my Destiny

Chapter 2

He smiled, a feeling of amusement settling in his heart as he recalled that day. It amused him how much he thought his life had ended back then, as he was captured to be brought to the King as a tool for pleasure.

That had been his first meeting with Hoseok, an alpha wolf Samurai. And the first time he met the Beta of the Royal Pack, the strongest pack in these lands. The one pack that ruled with an iron grip over several smaller packs and several human villages, the Head Alpha crowned King in order to showcase his strength and power.

Thinking back, it was really amusing how his first meeting with these two had started on a wrong impression. He had been terrified of them, especially the Beta.

And his escape had been hindered by Hoseok. If he had reached the bay ten seconds earlier, he would have escaped them, Hoseok would have never bit his leg so painfully.

He chuckled, the motion making him cough droplets of blood. What was it with him and failed escape attempts? The same had happened right now, if he had run faster he could have easily hid from the monsters, he wouldn't be laying in a pool of his own blood waiting for death. And back then, he needed an extra ten seconds too, he could have been freed.

But if he had not been captured...a lot would have never happened.

Both good and bad.

He took a ragged breath, reminiscing the first time he was brought to the Castle.

***

The carriage stopped in front of a lavish castle, surrounded by tall stone walls, a rempart to protect it from attacks. The gates were huge, golden wood and engraved with vivid and complex ornaments depicting two huge wolves surrounding a Yin and Yang sign on each gate, parted in the middle when the guards opened them. Two sculptures of howling wolves were on each side of the entrance, the path made from flat stone, polished to a crisp. The inside surface was lavish gardens with beautiful cherry trees and small ponds, fields of roses and pretty flowers decorated the surface while lush green grass was cut neatly to surround small wooden pavilions made to accomodate the guests who wished to sit and admire the gardens.

But the boy paid the scenery no mind, as he was still shaking from pain and fright, tears never stopping ever since the guards hoisted him to place him inside the carriage next to the Beta who proceeded to wrap his wound in a clean cloth.

The carriage stopped right in front of a flight of large marble stairs leading to the entrance of the castle. A tall man was waiting on the first level of the platform. His dark maroon eyes were on the form of the Beta who exited the carriage, carrying the small frame of the shaking boy in his strong arms as he climbed the stairs to stop next to him. He bowed slightly and said in a sweet gentle voice.

"Welcome back Beta Yoongi. I see you are back safe after executing the King's order."

The Beta, Yoongi, bowed deeply and said in respect.

"Apologies for being late, Lord Seokjin. We encountered a...small problem, hence my tardiness.

-It is of no importance as long as everyone is safe. I trust everything is in order?

-I beg you to forgive me, my Lord Head Councilor. The boy was harmed and I fear he will need your help."

Seokjin frowned as he eyed the thin form of the boy, noticing the bloodied cloth wrapped around one of his legs. He bent slowly to take the boy's bloodied foot, making him jump and recoil in fear. The Head Councilor looked up to meet the Beta's eyes in a sad expression and said regretfully.

"Dear Gods, you scared him a lot, the poor soul! What happened?

-He ran away for a good hour or so, as you see his feets are bloodied from it. I regret to say that one of my wolves bit him to restrain him.

-Dear oh dear! Come quick! I must examine his wounds and make sure he is well-taken care of. We don't want him to be harmed further.

-But...the King had ordered he be presented to him immediately once we arrive...

-The King won't deny me the request of taking care of this poor boy for a day or two until I make sure he is in the best shape to be in his Majesty's presence. Plus....when did my brother dearest ever refused me a request?"

Yoongi didn't reply, opting instead to smile knowingly at the Councilor who grinned softly before both took the stairs to enter the inner courts of the Castle. They took the direction of the Councilor's Healing House, said man ordering the nurses he encountered to prepare the items he needed to treat his patient. Yoongi laid the boy on a soft futon, noticing the boy wasn't crying anymore but was still shaking violently and shivering as if he was cold, his eyes clenched shut. He looked up to meet the Councilor's eyes and asked.

"Do you think his injury is perhaps infected? He is shivering too much.

-It is not the case, of that I am certain otherwise I would have been able to smell the infection. The wound does not look very deep and it has not been long since he had been injured so it is not an infection."

The man kneeled next to the shivering boy and placed his palm on his forehead. He smiled afterward and explained to a perplexed Yoongi.

"As I thought, he does not have a fever. The body of an Omega is weaker than a normal wolf. They get cold easily because they lack the normal body temperature of a standard wolf. Usually they need someone else to share warmth with.

-Someone else?

-In their early life, it is their mother who provide such warmth...although I doubt this poor boy ever had such a thing judging from his state.

-Indeed, the villagers we interrogated said he was an orphan.

