Chapter Text
Bronwen pulled on the white dress that had been set out for her, hung on the wardrobe the night before. There was a fly buzzing around the room, driving her crazy. She found herself distracted from looking in the mirror by the fly, trying to find it in the room. Occasionally it buzzed past her, once it even bounced into the mirror, but she couldn’t catch it. Her reflexes weren’t quick. It wasn’t her job to be quick, after all.
Her job, as she understood it, at least for today, was to bend over and present herself to him to fuck, to expose her neck for him to bite, and to murmur and moan in a way that made him feel good about himself. By tonight, this dress would be stained with her blood, and that did finally give her pause, and make her look in the mirror, and forget about the fly for three seconds. Would she look different afterwards? Feel different? She’d be a woman finally, right?
“Are you ready?” Catrina asked from the door. It was kind of Catrina to ask, but she’d always been the kindest of the servants. Bronwen nodded and followed behind her, stopping in the foyer for her mother’s inspection.
“Make sure you don’t crush your hair,” her mother fussed. “Where’s your necklace?”
“I still have to wear it?”
“Until he gives you something different to wear.” Her mother frowned at her boldness. She flinched and bowed her head, waiting as Catrina ran to retrieve the necklace, the white choker with the silver medallion that announced her status as a protected omega. It served as the warning to anyone and everyone that despite what they might want to do, they were not allowed to touch her. She was spoken for, even without a mark or alpha’s scent yet. If they harassed her, there would be trouble. On the very rare occasion she was allowed to be around people anyway.
She lifted her silky hair for Catrina to fasten the choker on, and then they were off, Bronwen’s things packed into the second car while she rode with her mother and father in the first. Her brother’s mate was due with her first child any day now, and she knew her parents were annoyed to be half a world away from them, but it couldn’t be helped. The mating had to be now and there were some things, few as they might be, that even her parents didn’t control.
“You’ll be back before the baby comes,” Bronwen offered, trying to provide reassurance.
Her mother gave a short nod, “Indeed. As soon as you are received, we’ll be off.”
“Oh. You won’t stay the night at least?”
“Fool girl,” her father said, not even sparing a glance. “You don’t need us. You’ll be very busy with your new mate. He’ll probably want pups right away and it’s your job to deliver on everything he wants.”
“I understand,” she said, bobbing her head low. She did understand. She knew all about her role as an omega. Her job was to make her alpha happy, to take care of him, to cater to his every need. She’d been given lessons in everything --laundry, cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene, even male pleasure and anatomy. Though of course she herself had never been touched and was not allowed to touch herself either. She had to remain pure. For a little bit longer.
The drive out to the pack leader’s house was long. Though her understanding was that he often lived in the city to perform his duty as pack leader and one of the ruling members of the whole East Asian clan, a large portion of the pack lived further out, in the smaller town where there was space. But she didn’t really know everything, like she didn’t know where she’d live now. It didn’t matter. She’d go where her alpha told her.
It was a beautiful drive, at least. She found herself admiring the country, the meadows, the forests, the quaint villages they drove through, but never empty, no streets abandoned. People everywhere, even just riding bikes along the side of the road. It was so different than where she’d grown up, that much was clear. Her family would be so far away from her now…
Sung-nim was the pack leader’s name. His estate was massive and beautiful, really like a castle. She stared in awe as the cars pulled around on the circular driveway and she stepped from the car --only to shiver at the onslaught of alpha pheromones radiating around the place. More than one alpha, that was clear. She couldn’t help it, her bones clattered in her skin and her stomach clenched in fear. Her parents didn’t even need to teach her that this wasn’t safe; her instincts let her know that she was in danger here.
Damn, she was scared. And she hated being scared, even though she felt like she’d lived most of her life in fear. She tried to walk the fine line of keeping her chin high with pride in her status but shrouded in modesty and demureness, listening obediently from the side as her parents spoke with Sung-nim and his wife. Her parents’ Korean had never been remarkable, which she recognized now as she heard the fluid way the actual Koreans spoke. She was only passingly looked at, then their whole party was led through the grand estate…
To a party in the backyard. She stepped quickly behind her mother, flushing at the number of faces suddenly turned towards them. There was a whole little picnic set up, tables with food laid out, some servants bustling around as people ate and drank.
