Ever since that talk in their bedroom, Jeongguk's instinctive possessive thoughts had simmered down with Taehyung's words.

His words about the defiant alpha in the village were honest, he had seen how visibly upset and hurt Taehyung had become.

He kept thinking back to the exact moment he and Jimin exited the small booth and found the omega being harassed by the stranger.

The rumors did not make sense.

Why would Taehyung be trying to pull away from the alpha if he liked the attention he attracted?

Why was he so visibly traumatized by the incident that he slept on Jeongguk's chest the entire night?

All of those things led Jeongguk to make the decision to push away every preconceived judgement of Taehyung he had before meeting him.

He would make his own judgement based on how he saw Taehyung behaving, knowing that if the omega was truly what those rumors said, he would eventually show his true colors.

It was not like he could erase the information but it was time to focus on the present.

That being Taehyung currently giggling as he braided his hair.

He had just blow dried his hair after a hot shower and went to bury his nose into the omega's neck.

Taehyung had begun to play with his hair in a soothing manner and the alpha felt his eyes beginning to shut.

"It looks good," Taehyung admired his handy work afterwards, fully aware of Jeongguk's gaze on him.

"Yeah?" He murmured softly, reaching upward to capture Taehyung's lips.

"I used to braid some of the little omegas' hair back in the village."

Taehyung's voice was gentle, the boy was clearly reminiscing on old times.

Jeongguk decided he didn't like the small pout settled on his lips, especially when he was saying something as wholesome as that.

The thought of Taehyung taking time in braiding several little girls' hair out of the kindness of his heart made Jeongguk's chest feel funny.

"They used to run up to me with stolen flowers from some of the venders for me to put into their hair," Taehyung giggled softly, remembering how angry the venders would get as he would just apologize.

Sometimes Yoongi would gift him small floral arrangements (clearly stating they were not courting gifts) and Taehyung would use them to weave them into the little omega's hair.

"Sounds like you might have had a business going." Jeongguk stifled a small laugh, finally sitting up against the headboard.

But Taehyung was quick to interject, "Oh no, I really like children so-"

The omega realized much too late that he had unknowingly brought up a sensitive topic that they had never once discussed.

He knew that the royal family needed an heir, that much was clear when the queen insisted on knowing his health.

They could not let the royal alpha bloodline come to an end, meaning the omega would have to eventually conceive a child.

But he did not know Jeongguk's thoughts on the matter or whether he wanted children at all.

For all Taehyung knew, the reason he would not bed him was due to not wanting to knot and breed him.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have brought it up-"

Taehyung began only seconds later after cutting himself off, feeling his cheeks flush in embarrassment.

To his relief, Jeongguk was shaking his head, "No, it's fine. A lot of omegas don't know what they want, especially at your age."

Taehyung frowned, realizing that he was truly only eighteen and Jeongguk was already twenty-two.

It was only a four-year gap but the realization had Taehyung thinking if maybe age could also be the issue.

Did Jeongguk still see him as a child? Was that it?

"Maybe they just haven't found someone who they'd like to have a family with."

The innocence within his answer had Jeongguk's heart clenching, wondering if Taehyung spoke for himself.

He knew that technically Taehyung was being forced to produce the next heir but the thought of him actually wanting to bare his children felt almost relieving.

The conversation sort of died out after that, Jeongguk caressed his back as Taehyung read his book in bed.

He was reading aloud for him after Jeongguk said his eyes were too tired to read on his own

"Just past the ajar door rested the princess, entirely unaware of the floating magical carpet waiting by her balcony along with its owner."

"He's going to her!" Taehyung cut off his own reading voice, excited gasp leaving his lips as he swallowed harshly.

Jeongguk could not help the grin that took over his lips at the sight of Taehyung so entranced by a book, eyes practically sparkling.

Turned out the little omega was a hopeless romantic, making Jeongguk proud that he could debunk the part where he believed Taehyung was cocky and self-centered.

