, always. You come find me, okay?"