“What’s this?” her father demanded, turning angrily to Sung-nim. His voice made her shiver in fear, even without it aimed at her.
Sung-nim gave them a cool stare and answered, “It’s a welcome party…”
“Who are all these people?”
Sung’s wife assured them, “I’ll introduce you while Bronwen is being inspected.”
Inspected ? Bronwen’s stomach fluttered but she said nothing, leaving it to her parents to sort this out.
“What do you mean, inspected?” her mother asked. “You think we’ve been dishonest about her health?”
“Of course not, however she is new to us, and we need to understand her condition first hand so that we’re prepared no matter what comes,” Sung-nim insisted. “We want to understand her health, her needs. She will be well taken care of here, of course. Her alpha will see to it.”
Bronwen shivered just at the mention. Her alpha . Her gaze trailed around the backyard, testing if she could identify him. There were lots of alphas here, though, and it overwhelmed her, made her queasy and dizzy. Her father was the only alpha she’d ever been around. She wanted to cling to her mother, but of course her mother stepped away, as if sensing this need and wanting to rid her of it.
“Very well. You’ll find her perfectly intact and healthy,” her mother assured them.
“Dr. Choi?” Sung-nim called, and a woman with her hair in a bun and a smart, shiny watch hurried over. “You may do your examination.”
“Will anyone else be present?” Dr. Choi asked.
Mama , Bronwen hoped, turning her eager look to her mother. But her mother had already turned away with Sung’s wife, accepting a flute of champagne, shaking hands with powerful people.
“I can assist,” Catrina offered from behind. Bronwen failed to bite back the sob of relief. She turned hopeful, big eyes to her maid. And apparently this was accepted, because Catrina was allowed to follow her and Dr. Choi and another younger woman into the house. A servant led them to a sort of sitting room and then shut the door.
“Take off your clothing,” Dr. Choi said as she walked to a metal tray with several instruments laid out. Then, with a tight-lipped smile, she offered, “Would you like a robe?”
Bronwen shook her head, understanding she was supposed to be docile and obedient. She pulled her dress off, and then her bra and panties, handing them to Catrina to fold and set beside her sandals on a chair. She shivered in the open room and pressed her knees together and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Sit on the sofa,” Dr. Choi encouraged. “None of this will hurt, though it may be a little uncomfortable. I’m performing a full body check, including your reproductive system, to make sure there is nothing concerning. We want to make sure it’s all right for your alpha to mate you today.” She wasn’t sure what exactly they were looking for, but what choice did she have? And perhaps it was a good sign that they wanted to make sure she was healthy before given to her alpha. Right?
Most of the physical was unremarkable, though Bronwen shivered a little at the warm sensation of hands on her as Dr. Choi inspected her throat, mouth, posture, spine, breasts, even her feet. When it came time for the internal exam, though, she flushed and trembled, her Korean jumbling in her brain so that Dr. Choi and her assistant wound up sort of man-handling her into position. Once they’d nudged her down into the corner of the sofa, Dr. Choi and the second woman took hold of her knees and lifted them apart to expose her. Catrina stood behind her, which she was grateful for, hoping the maid couldn’t see her shame on display. She shuddered and bit back the whimper of fear.
“Do… do we have to do this?” she asked, finally speaking as she watched Dr. Choi squeeze lubricant onto a large metal instrument. “There’s nothing wrong with me and I’ve never been… been touched in any way down there…”
Dr. Choi gave her a short nod, “Yes, we must do this. It won’t hurt. Anyway, the stretch will be good for you; alphas run large.”
“What?”
“Keep your knees apart or we’ll have to hold them,” Dr. Choi warned her. “Put her feet here.”
Bronwen couldn’t help it. She cried in fear and discomfort and a little pain as Dr. Choi shoved her fingers and the speculum into her vagina, checking her cervix and uterus. It hurt, the poking and pushing and stretching and pressing. It wasn’t like no one had ever given her a physical before, but not this intimately, and it wasn’t her trusted doctor. She was nervous here and unfamiliar and it all just left her feeling violated and useless.
Satisfied, Dr. Choi and the assistant left her to redress with Catrina’s help. She splashed water on her face to try and hide that she’d cried and Catrina fussed with her hair. But she couldn’t stop shaking from the unfamiliar touches and knew her mother was going to be displeased with her fake attempt at grace.
