4
"You know", Taehyung's amused voice comes, startling Jungkook out of his thoughts. "Running off into the night alone isn't the smartest thing to do."
Jungkook looks up from the frozen leaves he had been staring at for who knows how long and sees his best friend dance out of the shadows, the first rays of sun making his silver hair shine almost blindingly. Taehyung's brown eyes glimmer with mirth Jungkook is all too familiar with, lips curved up in a lazy smirk.
"One might even say that a certain someone has managed to get under your skin."
"Shut up, Taehyung", Jungkook growls at that, brown eyes flashing gold in a warning Taehyung doesn't give a flying fuck about. Instead, the omega continues to taunt him because Taehyung knows—and goddamn him for that—that Jungkook would never raise a hand against him.
"Jiwoo was pretty shaken when I visited the infirmary a few moments ago", the silver head says, finally stopping to stand next to Jungkook. "And the mountain wolf was nowhere to be seen. Care to explain what you did?"
"What makes you think that I did something?"
Taehyung's smug smirk turns into something gentler, his eyes shining in the warm sunlight. "Well, Jiwoo never told me anything but I know you, Jungkook. You wouldn't run off for no reason—and now, I'm not blaming you. I'm just curious because something happened between you and the mountain wolf, I know something did. And I'd like to hear it from you rather than from someone else."
Jungkook is silent for a long moment, eyes studying Taehyung carefully. He trusts the silver-haired omega, of course, but this is something he's insecure about. And he doesn't want to burden his friend with his own worries when he knows that Taehyung has enough of them—but when the other looks at him like that, Jungkook can't really say no, now can he?
"We fought", he simply says, sighing as he recalls last nights incident. "I think we were both more than a little agitated and ended up taking our frustration on each other."
"That doesn't sound too bad", Taehyung comments, seeming genuinely surprised. "Considering you reacted so strongly. Are you sure that's all?"
No, Jungkook thinks right away. The fight isn't the only thing that bothers him—rather, it's the least of his worries.
What he should worry about is the effect the mountain wolf has on him. And the effect he seems to have on the small omega.
"Yeah", he still says to Taehyung, too scared to admit anything aloud. He doesn't want to acknowledge it.
The silver-haired omega obviously doesn't buy it, brown eyes narrowing in suspicion. So, Jungkook is quick to add: "I mean, it's not all, but whatever the rest is... I can't explain it. I don't even know what it's about myself, so..."
"I get it", Taehyung nods, resting a hand on Jungkook's shoulder. "It's complicated. Everything about this is complicated."
For once the silver-haired omega is right.
"But what did you guys fight about? You should try to stay on his good side, you know that, Jungkook. And he should try to stay on your good side, considering that you're the one practically keeping him alive." Taehyung sits down next to him, grumbling something about the cold ground under his breath.
"He doesn't want to live", the young alpha sighs, rubbing his temple in frustration. "And said that he's not interested in helping us either. And if that's the case, I really don't know if there's any point in even trying to keep the rest of the pack away from him—if death is what he wants then—"
"Stop right there", his best friend cuts him off, smacking Jungkook weakly on the head. "Are you seriously giving up?"
"Taehyung, his opinion matters the most. And if he's saying that he's not going to help us, what can I do? Other than put him out of his misery and help the pack to prepare for a fight because that'll certainly happen."
"Change his mind, Jungkook", Taehyung simply answers. "Make him want to live again."
Jungkook snorts at the thought because right now, the blonde omega doesn't want to be anywhere close to him—not that he would want to be close to the other either—so how is he supposed to try and change his mind?
"And how the hell do I do that?"
Taehyung smiles, obviously having expected the question.
"You could start by learning his name, Jungkook", he says. "And the rest will come on its own."
Jungkook never thought that learning someone's name could be this hard, but the mountain wolf is full of surprises.
When he returns to the infirmary later that day, ready to apologize both to Jiwoo and the omega, he doesn't expect the wet rag thrown at him. It smacks him right on the chest, making Jungkook growl in annoyance and when he looks up, equally annoyed heterochromic eyes stare back at him.
The mountain wolf bristles when their gazes meet, moving a little further away from Jungkook on his bed and Jiwoo, who's standing by the fireplace, sighs.
"There's food in the kitchen, Jungkook-ah. Why don't you go and eat first?" the healer says, her voice loud in the otherwise quiet house. "We'll talk then."
