ALL IN BLOOM || VMINKOOK ?

JUNGKOOK POV

Jungkook had heard Joon, Jin, and Cinder were visiting the palace with the triplets.

But the first he saw of them was Cinder making a beeline for him, his face like thunder.

"What's wrong?" he asked him.

"Are the kids okay?"

The question seemed to take some of the wind out of Cinder's sails.

"They're fine. Namjoon and Jin have them. I was meeting with your omega candidates."

"The king asked me to."

"Is there a problem?"

"You mean like them being tormented by a group of spiteful betas?"

"Then, yeah, I'd say you have a big problem on your hands."

"What were you thinking?"

Aware there were people within earshot, Jungkook drew Cinder to a quiet corner.

"What betas? What are you talking about?"

"Are you seriously telling me you don't know? After Joon told you all about what the betas did during his contest?"

Cinder shook his head. "What did you think would happen when you singled the omegas out during your ball."

"I didn't—"

"You kissed one. And gave second dances to a handful of others. The betas aren't blind, Jungkook. They noticed."

"And they have been taking their displeasure out on those omegas Not one of them has had a night sleep since the ball."

"Half of them came down with food poisoning after someone spiked the breakfast juice, and now they're afraid to touch the food."

"Those omegas you singled out at the ball, every one of them had an unpleasant trap left in their bedroom the morning after."

"The guides are no help, they won't listen. This is a targeted and deliberate campaign against the omegas, designed to make them tired, hungry, afraid, and miserable."

"Half of them just want to go home and the others are furious. The betas aren't just tormenting them, they're winding them up."

"Sooner or later, one of the omegas is going to lash out, and they'll get the blame, not the betas inciting all this."

Jungkook just stared at the omega, aware this was the most he'd ever heard Cinder speak outside of the topic of horses.

"This is the first I've heard of any of this," he said truthfully.

Cinder scoffed. "Yeah, I'm getting that. I thought you wanted more input on your courtship."

"I thought you wanted control. Right now, it looks like the betas are running the show and the guides are letting them."

"You wouldn't tolerate this in the navy, are you really going to stand for it during the most important event of your life?"

"You're right. And I don't like bullies. I'll handle it, I promise."

Cinder's angry scowl became a smile. "Good. And you'd better. I'll be checking in with them." He went to walk away but paused.

"That omega you kissed. Jimin..." He hesitated.

"What about him?"

"I don't know. There's just some thing different about him.You like him?"

Jungkook shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "There's something about him."