The more time he got to spend with Taehyung, the more he was beginning to convince himself that the rumors had been fake.

He began to feel silly when he would see Taehyung's happy smile directed towards him, not knowing how he could have ever thought that Taehyung did not deserve his attention.

Everything he had been told, Taehyung had unknowingly been doing the opposite.

Jeongguk had allowed him to come and go to the garden as he wished after his breakdown that night, practically threatening Jimin to not let Taehyung out of his sight.

Taehyung had surprised him after he had gotten back to the room that night with a vase full of fresh pink roses on their dresser.

He had kept the flowers Yoongi had gifted him for a few days but it was inevitable for them to dry out.

"Do you like them? Jimin helped me pick them out!" He gushed, attempting to hide his pricked fingers behind his back.

But Jeongguk was quick to tug at his wrists, knowing look on his face when Taehyung pouted and eventually showed him.

"Before you say anything, Jimin got mad at me too." He piped in, making Jeongguk sigh in defeat.

"You have to be more careful," he scolded him, making Taehyung grin sheepishly before nodding.

-

"Wow it's a full moon tonight." Taehyung hummed, eyes wide as he peeked out behind the long dark drapes.

The sky was illuminated with the huge moon in the center, making Taehyung watch the sight in awe.

It was late at night, possibly around a quarter to midnight and Taehyung had just finished reading his book and took a quick trip to the bathroom.

He was wearing a dark blue satin pajama set that consisted of a tank top and tiny shorts.

He hadn't realized the moment Jeongguk had come up from behind him, chin resting on his shoulder before he was speaking.

"Do you want to see from the balcony?"

Jeongguk didn't wait for a response before he was pulling Taehyung back by the hips and gripping his hand in his.

The omega only had time to grab his matching robe from the bed before following Jeongguk down the hall.

"Where are we going?" He giggled as the alpha took huge steps to get to the location faster, making Taehyung nearly trip a few times.

"You'll see," was all Jeongguk said, a grin beginning to tug at his lips as he opened the door to a separate room.

A loud gasp left Taehyung's lips at the sight of the huge balcony towards the opposite side of the fancy outdoor dining area.

The sky could be seen to its fullest capacity as Taehyung slowly slipped out of Jeongguk's arms and began to walk towards the balcony.

"It's beautiful," the omega was in awe, watching the full moon and bright stars in the night sky after what felt like forever.

The cool breeze felt even better against his face as a sigh of content left his lips, not gone unnoticed by Jeongguk who was carefully studying his reaction.

"The moon's energy is strong tonight." He murmured, face illuminated and casting a shadow on his jaw.

He leaned his forearms onto the balcony right beside Taehyung, thoughtful look taking over his face.

"Does it... affect your wolf?"

Taehyung's voice was soft, mindful of how he worded things incase Jeongguk felt uncomfortable answering.

For omegas, the connection to the full moon was not as strong but for Jeongguk, who was of royal alpha blood things could be different.

He was glancing towards him when Jeongguk stayed quiet for a few seconds, eyes focused on the moon.

"Sometimes," he began, voice low in a way that felt intimate.

Words meant only for Taehyung to hear, making his heart clench at the revelation.

"It's like it tries to claw its way out." 

Taehyung could not help the frown that came over his lips, picturing Jeongguk struggling to stop himself from shifting.

The pain that he must have endured all by himself all of those times, unable to stop his wolf from taking over.

He unconsciously began to inch closer to the alpha, body content when he could feel Jeongguk's arm pressed against his own.

"Do you feel that way right now?" Taehyung breathed in cool air, lips slightly parted as he looked up to meet jeongguk's gaze.

The alpha was blinking back slowly at him, lips pulled into a straight line, giving no indication as to what he was feeling.

And then he was turning sideways to face him, cupping Taehyung's cheeks with his hands.

He leaned in close enough for their noses to nudge each other and their foreheads to touch before exhaling softly.

Taehyung could hear him swallow harshly before he was finally meeting Taehyung's gaze.

"No," he said, "not since you got here."