Archive of Our Own ^beta

more than enough - alina baraz. 

If you asked Park Jimin and Jeon Jeongguk to name one day when they were apart for more than 24 hours, they would laugh and ask if you are aware that since birth, they have been inseparable. 

Park Jimin is older than Jeon Jeongguk by three hours. 

Both were born on the same day and in the same delivery room. Their mothers have been friends since college and it was no surprise when they became pregnant together, not even when they decided to deliver in the same room, holding hands and supporting each other. And somehow this bond has passed on to their precious and beautiful little wolves.

As babies, they could only sleep when they were next to each other. If Jimin cried, just bring Jeongguk over, and the little one would smile with his gaping gums. Jimin would let Jeongguk drool on his hair and little hands, and the puppy loved to grumble when he was near the other baby. 

In their childhood years, no one could ever separate these kids. It was cute and funny in some situations, but their parents had to set limits. Some nights, Jimin would sleep at Jeongguk's house. Other nights, Jeongguk would sleep at Jimin's house; snuggled up in each other's arms, purring so comfortably. 

Jeongguk had a habit of sleeping while holding Jimin's hand, and the older cub used to press his nose on Jeon's scent gland, which had a characteristic cub smell - honey and apples - claiming that that smell was heaven .

On weekends, they planned to enjoy it only with their family members, but the Jeon’s and the Park’s were a big family together, so it was a failed attempt to keep them apart. 

They were inseparable and highly valued what the other thought. If Jeongguk threw a tantrum to take a shower, all his parents had to say was that Jimin wouldn't like to have a stinky best friend, and the puppy would rub his skin until it turned red. He even used some of his father's creams to make himself smell nice. 

When they entered kindergarten, they both developed a very protective relationship with each other. During breaks they would walk around with their pinkies intertwined, and they did not like it when another child came into their play space, which worried the puppies' parents a little. 

It was very difficult to break the news that the two would start studying in separate classrooms. There were tears for days, lots of carrot cake with chocolate icing to soothe their hearts, and the certainty that this would not be the end. They continued to hang out together during the break and became a little more sociable. 

As a teenager, the overprotection increased, and this for one reason: the performance season. Jimin didn't like anyone to touch Jeongguk, not even his parents. And Jeongguk felt sick and upset if they scented his best friend. 

Park presented a week before Jeon. And it was a surprise when both of them ranked as alphas at 15. 

During Jimin's rut, Jeongguk was the only one allowed in the room to bring water and food, and with his eyes closed - somewhat embarrassed but almost fainting from the pheromones in the air - he helped his hyung as much as he could and was instructed. When Jeongguk got his rut, the only one who could get his consciousness back to normal for a few minutes was Jimin, and the older one taught the younger how to make his rut less unbearable by giving him some of his clothes, which soothed his best friend's wolf. 

Even though they chose different courses of study, they attended the same university. While Jeongguk chose to pursue his professional career as a model, Jimin developed his skills in accounting. And they have become each other's pride. 

College was not easy, you would almost always find Jeongguk crying in Jimin's arms or Jeongguk drying Jimin's tears. But they had fun in a way. There were many exams, many parties, many kisses, a few boyfriends or girlfriends, and things they never regretted doing - like the tattoo of the number thirteen on their wrists, symbolizing the day they were born and their inseparable friendship. 

After they finished their respective courses, they decided to move in together. At first it was harmonious and peaceful, but they were no longer children and had different thoughts and opinions from each other. However, they made it work very well, as not even an earthquake in their relationship would shake their friendship . 

Jeon Jeongguk's career exploded at the age of 23, magazines vied for his cover image and his agent only accepted the highest bidders. Park Jimin at this time was hired as a trainee at the country's main bank. His skills were so highly valued there that when the CEO decided to retire five years later, he recommended the alpha for his position, and Jimin became the richest young man in Korea. 

Clearly, the Korean media speculated about a relationship between the two, but when the two explained that they had been best friends since birth, people's eyes lit up.

At the age of 30, they had already acquired a huge mansion together, imported state-of-the-art cars, many materials and valuable possessions. Their household costs were low, as they almost never stopped at home, traveled when they were bored, and could buy anything they wanted. 

But unfortunately, money does not turn into puppies. 

So, yes, they were having a puppy... Well, this had been the plan since they were 14 years old. 

They made a promise, which was never forgotten. Even if they both performed with the same subgenre - which in fact they did - even if they were no longer friends: if by the age of 30 they had not found a potential partner to build a family with, they would be building their own family, together. No mating bond or notary bond, just Park Jimin, Jeon Jeongguk, and their puppies.

One day, 16 years after that promise, Jeongguk came home crying, Jimin was so scared that he was already thinking of the worst case scenarios, of what could have happened to his best friend. When Jeon calmed down, he explained that he had helped a child find his parents, because he had lost them at the mall, his wolf wanted to claim the child, even though he knew it wasn't his, and he felt so happy, but at the same time so sad when he saw the little girl and her parents crying when they were reunited. 

With just this account, Jimin let his tears run down his red cheeks, for he understood how Jeongguk was feeling. His wolf also wanted puppies, and this had been distressing him for months. 

They gathered on the couch and opened the computer. In the search bar they typed in some orphanages and their restrictions. Nothing was stopping them from adopting, even though they were not matched, the only thing they wanted was proof that they were civil partners and had a good income to support themselves, plus attending some classes with a support group for parents who started the adoption process. 

So now, they are in a purple room with some posters of various children smiling and some comfort messages stuck to the wall. The room is smelling distressed and burnt bitter chocolate, Jimin knows his friend is nervous, so he squeezes their hands together tighter and gives Jeongguk a light squeeze on his hand. He releases some of his pheromone and lets his instincts sharpen, he can hear the younger man's heartbeat slow down. 

When Park sees Jeon's eyes sparkling, and a gentle smile on his lips in his direction, he knows he couldn't have made a better decision. 

“Do you think I overreacted?” Jimin asks, adjusting his hair to the cell phone screen.

“With the hair?”

“Yes.”

“I think any child who sees you will think you came from a doll collection. You look beautiful, Minnie ,” Jeongguk smiles, placing a kiss on the older man's cheek and leaning his head on his shoulder. A little more relaxed, he breathes in and out of Jimin's wet pine scent, his wolf slowly calming down. 

The night before Jimin was worse than Jeongguk. He was so nervous, he couldn't sleep until Jeongguk settled into his bed and hugged him tight. Then the purple, blue and pink streaks in his blond hair were a little delirium he had when he went to visit his niece. She loves to color and comb Uncle Chim 's soft hair. 

“Park Jimin and Park Jeongguk?” 

Jeongguk jumps out of his chair, Jimin smiles at the excitement and gets up walking to the door, where a tall, young woman was revealed. With the younger man right behind, biting his lips and his big eyes apprehensive, he waits for alpha to catch up and lets him in first, whispering in his ear: 

“I still can't believe that you wanted to stay with Park. I like Jeon.”

“But we need to be convincing. Just a signature on paper might be too shallow,” the alpha straightens his coat and his freshly dyed dark brown hair. 

“Now we're done with the Jeon lineage,” Jimin fakes a low cry and Jeongguk laughs at his drama, rolling his eyes. The alpha is responsible for getting laughs out of his best friend in situations like this.

It turned out that in order to secure some bond, they needed to get married. But the only feeling they had was a brotherly love . Neither of them ever imagined mating with each other, but it seemed to be very difficult to accept another person. Most of the time their wolves rejected other wolves just by smell, which made them selective and closer. So it is almost impossible to see them in any love relationship.

Getting married by signing on a paper, which is valid only for the state, was not so difficult. Their mothers were witnesses in front of the judge and were keeping it a family secret. There was no party or honeymoon, much less a kiss or finishing mark. Jeongguk hugged Jimin and whispered in his ear "Let's have a family!" and so they began to organize everything needed to start the adoption process. 

Settled into their chairs, they watch the beta woman in front of them sorting through some papers before greeting them properly. 

“Well, welcome. My name is Lee Haneul and I will be your guardian in this beautiful adoption process,” her smile is huge and contagious, the alphas relax and return the affection with smiles and eyes sparkling with excitement. “First, I would like to let you know that I have evaluated your documents and they are all correct, but before we continue, I would like to ask you a question,” Jimin nods and strokes Jeongguk's trembling hand. “You got married two months ago and you already want a child in your lives? Are you sure about that?” 

Jeongguk sighs, nods quickly and several times. He had rehearsed the answer to this question many times.

“Yes, we have been friends since we were kids. You know, we were born on the same day and in the same room, so having a child in our lives would only complete us.” 

“I see. But you said "friends”. Don't you consider yourselves a couple?” 

Jeongguk widens his eyes and tries to formulate an answer, but nothing comes out. He is a little shocked at how direct the question was, but it is her job to make sure the children are safe. Jimin notices the younger man's nervousness and takes the lead. 

“Okay, you got us. I'll be direct, Mrs. Lee. We are best friends, our wolves don't accept other people and this prevents us from realizing one of our greatest dreams: to have a family and several puppies,” he sounds serious and the beta agrees. “We put the good and the bad together. We don't have any problems with our wolves, you can see on the declaration papers of the people we send. No child would be in danger because we are two alphas and we will treat them as real parents, even though we don't have any mating marks or any loving relationships. We guarantee that we are fit and have a sufficient income for many puppies. So the paper that shows that we are married is a mere paper, you know that. And if you want to find a suitable home for your children, please consider us.”

Jeongguk smiles at Jimin and winks an eye when the alpha looks at him. They knew that if they did not believe in their marriage, the best way is to tell the truth. 

“That's fine. I expected this. Believe it or not we get a lot of you here, but they don't sound as serious and don't give us the confidence that you have. Thanks for clearing that up,” she smiles and straightens up some more papers. “Well, with that cleared up, we can proceed,” she looks at them and they nod letting her proceed. “We have a very strict system, the safety of the puppies is our priority. So don't think that you will leave here with a child in your arms, because they are the ones who choose, not you,” they agree again. “You will receive consecutive visits for a week, then they will be reduced to once a month. And finally, if you and the children are suitable, we can provide the actual adoption papers together with a judge. For now, you will only get provisional custody, but it is a great start.”

“Ok. So it will all depend on how we adapt?” Jeongguk asks a little apprehensively. 

“Exactly. That is why we accept couples with a stable, good structure and that are willing to offer a lot of love. In your case, a friendship with a very strong bond , because some of our children have been through complicated situations, and to see any relationship broken or full of doubts would hurt them very much,” she clarifies. “Both of you, and the child that you choose, will receive psychological support until the doctor gives the discharge certificate, this is part of our protocol.”

“All right, we agree,” Jimin assures. 

“I will ask you a few questions, ask you to sign some papers, and you will be free to walk our halls, to gain some familiarity with the puppies.” 

“Now?” Jeongguk asks surprised. They had only said that today would be a bureaucratic thing, not that they could visit the children now. His wolf howled with anxiety. 

“Yes, we are having a free day and this is an excellent time for you to meet the children,“ she smiles cheerfully. “Unless you're not ready. We can schedule a visit for another day, no problem.” 

“No, no. We're ready, we want to see them,” Jeongguk answers, smiling and looking at Jimin who also agrees. 

Haneul stands up and guides them to the area of the orphanage where the children can play. They passed through a grating that separated the reception rooms from the areas where the children stayed. In the hallway, there are several doors leading to private rooms for each cub. Some made friends and liked to share the same room. After the long corridor, they come to a garden where some children are helping to water some vegetables and flowers. 

A small cub catches Jeongguk's eye. She is wearing overalls with a yellow tank top underneath, a bun hanging from her black hair, tied up with a red bow. Her cheeks are pink from the morning sun, and she doesn't seem to mind walking with no slippers on her feet in the dirt. She looks 6 years old and smiles, singing a children's song about a tomato. 

Jeongguk pulls Jimin by the arm and points at the little girl discreetly. The alpha soon understands why this child caught the younger one's attention so much: she looked just like him as a puppy, big cheeks and apparently a big heart, because at some point she stopped and started talking to a butterfly that landed on her hand.  

“She looks just like you,” Jeongguk whispers with a smile. His wolf purrs at the thought of having a mini Jimin walking around the house. 

“Haneul-ssi…” Jimin calls out to the beta who is a few steps away, putting them both at ease. “What is the name of the little girl with the red bow tie?” 

“That's Hyejin, she turned six last week,” they smile at each other. “But if you are interested in her, I would like to warn you that she refuses to be adopted without her siblings.” 

“Siblings?” Jimin asks surprised. Jeongguk turns his attention back to Haneul after some time of being charmed by the little girl. 