A servant had waited and led her and Catrina back out, where she found Dr. Choi in the middle of explaining to an embarrassing crowd,
“I saw no problems with the uterus or cervix. Vagina is tight, likely due to lack of experience and discomfort but nothing that should prevent copulation. If you wish to pup her immediately, I don’t see anything that would cause a problem.”
Bronwen’s mother sidled up to her and hissed in the language of home, “<Straighten up. It was just an examination. You look pathetic.>”
“<It hurt.>”
“<Your mate will hurt a lot worse if you snivel like that.>”
But Bronwen couldn’t even feel the sting of her mother’s words. The embarrassment, the fear, the overwhelming scent of so many alphas, it was all too much. She really thought she was going to be sick. Her cheeks were flushed and her ears itched and she kept her eyes down on the ground.
Until Sung-nim said, “Do you wish to take her now? Or would you prefer to eat first?”
Bronwen looked up, startled at the realization that her alpha was here and she hadn’t even known. She gasped, but got only the briefest glimpse of him before her mother hissed in her ear and she remembered herself. She dropped to her knees on the ground and bent forward, submitting as her first act.
“Ah!” the alpha said. “You don’t need to…” He crouched down in front of her, which was not the script and startled her. She sat up with another gasp, only to realize… he’d been going to touch her. She stared at his hand and then his face.
He was beautiful. He was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen --not that she’d really spent much time around men. But he was beautiful and her stomach and heart would have started racing, she was sure of it, if she wasn’t already so overwhelmed with fear. She’d been prepared for a big, macho, angry looking alpha. Instead, this man looked… confusing… His hair was dark and wavy and hung a bit over his eyes, a bit unkempt. His eyes were so big and soft and round; she would never have expected those eyes in an alpha. He was big, certainly, his shoulders sharp in his suit jacket… but also… not big? Sort of lean, she thought. And he had earrings in, dangly silver earrings, which was not a thing an alpha back home would ever do, wear any sort of jewelry. He wore a suit, very stylish, a blend of black and whites that fit him very flattering. And the hand that hovered in the air had visible tattoos… Impure. Marks on his body. But then, he wasn’t an omega, his body was his own. She was. He looked her up and down but she couldn’t understand his expression.
This was her mate. This was the man she’d spend her life serving. And he was not in any way what she’d expected. His features weren’t sharp and angry, but sort of big and round and soft looking. Was this really an alpha? But yes, she could smell it on him, sense it in the proximity of his body to hers. His face looked kind but her body screamed at her flee.
“I’m here to serve you,” she murmured, ignoring the warning and dropping her gaze. He was an alpha. She needed to make a good impression. Her life was entirely in his hands.
“Um… I’m Jungkook,” he told her. “I think you speak Korean well?”
“Yes, I’m fluent,” she assured him.
Silence. She tried to ignore all the eyes on them. She hoped she was doing well. She’d prepared for this moment her whole life. She hadn’t expected to find him so pretty. But the tattoos… maybe he was one of those men who looked pretty but was actually terrifying. Cruel. Calm in front of others but fierce when they needed to be. She’d heard Asian men could be like that.
“Your name is… Bronwen?” he said after a pause. She nodded. Her name sounded funny in his mouth but she didn’t react. “Um… you want to eat and talk first?”
Behind her, her father said, “We’d prefer if you got on with it. We have a flight to catch. Our son’s first child is due any day now.”
“Oh. Uh…”
She swallowed, anxious at her father arguing with her alpha. If they fought, she was supposed to side with her alpha now, right? Yes…
“Ok… Sung-nim…”
“Yes, of course. Lead them to the suite, please,” Sung called. Bronwen’s knees shook as she pushed herself to her feet. She didn’t notice he’d put out a hand to help her up until she was already standing.
“They don’t need you,” her mother said with a harsh laugh and Bronwen glanced back to see that Catrina had been going to follow. “Do you plan to hold their clothes for them?” Bronwen saw the kind, encouraging smile Catrina gave her and tried to draw strength from it as she followed Jungkook and a servant back into the house.
The suite they were led to was a different one, up on the second floor this time. The whole estate was incredible, and Bronwen tried to let the beauty of the house distract her. It didn’t work.
