Chapter 2: The Hesitant Alpha

That evening, the master bedroom of the Jeon mansion was exceptionally quiet. Taehyung sat at his vanity desk, brush in hand, but his eyes weren't focused on the canvas before him. His mind was entirely consumed by the memory of the tiny kick he had felt earlier that day.

Jungkook walked into the room, wearing dark sweatpants, drying his damp hair with a towel after a long shower. He noticed the distant, contemplative expression on his mate's face. Walking over silently, he wrapped his arms around Taehyung's shoulders from behind, kissing his cheek.

"What's on your mind, my beautiful painter?" Jungkook asked softly.

Taehyung set his brush down, turning his body slightly to face the Alpha. He wrapped his small hands around Jungkook’s wrists. "Jungkook... Eomma asked us something today at Jimin-hyung's place."

"Oh? Let me guess. She wants to know when we are opening another branch of Le Verre Rose in Busan?"

"No," Taehyung whispered, his voice turning serious, filled with a vulnerable hope. "She asked when we are going to have a baby. When we are going to start our own family."

Jungkook’s movements froze slightly. He gently pulled his arms back, sitting down on the edge of the plush bed. A complex, heavy shadow crossed his dark eyes. "Taehyung... we’ve talked about this briefly before."

"I know, but Jungkook, I’m ready," Taehyung pleaded softly, moving to kneel on the floor before the Alpha, resting his hands on Jungkook’s knees. "I’ve completed my advanced certification. My freelance art agency is running smoothly from home. I want a baby. I want a little version of you to love and take care of."

Jungkook sighed deeply, reaching down to lift Taehyung up so he was sitting securely on his lap. He wrapped his arms around him, but his scent remained guarded, heavy with an undercurrent of anxiety. "Taehyung, you're only twenty-two. You've worked so hard to build your career and your independence after everything we went through. A baby changes everything. The physical strain on a submissive Omega is immense."

"I am strong enough, Jungkook," Taehyung insisted, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. "Why are you so against it? Don't you want a family with me?"

"Of course I want a family with you!" Jungkook burst out, his voice laced with a raw, protective fear. He cup Taehyung's face, his thumb wiping away a stray tear. "Taehyung, look at me. My Alpha instincts are entirely hardwired to protect you. Your health has always been fragile. You still get anxious around loud noises, and you work late hours on your gallery layouts. I just... I want you to focus on your studies, your career, and your own life for a bit longer. I don't want anything to compromise your health."

"It won't compromise anything," Taehyung cried softly, leaning his forehead against Jungkook’s shoulder. "Please, Jungkookie... it’s an empty space inside me. Every time I see Jimin-hyung, my Omega cries out for our own child. Don't deny me this. Let's build our family."

Jungkook held him tightly, his heart breaking at the sound of Taehyung's soft sobs. He realized that this wasn't a passing whim; it was a profound, instinctual yearning from his mate. Yet, the deep-seated terror of anything happening to Taehyung’s fragile body kept a tight grip on the Alpha's heart.

"Let's just give it a little more time, sweetheart," Jungkook whispered into his hair, his voice pleading. "Just a little more time."

Thank you for reading 😘

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