“Yes. She has a 15-year-old sister, a 13-year-old brother, and a 2-year-old little brother.”

“And how did they get here?” Jeongguk asks worriedly. They don't have a preference for age or quantity which made the process of being accepted easy, because they didn't have many requirements regarding children, so the simplest way to choose one or a few children to enter their lives is to know their stories and let their wolves decide. 

“The parents had an accident a year ago and custody was passed to the maternal aunt, but the police received anonymous complaints. When they went to investigate, they discovered that the aunt was sheltering the children at home only to access the compensation that the government offered once a month,” Haneul told the alphas. Jimin soon stiffened. “It took a few months for Hyejin to speak again and her older sister to let them help take care of their little brother.”

“So small and they've already had to go through all of this,” Jeongguk says softly and looks at Jimin, he understands. “Can we go to her?”

“Sure, I'll go look for the other siblings. Some tutors are over there in case something happens,” The alphas settle down and start walking hand in hand to the cub. 

When they approach, the girl is startled and tries to hide behind a blackberry tree. Jeongguk laughs and lets go of Jimin to crouch down and call the little girl. 

“Hi, how are you? I'm Jeongguk, what's your name?”

The girl looks at Jeongguk from top to bottom and then analyzes Jimin, widening her brown eyes when she sees the color of his hair.

“I'm Jimin,” straightening his suit, Jimin settles in next to Jeongguk, speaking in a gentle, kind voice. “Do you like my hair? You know, I think there is a doll that looks like me, but I can't remember. Could you tell me which one?”

“It's a Brat Doll !” she says smiling and slowly steps out from behind the blackberry tree. She really wants to touch Jimin's hair, and the alpha lets her get closer. 

“Now that you said it, I can remember. She was the one that inspired me.”

“Are you serious?” she asks smiling and finally establishing two steps of distance between the alphas, her hands are behind her and she rocks her body back and forth a little anxiously.

“Yes,” she looks at Jeongguk to see if he agrees and the alpha nods with a smile. She is even more charming up close. 

“I wish my hair looked like yours. But my unnie says I look like a mermaid barbie, where my hair changes color when I get in the water,” she laughs, putting her hand over her mouth. The older ones soon follow her. “My name is Moon Hyejin, nice to meet you,” she bows to the alphas. 

“It's our pleasure, princess,” Jeongguk decides to sit on the ground and is accompanied by Jimin and Hyejin. The shade of the mulberry tree help avoid a little of the scorching sun. And since the cub was already loosening up, a conversation between them wouldn't be so bad. “So you have an unnie…”

“Yes, but I am also a noona , even though my little brother can't speak yet. My oppa said that when he is older, he will need to call me that,” she says excitedly. 

They get into a little conversation about the weather and dolls. Jeongguk can swear he saw the little girl's eyes light up when she said she was a model, and it lit up his wolf. His passion to be on stage came at this age, he remembers how he used to make his family watch him wear all the pieces from his mother and father's wardrobe. 

When Jimin said that he managed a bank she almost screamed as she knew that the alpha must be very intelligent, the alpha felt embarrassed but found the cub's comment extremely adorable.

As she comments that she really wanted to bake some cookies and what flavors she liked, Jimin looked at Jeongguk, and they knew it was her. 

She is perfect to be part of his family, their wolves were purring with happiness and everything seemed right. 

But there was a problem. 

“Hyejin!”

The three of them look in the direction of the voice that was calling the cub. What they see is a tall girl with wavy black hair, wearing a round pair of glasses, dressed in a sweatshirt and looking not very good. Her forehead is creased with a few wrinkles and her arms are crossed, eyes locked towards the two alphas. The pose and energy of a protective sister. 

Hyejin knowing that her older sister is calling for her, gets up and runs out. She starts jumping around, telling how nice the two alphas have been to her, that the alpha with the same hair as her bratz doll is very smart just like her, and that his partner is a model and has paraded in Paris. 

“No.”

“Please, unnie. Where's Chinwoo? He will like them too,” Hyejin had tears in her eyes. She really wishes she could spend at least one night in the huge mansion the alphas said. “Kiyoung, I want to go with them, please. He said they have a pool and I'll be able to watch all the Barbie movies on a huge TV.”

“You know that Grandma is trying to get us out of here and yet you keep getting their hopes up, Hyejin!” the sister scolds the cub, who begins to cry. Not listening to her sister's call, she returns to her alphas and settles into Jeongguk's arms. 

The alpha takes her in a little surprised but already perfuming the little one and whispering sweet words to calm her down.

“Princess, it's okay. We can talk to your sister, what do you think?” she shakes her head and buries her head in the alpha's neck still grumbling from the little cry. 

Jeongguk asks Jimin for help with his eyes and the blond shakes his head not knowing what to do. Jeongguk points to his older sister who seemed to be arguing with Haneul and he understands. The alpha stands up sighing and knowing that he would have some standoff ahead. 

“Grandma asked us not to go to anyone's house.” 

“But these processes usually take time. I have seen cases of it happening years later, you need to keep that in mind.”

Kiyoung hesitates. She realizes that it really does make sense. It had been months since her grandmother always said she was sorting out the papers to get her and her siblings custody, and she couldn't be petty and disagree.

“We don't go to the home of two strangers. Especially if both of them are alphas.”

“We wouldn't let you go unless we were sure you would be safe. We do visits and follow ups, we've talked about it, dear. You don't have to be afraid,” Haneul comforts the puppy, as a guardian she had witnessed this scene many times before. 

The insecurity of trying something new. Afraid that it will all work out in the end and the past will be nothing but memories. 

Jimin is afraid to pry into the small fight, he knows a hurricane when he sees one. Getting close to the beta and the girl, he can smell the scent of vanilla, which was surely coming from the cub. His wolf already wagging his tail excited to meet another one of his - maybe - pups.

“ I don't know, I need to check with Chinwoo too.”

“Hi... I'm Park Jimin. You must be Hyejinnie's older sister,” the alpha says a little unsure. He has his arms behind his back and is wearing a gentle smile. You could see the two crescents forming in his eyes, but the cub didn't fall for the alpha's charms. At least Jimin tried. 

Kiyoung looks him up and down. Indeed, the gray suit and the colorful hair reminiscent of one of her sister's dolls was eye-catching. The alpha is a little embarrassed and his cute face a little red. The older one's scent is faint, but she could pick up some cinnamon residue. 

“Yes, Moon Kiyoung. And you will not take Hyejin away from me,” the cub says seriously, her black eyes blatantly judging. Some parents had already tried to separate the siblings, and she knew that the younger ones usually got the most attention. 

Jimin rolls his eyes and quickly denies it. The two alphas' initial plan was to start with baby steps, that is, to adopt little by little as they get used to life as parents. And if fate has sent four children at once, they need to mold themselves to it, not change it to meet their expectations. 

“No, no, no. We actually wanted to ask if we could arrange a picnic with you and your siblings,” he says a bit uncertainly. The puppy's gaze on him intimidates him, his palms are sweating with nervousness. “We don't want to separate you, we would never do that. Your sister is adorable, you and your siblings must be wonderful too, we have no doubt.”

Kiyoung looks at Haneul and she nods encouraging the girl to accept. The cub sighs and decides to at least give the alpha duo that has attracted her younger sister's attention a chance and promises not to separate her siblings from her. 

“That's fine. You can make an appointment with Haneul. We're available anytime,” she looks at Jimin who agrees and smiles, unlike her who keeps a frown on her face. “We can't leave anyway,” she leaves, grumbling and not saying goodbye to the two adults. 

Jimin looks at Haneul and she lifts her shoulders and smiles as if she can't do much. 

The alpha couldn't deny that he was intrigued. His wolf was clamoring about how cunning and protective the cub was. His chest inflating over how strong and tough herpersonality was. He felt proud but worried, not imagining what she went through to develop defensive phrases. 

Jeongguk comes close to the two with Hyejin holding his hand and singing a children's song. The crying has been forgotten for some time. 

The alpha looks at Jimin, worried if his conversation with Kiyoung went well, and gets a nod and a wink from the older man. Jeongguk smiles so big, a happiness radiates in his chest, that he takes Hyejin in his lap and starts dancing with her on his lap. The cub laughs out loud very happy at Jeongguk's little celebration, even though she doesn't know exactly why. 

After the lull in Jeongguk's emotions, they chatted a bit with the cub and promised to come back and meet her other siblings. She said goodbye with a big smile and a kiss on each of her alphas' cheeks, and ran to her brothers to tell them the news of her day. 

Jeongguk would have liked to soak the little girl with his scent, but he was afraid it would be too much for the little girl and controlled his wolf as much as possible. 

Haneul leads them into the room again and informs them of a few more details and protocols about the adoption process and sets a day next week to go for a picnic in a park. The alphas agree and thank the beta several times, she is fulfilling a dream . 

As they both sit in the car, sighing over the events that have stirred their hearts and emotions, they look at each other smiling. 

And in that exchange of glances, with so many meanings, so many feelings involved, a future full of fears and so uncertain... there was no way they could not imagine a whole life together from then on. 

လ

“When will we see our grandchildren?”

“Mom, I already told you,” Jeongguk grumbles. “We’re just going on a picnic, if they want to spend some time with us and  if they like us, we can start the adoption process.”

“By the gods. You know, in my day it was much easier. If a couple wanted to adopt a child it was simple and quick.”

“Yes, in your time there were also many cases of mistreatment of foster children.”

“Aigoo, I'm just saying ,” she sighs. “ But at least the little one liked you, right?”

“Yes, she looks like Minnie,” he smiles, remembering Hyejin. “The cheeks and nose are very similar, and the older sister is a little insecure with us, but I believe she just needs time,” Jeongguk sighs and goes back to beating the cake batter in the pot. 

Usually the alpha is distracted by talking to his mother and cooking some recipes. As the picnic date approaches he becomes increasingly impatient and nervous. 

His photo shoots for Vogue Korea were postponed for two weeks, and that would be one of his biggest projects. So his agent gave the days off, and being released from his dull routine as a model made him even more anxious to see his baby girl Hyejin again and meet her other siblings. 

“Ggukie, is that your mother on the phone?”

Jimin appears in the kitchen. 

The alpha wears only a pair of typical gym shorts, those that are thin and baggy, but that show too much of a mark, and running shoes. His blond hair, without the colored locks, is slicked back and wet with sweat. His upper body is exposed for all to see, his ripped abdomen evidence of how much the alpha takes care of his body, the tattoo on his rib being one of the biggest highlights.

Jeongguk is used to Jimin showing off his body to everyone, after all he himself liked to feel more comfortable at home. Semi-nudity was not a problem between them. 

What was making the alpha and his wolf uncomfortable was his very strong cinnamon smell due to the sweat droplets, which dripped from Jimin's forehead to his torso. The alpha has probably just returned from his morning walk. 

Jeongguk wrinkles his nose and nods his agreement. He points to the bathroom for Jimin to take a shower and get rid of the strong cinnamon smell that comes from him. 

“Aish, let me talk to her,” Jimin walks over to Jeongguk. 

“Hey, hey! No bodily secretions in my kitchen. And don't you dare come near me all sweaty!” Jeongguk lifts the phone and leaves the pot of cake batter on the countertop and moves backwards until he touches the refrigerator. 

Jimin smiles amused and holds the alpha with his arms around the younger man's waist. Jeongguk's worst nightmare was when he came home sweaty from his workouts. 

“Hand me the cell phone or you will have my smell impregnated on you for a few hours.”

“Not really,” Jeongguk smiles and raises his chin in defiance of the older alpha. 

“You asked for it.”

When Jeongguk realizes that Jimin is moving away from him, he sees an opportunity to run away. But when he turns his back to him, the alpha hooks his arms around himself and hugs him tightly, lifting him off the ground, stopping him from running and leaving his back drenched in sweat. 

Jeongguk yells for Jimin to let go of him, but at the same time laughs at the alpha, straining to hold him back. Jeongguk was a frequent gym goer, he had been working out longer than Jimin, and in some ways he had an advantage over Jimin, but it's a little difficult at the moment because he didn't know whether to laugh or push to get out of Jimin's grip and sweat. 

On the phone Jeongguk's mother yells into the activated speakerphone for the two of them to stop fooling around. Her calls are heard and Jimin manages to pick up the phone as he puts Jeongguk on the floor even though he is panting, sweating even more and his face is all red.

“Nanhe-ssi, your son is very complicated. I think you need to go back to kicking this kid's ass,” he complains about Jeongguk, the brunette shows his tongue and leaves the kitchen to go change his shirt, grumbling about how childish Jimin was. 