The servant closed the door behind them, leaving her alone with her alpha. Jungkook had been walking ahead of her and turned at the noise. And the moment was just too overwhelming. Bronwen dropped to her knees, feeling like her heart was going to pound out of her chest.
“Uh, hey…” Jungkook came closer, hesitated, then crouched in front of her. “Are you ok?”
She looked up at him and nodded but could tell by his face he was not convinced.
“Are you just afraid?”
What was the right answer? Was it better to say yes? Or no?
“You’re making me kind of nervous too,” he said, and the crooked grin he gave her seemed genuine. “You’re a lot prettier than I expected.”
The flattery rolled over her skin like a warm blanket. She had the briefest flicker of calm. He thought she was pretty. That was good! She flushed harder and pushed her hair back behind her ear, staring at the carpet.
“You’re prettier than I expected too,” she murmured. He actually gave a little chuckle in response and the sound of it soothed her again.
“I was a little afraid they would say we had to do it in front of them,” he sighed. He sat, actually, right there on the floor with her, falling back onto his ass and crossing his legs. “But… well… you should know, they’re going to check you afterwards and make sure we actually did it, and they’ll want to see the bite. I already thought about faking it…”
“Faking it?” she repeated, tricked into looking up at him.
“Saying we did it but not really doing it.”
“Oh.” Nausea pushed bile into her throat. “You don’t… want me? What can I change?”
“What?! No!” he said quickly. His brown eyes widened like a puppy’s. “I mean-- um… you don’t need to change anything! It’s not that… I just… I don’t-- we don’t know each other. I don’t really want to have sex with someone who doesn’t want it--”
Shit.
“I want it,” she said, immediately understanding her mistake. She hadn’t made him feel like she really submitted to him. She swallowed and leaned forward, just a little closer, and insisted, “Please. I do want it.”
His eyes widened comically large.
“Um…” he trailed off, swallowing hard. It was not very alpha behavior.
“I do want it,” she said again. “I want to be yours. Please make me yours.” She wanted to roll her eyes at herself. Of course! She’d been trained for this day for years and her fear had made her forget it all in a moment. Even just leaning in, breathing in the alpha pheromones rolling off him, made her shiver and shake. Her body was at war with itself, she realized. She was so terrified, she wanted to run away, but there was also something drawing her into him…
His mouth twitched into an uncertain smile and then serious again as he pressed, “That’s… better, I guess… you’re ok with this?”
“Yes,” she insisted.
“It’s just… you’re shaking so hard I can hear your teeth chattering.”
“I’ve never been touched,” she reminded him. “I’m just… nervous and excited. I’ve been waiting for your touch for twenty years.”
He kept reacting to the things she was saying in a way that confused her. His eyes widened again, like she’d said something remarkable. He actually licked his lips this time.
“Um… I don’t… ah, to be honest, I’m… uh…”
“What can I do that will help you want me too?”
“It’s not that,” he assured her. “It’s just… a lot of pressure, you know?” She waited, not sure what to say to that. He was an alpha… what did he care about pressure?
“You don’t want to claim me?” she clarified.
He made a groaning noise she couldn’t understand and stood and walked away from her. That scared her. He was rejecting her. She didn’t know if begging would be better, or acting aloof, or what. She’d read about it all, the things she should be prepared to do, but she’d never actually done any of it and it was terrifying to put into practice now. She’d do things wrong. She’d never even seen a dick in person and so she wasn’t sure how to both overcome her fear and perform well. She didn’t know the game he was playing. Was he testing her submission?
She stood and pulled her dress off. He turned around as she unsnapped her bra, his face going a little slack as he stared at her. It made her feel even more naked, like even her skin had slid off and it was some terrifying, vulnerable essence of herself that stood before him, awaiting his inspection. Her teeth chattered as she let her bra fall to the floor, trying to remember that Catrina had told her she was beautiful and she had nothing to be ashamed of with her body. She watched his gaze trail over her breasts and stomach and shoulders. She didn’t know him well enough to understand his facial expressions, and he looked a little blank…
She hooked her fingers into the waistband of her panties and pulled those off as well, lifting her legs out of them and letting them fall to the floor.
He groaned and turned away from her, sitting on the couch and pressing his face into the back.
“Fuck,” he huffed. “The way you smell…”
“It’s bad?” she gasped.