-Poor soul! Well, after they mature a bit, the role is reserved for their mates. A mate's warmth is always the best for an Omega. It is said to be the best heat source to compensate their lacking temperature. Thus explaining why omegas are the ones who find their mates quite early in their lives and easier than any other wolf."

As they were speaking, Seokjin was laying down items he needed : acupuncture needles, thread, clean bandages, a sharp looking scalpel. He was crushing some herbs in a small bowl as the nurses came back with trays of medicinal beverages and warm water. Yoongi was sitting in a corner of the room to give the healer the needed space as he started cleaning the injuries with the help of the nurses.

Seokjin wasn't just the Head Councillor to the King, he was also a very skilled healer and had the position of the pack's Delta, managing internal affairs of the pack that were usually taken care of by the Luna, the Head Alpha's mate. But their current Head Alpha was still mateless despite having a Harem of different women under his disposal so the Delta was in charge of all the additional duties of the Luna until said position will be filled by (hopefully!) A skilled she-wolf. And since Seokjin was very skilled when it comes to planning and organising anything, the Head Alpha gave him said position in addition to his post as the King's Head Councillor.

Yoongi observed the Healer as he worked efficiently and delicately on stitching the deep cuts on the boy's feet, his long fingers working like magic on the abused skin as he placed acupuncture needles on precise pressure spots to decrease the pain and to numb the nerves so the patient won't feel uncomfortable. Said boy had his eyes closed and his body was still shivering albeit not from pain but surely from his decreasing body temperature as Seokjin explained and it seems he had fallen into a troubled sleep. His face was still a bit tense as he breathed heavily, his hands clenched into nervous fists by his head. The nurses worked on the deep wound on his leg where Hoseok had sunk his fangs into his flesh. The memory of said feat made the Beta scoff as he felt annoyed, glaring at the nearby wall. Hoseok was one of his best Samurais and wolves, but he was reckless and often acted as if he didn't have a brain (which Yoongi firmly believed too!), acting first and questioning later. Their King won't like it if he was informed that his desired prize had been harmed by none other than one of his best fighters too. The Beta sighed, annoyed.

Sometimes, he really questioned his life choices that led him to become the Beta of Kurai Okami Kingdom Royal Pack!

"There! Hopefully, he will be able to sleep quietly now that his wounds are treated."

Yoongi snapped out of his thoughts when Seokjin exclaimed happily, looking up to see the healer packing up his supplies while the nurses exited the room after bowing to him. The boy was now covered in a heavy blanket to help him get warmer, his face looking less distressed and his breathing regular by the rise and fall of his chest. Yoongi bowed his head and said in respect.

"I am indebted to you, Milord for kindly accepting to treat the King's desired prize.

-It was only my duty, Lord Yoongi. However, if I may be as impertinent as to insist you will not call the poor boy by such a name."

The Beta was surprised at the kind but firm order and he raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Is it not the appropriate way to call him as he is indeed what His Majesty had desired to have brought here to his castle?

-That may be true, Lord Beta. However, I believe the boy do have his own name and won't appreciate being called in a manner that would relegate him to a mere possession in the King's Court."

Seokjin looked at the sleeping boy and smiled sadly.

"No one would like to be called a 'prize'....less if they were forced to come here against their own wish.

-With all due respect Milord, isn't it an honor for a mere peasant to be brought in the castle and live in luscious luxuries in return of serving the King's desires? This boy is a poor orphan, homeless and does not look like he ever had enough food to function properly. He is now considered part of his Majesty's Harem and will be spoiled with everything he asks for.

-It is indeed true. Yet...he will only be a trophy placed on a glassed pedestal without being allowed to decide his own fate. He will only be a bird in a golden cage. Well fed and well taken care of yes, but unable to spread his wings to leave the cage.

-I beg you to forgive my impertinence but isn't it his true calling? Being an Omega and all?"

Yoongi gestured to the boy's chest, hinting at the omega mark on the flesh.

"He was born with the mark, he was born a male Omega, the rarest out of the rare breed in our kind. Our laws state clearly that every Omega is to serve the Alpha, male Omegas being an exclusive possession to the Head Alpha. It is only the King's right and it is this boy's duty to serve his purpose."

Yoongi stood up and looked gravely at the still seated healer before he carried on.

"You are the King's Head Councilor and none know the law of the Wolves more than your Lordship. You are the Kurai Okami's Delta wolf and you are in charge of maintaining our inner peace within the pack. But you are also the King's only surviving family and you know what this boy represents to His Majesty and to the pack. Please do not let your compassion cloud your judgement. We did not burn an entire village to the ground just because the King is seeking a fleshly desire to possess the boy."

The Beta left the Delta, aware of his sad eyes and heavy heart as he felt the weight of his stare into his back. The Delta sighed, knowing how true the words of the warrior were despite his own protests to it.