“Oh, Jiminnie. I told you, you're free to spank this boy,” they laugh. 

“Leave it to me.”

“How are you, dear? Looking forward to seeing the children?”

“Yes, I actually can't sleep properly.”

“Jeongguk told me. You are trading day for night and have been spending too much time at work,” she scolds. “ Honey, if the parents were in good health, the children will be too. Try to sleep properly and not overexert yourself.”

“I will.”

Jimin is just as anxious as Jeongguk. He spends more time at work during the day and at night he spends his free time at the gym or playing video games. 

As a CEO he doesn't have that many problems, but when there are, they are complicated to solve, and spending his energy at the academy took some of the edge off his brain from the nervousness of the date of meeting the pups. His wolf purred inside just remembering, but he sweated with nervousness on the outside. 

“And how are you and Jeongguk doing?”

“You know your son. We are fine, but very anxious.”

“I see. I'll confess something Jimin, keep this between us,” he agrees for her to continue.  “I imagined you two getting married a long time ago, then mating and then building a family.” 

Jimin freezes. Park and Jeon's family swore that the two alphas were going to become a couple, and although as children they laughed about it, now they feel uncomfortable when they talk about it. They are both well aware that the only feeling that exists is that of a pure and genuine friendship, and sometimes people like to force a bond that doesn't exist between them.

The two alphas had agreed long ago that lovingly they were not going to work out. It is like trying to mix oil and water . 

“When you told us that you were getting married just to have a baby, I knew there was something strange,” he grimaces. Is it so hard for people to understand that they wanted a family without having a romantic attachment? “ So, if you feel something for my Jeonggukie, I want you to be honest and not hide it.”

“All right, Nan-ssi. But we made this decision together and I assure you that I love your son as a brother and nothing else , and if fate wants us together I am nobody to stop it,” Jimin answers half-heartedly at the question. 

“I‘ll wait. And get a hold of my little boy's hard head.” 

“I HEARD THAT!” Jeongguk shouts as soon as he is back in the kitchen to finish his third cake of the day with another shirt. 

“You'd better have really heard it!” she shouts back. ” Bring my grandchildren to see me if all goes well!”

“It will work! Bye, Nanhe-ssi,” Jimin says goodbye. 

“Bye, dear. Love you.”

“Eomma, what about your son?” Jeongguk shouts from across the kitchen. 

“I don't ,” she teases the alpha, who begins to grumble. “ Bye, puppy .”

လ

The day to have a picnic with the children had arrived. 

There were two cooler bags on the kitchen counter, one with food and one with drinks. They bought a basket where they put two sheets, some plates, cutlery and glasses, all made of plastic so they wouldn't have a problem with anything that might break. 

It was agreed with Haneul, the guardian and social worker, that they would meet in a park near the institute where the children are. It was large and they could make themselves comfortable. The beta would keep her distance from the two and the cubs, but would be nearby if anything happened. 

The alphas were so anxious that they got ready three hours before the arranged meeting. Jeongguk tapped his foot nervously as he looked at the clock on the wall in the living room. Jimin checks his backpacks for the tenth time to see if there is anything missing. In their opinion, everything must be perfect. 

When Haneul texts the alphas that they can go to the park now, they jump up, start getting nervous, and begin to sweat. 

“Is everything good to go?” Jeongguk asks Jimin, who is already loading the backpacks into the car. 

“Yes, nothing is missing,” the alpha answers. 

The trip to the park was only twenty minutes. The ride was silent on the way, having rehearsed how they would act a few days ago. They were wearing scent blockers so as not to frighten the cubs in any way. 

Their wolves howled with joy. For the first time, it wouldn't be so wrong to act like a couple. 

They park the car near the playground, and as they get out of the car, they hear the cry of a child they are very familiar with. Hyejin runs up to them, his face all red from already playing on the playground.

“You came!” she exclaimed, hugging Jimin's leg. The alpha smiles and bends down. 

“Of course we would. Why wouldn't we come?” he runs his hand through the little girl's hair. Today it is in a braid with a few loose strands that makes the little girl look extremely cute.

“Kiyoung-unnie said you might not come,” she gives a sad pout. 

Jimin looks at Jeongguk. The younger alpha sighs and shakes his head. They knew from the beginning that the eldest would be a little resistant, but with a pinch of love they were sure that everything would be fine.

“Now we are here, dear,” Jeongguk holds the basket with one hand and holds it on his hip. “Do you want to take us to your siblings?”

“Yes, it's that way,” Hyejin points and Jeongguk heads in that direction, Jimin right behind after he locks the car and picks up the backpacks. 

From a distance, under a tree with a huge shadow, they can see two people and a baby sitting playing with some building blocks. Haneul is standing next to the baby on a sheet layed out over the ground - unlike the older ones on the grass - while waving to the alphas and the baby girl with them. 

Kiyoung has her hair tied up in a bun while holding a book. There is also a boy in front of her, wearing headphones and drawing in a notebook; the boy looks just like her, black hair, cheeks a little big. He is so focused that the very tip of his tongue is sticking out. The baby has little hair, but you could see some of the contrast with his siblings, he has a dark  eyes, and from the looks of it he loved the taste of toys in his mouth.

“Chin! Chin!” Hyejin asks Jeongguk to put her down, he obeys her and she runs to her brother who receives her in a hug. “Come meet the alphas. There is one who is a model! You said you wanted to be a model! Come~”

He takes off his headphones and whispers something in his sister's ear before starting to tickle her. When she asks him to stop, he does not stop until he gives her several little kisses on her cheek. Then he leaves his notebook on the grass and gets up, being dragged by his sister to the two alphas who are a few steps away from them.

The boy offers a gummy smile and a curtsy that melts Jeongguk's heart like butter. Jimin smiles and waves back when the boy looks at them. 

His eyes were an incredible beautiful light brown. Up close, the alphas saw how his skin was the smoothest and silkiest. He looked older than thirteen, as he was apparently taller than his older sister. 

Definitely one of the most beautiful puppies they have ever met.

“Hi, you must be Park Jimin and Park Jeongguk,” the alphas agree smiling. Hyejin tries to climb her brother but he stops her as he extends his hand to greet them informally this time. “I'm Chinwoo. Hyejin can't stop talking about you guys,” he laughs. “You must be Brat Doll . She brought the doll by the way,” he says looking at Jimin. 

“Chin, you weren't supposed to talk,” Hyejin says with a pout on his lips. “I was going to call them to play.”

“Sorry, little monster.”

“No ugly nicknames, Chin. I'll tell Ky,” she crosses her arms, this time with an angry look on her face. 

“Okay, okay.”

“So…” Jimin tries to start a conversation by looking at Jeongguk. When the younger man smiles and nods, he knows he can continue. “Do you want to be a model?”

“Hm... almost that I would say…” he smiles while scratching the back of his neck, a little embarrassed.

When Jimin and Jeongguk talked to Hyejin at the orphanage, she mentioned her siblings and said that her older brother loved to draw and created various clothing designs, and he liked to dress her in his creations. 

“I am more like a stylist than a model. But explaining that to this brat is complicated, so I accept to be whatever she wants me to be.”

He smiles and Hyejin fights back. Jimin sees Jeongguk's eyes sparkle as they look at each other again, never needing to say it in words, but conveying between the galaxy of his eyes that he was hopelessly in love with the boy, and wanting those puppies closer to his life. Jimin could not deny it, for he felt the same way. 

“You might want to meet Byul,” the boy brings the alphas out of their emotions with his soft and sweet voice. “He doesn't normally get along well with strangers, but I think he will like you. You know, you give off an energy unlike any other couple we have seen at the orphanage.”

“Come Gukie! Come Jimi! Byul just woke up and is playing!” Hyejin grabs the alphas' hands and pulls them to where her other siblings are. 

“Then can you show me your drawings?” Jeongguk asks to Chinwoo next to him. 

“I-I can.” 

“You don't have to if you don't want to. I'm just curious,” Jeongguk smiles. Chinwoo is so embarrassed that his ears turn red and he lowers his head. Besides his sisters, no one ever wanted to see his drawings, not even his parents. 

Hyejin arrives jumping up and down. The alphas see Kiyoung still focused on her book, not paying much attention to them. The baby, whose name was Byul, has brown eyes, was wearing a set of blouse and shorts decorated with a dragon print, his feet wearing only socks. He was a little wary of the two strangers approaching.

Haneul greets the alphas as they come up to her. The baby, on the floor, makes a crying face when he sees her moving away to give the alphas and children privacy, but when Jimin picks him up, supporting his buttocks in his arms, he finds himself more interested in the alpha's lips than anything else. 

So he brings a finger from his chubby, fluffy hand up to Jimin's upper lip and nudges him with a frown. 

“Byul! You can't put your hand over people's mouths, it's weird!” Kiyoung calls his little brother's attention, and he begins to cry. 

Jeongguk approaches Jimin when he sees him wide-eyed, not knowing how to handle that situation. 

“Hi, baby. No need to cry, your sister didn't mean any harm, okay?” the alpha says in a soft voice stroking the little one's back. “You are Byul, right?” the baby nods his head, slowly stopping crying, the little fingers of one of his hands impatiently playing with a few strands of hair on the back of Jimin's neck. “I'm Jeongguk, but it's really hard to talk, so you can call me Ggukie, okay? Can you repeat that for me?”

Byul slowly finds himself giving up crying and interested in the sweet voice of the man in front of him. He wipes his tears away with his little hand, enjoying the caress on his back more and more. With a little difficulty, but smiling uncertainly afterwards he says: 

“G-G-Gukie?” 

“Yes! Whua, how clever you are!”

He smiles and claps his hands together happily. Jeongguk follows him laughing and Jimin shakes him, simulating happy jumps. 

“I am Jimin, but you can also call me-“

“Minnie!” he smiles, raising his fist.

“Minnie is perfect.”

Jeongguk laughs along with his puppy. Minnie was Jeongguk's exclusive nickname for him, well, not anymore. And incredibly Jimin's wolf loved how this sounded in the voice of the baby in his arms. 

Jeongguk starts tickling the baby and the little one laughs happily. Jimin almost cries when the baby boy asks to go on Jeongguk's lap, but he releases him to the youngest, because he knew he was in excellent arms. 

The alphas were on cloud nine. Adorable children and

“He likes you.”

A voice interrupts their little moment. Hyejin and Chin Woo are too focused on the elder's sketchbook a few seconds ago, so this voice belonged to one person. 

Kiyoung says in a low voice, but it did not go unnoticed in the alphas' ear. Filled with tears in her eyes and a small, sad smile. 

“We've been trying to get him to talk again for some time, b- but he a- always calls for his parents and we don't know what to answer,” she starts to cry. “Now he smiles at you- and I really wish I didn't like that, but I just want the b-best for them-“

Jimin's instinct is to go to the cub and hold her. To hold her in his arms until she stops crying or until he feels she is safe. His wolf slowly shatters when he notices her too far away, but when he takes a few steps to get closer, she runs out with her hand over her mouth, and he understands. She needs space now.

He looks at Jeongguk. He is broken. Tears streamed down his cheeks, while little Byul wiped not understanding how that water came out of the alpha's eyes. Jimin went to him and hugged him, with Byul in the middle, and kissed his best friend on the forehead. 

They were his children. 

The beautiful, educated, loving, intelligent children need lots of love now more than ever. 

And they are willing to accept them for the rest of their lives. 

After their little moment, they get ready for what they really planned: a picnic. 

They spread out the towels on the floor and removed each food under the curious eyes of the children. Each Tupperware was an "Oh". They took so much food that Hyejin was planning to even take some to her friends at the orphanage. 

So they sit down and begin to chat casually. All knowing consciously that they should wait for Kiyoung to return. 

Chinwoo says he is a little tired of studying, but that he will finish his studies to study fashion in Paris. The boy shows his designs to the alphas and Jeongguk is delighted with each model, each one more beautiful than the last. 

Half-heartedly, the puppy promised to design something for the two alphas, and it would be exclusive. Jimin was so happy that he replied that if it looked good, he would keep the confection. And that was the end of it for the boy, Hyejin even joked that he said he has never seen him smile "so big". 

It turned out that little Hyejin is an aspiring model, and not her brother. She has even won some medals in her hometown as a junior model. Chinwoo has already put together several looks by hand for the little girl to model at home. 

They told the alphas that their mother was into fashion and also paraded for many years before retiring and building a family with their father. Both seemed comfortable talking about their parents, but reluctant about the details. 

“Would you... like to spend some time with us?” Jeongguk asks uncertainly. “We know that your grandmother wants custody very badly, but we want to try anyway.”

