Chapter Text
“Did you like anyone?” Minji asked, pushing Hayul's stroller as he slept soundly for now. “The Warden is about to gather a few select Omegas, please focus, for the sake of your dear sister's sanity.” She pleaded, and with a long-suffering sigh, Jungkook agreed.
But if one more counselor gave him another, tedious rundown of the facility, Jungkook was going to empty an arsenal in his own head. Because ever since he'd started visiting these so-called Omega Havens with his sister, he'd heard the same script over and over again.
Our premium services are second to none! We offer personalized matchmaking, and tailored care programs to ensure the chosen companions provide the best possible comfort to our clientèle. Would you like to see our selection of fox hybrids?
At this point, Jungkook had memorized their bullshit script to the T. Enough to become a counselor himself. Maybe he should reconsider his life choices. All these fuckers did look ridiculously happy.
Taehyung, who was supposed to accompany him through this hell, was fashionably late as always. The Warden of the facility had started gathering the Omegas in the garden for surveying and Jungkook was nowhere near ready to do any type of surveying without Taehyung’s moral support.
He walked around the lush and sunny garden if only to silence his vicious thoughts. How funny it was that an Alpha like Jungkook, born with the golden spoon of fortune in his mouth, would lack in the most important department of his life.
Jeon Hayul, ever since he was born, was a sad little soul without the comforting scent of a mother. Jungkook’s wife had lost the battle of life shortly after giving birth, leaving little Hayul in a fit of grief that never seemed to cease.
The boy never stopped crying and Jeon Jungkook, as the only living Alpha heir to the Jeon Corporations & Arms Industry, found himself flailing utterly helpless in the abyss called life.
No matter the nature of his marriage, with his wife dead, the powerful and feared Jeon heir was reduced to a single father, scouring facility after facility in search of a mother for his grieving pup. All that golden glory, those fearsome titles of his youth, and it was in the tiny fists of his wailing child it came to nothing.
Jungkook let out an exhale of defeat as he watched the Omegas from the distance, lining up one after the other—young, dainty, and beautiful specimens, with their painted faces and twinkling eyes, itching to be picked by another rich bloke.
The Alpha had no interest in that sort of thing, anyway. Or more like all his interests were lost to time. He was a 35-year-old single father. Pretty old by his own standards to indulge his precious time in finding himself an Omega companion to keep his bed warm. Taehyung kept insisting on it, saying that he would be less of an asshole if he was going home to a beautiful Omega and then getting some.
Jungkook even agreed with him at times. But no one seemed to catch his eye, certainly not enough to date and marry again. That ship had sailed for the Alpha.
Or so he thought.
Until someone did catch his eye.
As he stood deep in thought, waiting for Minji to call him over to choose Hayul's potential mother, a blonde head peeked from a bush on the other side. Not only just a blonde head but a blonde head with delicate cat ears that moved with precision as if to hear the commotion the Warden was causing.
Jungkook blinked at the young boy. He gleamed golden under the sun, his hair caught the sunlight and turned the already bright garden, brighter still, or perhaps the Alpha was just having a stroke from being thunderstruck by his eyes—round and wide with distress, long lashes fanning against soft and full cheeks. He hid when the Warden turned in the general direction of the bush he was hiding in. And then he peeked again after a few beats to check what was going on.
The Alpha felt oddly…soft. He knew all such facilities kept Omega hybrids of some species to lure the Alphas in. Jungkook often thought it was an outdated marketing strategy. Not so much now, when it was working on him. He was feeling pretty darned lured in and rightfully so.
The Alpha might have come across many hybrid Omegas in his life, but none were as pretty as the blonde cat boy hiding in the bushes.
ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎ - ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎ - ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎
Taehyung arrived with a litany of excuses, while Jungkook had his third midlife crisis in the Warden's office with a straight, impassive face because that was just how he rolled. He was obviously not going to tell Minji or Taehyung that he had strayed from the set guidelines of finding a mother for Hayul and strayed pretty damn far.
When the Warden asked him if he liked someone for the umpteenth time, Jungkook finally had an answer, and unfortunately, it was the one she didn't particularly like.