***

Light. A warm hue of a lantern, giving the impression of comfort and calm. It was still blurred though, and it still felt cold.

The boy blinked in an effort to focus his vision, stirring under what felt like a blanket of some sorts. His eyes landed on the form of a beautiful wooden lantern in a corner of an unfamiliar room. He tried to sit up in order to explore the place a little. He yelped as a sudden throb of pain shot through his body.

"I would not advise you to move, your wounds are still tender."

He whipped his head toward the source of the gentle voice, seeing a very handsome man smiling at him, his maroon eyes gentle, his face kind and caring. He was wearing a silk burgundy kimono, the sleeves embroidered with golden threads to depict flowers in a very neat work. The collar of his kimono was a very light shade of pink, contrasting with his light chestnut long hair tied in a low ponytail to rest on his shoulder. He didn't have a sword strapped to his belt which made the boy a little comfortable. This man was not a samurai, he is not a danger.

The man reached his hand to touch the boy which made the poor soul yelp again and back off, scrambling to get away from the healer. Immediately the man hurried to reassure him.

"Calm down child, I mean you no harm. I'm your healer and I only intended to see if you felt better."

He lifted his palm up in plain sight and added gently.

"See? I will not hurt you."

The boy calmed down, gulping nervously as he eyed the man. He took some minutes to make sure he won't be harmed before he nodded slowly. The healer smiled and sat next to his patient, pouring a cup of warm water and presenting it to the still frightened boy. Said boy drank avidly, finally feeling a little at ease as he quelled his thirst. The healer smiled and introduced himself.

"My name is Seokjin. I'm a healer and the Delta Wolf of the Kurai Okami Pack. May I know your name?"

The boy looked down at his hands resting on his lap. He was relieved to see they were still wrapped in the same bandages he had made himself. He mumbled

"I...W-where a-am I?

-You are safe and sound at The King's Castle. No harm will befall you, do not worry.

-T-The Ki-King?

-Yes my child. The King of Okami Kingdom and the Head Alpha of our Pack."

The boy gulped as he took a shaking breath once he processed the healer's words.

He was already trapped. He was already at the King's mercy. There was no escaping, no running anymore.

He was doomed.

Seokjin must have understood some of his thoughts as he laid a gentle hand on the poor boy's shoulder in sympathy.

"Do not be afraid my child. The King will never harm you. On the contrary you will be very safe within his care.

-No! L-let me out! I do not w-wish to stay here!

-Please dear child, believe me. You have never been safer than right now. Trust me, I know the King won't ever permit harm to befall you.

-Y-You're lying! All of you are but liars! And murderers!! You! You killed the villagers! My friends, my family! Monsters!"

The boy hid his hands behind his palms as he sobbed, remembering the awful sounds of the villagers screams, begging mercy from the ruthless wolves who tore the village apart in a matter of minutes. He recalled the horrifying smell of burned flesh as the guards set the huts and cabins on fire, erasing what was once a small poor but happy village. His body shook from the violent sobs as he cried his sorrow away.

He was alone in the middle of the terrifying wolves. A lamb in the midst of the hungry beasts.

He felt arms going around his thin form, cradling his body to a warm chest and he stiffened as he realised Seokjin was hugging him. He heard the gentle voice speaking soothingly to him.

"I know how you feel my child. I cannot begin to fathom the depth of your sorrow and despair. I know it must have been a very harsh trial as you watched the attack."

The small boy clenched his fist into the material of the healer's kimono. He couldn't help but lean into the warm embrace.

He had never been embraced before.

"But... I want you to believe my words. It was all for the sake of your safety. Now that you are here, the King will never let you be harmed, ever again.

-H-How can you be s-so sure? You...you did not see h-how they k-killed everyone...

-Because no one knows the king better than I do."

The boy looked up to meet the healer's gentle eyes. He was curious: he had spoken with such a tone of finality, such confidence that he couldn't help but wonder how can he be so sure of such affirmations. Seokjin smiled wider and said in a chuckle.

"I am the King's brother and only surviving family after all. I think I can allow myself to affirm that I know him very well."

The boy's eyes were wide in surprise which made the older man chuckle at how adorable he looked. He patted his head and asked again.

"Will you trust me, child?"

The boy kept silent for some seconds before a soft whisper was heard.

"Taehyung....my name is Taehyung. I'm eleven years old. I have never known my family."

Seokjin smiled wider, realising the boy had decided to trust him. He patted his head chuckling.

"Well then Taehyung, I am very honored to meet you. I would advise you get plenty of rest so your wounds can heal correctly by tomorrow morning. You must prepare to meet the King in your best appearance after all."

The boy nodded and laid down once again on the comfortable futon, letting Seokjin cover him with the thick blanket as he closed his eyes to let slumber claim his exhausted body and mind, not bothering to be worried about meeting the one who robbed him of his freedom.

***