“Yes. We would never stop you from seeing her, and we don't want to see you apart,” Jimin adds. “But if you want to live with us for a while, that's fine... we can... see where it all goes.”

Chinwoo and Hyejin look at each other and they look at Byul - who’s enjoying a sweet strawberry on Jimin's lap, he couldn't wait for his sister. The siblings look at each other again and smile, already knowing the answer. 

“YES!” they speak together.

“We want to ask Kiyoung as well. Her opinion is important too,” Jimin says. 

“Kiyoung is... complicated,” Chinwoo says. “She wants to try to do everything on her own, to go through everything on her own...and it's hurting her. I've been talking to her and we've agreed that until Grandma gets custody of us, we'd better go to someone who really wants us.”

Jeongguk looks at Jimin. Doesn't their grandmother want them? Something is very wrong, but this was not the time. 

“She is coming. At last,” the boy sighs. 

Kiyoung came in with her arms crossed and her hair loose this time. Under the sweatshirt, and with her head down, she sat down next to Chinwoo, held his hand, and called Hyejin to sit on her lap.

She took some time to think and decided. 

“We can stay with you.”

လ

It was late at night, and under the silence of the mansion only two people were still awake. 

“You haven't smoked for some time.”

Jimin hasn't slept in a few days and his little addiction becomes a temporary escape. This is the second night that he has stopped for a few minutes to admire his garden from his living room window. 

“That's right. This is my last one before the kids arrive, I don't want to make a bad impression,” he taps the cigarette in the ashtray. 

“Our heads will be too busy to think about doing anything else.” Jeongguk steps out of the doorway and approaches his friend, hugging his bare back. 

“Yes. You are right, I have already thrown away all the packs and the lighters will be on top of the cabinet. Don't worry about it,” Jimin strokes the younger alpha's arm. Jeongguk rests his head on the elder’s back. 

“I trust you,” He gives Jimin a little kiss on the back. ”Come, let's go to sleep. Tomorrow begins a new stage of our lives,” he pulls him into his room. 

“If I'm is by your side, I am sure we can get through it smoothly.”

“I don't doubt it,” they laugh. 

After Kiyoung agreed that he wanted to move in with the alphas they freaked out. They thanked the children, cried just a little, hugged and kissed all their cheeks - Kiyoung preferred to stay out of this. Everyone enjoyed the food and was very satisfied. 

Byul fell asleep on Jimin's lap after his second glass of passion fruit and too many strawberry cookies. Chinwoo couldn't stop praising the cake Jeongguk had made, and Hyejin about how this day was the most perfect ever. Kiyoung kept quiet but you could see on her face how pleased she was with her siblings happiness, the alphas noticed in her decision that her priority was her siblings, and they admired her for that. 

And so they began the preparations to welcome the children into their home. Some changes were specified by the children themselves. 

Park and Jeon's mansion is two-story, the bedrooms are upstairs, and on the first floor are the recreational areas. There are two suites - these belong to the alphas -, and five more rooms for visitors, but three of them were adapted to receive the puppies: Kiyoung and Chinwoo will have the larger rooms and would have to share the same bathroom since the rooms were connected by it. Hyejin and Byul will share the same room, it is spacious and the puppy was happy with this because she loves to play with her little brother, so imagine lots of toys in this room. 

Jimin was responsible for storing all the alcoholic beverages in a locked cabinet  and safekeeping sharp objects. Jeongguk put up plug protectors and tidied up the messy wires in the living room.

The alphas also lock some doors as they wanted to surprise the cubs, these rooms would mainly please Kiyoung and Chinwoo. 

They call in professionals to trim the garden, clean the pool and the fountain in front of the residence. Together they tidy up the garage and hire another professional to clean their four cars. 

Finally, they hired a cleaning agency to give the house a general overhaul after they had made an assessment on their construction to see if everything was all right. 

They scent some rooms of the house so that the puppies get used to their smells. 

The day to bring the children home had arrived and "happy" is too simple a word to explain what the alphas are feeling, they are overjoyed. Jeongguk smiles non-stop, his eyes sparkling with a huge galaxy - as Jimin liked to say - Jimin is worried he’s forgotten something, but tries to smile widely sometimes to reassure his friend.

“Jimin! Gukie!” Hyejin runs up to them with her froggy backpack swinging on her back. 

Jimin puts her on his hip and kisses her cheeks, she purrs softly, already feeling at ease with the alpha. 

Jeongguk kisses the cub's hair and goes to help Haneul with the children's backpacks. Byul, holding beta's hand and with a mini lion backpack on his back, makes a crying face, but when he sees the alpha approaching, he raises his arms to be picked up by Jeongguk. The alpha's wolf howls with happiness, the baby looks like a koala clinging to his neck. 

“They are excited,” Haneul comments. “Hyejin said she separated two bikinis to go in the pool today, and little Byul said he missed you and wouldn't let go of the scented washcloth you gave him.”

Jeongguk smiles and kisses the little one's hair on his hip. At their last meeting, Haneul asked the alphas to bring some scented clothes or objects, mainly for the cubs to adapt to their strong smells. Hyejin chose to keep a stuffed duckling and Byul a baby blanket that belonged to Jeongguk and Jimin as children. Chinwoo commented to the alphas that he was a big fan of a rock band and Jimin later found out that there was a t-shirt from his teenage years. Kiyoung chose a red scarf, which was a gift from Jeongguk to Jimin, that reminded her of her parents. 

“Did you miss me, baby?” Jeongguk asks his little boy softly. 

“Yes,” the little one returns. 

They have learned that Byul is a puppy of few words. He usually likes to play alone or with Hyejin, and mumbles a few words but still has trouble forming a complete sentence. He walks but stumbles most of the time, so he would rather stay on the alpha’s hip. 

“Hi, you're here,” Chinwoo exclaims happily, coming over to the alpha with the rest of the backpacks. “Kiki is coming with By and Ji's car seat.”

The alphas were also introduced to the nicknames they use: Kiyoung is Kiki, Chinwoo is Chin, Hyejin is Ji and Byul is By. Jeongguk wanted to say that it was okay if they called them appa or papa, but he talked to Jimin and it might be too much, after all they are apparently counting on their grandmother having custody. 

“Jimin is in the car, you can take him his backpacks, honey,” Jeongguk kisses Chinwoo’s hair and hugs him. 

Chinwoo and Hyejin like to cuddle, they said so themselves, so hugs and kisses are usual. Kiyoung didn't have to say anything. And Byul is treated like a spoiled baby. 

Chinwoo walked over to Jimin who had Hyejin on his shoulder. He greeted him with a hug and was impressed by the alphas' car. It had eight seats and a huge trunk. They had to buy one or they would need to make several trips, because their cars did not have more than two seats. 

“I was thinking,” Jimin says. “Hyejin and Byul in the front and you and your sister in the back.”

“That's fine with me,” Chinwoo agrees before suggesting: “But I believe Byul will be a little scared, I think it's best if either Kiyoung or I go alongside him. Or one of you.”

“Oh, yes... Then you can decide with your sister without any problems,” he smiles. 

“Ok.”

Chinwoo helps Jimin put the bags in the car and they go to where Jeongguk is with Byul, dozing on his lap, and Haneul. Kiyoung has not yet arrived. 

“Hello, Jimin. How are you?” Haneul greets the alpha. 

“I'll be fine. Will you join us?” Jimin asks. 

“Yes, I'm just going to check on the children and make some notes from your residence,” she explains. “In the next few days, someone else will be sent, but rest assured, you will be notified in advance.”

“It's okay,” Jimin reassures her. “Kiyoung isn't ready yet?” 

Hyejin pokes the alpha's forehead, he looks up and she says: “She is afraid of forgetting something.”

Jimin smiles and nods. For a moment, he forgets what his life was like a few hours ago, where the cub's presence was not common. 

“Hey, you're early,” Kiyoung speaks, finally reaching them. She was carrying two car seats and a suitcase much larger than the others. 

“You're the one who was late, Kiyoung,” Chinwoo reminds her. She shows her tongue to him and they laugh. 

And it is the most beautiful smile of all. Jeongguk is delighted with her radiance, Jimin makes a mental note to remind her to smile more often. 

“Okay, I got the documents and the car seats. Let's go?” she smiles again at the alphas. 

Kiyoung is excited. The alphas don't know whether to be happy or scared. Kiyoung in a good mood is new. 

Getting settled in the car was the first challenge for the new family.

Hyejin threw a little tantrum, because she wants Jimin to sit next to him, but he needs to drive. Byul cried, because he doesn't want to let go of Jeongguk at all. With a little conversation, affection, and the promise to eat ice cream, when it's time to arrive they decide: Jimin drives, Kiyoung sits next to him, Chinwoo right behind with Byul drinking mint tea, and in the last seat Jeongguk next to Hyejin. 

In the rearview mirror Jimin smiles at Jungkook in the back, and the younger man knew that this is what they would face from now on. Their lives would be more hectic than ever. 

On the way, they decide to have a little chat with the cubs. Kiyoung puts on some very low music and Chinwoo teases her, saying that she doesn't have good taste in music. 

Jimin takes advantage of this loophole to ask the cubs not to fight over silly things, even though Kiyoung sighs, she respects the alpha's request. Jeongguk also begins to dictate some house rules, such as going to bed early because they go to school, they would have time to stay in front of the television, the pool could only be used under supervision, and they would like everyone to eat together. 

None of the puppies were reluctant. Jimin also invited them to meet their families on the holiday coming up in a few months, but they cried not want to go, no one would be forced. 

“We haven't even told them that we are married. They'll think it's crazy.” Jeongguk laughs at his own problem. 

“Well, considering that we are not a couple, it does sound crazy,” Jimin's eyes widen as he finishes his sentence. He forgets that he had agreed with Jeongguk that they wouldn't talk about how they were just " best friends wanting a family." 

“Wait a minute,” Chinwoo interrupts them. “Aren't you a couple?”

“Err... No,” Jimin replies. 

“But do you want children?” Kiyoung asks.

“Yes,” Jeongguk answers with a smile. 

“Are you best friends?” Hyejin asks cheerfully. Her little head struggles to understand. 

“It's complicated, I know, but-“ Jimin tries to explain. 

“No, it is not complicated. It's just different. You act exactly like a couple, and that's not a problem, just... Wow,” Chinwoo laughs. 

“Wow ,” Kiyoung laughs too. 

“So... are you guys okay with this?” Jeongguk asks, still a little unsure. 

“That's fine with me,” Kiyoung says. “So that's why you said you sleep in separate rooms?”

“Yes…”

“Oh, good, I thought you were one of those couples who didn't like to hear their partner 's own snoring.”

“Trust me, you wouldn't want to hear Jeongguk's snoring,” Jimin winks at the cub. She hides a smile with her hand. The alpha was doing well.

“Hey, it's not my fault if you're a light sleeper,” Jeongguk defends himself. 

“I don't understand it yet.” Hyejin interrupts the alphas' bickering. 

Jeongguk explains to the little girl next to him in brief, and she ends up understanding, or pretends to understand because she didn't ask any more questions. 

From the orphanage to the way home, Jimin also tells some stories about Jeongguk in his childhood, and the younger one mocks him about his college days. The mood in the car was so pleasant that they didn't even want to leave when they got home. 

“Are we going to live in this castle?” Chinwoo asks, as Jimin parks at the door. 

Jeongguk and Jimin are very proud of their home. It is large and modern. The fountain in front of the door is the main highlight, the garden around it makes everything even more delicate. They handpicked this house, it is in a gated community and is almost on the last street. There is no gate, but dozens of security cameras. 

“Yes, and we have surprises for each of you,” Jeongguk says excitedly, getting out of the car to get Hyejin out of his car seat. 

“Is it a dog?” the puppy asks. 

“No” Jeongguk answers laughing. 

“I got it. There's a mermaid in your bathtub! Or a cat!”

“No and no, princess.”

Kiyoung looks at Chinwoo and he knows what she meant: the alphas were VERY rich. Not every house had a huge foyer with a diamond chandelier right over their heads. 

Jeongguk has Byul on his hip holding Hyejin's hand. Kiyoung and Chinwoo are in awe of the chandelier and are only awakened from their trance when Hyejin shouts: 

“Can we make a slide on this ladder, Gukie?” 

“I never tried.”

Jimin is right behind them, accompanied by Haneul. She asks a few questions, regarding maintenance and what the house is like, writing everything down on a piece of paper. 

“Let's go see the house, kids,” Jimin says after taking Byul from Jeongguk's hip, the puppy doesn't mind being with the alphas anymore, he's calm, soothed and just wants to sleep a little. 

