chapter 3

Morning Misery

Taetae whimpered into her pillow, the sharp cramp in her lower abdomen making her curl into a tight ball. The first telltale stickiness between her thighs confirmed it—her period had arrived.

She hated this. Hated the bloating, the pain, the way her body betrayed her every month.

But most of all, she hated how helpless it made her feel.

A knock at her bedroom door.

"Baby."

Taehyung’s voice was a low growl, already laced with impatience. When she didn’t answer, the door swung open.

Her brother filled the doorway, his obsidian eyes scanning her crumpled form under the sheets. His nostrils flared—he could smell it. The metallic tang of blood, the sweetness of her pain.

"You’re bleeding."

Not a question. A fact.

Taetae buried her face deeper into the mattress. "Go away, Oppa."

A dangerous pause. Then—

"No."

The mattress dipped as Taehyung sat beside her, his massive hand pressing against her lower stomach. The heat of his palm seeped through her thin sleep shirt, easing the ache just a fraction.

"Hurts?"

She nodded weakly.

His thumb rubbed slow circles. "I’ll fix it."

Blood & Devotion

Taehyung didn’t ask permission.

He never did.

One arm hooked under Taetae’s knees, the other behind her back, and suddenly she was cradled against his chest, her face pressed into the curve of his neck.

"O-Oppa—!"

"Shhh." His breath was hot against her temple as he carried her to the bathroom. "Let me take care of you."

The bathroom lights were too bright. Taetae squirmed as Taehyung set her on the counter, his hands already peeling off her sleep shorts.

The stain was dark. Obscene.

Her face burned. "I can do it myself—"

"No." His fingers hooked into the waistband of her panties, pulling them down her thighs. "Look at you… all messy for me."

Taetae’s breath hitched as he exposed her fully, her thighs glistening with a mix of slick and blood.

She expected disgust.

Instead, Taehyung moaned.

The Ritual

"So pretty," he murmured, spreading her legs wider. "Even like this."

His touch was methodical—a wet cloth first, wiping away the evidence of her pain with maddening slowness. Every stroke lingered too long, his fingers brushing her inner thighs, the crease of her hips, daring to dip between her folds—

Taetae jolted. "Oppa, that’s—!"

"Sensitive?" He smirked, pressing the pad of his thumb against her clit through the soaked fabric. "I know."

Then he pulled away, leaving her panting.

The new pad crinkled as he unfolded it, his fingers smoothing it into place between her legs with terrifying tenderness.

"There." His palm rested possessively over her mound, applying just enough pressure to make her gasp. "All clean."

But she wasn’t.

She’d never be clean again.

Possession Manifest

Taetae expected him to leave then.

He didn’t.

Instead, Taehyung carried her back to bed, tucking her under the sheets before stripping off his shirt and climbing in beside her.

"Wh-What are you—?"

"You’re clingy when you bleed," he said simply, pulling her back against his bare chest. "I’m giving you what you need."

And he was right.

The moment his skin touched hers, Taetae melted, her body instinctively seeking his warmth. His arms locked around her like iron bands, one hand splayed over her aching stomach, the other tangling in her hair.

"Mine," he whispered into her neck, biting down just hard enough to mark. "Even your pain belongs to me."

Outside, rain began to fall.

Inside, Taetae surrendered.

...End of Chapter 3...

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