“I saw a blonde boy near the bushes,” Jungkook said, feeling the gaping shock of the Warden, as well as Minji and Taehyung's. “I think he's a cat hybrid. Please bring him.”
The old Warden's plastered smile faltered, and her face puffed with unrestrained annoyance. She exchanged a long-suffering glance with her assistant, who looked deeply apologetic.
“Aigoo, Alpha Jeon,” She let out a groan, “I don't recommend him. The boy is not disciplined at all! Doesn't listen, is a complete nuisance! Mischievous little vixen, keeps hiding in those damn bushes!”
“And you let him?” Taehyung snorted. “Isn't it bad for business?”
“Well, it would be much worse if he gets bought and then returned for his behavior now, wouldn't it?”
Taehyung frowned at Jungkook from where he was standing by the window. “If it's that bad, then there's no point.”
The Warden nodded, pleased, but her jumpy assistant seemed to have something to add. “It's not that…bad. If I may, please?” She glanced nervously at Jungkook for a turn to speak and he nodded eagerly much to the Warden's chagrin. “He's a cat hybrid, so he's just a little…feisty. But he's a wonder with pups, instinctively natural at motherhood even though he is very young.”
Jungkook didn't need to be coaxed in this regard, not when he'd already made up his mind. But he was glad for the input anyway, especially in front of Minji and Taehyung who were definitely onto him.
“We'd like to see him.”
ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎ - ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎ - ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎
Jungkook had seen many hybrids. Some natural born and some bred for beauty. But he soon found that nothing or rather no one could hold even a flicker of a candle to Park Jimin's beauty. The boy was stunning—dressed in a worn-out white sweater that looked too large on him, all folded hands and blushing cheeks as he trailed behind the Warden's assistant.
“Wow.” Minji coughed, choking on her own surprise. “Oh, wow.” She slapped the back of her hand to Taehyung’s chest to get his attention.
“You called for me, Mistress?” He beamed, it was awfully forced and pretentious and a little endearing. Jungkook was struck, goddammit, he only prayed it didn't show on his face.
“Park Jimin, you little shi,” the Warden shrieked and then seemed to realize she wasn't alone, “Were you hiding in the bushes again?” She asked, somewhat composed.
Jimin kept his smile wide and shook his head, the rounded tips of his protruding ears moved gently. “No, Mistress.” He said. “Not at all!” All while a little leaf stuck out of his blonde hair. What a gorgeous liar.
“Aigoo, the nerve of this boy,” She sighed defeatedly, waving her hand to beckon him closer. “Come here, bow to the guests.” Jimin obeyed readily and stepped forward to bow three times each, respectfully. “This is Alpha Jeon Jungkook, and he has somehow chosen to buy you.”
The boy lifted his head and met Jungkook's eye, and it was only by some stroke of luck the Alpha didn't get a damn nosebleed. He was beautiful. Beyond all the beautiful things Jungkook had ever seen. A bit repetitive of him but it was relevant information. Cat hybrids were not particularly a rarity, but this one, oh this one was something else.
The boy craned his neck and gave Jungkook a scrutinizing once over. “But I don't like dogs.” He said with an upset frown, and Taehyung let out a muffled titter.
“He's…not a dog.” The Warden chuckled through gritted teeth, glancing at Jungkook to see if he'd taken offense. It was impossible to do so with Taehyung riding the highs of his amusement. The Beta slid down the couch beside Jungkook, biting into the cushion in hopes of hiding his amusement that he wasn't trying too hard to hide. “He’s a pureblood wolf.”
Jimin blinked thoughtfully, thick lips beaked into a pout. “Isn't it the same thing?”
Taehyung slid back up with tears in his eyes. “He is just your type.” He joked. “Mouthy little thing.” Jungkook didn't remember what his type was or if he even had one. But it certainly wasn't a vicious, undisciplined cat hybrid. Except upon a little soul searching, which wasn't a lot, he discovered that it indeed was his type. Sue him, he'd just had an epiphany.
“I rest my case.” The Warden gave up with another long-suffering sigh, “He's all yours.”