Below, they show the cubs the living room with a huge television and three sofas with soft, aqua green upholstery. The house is in various shades of white and there are several windows, so the atmosphere is very cozy. 

The dining room has a table for twenty-four people. There are also two bathrooms on the first floor, one inside the house and one in the pool area. The alphas think they would be excited about it, but they would be interested in other things, like the mini library with several books to read. The room has been adapted with two tables and some beanbags. 

The kitchen is the place Kiyoung liked the most, it is equipped with several modern appliances and this made her want to cook again. Jeongguk invited her to prepare dinner that night. 

Chinwoo is delighted with the game room and the gym, Jimin soon calls him to work out in the morning. 

Hyejin gives a shout of happiness when she sees a vegetable garden with a low fence and a sign on the gate that reads "Hyejin's Space", she is even more amazed to see some vegetable and fruit seedlings in a corner. 

The second floor shows the older puppies' rooms, which are with which are in separate rooms, king size beds, a wardrobe and in neutral colors, Jimin and Jeongguk would let them choose whatever color they wanted to paint. 

Hyejin and Byul share a room and as requested, they decorated it with seabed-themed wallpaper, and of course she wanted to stay there when she saw two chests full of toys, as well as asking Jimin to go in the car to get her dolls. 

The only places they didn't show were the alpha’s respective bedrooms. It is a very private and sentimental place for both, and perhaps the pups could be affected with the pheromones in the environment. 

“They are in good hands,” Haneul says at the door of the house already getting ready to go. “Let's talk by e-mail. Good luck.”

They had already unloaded all their suitcases and backpacks. Kiyoung and Chinwoo are unpacking their clothes, Hyejin prefers Jeongguk's help, and Jimin folds all of Byul's clothes in the closet while the little one naps in his new crib. 

When the alphas go for a glass of water in the kitchen, they sigh together, smile and hug each other. A sibling moment. 

It would be a great journey from there on, and they are prepared. 

လ

“Princess, we can't have a dog.”

“But Jihyun at school has one, dada . It's an Uski, like a wolf.”

“What did your appa say about this?”

“Appa said I can have it, but dada would have to agree.”

“Not really.”

“What if I let my hair cut?”  

“If we get a dog, who will take care of it?” Jeongguk asks Hyejin. 

“Me!”

“Will you make your appa take care of it just like Leonardo D'Vinci?” the alpha asks about the fish that was supposed to be her responsibility. 

Jimin will do anything for the little girl, from buying her the entire Barbie collection to even a fish, and he has never had a fish, much less a dog. Jeongguk is surprised that the other asked Hyejin to ask him about the dog this time. 

“No, dada. Me and appa take care of Vinci together,” she explains. “Please.”

“Are you really going to let us trim the ends of your hair?” she agrees. 

Jeongguk looks at her with a raised eyebrow. She has a pout on her lips and her hands together in request, the alpha knows very well from whom she learned this. 

“It's okay,” he knows that nobody beats Jimin's daughter . “But you will be responsible for him, and not your appa, yes?”

“Yes!” she kisses Jeongguk's cheeks and shouts: “Appa, you cam bring the Bam! Dada let him!”

And that's when Jeongguk gets it. Jimin didn't ask about the dog, he had already picked one up before consulting him. The puppy is called Bam, and is a Doberman with dark brown hair and some blond parts. 

This makes him angry, but he would not fight in front of Hyejin or Bam, because she is excited and has already left with a bag with various things for the puppy following her. His anger is directed at one person. 

“You need to ask me about things,” Jeongguk says seriously. “It started with a fish, then a dog. If she asks for a lion, would you buy it?”

“I'm sorry,” Jimin replies low. “But in my defense, we went to buy food for Vinci, and he was there, alone and the last one born,” the alpha appeals to the emotional. “Imagine if it was one of us. If our mothers weren't best friends, we wouldn't be best friends, maybe we wouldn't have even met each other or the children. I-“

“Okay, I get it.” Jeongguk cuts him off. “Don't ever buy what she asks without consulting me. We don't want puppies who are stuck up and get whatever they want.”

“It's okay,” Jimin approaches the alpha. “You'll forgive me?” he hugs him from behind, releasing pheromones to calm Jeongguk down. “What do you want, hm? A foot massage or a chocolate cake? I'll do anything for you,” he leaves a few kisses on the younger one's odor gland and he purrs in response. 

“How can you not be a couple,” Chinwoo startles them by entering the room after his workout at the gym. 

It's been three months since the puppies have been living with Jimin and Jeongguk, and they sum up this time in one word: craziness. 

For starters Byul does not sleep in his crib at night at all. The alphas had to figure out how he was comfortable and it took a few nights. So they sleep together in one of the guest rooms, Jimin on one side, Byul in the middle and Jeongguk on the other. The little one sleeps only holding Jimin's hand and with Jeongguk's singing. 

Hyejin called Jimin appa for the first time a few weeks later. The alpha hugged her and cried so hard that Jeongguk thought his friend would get dehydrated, but then the younger one was sad that Hyejin didn't consider him that much, and she quickly asked her dada not to be sad. And well, they both got dehydrated in the end. 

Chinwoo has started working on his designs for Jimin and Jeongguk. He hasn't slept very well some nights because he wants to finish as soon as possible, and with the new materials and the table that the alphas bought for their son, he feels inspired. 

Kiyoung was fine for the first few weeks, but from one moment to the next she didn't want to talk to anyone, isolating herself in her room. They found out later that it was because their grandmother didn't want to proceed with applying for custody of herself and her siblings. She was also mature enough to apologize to the alphas and explain why she was so angry. 

His mother and father's family did not support their relationship. So her parents isolated themselves from everyone, moved away, and decided to go their own way without the intervention of their families. Two years ago, their maternal grandmother contacted them to approach her daughter and grandchildren. 

And after they had the accident, she really wanted to keep the children, but her husband passed away and it destroyed her, so custody went to their aunt. 

But when the grandma found out what they were doing to her grandchildren, she went to court again and unfortunately the judge claimed that she was mentally incapable of caring for the children - Chinwoo believes that your grandma only wanted them to feel good about herself. 

The grandma gave up in the end because she was tired. She apologized to her grandchildren, but she saw how well they are being taken care of and would stay around in case they needed a grandmother. 

Kiyoung was angry that she had given up so easily, and sad, because she really wished that her parents were here, then none of this would have happened. It took a few days for her to accept that she would have to move on with her life.

The life that fate has prepared for her. 

In Jimin and Jeongguk's relationship, it can be said that they are closer than ever. Although they can't agree on some things, in the end they apologize and go back to the same relationship as before: just inseparable friends, building a family. 

“Look who's come out of the cave!” Chinwoo shouts from the pool, throwing a ball of air in her big sister's direction. The dog, Bam, ran up to the puppy wagging his tail, with his tongue out asking for affection. 

“Chin, don't irritate your sister,” Jimin scolds him. Kiyoung pays no attention to his brother, letting Bam lick all over her face. 

It's pool day. It's been sunny since yesterday and they planned to swim today. Hyejin took all her dolls, which change hair color, to the pool and was having fun sitting on the edge, Jeongguk had Byul on his lap and stayed close to the baby girl. Jimin played volleyball in the water with Chinwoo. Bam is afraid of water, even though he is

contrary to what they expect from his race, but he watches over his family outside the pool, always staying close to Hyejin. 

It's not their first time in their pool, but it's Kiyoung's, as in three months of living there, she refused to go in the water, preferring to stay in her room. So she is surprised when she sees the dozens of tattoos on Jeongguk’s arm and not just on his hand, as he only walked around the house in long sleeves for fear of seeming too intimidating, and of course the two words tattooed on Jimin's rib. 

The alphas were thankful that the older pups were not prejudiced against this characteristic of theirs. 

Although Hyejin was delighted with all the designs and words, the alphas told stories of all the dyes, especially the number thirteen tattooed on their wrist. 

“The water is very good, daughter ,” Jimin calls her. 

Fortunately, she is already in her bathing suit and goes inside to enjoy that sunny day. Kiyoung is liking the alphas more than she wants to. 

“How are the cooking classes going?” Jeongguk asks as he starts playing with Hyejin. 

“They are doing well,” she smiles at her alpha. “And your modeling classes, Ji?”

“Perfect! Dada says I can now parade on a real catwalk.”

A few days ago, the alphas asked the pups if they would like to participate in some courses or sports. The older ones loved the idea. 

Little Byul started swimming lessons and was already able to go five seconds without breathing underwater, and he didn't even wear a buoy, but the alphas still have a certain fear of this. 

Chinwoo chose design so he could hone his gift. Hyejin decided to take modeling lessons. With the help of Jeongguk and his contacts, she had already gotten private lessons and rehearsals with two junior brands. 

Kiyoung was torn between accounting or gastronomy classes. Jimin offered to help with accounting, but she quickly chose gastronomy; perhaps not wanting to get too attached to the alphas or embarrassed to accept so much affection. 

“That's very nice, Ji. Maybe one day you'll be able to parade next to dad ,” she smiles at her sister, stroking her hair. 

The cub's words were so spontaneous that she only noticed when Jeongguk sniffled next to her. For the first time, she referred to him in a fatherly way. He was emotional, holding back the tears but with a huge smile. 

“I'm sorry, I-“

“That's fine.”

“No, I didn't want to, and I just-“

“It's okay, Ki. I know you're not ready,” he comforts her. “We are here for you and we will be waiting for you, as long as it takes.”

“Thank you,” she thanks him softly. 

The space they were giving her is sorely needed, and she would be eternally grateful to them. 

They are coping very well as parents. 

“Dada,” Hyejin calls the two of them to attention. “What are we having for dinner?”

“Oh, I don't-”

“Pizza!” Jimin shouts as he swims over to him. 

“Appa, again?” Hyejin pouts. 

“Yes, pizza!” Byul throws water on his sister's face. 

“I don't want any pizza,” Chinwoo comes over to them, jumping on Jimin's back, who smiles and holds his arms in front of him. The cub is the most affectionate after Hyejin, and the alphas love it.

“Okay, I'll eat anything. What about you, Ki?”Jeongguk asks the older of the siblings.

She bites her lips thoughtfully and smiles when she gets an idea. 

“What do you think about me preparing a recipe that I learned?”

The alphas smile and agree, it's great to see her interact more with them. Chinwoo pulls his sister's bag and says that it's not for her to put poison in his. Hyejin makes herself available to help, as does Jeongguk. Jimin is responsible for keeping his distance from the kitchen with Byul so that they don't eat the recipe ingredients—they always got in Jeongguk's way in this regard. 

In the evening, they enjoy a delicious dinner, with stories and laughter that fill the house with joy. From the outside, you could swear that they are a family, and they are, but with some cracks that need to be uncovered and others that need fixing. 

And it is only a matter of time before they realize that they complete each other. But it's like they say: give time to sort itself out, even if it shows you thirty years later, that you were born to be next to that person. 

When everyone retires for bed, after goodnight kisses on the puppies, a story about princes and princesses for Hyejin, and a perfuming session on Byul, the alphas don't fold their eyes lying on the bed in the guest room with the little one in the middle.

“Kiyoung called me Dad,” Jeongguk whispers, aware that Jimin is listening. 

“Really?” the alpha stops, for a moment, from stroking the back of the puppy clinging to his neck on his lap.

Jeongguk is in simple silk pajamas lying on his stomach. He kept his head turned towards his best friend, admiring the scene of seeing the alpha giving affection to his puppy. 

Jimin doesn't wear a shirt at all. In this time, he realized that Byul felt much more comfortable when sleeping on the alphas warm skin. After Jimin had taken a bath, the puppy was already whimpering at his bedroom door for his lap and to go to sleep, hardly letting him put on any underwear. Bam didn't leave the puppy's side until the alpha picked Byul up and went to sleep with Hyejin. 

When he saw Jeongguk making up the bed to welcome him and his puppy, he never felt so happy. Building a family with his best friend gives him moments and feelings like this every day. And he loves it all. 

Byul falls fast asleep on his lap as he lies down on the bed. He purrs very softly as Jeongguk sings a lullaby. 

“How was it?” Jimin asks Jeongguk. 

“She didn't call me Dad exactly. But she referred to me as daddy... It was surprising.”

“She is tough.”

“Yes, she is.”

“And we are melting her heart, Ggukie.”

“We are,” they laugh and it's like the first time. 

Lost in an emotion beyond anything science had ever described. Overflowing with a happiness they could never imagine. And best of all, they are living every moment together . Their lives seemed so right and nothing could go wrong. 

But they knew, after all, turbulence will come your way. 