“No,” he said, breathing heavily. “I… look, I’m trying to be polite because we just met but why did you take your clothes off? You’re making it too hard…”
“You… want me to put my clothes back on…?”
“No!” he actually snarled and turned to face her on the couch. “I want to fuck you! But I’m trying to go slow because you haven’t done it before… but shit…” She gave him an uncertain stare and bit her lip, not sure she was doing this right. He groaned and let his head fall back on the couch and his whole body twitched in a strange way.
“What do you want me to do?” she asked carefully. His breathing had begun to sound labored. She could see his nostrils flaring. Her own body couldn’t decide whether it was warm or cold; she shivered and pressed her arms over her breasts and chewed on her lip more. “Alpha?”
He growled. His eyes snapped open, no longer the dark brown but now a bright gold.
“Shit,” he huffed, blinking rapidly. “I’m trying really hard…”
“Just get it over with,” she said. She hurried to the couch, trying to make her best of the opportunity. If he was actually ready to go, they could get it done with quickly. That was best, right? No reason to drag it out. Her parents would be pleased if it was done quickly, if it seemed like she’d been efficient and submissive. She curled up beside him but pushed her chest out because his gaze kept sliding there.
His chest vibrated with a low growl as he covered his face.
“Do you submit?” he demanded, a rawness to his voice. “Do you consent? I don’t want to… Shit, you smell so good…”
“I submit. I consent. Tell me what to do, alpha,” she said, pushing through the trembling of her own voice.
He was on her. Her heart leapt into her throat and she bit back the shriek of fear as he pressed his body against hers from behind, pressing her against the back of the couch. His hands grabbed her breasts as he pressed his face into the crook of her neck and he grinded against her back. She didn’t realize at first she could feel his hard cock; she thought it was just his hip bone or his leg or honestly she wasn’t really thinking about it. She’d never been touched like this. Twenty years and touch had been withheld from her, and now having a warm, strong body curled around hers was overwhelming. She couldn’t help it, tears crept out, it was so terrifying and wonderful at the same time. If he’d just kept holding her, she’d be ok, but she was also scared of what was going on and it was just all so confusing and overwhelming.
“Why do you smell like this?” he demanded. His mouth sucked at her neck and the whimper didn’t stay back. That felt good, really, really, really good. It made a warmth spread between her legs. Maybe this could be… maybe this could be nice, if he was going to touch her so much like this. He smelled good too, so good, and his mouth was warm and his hands gripped her in a way that made her head spin. She’d just always wanted to be touched. Yeah, maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad--
Suddenly he was inside her. She screamed. She’d been too distracted by his mouth on her throat to realize his hands had left, adjusting his pants enough to slip his cock out. He entered her with a strong, hard thrust. She screamed and grabbed the back of the couch as he did it again. It burned, it stretched her hole in a way that was uncomfortable. A sharp pain shocked her, like something sharp had been shoved into her vagina.
He didn’t seem to mind her scream. Maybe this was normal? She whimpered and cried out and twisted, trying to find an angle that wouldn’t hurt as he continued to thrust into her with a little more speed. He pressed deep and held for a moment and she gasped as the strength with which he clutched her body, pressing deep into her. That hurt too, even without movement, and she whimpered and twitched. How was she supposed to be good for him when she couldn’t even catch her breath?
“Shit,” he huffed against her neck. “Fuck fuck fuck you feel so good, baby.”
She could do this. It had hurt but it wasn’t the worst pain she’d ever had. And even raw and breathy, his voice… soothed her. His flattery soothed her. A shiver ran across her skin, making her arms and chest prickle with goosebumps. She didn’t know what the hell she was doing and she couldn’t stop crying but he was pleased with her. She could do this… it would be over soon…
It was not over soon. He began to move again, thrusting harder and faster. She held her breath and braced herself against the couch, shocked at the speed with which he could move his hips. At least the sharp pain subsided a little after a while, but her body was tight and nervous so each thrust still stretched in a painful way. He gripped her shoulders and fucked harder and her scream seemed to just make him go harder. He bit her shoulder, not hard, and fucked faster. She kept thinking it had to be over, he had to be done; his breath felt like it was burning her shoulder. It would be over soon. It hurt but it wouldn’t be forever. Right? Just get through this time. She couldn’t catch her breath with the way her body was being pounded into the couch and she was dizzy and overheated and her hips hurt where his fingers dug in. But she was doing it, she was having sex, and she felt proud of herself, even if she wasn’t exactly enjoying it.