Minji took the lead because Jungkook was severely detached from reality. Enough to fuck the whole thing up, as always. Jimin stepped back when she neared him, soft ears sharp and upright with caution.
“Hi Jimin,” Minji raised her hands placatingly, and the Omega looked up at her through his lashes. “Aren't you a doll?” She gushed. “Don't be afraid, we just want you to meet little Hayul.” That seemed to pique the Omega’s attention towards the stroller where Hayul still slept by some miracle. “Would you like to hold him?” Jimin bit his bottom lip and smiled, nodding eagerly with a twinkle in his eyes. “Oh, oh, what's wrong?” Hayul woke with a shriek when Minji lifted the little bundle from the stroller. And Jungkook’s heart lurched hearing the agonizing cries of his son.
“Um…if I could….you're holding him wrong. Let me,” Jimin raised his tiny hands to Minji, and though Minji would usually be offended at being called out like this, she carefully placed Hayul in the Omega’s hands. Jungkook watched with bated breaths, hoping against hope that little Hayul would find comfort in Jimin’s tiny hands. He rocked him so gently in his arms, that Hayul gradually stopped wailing and settled on making soft fussing noises, to everyone's utter shock. Jimin smiled softly, leaning down to nuzzle the boy's cheek and Hayul gurgled as if happy, raising his small fists to the Omega’s face. “He's so cute,” Jimin cooed, “He's also a little hungry.”
“Oh, we'll take him!” Minji squealed, hand over her heart with a struck look, “Hayul likes him!”
“And so does Hayul's Appa, it seems,” Taehyung muttered, much to Jungkook’s embarrassment. But it couldn't be helped, what type of a father wouldn't melt after witnessing such a scene unfold?
Hayul did seem to like this Omega. And well, Jungkook did too. He was not in any sort of denial over his attractions. He was too old to play a fool. But his emotions mattered little in the grand scheme of things. Hayul's comfort came first. God knows the child deserved to give his delicate throat a rest.
“I still don't recommend it.” The Warden sighed as Jimin cradled the little Alpha into his neck with an adorable, happy smile. And well, if Jungkook’s heart exploded just from watching them, that would be nobody's business. “But good riddance.” Jimin turned to give the Warden a displeased look and Taehyung chuckled at his antics. “Just to let you know, he is not a lactating Omega as was your requirement.”
“Oh, I'm sure you'd fix that issue in the next 9 months.” Taehyung slapped a hand on Jungkook’s back with a snort, and Jungkook cursed the day he was born.
Minji looked at him for confirmation. And Jungkook’s eyes instinctively went to the Omega. Jimin looked at him with annoyance, as he swung the Alpha’s flesh and blood pup in his arms. It was a little ironic and plenty cute. In the end, there was only one thing to do, lactating Omega or not.
“We'll take him.”
ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎ - ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎ - ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎
Jungkook didn't know that the process of buying a caretaking hybrid Omega would prove to be so tediously long and grueling. Hybrigen Emporium apparently had many checks and protocols in effect before the actual purchase could take place.
Hayul was supposed to spend a week in the facility with Jimin to monitor their compatibility before the Warden could sign off on the sale. Jungkook was unpleasantly surprised when he couldn't just pay them on the spot and take Jimin home. It wasn't that he was painfully eager to bring the Omega with him or anything, as Taehyung had falsely accused him of, he just hated being confined to mindless guidelines.
In the meantime, Jungkook got to know a little about Jimin from his file. There wasn't much in it, not in detail anyway, just that he was a runaway that the Emporium had taken in some two years ago, after finding him almost dead at the facility's entrance. He was about 20 years old, half calico cat hybrid, which was rare because calico cats were almost always female. Which solidified Jungkook’s doubt that the boy was indeed bred for beauty and had run away from his captors.
Due to trauma, most of his heightened abilities had gone dormant. He could no longer retract his cat ears or manifest claws on command. But he was fertile enough to take as a wife and maternal enough to care for the pups. It made sense why he would hide when surveying Alphas would come to take home their next pet. Most of them just wanted an exotic bird on their arm to flaunt to the world or a baby machine to produce beautiful heirs.