A month later, the alphas needed to get back to work. Jimin is back to his hectic life as CEO and Jeongguk with his busy rehearsal schedule. With a little care and time, they manage to reconcile their lives with their puppies. 

Jeongguk takes the older two to school and the younger two to daycare, Jimin is responsible for picking them up. In the evenings, they hang out with Bam, who grows older by the day, and share their day at the dinner table, before going to bed exhausted. Weekends are reserved for outdoor outings or "movie days", which they spend all day watching movies and eating popcorn. 

The world was also impressed, when they found out that Korea's biggest stars are together and with puppies. Everyone was also aware of respecting the privacy of the young family at the request of the alphas. Some pictures in the newspapers and articles have come out, but nothing that would harm the integrity of the little ones, they are making sure of that. 

Although they cannot control people's character. Or their parents. 

“I want that girl here, or we’ll have to settle with my lawywer!.” Jimin shouted, upset.

“Mr. Park, we understand-“

“My daughter comes to me, crying, because she was bullied at this school, do you understand? Because the girl who humiliated her is not here too, hm?”

Jimin is already shooting flames out of his nostrils. No one would mess with his cubs and get away with it. His wolf is clawing at him from the inside, wanting to rip the head off of whoever hurt Kiyoung, not caring about the consequences. 

The day started well before it all happened. They had breakfast together and Jeongguk drove them to school, before going to a photo studio, and Jimin would need to pick them up early because the exams were over. 

Everything turns out to be terrible, when Kiyoung appears with a red face, tears in her eyes and a cut lip. Chinwoo couldn't calm her sister down and was almost crying along with her. 

Jimin was filled with hatred when he found out what had happened, and his first instinct was to question the principal. Under sobs, the alpha understood that the cub had been bullied, and the violence had been going on for some time, but only today had it become physical. 

Kiyoung told her that a girl made fun of her every day for losing her parents. When she found out that she and her siblings were adopted by an alpha couple, this topic became a new reason to tease her. 

But she didn't keep quiet when her brother's name was added to the offenses, and everything turned to chaos. She went after the girl and they beat each other up for a while, until a school security guard separated them. In the end, it was Kiyoung who got the warning, while the other girl got off scot-free because her parents were one of the contributors to the school. 

The cub left angry at the injustice, and shaken to feel vulnerable by what had happened. Her siblings were her everything. 

What the school was not aware of was that the cub and its siblings were under the guardianship of Park and Jeon, and they must never hurt the cubs of these alphas . 

Jimin asks Chinwoo to call Jeongguk and wait for his father in the car with Kiyoung, that he would resolve the situation.

Jimin almost breaks the entire principal's office. The man claims that Kiyoung started the physical attack and that she had never complained about the verbal attacks. The alpha asked for access to the security cameras but was not granted it, he asked if his colleagues were interviewed about what happened and the answer was negative.

It is clear that the principal is favoring the other girl and he gets angrier. After a while of arguing, Jimin decides to calm down and try another approach. 

“Do you care about your students, Mrs. Jung?”

“Yes, of course,” the principal answers with a tense voice, facing the fury of a father has never been so difficult for him. 

“Great. Well, be prepared to call their parents and inform them that they have run out of places to study. I am closing this school in a week,” the alpha says getting up from his chair. 

“What?” the principal despairs. “Mr. Park, can we talk and-“

The door opens. You wouldn't want to be facing Jeongguk at that moment. He is as angry as Jimin. 

Even under light makeup, with his eyelids painted a salmon color, lips in a gloss, Chanel earrings, and an outfit that was not part of a casual ensemble - white cropped and black low-waisted pants under a high-heeled boot - his eyes are sharp and burning. 

Byul, even clinging to his neck, had a startled look on his face, having never seen the alpha with such a strong aura. The little one sees Jimin and already asks to go on his lap, the older alpha relaxed enough to comfort the cub. 

Jeongguk gives Byul to his best friend, who starts stroking the baby's back and rocking him to calm him down. Jeon approaches the director, with a scowl on his face, Mr. Jung swallows dryly. 

“Where is the girl who made my daughter cry, Director?”

“She's going to-“

“At her house, Jeongguk,” Jimin answers him. 

“At her place?” he raises his eyebrow. “I imagine she left without any punishment and smiling, while my daughter got a warning and is crying in the car!” he shouts. “You know that bad schools propagate this situation, yes? You are a terrible principal, even if the girl was the president's daughter, she should never have gotten away with it. Because if they don't find out that their actions have no consequences, they will continue, until tragedy strikes,” he snorts angrily. “And the gods will help you if anything happens to my little girl, Mrs. Jung.”

The principal is unresponsive, The alphas' pheromones had infested the room, it was almost impossible to breathe. Jeongguk pokes him with his eyes and Jimin looks at him with contempt.

It is like being with two tigers in a cage, and worse, you have just hurt the cub of these tigers. 

“I'm sorry. This will not happen again. I was just thinking of an appropriate punishment, that's all,” he tries to smile even though he is sweating from nervousness. “I will call the girl's parents right now. You can stay in the room if you want.”

“It's too late, Mrs. Jung. Kiyoung and Chinwoo are being removed from the school. And be thankful that I didn't accept Jimin's idea that we close this school, I can't imagine how much young people have suffered here. I hope this will not be repeated.” 

The alpha walks chin up to Jimin, and offers him his hand to leave together. His jump echoes through the room. The older man laughs and holds his hand with his head up as he walks to the exit. 

They could definitely be a couple who could defeat Thanos if their children were affected by Blip. 

Byul falls asleep in his appa's arms. When they get to the car, he doesn't even cry when he is put in the car seat. Hyejin's eyes are curious and wet, afraid that something has happened, Jimin kisses the little one quietly, she soon smiles and says that she wanted to get home to see Bam. 

Jeongguk hugs Kiyoung and says that everything is fine. Nothing was her fault and that she would never have to face that situation again. Chinwoo and her decide to ride home in the car with Jeongguk. The alpha not wanting to go back to rehearsal and deciding to enjoy the evening with his family . 

Arriving home, Jimin asks everyone to take a shower because they are going out to eat. Jeongguk takes Byul and Hyejin to bathe in the tub and Chinwoo rushes to use the bathroom before Kiyoung, the oldest not even in a hurry, nervous at the moment. 

Jimin is organizing Hyejin's backpack when Kiyoung appears in the doorway. Head down, fingers in front and fiddling with each other, nervous to say something. 

“What's up, baby?”

“I wanted to thank you, actually. For what you did today, like a real father,” she smiles and looks at him. 

“I would do it again. I'll do anything for you,” he approaches the puppy, a little unsure whether he should or not. 

“I know, I see that. That's why I made a decision,” she sighs. “I'm going to talk to Haneul and let my brothers be adopted by you, I feel like I'm being a burden to you.”

“What? No way, you're not doing this,” he hugs her, she doesn't have time to react and starts to cry. “Do you know why? Because we love you. You are loved, Kiyoung. By me, Jeongguk, Chinwoo, Hyejin and Byul, the five of us love you,” he kisses her head, stroking her back and scenting her. “We function as pillars, without you we fall apart. You are not a burden, you are the missing piece in all of us,” she looks at him. “I know we are not your real parents and we will never replace them, but we want to be an anchor for you. And in difficult moments, like this one, you can count on us. Trust us as your guardians for the rest of your life.”

“I don't want you to be my guardians. I want you to be my parents .”

Jimin widens his eyes and begins to cry along with his puppy. 

“We can be your parents, whatever you want and need. We are waiting for you and will continue to be here,” Jeongguk surprises them by hugging the little girl too. He had tears in his eyes. 

Jimin smiles at Jeongguk. The purest, most beautiful galaxy in the eyes of the person he has never seen himself far from. In the eyes of the love of his life.

Jeongguk felt eternally grateful for Jimin at that moment. And proud, because he saw a fearful Jimin become brave, and an alpha become a wonderful father. 

Under other circumstances, he would surely fall in love with Park Jimin. 

“It's okay, it's okay,” Jimin strokes the whimpering younger girl's back. “Do you want to go change for sushi? I know it's your favorite.”

She nods. She wipes her tears and breaks free of the alphas' embrace. 

“Ki?” Jeongguk calls out to her. “We love you.” 

Kiyoung smiles and looks at them with a red face and tears in her eyes again. “I know, and thank you for that.”

The cub leaves them with warm, emotional hearts. Jeongguk looks at Jimin and the alpha already has his arms open to welcome him. The alpha wastes no time and wraps his arms around his neck, enjoying that moment. 

Jimin holds him, tight around Jeongguk's waist. His nose slid slowly on the other alpha's cheek. On his neck, he proceeded to distribute a few slow, lingering kisses. 

Jeongguk felt safe and happy in his best friend 's arm, as if it felt right to be there. He bares his scent gland every time he’s felt Jimin's lips on his neck. Those kisses relax him. 

Wrapped in pheromones and lost in their own bubble, they don't know how long they have been staring at each other, or why their lips didn't hurt from smiling so much. The doe eyes glowing at the crescent moon.

It felt right. It felt enough. 

Them. Together. 

Jimin brings his lips close to Jeongguk's. Sealing once, twice, three, four times. On the fifth time, the alpha takes advantage and kisses the dot under his best friend 's lip. The younger alpha kept his eyes closed and a small smile. 

Jeongguk can swear that Jimin has lips as sweet as honey. Jimin felt that he could not live away from Jeongguk's bright smile. 

A feeling never tested. Never tasted. Under the haze of impossibility and millions of setbacks. 

But it felt so right and real. 

Jeogguk is the first one to end that moment. He knows he shouldn't do that or let that happen, but he did. And he liked it. 

“I'm sorry.”

He lets go of Jimin and walks out of the room, desperate and out of breath. Leaving the alpha behind completely in shock. 

They are confused about their own feelings. And mostly afraid of their relationship from then on. 

The best thing to do is to forget about it. 

လ

“Appa, can I get a piercing?”

“What?” 

“A piercing, appa. Dad said I should ask you why he let me,” the cub points to the phone.

“Did he?” 

“Yes,” Kiyoung smiled. 

“Let me talk to him,” she hands over the cell phone and leaves the room to leave them talking. “Hey, what happened? Do you agree with her wanting to get a piercing?”

“Hi, Jimin. Yes, we agreed to do it together.”

“Will you do it too?”

“Yes, why not?” 

“I don't know. Aren't there rules for models about piercing?” 

“Jimin,” the alpha sighs on the other end of the line. “ I make my rules. And another thing, I have a tattoo, what difference does a piercing make?” 

“All right, big alpha .” Jimin laughs, smiling when He hears his laugh after a while. “But I don't want anything on her face. She's young and we don't want rebellious puppies.”

“Okay, great dad. Put her on.”

Of course Kiyoung jumped for joy and showered Jimin with kisses. The alpha is not very conservative, he himself had tattoos and a pierced ear, but the idea of seeing his little girl with holes, which would probably make her cry for a few days, makes him apprehensive. 

Jeongguk agreeing and participating in this madness, laughing at his speech made him a little emotional, so he approved. 

When Kiyoung arrives with two holes in her ear and Jeongguk also with two holes but on his face, there was an outcry. Chinwoo wanting to have one just like his sister's and Hyejin saying that when she grows up, she will have a lip like her father's. Jimin agreed to take them next time... but ten years from now.

It has been three months since the event at the school and... well, the other incident .

Kiyoung changed her behavior drastically. She came to accept that she had new parents, and that they were more than she could ask for. Chinwoo had already finished clothes for the alphas, and had added four more to the outfit for his siblings, and they would be used for extremely special events, such as a wedding ceremony, for example. 

Hyejin took piano lessons and told everyone she had the gift of Beethoven, and she let herself get a haircut, but not only that, she chose the cut, and it was a beautiful Chanel. Byul learned to sleep alone in his bed, but only if he had two teddy bears that were scented every night by his parents. 

The grandmother of the puppies tried to contact them but no one wanted to see her, too afraid after she did not keep her promise to do the impossible to try for custody, and also because they love their new, perfect parents. 

The alphas, realizing how shaken the lady was, asked every day how the children were doing and that they could contact her if they wanted to talk. 

Jimin and Jeongguk are in a new phase. A phase with a missing part. After the kiss, they acted as if nothing happened, but the change was clear. 

The glances are too intense this time, the accidental touches emit an electric charge throughout the body, the conversations are only about the children, and everything seemed to have turned upside down. 

Jeongguk couldn't sleep properly after the event. And Jimin was not so different. In a silent agreement, they slept together in the guest room. Don't ask who was the first to take the initiative, it just happened and they were fine with it. 

In the morning, they greeted each other and acted like parents of the pups and best friends. At night, they would cuddle in bed and forget everything they had promised. 