And then he bit her. The mate mark. His teeth sank into the juncture of her neck and shoulder. She shrieked and thrashed. He held her tighter. The pain was excruciating, much worse than him entering her had been. Blood rushed from the bite, running down her chest and back. He whined and grunted and growled, staying latched on as his cock fucked harder and harder; it felt like the stretch was getting worse. She cried out and sobbed at the pain, sure she was going to be ripped apart.
And then he went still. His chest slammed against her back with the force of his breathing as he pressed deep into her, his teeth still buried in the flesh of her neck. He didn’t thrust, but she felt the pressure, the growth, and realized through her hazy brain he was knotting. His growl was terrifying as he grunted and strained, trying to press deeper. He was screaming against her skin, but a very different sort of scream, a happy shout. It felt like an eternity, maybe it was a minute. Then he stopped straining and went still, arms locked around her, body weight holding her still, teeth in her skin and cock knotted and swollen in her cunt. She whimpered and whined at the pain, feeling claustrophobic, crushed. Her whole body trembled. She was practically sobbing.
“Stay still ,” he growled, teeth finally tugging free from her skin. He pushed harder against her as she fell still, but it didn’t stop her rattling teeth, her heaving chest. He tugged her sideways, pushing her down on the couch as he stretched out on top of her, holding her down, keeping her still as his cock continued to empty inside her, the swelling keeping everything inside until she felt like she was actually stuffed full. She couldn’t do this. She began to panic.
“Shhhh,” he soothed in her ear. He pressed his nose behind her ear. “Ah…. fucking fuck… fuck it feels so good…”
“It hurts,” she whimpered.
She could actually feel his body stiffen. Shit. She whined and squirmed, covering her face and her neck, prepared for him to light into her.
Instead he ripped himself out of her. She shrieked at the painful stretch as the knot was pulled from her tight entrance, but he yelled too, groaning and gasping as he fell onto the ground. His back arched and he panted and cried out. She’d heard it was painful for them to pull out sooner but she didn’t understand why. She couldn’t see his cock or his knot and didn't bother looking. She’d done it. She did her part. And now… now she started to sob harder. She scurried across the couch, pressing against the far corner, curling up on herself. Her whole body ached, sweaty and pulsing. Shudders at the pain in her shoulder really overruled everything.
“Hey. Hey, Bronwen…” She pulled her face out of her arm to see he’d drawn close. He’d never taken his clothes off and looked normal now, except for his flushed face and his hair in disarray. But she was still naked and hurting, blood running freely down her chest and back from the bite. “Fuck… ah… it hurts?” She sobbed and nodded. “I thought it wasn’t supposed to hurt… it hurts bad?” He reached for her arm and she recoiled. “Shit… um…”
The door to the bedroom suddenly opened. Bronwen gasped and clapped her hands around her chest. But Jungkook turned to the door, snarling,
“Get out!”
It was her parents.
Before he could say anything else, her mother laughed, “Oh, maybe you’re an alpha after all!”
“You’re marked?” her father asked, striding over to her as if she was naked and bloody just for fun. “Ah, good man!”
“Your brother called. Emily’s in labor so we’re heading out now to try and make it home in time… I’ll never forgive myself if I’m not back when that baby is born,” her mother let her know. Bronwen just stared. “Well. Bye sweetheart. Air kisses; you’re filthy right now.”
“You’re...going?”
“Yes. We love you. Goodbye!”
Her parents both mimed kisses in the air, absurd and ridiculous and not something they’d ever done. A show for Jungkook? That seemed strange; he thought it was strange too and just stared at them from the side as they turned.
“Mama?” Bronwen called. She knew her mother had heard her. But she didn’t even stop at the door, just breezed out. And left her there.
For a few minutes they just remained frozen in the room. It felt like an eternity. Semen dripped out from between her legs and she shuddered at the burning pain.
“Can I shower?” she asked him.
“Oh. Uh… yeah… through there,” he pointed towards an en suite bathroom. “I’ll um… give you some privacy.” He left the room without another glance.
Bronwen cried for a while before she could drag herself to the bathroom.