Jungkook was an Alpha too. A pureblooded one, at that. Considering his ruthless profession, such practices shouldn't disgust him. It was common enough in his own circle. Taehyung had bought a gorgeous deer hybrid for himself just last year, but the difference was that he never treated Seokjin as a lesser being. They were equals. And Jungkook had an inkling that they would be married soon. Taehyung was definitely planning to spring the question on his doe-eyed Omega. And no one was happier than Jungkook for him.
In any case, he was intrigued by this boy. Jimin. So young, so beautiful, and yet mauled by tragedy. Still, he had softness to spare to the world, to little Hayul who had known nothing but grief since the death of his mother. Jungkook wondered if two broken souls could nurture the little flower of his flesh.
But he found Jimin was far from broken. Jungkook might only be the broken one out of them.
The next time he saw the boy, the little Omega was hunched over a flower bush, soft cat ears basking in the sunlight as he hummed sweetly. And Jungkook felt a strange pang in his chest. A soul so wronged and yet love poured out of him even for plants and flowers.
Jungkook stood watching him for a long time, his voice was a lull, a soothing sound better than any chirps of nature. And the boy didn't notice, immersed in his flowers, sharp senses lost to trauma so much so that he didn't flinch even when the Alpha went to stand behind him.
“What are you doing here again?”
Jimin’s head whipped up with a yelp, eyes wide with shock but his face morphed into a look of aggravation, all furrowed brows and pouty lips and wilting ears.
“What are you doing here again?” He shot back with an eye roll, turning his back to Jungkook again.
“What do you think?” The Alpha prompted, still towering over the tiny Omega.
Jimin sighed and took to his feet, dusting his clothes before turning to look up at the Alpha with the same annoyed expression.
“Are you allergic to straight answers?” He narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms and squaring his shoulders to appear bigger. It didn't do much. The Omega was still very short, barely reaching over Jungkook’s chin.
“No, but I'm allergic to stupid questions.” Jungkook provided, “I'm here to take you and Hayul home.” It was at that Jimin’s irritation wavered and turned to innocence. Narrowed cat eyes large and puppy-like, plush and pink lips in a frown.
Jungkook looked away so abruptly, he might have sprained his neck for all he knew. The aversion was for his own sanity, lest his reasoning slipped into…dangerous territory. His heart was certainly angling towards it.
“Already!?” Jimin shrieked, uncrossing his arms and following behind the Alpha. “I haven't signed any papers yet!” Jungkook kept power walking, ignoring the little Omega trying to stay in step with him. “Why didn't your sister come?”
“She's waiting at home,” Jungkook replied, keeping his gaze ahead and praying the Warden's office would come soon. Refraining from this Omega was going to be challenging. He needed a reminder that this transaction was to serve his son, not him.
The next half an hour passed in signing the paperwork and understanding the rules for refund or return, which was sort of ironic given Jungkook’s current disposition. Jimin had scrunched his pouty mouth with annoyance and rolled his eyes at Jungkook when the Warden had asked her jumpy assistant to prepare the Omega and Hayul for departure. He'd stomped out of the office like a spoiled brat and the Warden had once again asked Jungkook to reconsider the purchase.
The Alpha was in no way reconsidering the purchase but he sure was reconsidering his life choices. Taehyung was late again, and this time, it looked like Jungkook was well and truly on his own.
For the final evaluation, Jungkook found himself alone with the Omega in a monitored room. This was another aspect of the purchase, the only one Jungkook didn't detest as much. Hayul was there too, gurgling like a happy baby in Jimin’s arms. And God, Jungkook felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The Omega beamed, tickling the boy's chin affectionately and the Alpha just watched them. A strange longing multiplied in his chest, like all his dormant and dead desires had come alive just from the sight of Jimin rocking his son in his motherly arms.
The Omega placed little Hayul in his cot with a smile, but when he turned to regard Jungkook, his smile turned into an irritated scowl. Jungkook almost snorted at the dramatic way the Omega showed his dislike for him by heaving sighs and rolling eyes.