But it was too difficult not to let themselves be carried away by the current, when they had already had a taste of water in their mouths. 

Neither one of them has touched the subject, and everything is going fine. Actually, to be honest, everything is a disaster. 

“What do you mean, you won't be able to pick the kids up from school again? Jimin, I'm in the middle of a rehearsal”

“Sorry. I'm trying to solve a client's problem and he-“

“Okay. I'm taking the kids out to dinner. Don't call me, I'll send you the address when we get there.” he hangs up the call.

“Are you ok, Jeongguk?” Taehyung asks. 

Kim Taehyung is an omega and the best friend (after Jimin) of Jeon Jeongguk. They met in fashion college and have never been apart after that. 

“No,” he sighs. “Jimin won't get the kids, this is the third time. I don't know what I'll do.”

“Oh, I can go with you. I think it's a little difficult to drive a jump car.”

“Incredibly, no it isn't. For my kids, I can drive a truck with a heel,” they laugh. 

“You're like a super dad,” he laughs. “Welcome to the super dad club.”

The two are the most requested models by brands, and although the media wants to sell the image that they are rivals, they are truly friends and co-workers. They like to do rehearsals together or accompany each other as support. 

When they finished college, Taehyung was proposed to at graduation with flowers and an unreleased song written and produced by his boyfriend. 

Today, he is married to alpha Min Yoongi, a renowned music producer in the music industry and one of Jeongguk and Jimin's closest friends. In fact, both have been part of many of the alpha's works as vocals. Yoongi is eternally grateful to them, as they have been the prototypes for most of his career successes. 

Their love was at first sight and the flame of love has never gone out, it has multiplied in two little kids that they call sons. 

“Taehyung, do you think Jimin is running away from me?”Jeongguk asks on their way to school.

“Er... Yes? but you're doing it too, so what's the problem?”

“The problem is that he started it.”

“No, Jeongguk, you started it,” he scolds him. “You told me that he kissed you and didn't back down, the next day neither of you would look at each other, and now you sleep in the same bed, like a couple. Do you know what that means?”

“No…” 

“You love each other, but you are too proud to open up to each other. I told you once before, be honest with your heart and your alpha,” the omega parks on the street of the school and looks at the alpha. “What do you feel, Jeongguk?”

“I don't know,” the alpha slides his hands over his anxious face. “When he kissed me it felt right, like we were made for each other, you know. My wolf purred and so did his, our smells complemented each other and... I don't know, it's wrong.”

“Why is it wrong?”

“We are best friends.”

“Friendship strengthens a relationship.” 

“You're right. But we are alphas, it doesn't seem right.”

“Oh, no,” Taehyung laughs. “Jeongguk, I believe you are a competent young man to know that we are in the twenty-first century. Nobody cares who we are attracted to.”

“I care.”

“But you shouldn't. If it's your heart telling you and your wolf begging you, you should grab that alpha once and for all! You started out wrong, and I had warned you. You built a family without dealing with your own feelings. We need to change that, stop being rational and choose the right path for your whole family.”

“I love you, Taehyung, and I'm afraid of which path to choose.” Jeongguk has tears in his eyes, fear overflowing from his body.

“Regardless of the path you choose, I am here.” Taehyung holds his hand firmly. “You are not alone, Gukie, but take off this weight you carry. Enjoy life and the love it gives us.”

“I will. Thank you,” they hug. 

“I am your omega best  friend, someone needs to pull your ear,” they laugh. “Now let's go get my nephews. Do you think they'll like my red lipstick?” Taehyung looks in the rearview mirror and fixes his hair. 

“Considering that you work in the same business as me, yes. My princess will love your earrings too.”

“The more fans, the better!” 

Jeongguk and Jimin didn't introduce the children to their family or friends, Taehyung would have the privilege of being the first, and would definitely rub it in everyone's face in the message group, even if it was pure coincidence.

Hyejin was slack-jawed when he saw the red lips and Chanel earrings on Taehyung. The omega has two children the same age, and neither of them cared much about the career their father pursued. Seeing the little girl praising him, all the way to her siblings' school, made him cry with emotion. 

Byul had a scowl on his face at first, he doesn't really like interacting with people, but it was Uncle Tete showing him a strawberry shortcake that he sang nursery rhymes with his omega until he was hoarse. 

Chinwoo was speechless and shy. He took a sketch pad out of his pocket and started drawing, Jeongguk knew what the little boy was doing. Kiyoung was impressed with her new uncle, and chatted the whole way about school, food, siblings, and music. 

In the studio, the children sit quietly and under the gaze of strangers, who were very receptive. 

At the end of the rehearsal, the photographer asked if he would like to take a picture with the children and the alpha responded by immediately accepting. Jimin is the only one missing from the picture, and Jeongguk felt heartbroken about it. Taehyung appeared in a few, and he himself photographed Hyejin with his poses and faces of an excellent child model. 

After saying goodbye to the whole team, they go to dinner. Jeongguk already sending Jimin the address and looking at the messages. Taehyung sends all the pictures to the group of friends, including the drawing that Chinwoo had made of himself. Jimin emotionally comments that he would print out the pictures and put them in his wallet. 

Jimin also replied that he would talk to Jeongguk, if they could go on a trip for the upcoming holiday, and the younger alpha soon called him in private and they agreed to go to Busan, visit their parents and enjoy the beach together with their friends.

Jeongguk was already sweating with nervousness at the thought of being in a car for a few hours with Jimin, and most of the time unable to avoid him, with the excuse that he is at work. 

It would be a long holiday. 

_

Jimin was late for dinner at the restaurant, but let's not blame him. He needs the advice of his hyung to be able to face Jungkook in the coming hours, maybe days or years. 

“I think Jeongguk hates me.”

“I think you’re getting paranoid,” Namjoon mocks. “Jimin, even if you were the last alpha on the face of the earth, Jeongguk would never hate you. That's life, you were born to love each other.”

“Love in what sense, Namjoon? I am beginning to doubt this way of loving.”

“To love is to love, there is no specific meaning. In philosophical terms, we can say that love is giving to another person what is most valuable to us, do you know what it means?” 

Jimin denies it. 

“Our life,” Namjoon answers for him. “Would you give your life for Jeongguk?”

“As many times as it would take,” The alpha says without hesitation.

“There's your answer,” The beta smiles. “You love him in every way, shape and form. First as a brother, because you grew up with this love, and now as lovers, because you have awakened it. And it's all right, don't break your head about it, let fate go with its own flow.”

“What if this flow ends up hurting someone?”

“Pain is sometimes necessary. But if you can wear a life vest, wear it,” they laugh. 

Jimin feels a little relieved after talking with Namjoon. 

Kim Namjoon is a beta and Jimin's best friend (after Jeongguk). Namjoon was by his side as a trainee, remained until when he became CEO and was chosen as vice president. 

The friendship of the two is strong. Namjoon knows about all of Jimin's vulnerable spots and Jimin knows all of Namjoon's demons. They are like cousins, always there for each other. 

Namjoon had been married for two years to alpha Kim Seokjin, a successful fashion designer all over the world. They met through Jeongguk and Jimin. There was indeed fear for their subgenres when they realized their feelings, but after a while they accepted that it was not wrong and overcame any prejudice. 

Now, they were living together with the company of their precious, newly adopted three-year-old daughter. The two showed Jimin and Jeongguk how the adoption process went, and even though they didn't think it was a good idea to adopt without being a couple - as it could drastically affect the children's lives - they supported their best friends to follow their dreams and quotes. 

“So, holiday in Busan. Whose idea was it to invite us?” Namjoon asks, turning off his computer. The  beta and the alpha are the only ones in the building so far. Jimin waits for his hyung leaning against the door to his living room. 

“It was a consensus,” he sighs. “We need to relax. And the kids want to meet their grandparents. Putting the good and the bad together, you know.” 

“My friend, I think you are in big trouble,” he laughs. “Are you aware that you are going to stay for a week near Jeongguk?”

“Gods, yes. I intend to clarify a few things.”

“Clarify or run away? Be honest with yourself, Jimin.”

“Maybe I will be a coward and run away. But if I hit those seconds of courage, I promise not to waste it.”

“That's the way to talk! And even if you cry, know that my arms are open to comfort you.”

They say goodbye with a hug in the parking lot a few minutes later. 

Jimin was greeted at the restaurant with lots of kisses from the kids and a very unfriendly look from his best friend . Dinner was a mess as usual, the alphas enjoying those few hours of family time and forgetting about their problems. 

When they get home, the kids already go to their rooms to prepare their suitcases, even if the trip was scheduled to take place in two days. But it is impossible to control children with so much energy. 

Byul is a little cocky that night and asked to sleep with his daddies. And once again, without a word, they cuddle up together. 

Little by little, feelings bubble up between their hearts. And it gets harder and harder to hide it. 

လ

“Well, if it isn't the daddies of the year!”

Hoseok shouts with his arms in the air. 

“Jung Hoseok, the good son returns home,” Jimin hugs him. “It's been a long time, man. Where have you been?”

“Traveling around the world to win the medal for our country, man,” they laugh. “We have to travel to Italy next time, the Coliseum is magnificent!”

“We will!”

Jung Hoseok is an omega and Jimin and Jeongguk's best friend. The omega is a tennis player and represents the country in all matches, national and international. 

They met in college, at the time Hoseok was studying international relations and practicing tennis. 

Parties and romance were never his priority, but his heart is too big to deny other people. So he was by far the most excited to meet the new kids in the family, and the first one who arrived at the rented beach house. 

“Where are my nephews?” he says crouching on the floor playing with Bam who is licking him.

“Jeongguk is showing them around. I saw his car in front and ran straight here.”

“Wah, you know," he sits down on the pool chair with a lemonade in his hand. “I got jealous and came early to get the best room. It's Taehyung who will cry this time.”

“No, did you get the second en-suite room?” 

“Yes, and I don't accept exchanges,” they laugh. 

“I will help Jeongguk with the children.”

“Ok. If you need help you can call me, I don't want to seem intrusive.”

Jimin agrees and goes back inside the house. Some suitcases are near the door of the house and he picks them up to take them to the room they stayed in, which was the biggest and had a bathroom. 

From the stairs, he could hear Hyejin's screams, Kiyoung's loud talking, and Byul's crying. 

“But I want to stay in bed with dada!”

“Stop throwing tantrums, Hyejin! You know that Byul doesn't like to sleep without his parents.” 

“Daughter-“

“No, Dad, she's too old to understand a-“

“Stop it, Kiyoung, I just want to sleep this time with dada!”

“Dada! Mine!” Byul whimpers into Jeongguk's neck. 

Children . 

“Hey! Hey! What's going on?” Jimin asks as he enters the room. 

Chinwoo is at the window sketching the landscape and cares little for the siblings' quarrel. Kiyoung red and Hyejin with tears in her eyes, she quickly rushes over to the alpha. 

“Appa,” he takes her on his hip and rocks her slowly, nestling her like a baby. 

“What happened, Princess?” 

“I want to sleep with you tonight. Just tonight” she whimpers in your ear.

“It's okay, baby. You can sleep with us” he kisses her on the hair. 

Kiyoung huffs and goes to unpack her bags, she doesn't really approve of how the alphas do everything for her sister, they even do too much. Byul starts to cry even more, thinking that she won't be able to sleep with her parents. 

“No, sweetheart. Look how big our bed is,” Jeongguk comforts him by kissing and scenting him. 

“You know, I have an idea,” Jimin says. “Let's all sleep together. Dad and I will put the mattresses together and make a super bed .”

“Super bed? I love it!” Hyejin shouts happily and Byul stops crying and claps his hands together. 

“Strangely enough, that sounds like a good idea,” Kiyoung says smiling and Chinwoo agrees. 

“Okay, we are one big family,” Jeongguk says, kissing Byul's face. 

“We are the best!” Jimin shouts and everyone laughs. 

After settling into the room and setting up the super bed, they go downstairs to greet Hoseok, Namjoon, Seokjin, and little Jinwoo who had arrived. 

Kiyoung jumps for joy when she sees the athlete she admires most and asks for an autograph on her cell phone cover, Hoseok is so surprised and shy that he can't stop smiling and his face turns as red as a tomato.  

Chinwoo almost cries when he sees Seokjin, the alpha is her biggest inspiration. The two of them soon engage in a conversation about clothes, drawings, and various subjects. 

Namjoon greets everyone, with Jinwoo on his hip, hiding in his neck and clinging to his shirt. Jimin suggests they go into the pool together with Hyejin and Byul, and the little one soon feels more at ease, playing in the water with the other puppies. 

Taehyung and Yoongi arrive soon after with Yeonhyun and Taehyun, their twin boys, and no doubt it was a grand entrance. The children came running in with their animated toy airplanes to show their uncles. 

The omega soon joins Jimin, Namjoon and their pups in the pool, leaving his husband to deal with their energetic children for the time being. Hyejin runs into his arms leaving Jimin completely jealous, but Byul gives him several little kisses so he won't be sad. 

At lunch, they are visited by Jimin and Jeongguk's parents who live in the area, and no doubt it was a big mess at dinner time. 

“Byul, don't put your finger in your mouth, love,” Jimin says, and the puppy bows his head, sad to disappoint him. 

“Come off it, Jimin. You put your whole foot in your mouth,” Jihye, Jimin's mother says.

“Eomma!”

“Don't run away from your sins, Jimin,” Jeongguk says and everyone laughs. 

“The dirty talking about the unwashed,” Jungkook’s mom, Nanhee, accuses him. “You were eating sand from the playground.”

“Dada, did you do that?” Hyejin asks, smiling with her hand over her mouth. 

“He did some worse things,” Kwan, Jeongguk's father says and then drinks some of the orange juice trying not to laugh.

“And all accompanied by his appa. The two were inseparable. They did crazy things together. Good times,” Jihyung, Jimin's father, comments, causing the table to fall in laughter again. 

Jimin smiles half-heartedly and looks at Jeongguk in front of him, who has a small smile on his lips. 

They feel an enormous nostalgia for that time, when they could still dream of being astronauts or historians, where they did not have to decide which path to follow in relation to their own feelings. 

But it's all in the past, and they need to focus on the future. 

When the alphas' parents leave, they promise to pay a visit to each other's home on their return. The alphas' friends were also invited to visit the homes of the elders sometime. All were treated very well and felt honored by the invitation. 

And of course, the alphas got a tug of ear from each parent for getting married in hiding, but they understood their motives and were fine as they got four new grandchildren. 

These grandchildren have legal custody of the alphas. When they received word from Haneul that the visits were always cause for praise among the guardianship council, it didn't take long for the judge to schedule a hearing and form a new family. 

They are now a family legally to the state.

Byul whimpers a little, for leaving Grandma Nanhee's lap, he was very warm with the teddy bear towel that Grandpa Kwan had embroidered. The only reason Hyejin did not agree to sleep at his grandparents' house was because he wanted to try out the super bed. Kiyoung and Chinwoo are extremely happy to have such loving grandparents. 

The puppies went for a nap before dinner with warm hearts and smiles on their faces. Unlike two certain alphas. 

“Jeongguk, can we talk?” Jimin asks softly to the alpha from the doorway. His friend was holding Hyejin on his lap. 

“Of course,” he hisses and gently places the puppy on the mattress, dribbling the other children between the mattresses. 

Jimin waits for him at the door feeling his palms sweat from nervousness. Jeongguk smiles when he sees him urging him to speak. 

“I thought we'd take a walk on the beach. The hyungs will keep an eye on the kids.”

“That's fine.”

Jeongguk has been waiting for this moment for weeks, or maybe years. He knew what conversation they would have, and he might be thanking heaven if his eyes hadn't been blinking with anxiety. 

They walk along the beach for several minutes. Side by side they enjoyed the view of the sky in shades of purple, pink and orange, the true picture that comforts anyones heart. The tidal sun calming their wolves and making them feel at ease with nature. 

Every now and then their hands bump into each other and they giggle like two shy teenagers discovering feelings for each other. And it's all good. 

That moment seemed right.

“I-“ They talk together. Jeongguk laughs and Jimin smiles embarrassed. They don't know how everything got so strange. 

“You may speak,” Jeongguk smiles and lets him begin. 

They stand side by side under the sand, their eyes fixed on each other, unable to miss any detail or spoken word. 

“I think I am a coward.”

“Why?”

“Because there are three words that I want to tell you that have never sounded so important in all our lives, and it could change everything. I am afraid of what we will be after it.”

“You have to tell us to try to think together differently,” Jeongguk interlaces their hands and kisses Jimin’s. 

“Wow, that's really weird,” he laughs. “Don't you want to talk first?”

Jeongguk smiles and agrees. 

“Before I begin, I want to say that you are the bravest man I have ever met. You are wonderful, my Jimin .”

“You are the most wonderful person and the one I am most proud of, my Jeongguk ,” he kisses him on the forehead.

Jeongguk feels the tears welling up in his eyes and takes a deep breath before saying:

“Okay... I love you, and I don't think it has ever felt so good to say that,” he sighs. “I have loved you for twenty years. And all that time, I thought it was wrong for various reasons, but it's not, and it's been poisoning me inside.”

“Jeongguk-“ 

“Let me explain, please,” Jimin agrees, feeling the tears streaming down his cheeks. “On our ten-year anniversary, you promised to be my everything, but you have always been my everything. From the moment I took my first breath to the last picture I see before I go to sleep, you are and always have been everything to me,” he smiles tearfully. “You must remember, when you saved me in the pool twenty years ago,” the other alpha agrees. 

“When I stopped breathing for a few seconds, my only thought was that I would leave you alone in this world and you could easily forget me, but when I opened my eyes, you were the first person I could see, I knew what I felt,” Jeongguk sobs in tears. 

“I came to love you, not as a brother or a best friend, but as a companion and lover, who I would want to be by my side for the rest of my life. And I was afraid that you didn't feel the same way, so I hid it from everyone, even from myself. Maybe I am not enough for you, because I am an alpha e-"

Jimin shuts him up with a kiss. A sweet, warm seal. An exchange of affection, which would be the first of many, they knew that. The alphas are crying with so much feeling involved. 

“You are more than enough for me, always have been,” he smiles and Jeongguk sheds more tears. “I. love. you,”Jimin says each word slowly as he strokes his alpha's lip with kisses. “I admire everything about you, and have ever since we were naughty little puppies,” they laugh.

 “You always knew how to tell me the right things, you were always my balance, and I felt afraid too. Not because we were alphas, but because I thought you didn't feel the same way, and I might push you about it, every time I looked into your eyes, I lost myself among the stars and it was that same galaxy I dreamed of every night,” Jeongguk sobs even more. Jimin had a completely red face and a huge smile. 

"All the pain I have felt until today has been healed by you, and I thank you for everything. I have loved you, since the creation of the universe. It may sound crazy, but my wolf has felt this since we were born and I avoided it, because it didn't seem right at the time."

"All the people who talked about us being like a couple, I could see how it made you uncomfortable. I should have opened up sooner, but I was a coward, and now I declare myself as yours, even though I always was . Hearing your words made everything so right for me, we were made for each other, and if fate wants us together, we should honor it.  

”Do you understand how much I love you now?” Jeongguk agrees smiling and throws himself into Jimin’s arms.

They embrace each other crying, and saying words of love, which have never been said aloud. Their wolves purring, simple and slow caresses, as if time had stopped for them. 

For their love, maybe so. 

“I love you, love you, love you. I promise I will always remind you that you are more than enough,” Jimin brings their foreheads together and whispers. “You're more than I asked the heavens for.”

“We are for each other, ” Jeongguk kisses him. “Our love has overflowed between our souls and we must enjoy every second from now on. I love you.”

So many years of seeing each other as just friends, and incredibly, just one moment was able to show them that they were born for each other. Sometimes we just need to be honest with ourselves to see that not everything can go wrong. 

Love is the most exciting and turbulent thing we can experience. And it's all right if we have that person on our side. 

လ

EPILOGUE 

It is a special day. The best day of Park Jeongguk and Park Jimin's lives.

It is the mating day of two more souls in love.

After declaring themselves to each other, the alphas were sure of one thing: they wanted to be each other's companion forever. At the registry office they were married, but the bonding of their souls was a single wish, a "marriage of souls”.

There was much congratulation at the news. The parents of the two almost cried with emotion, to see their puppies so big and finally together. Their friends threw a real party, with expensive wines and children in their grandparents' homes. Their puppies were completely shocked, and laughed because it had taken them so long to realize that they were made for each other. 

And they enjoyed it, every morning and night, with coffees in bed and pictures taken of that moment of happiness, nights with many promises that they would be one forever. 

They chose to set up a traditional mating, as was done with their ancestors, full of culture, magic and meanings. 

The marks were on their necks, exposed to the whole world, and as they were "engaged", they could bite their wrists to show that they already had a mate. And although there was fear because they were both alphas, scientifically it was possible for them to receive their marks without any risk of death; humanity had changed a long time ago. 

Five months after many preparations, much anxiety and much love, they went to the place designed for the ceremony. 

It was in the middle of the forest, a hut near the lake to welcome the guests and an altar among the variety of flowers. The colors of the environment were different shades of white, never too light, but not too dark. The food and beverage table was filled with various dishes for different tastes, and of course, a five-tier cake with two miniature wolves on top.

It's beautiful. Thats what they deserve: the most beautiful mating ever. 

They were away from each other for a day before the ceremony. Jimin stayed at Namjoon's house, biting his nails, with Kiyoung and Hyejin who were trying to calm the alpha. Taehyung gave up the house to Jeongguk, Chinwoo and Byul, barely able to sleep at night, only a video call for Jimin's voice to calm his wolf. 

On the day, they had a king's day. Bathed with the most scented soaps and creams, the most exquisite perfumes. The hairstyles were as simple as possible, but the most elegant. The clothes were unique to her son, Chinwoo, who designed and produced them in different shades of dark blue, they were placed well protected on the wardrobe door. 

Only family and close friends of the couple were invited, the mating was extremely restricted. 

They walk down the aisle together, holding hands and with their princess and her little dog by their side throwing petals in front dressed as a bridesmaid. 

“You look beautiful, angel,” Jimin whispers softly, kissing Jeongguk's hand. 

“You should look in the mirror, my love,” Jeongguk winks. 

The smile is huge on their faces. Big and bright. Their eyes watery with so much love.

They kiss Hyejin's forehead before she joins her siblings in the front row, Bam always at her side with his tie around his neck. 

“Welcome, my dear wolves,” begins the priest. “We are gathered here today for the union of your souls blessed by the gods. One day, they were alone,” the man joins the alphas' hands and rolls up a sacred robe, white and embroidered with golden linen that hold the stories of their ancestors. “But today, they become one for all eternity. From this union will grow harmony, respect, fidelity, health, joy, complicity, and love. This bond is sacred, not even the strongest man can break it,” He clasps his hands inside his cloak, Jeongguk didn't know when he started to cry and Jimin has never felt his wolf so serene. “Are you willing to accept each other, as companions, even with your qualities and faults?”

“I, Jeon Jeongguk, accept you as my companion for life,” Jeongguk says, smiling. 

“I, Park Jimin, accept you as my companion for life,” Jimin says even more radiantly. 

“May the blessings of the gods illuminate your paths,” the man kisses both hands, removes his handkerchief, and looks at the alphas smiling and nodding. 

They have his signal and don't waste a second. Jeongguk bare his neck first, Jimin approaches slowly, scenting and reassuring him, his nose smelling the alpha in all its glory through the odor gland. 

He strokes the younger one's back and when he feels Jeongguk more relaxed, he unclasps his fangs and sinks in. Jeongguk whimpers from the pain, but his wolf is howling with happiness. Jimin leaves a kiss in the area and takes a cloth from the side table to press on the mark.

“Are you all right?” he asks worriedly. Jeongguk nods, smiling and kissing his lips again, the audience was completely silent. 

Jimin smiles and shows his neck by holding both hands on his waist. Jeongguk follows a trail of kisses from his partner's lips to his gland. His wolf wagging his tail in ecstasy, he marks him, and nothing could ever make so much sense.

They feel each other. The rapid beating of their hearts, their thoughts, their feelings, all within their souls . 

Jeongguk smiles, holding Jimin's face between his hands, kissing his lips several times. Jimin could swear he heard a divine sound in his head, but it is only Jeongguk's wolf howling at his. 

Jeongguk widens his eyes when he sees the blood dripping on the alpha's collarbone and rushes to get a cloth and put it on his mark. They hug each other tightly in fear that it all looks like a lie. 

Now they are one. Body and soul. 

“For life,” the priest announces to everyone and there was a round of applause, whistling and shouting. 

They pass everyone, smiling and holding hands among white petals. In their most distinct dreams, that moment was perfect. 

After the ceremony, they exchange rings by formality at the party, under the watchful and emotional eyes of everyone. They hear the most sincere and humiliating speeches, but all with much love. 

The honeymoon was not decided, but they were sure of one thing, it should be the best of all and with their children, because that moment should be shared and eternalized with the whole family. 

Together, they are more than enough .