“So, I'm supposed to talk about these things….with you?” The Omega snarked, and Jungkook didn't know it was possible to be endeared by being blatantly disrespected. There was a first time for everything, apparently.
“Yes,” Jungkook said, not knowing what the little cat meant by ‘these things’ but the Alpha would just have to wait and see. “Hayul is my son, and I'm buying you to care for him.” He further clarified, to himself mostly because the Alpha needed a reminder. He might have to get the phrase tattooed on his chest or somewhere he could see daily.
“Uhm, okay.” The Omega nodded thoughtfully, and Jungkook should definitely practice some decorum and not ogle at the boy's soft, moving ears but it was a lost cause. Jimin was beautiful, and the Alpha was a dumb knothead who had never seen a cat hybrid with their ears out for so long. “I'll start with my conditions. I want my own room.” He declared. “I want…privacy, so you must never enter my room. I want a monthly allowance and freedom to spend it however I like.”
Jungkook frowned. Wasn't all this a basic necessity and included in the contract? He hadn't had the time to read it, but he figured he should give the fine print some time.
“Okay.”
Jimin blinked. “Really?” His squared shoulders slumped as if he couldn't believe or fathom the Alpha’s swift agreement.
“Yes. This is within reason.” Jungkook said. “Anything else?”
The Omega squared his shoulders again, chin and chest lifted to appear authoritative. It was adorable. “You mustn't touch me.” Jungkook’s disappointment almost showed on his face. “I will not allow you to hold me or scent me, as I'm responsible to only care for the emotional and physical needs of your pup, not you.”
“Fair enough. Go on.” The Alpha prompted despite himself. The Omega seemed to have a lot of valid demands and Jungkook was already feeling lovesick and tender enough to give the boy anything he wanted.
“And body autonomy.” He said after a moment's pause. “I want to be able to dress however I want, as your home will become…my home for the…foreseeable future.” Jungkook noticed the way his ears downturned at the thought of leaving. Even his eyes drooped sadly, and Jungkook felt a discomfort in his chest. “I want to dress comfortably, and not in the itchy uniform of caretaking Omegas.” He added, only sparing Jungkook a glance before going back to fiddling with his hands.
“Alright.”
They sat in silence for the next five or so minutes. Jimin's bratty personality had seemed to subside greatly. Jungkook didn't interrupt the quiet, the Omega was working up the courage to say something. So, he waited patiently, even though he was not a patient man. But again, there was a first time for everything.
“And if…you're going to have...guests, I will not entertain them in any way or form.” He looked up at Jungkook through his lashes, then immediately looked down again as if the Alpha would peer into his soul and steal all his secrets. “You must tell me beforehand if…there will be Alphas other than you so I could….prepare to stay in my room for the rest of the time.”
“There will be no guests,” Jungkook said with finality. It was clear Jimin had a past that still haunted him, that even at such a young age, he had experiences where he'd been wronged by the people of the superior sub-gender. Jungkook hated the implication, the tremor in his little hands that would hold Hayul. “Taehyung might visit sometimes, but you've already met him.”
Jimin softened. He even smiled a bit, but he did well to hide it quickly, and only nodded with a short grateful bow. His perky ears told Jungkook more about his emotions than his ever-changing, dramatic facial expressions.
“Enough?” Jungkook tilted his head in question, and Jimin finally met his eyes hesitantly.
“And I want….one day off every month.”
“No,” Jungkook clicked his tongue, “No days off.”
Jimin sighed, not at all disappointed but almost like he was expecting Jungkook to reject the condition. “Okay, then a few hours? Please?” He made his eyes big, and lips pouty and goddammit, what on earth was this ticklish feeling in Jungkook's gut? It was making him want to die.
“Why?”
“So I can visit my friends here,” Jimin said with a smile, clasping his hands together in excitement, all rosy bunched cheeks and twinkling eyes. This little minx of a cat hybrid who had only been glaring at Jungkook ever since their first meet was now preening cutely to disarm him.
“Okay.” Jungkook folded faster than a damn napkin.