There's nothing to talk about—not between the alpha and Jiwoo—but Jungkook listens anyway because he can feel last nights irritation returning and he doesn't want to do anything rash even before fully stepping in.
The mountain wolf never removes his gaze from Jungkook, boring holes on the alpha's skin with his strange—and annoyingly pretty—eyes. Only once the alpha is inside the kitchen does he feel the tension in the atmosphere ease a little, Jiwoo's quiet voice filling in the silence again.
"Jungkook's a good guy, little one", he hears the healer say as he pours some stew for himself. "You should try and understand him a little more before throwing away his offer for safety. Because right now, he's the only one offering you that."
"I don't care", comes the mountain wolf's answer and Jungkook growls under his breath.
What an ungrateful brat, he thinks and deep inside, his wolf agrees. Though, the alpha side of him thinks that they should just make the omega submit and problem solved. Jungkook, however, knows that being forceful won't do any good in this situation—no matter how he would like to follow his wolf's suggestion.
He eats quickly and returns to the main area of the infirmary, mismatched eyes finding him right away. Jiwoo has gone upstairs apparently which once again, unfortunately, leaves Jungkook alone with the omega. But this time, the brunette alpha makes sure to stay away because he doesn't, really doesn't, want to repeat last night's mistakes.
The sweet scent of honeysuckles is almost overbearing in the air and Jungkook scrunches up his nose, trying not to breathe in too much of it, afraid of what it could end up doing to him.
"Hey", he starts after a long moment of silent glaring between them. "I'm sorry."
"About what?" the omega asks right away, tone angry and defensive.
Seriously?
"About last night. I didn't mean to... hurt you."
The blonde snorts, finally tearing his eyes away in favor of now glaring at the fire dancing in the hearth. "Don't think so highly of yourself, alpha. You didn't hurt me—wouldn't be able to do so, puppy."
Annoyance washes over Jungkook like a hurricane and he growls, loudly this time. No one has the right to call him puppy, especially not someone who's smaller than him. "Who are you calling a puppy, you little piece of shit?"
A smirk grazes the omega's lips. "Did I hit a nerve, baby-alpha?" he asks, sending Jungkook a look of amusement. "You can't hide your age from me. You're barely an adult, aren't you? Just matured."
"I'm twenty-one", Jungkook grits through his teeth. "And you yourself look like a kid—I mean just look at your hands. Whose hands are that small? Not an adult's, at least."
The mountain wolf's cheeks turn pink and his smirk falls off, annoyance returning to his face in a split second. "I'm twenty-three and older than you, so shut up."
"I have zero reasons to respect you, so you can't pull the hyung-card on me."
"As if I'd even want you to call me hyung."
"Whatever you say, little omega."
They stop there and Jungkook thinks it's better so, before they change the subject to something more hurtful. Like this, it almost seems okay—as if they didn't last night almost rip each other's throats open, that is. (As if he hadn't almost sunk his teeth into an unknown omega's neck and as if the other hadn't almost let him.)
"What's you name?" Jungkook then blurts out, very casually indeed, eyeing the other.
The blonde seems to be healing quickly despite saying that he doesn't want to live anymore; his skin has returned to its natural paleness—not the sickly pale Jungkook is used to seeing—and his eyes are brighter, livelier. He doesn't seem to have a fever either, though there are still bandages peeking from under his clothes, reminding the alpha how badly he had been hurt.
"None of your business", the omega answers him easily, eyes turned away. Jungkook swears he can see something akin to guilt flash in those colorful orbs, but it's soon replaced by a look of sadness that makes the alpha feel both awkward and sorry.
He can't help but think that if he had been faster, if he had noticed a little sooner, maybe he could've saved the other mountain wolf too.
"If you want", he begins again. "I could take you to the grave someday. To see your companion."
That's something that finally really piques the omega's attention. Mismatching eyes turn to Jungkook right away, full of surprise but also hesitation and doubt. Which is reasonable, Jungkook supposes, because until now the blonde hasn't been let out even once and he has no real idea where he even is. Surely the mountain wolfpacks don't know much about the forest wolves, so the omega most likely doesn't have any idea in what kind of a world he is in now.
"But I want to know your name before that", Jungkook adds, staring straight into the other's eyes to make sure his words have sunk in.
"And what else? To have me agree on whatever plans you have?" the omega asks, raising an unimpressed brow at Jungkook.
"Well, that would be ideal, but I know my limits." Unlike you, idiot. "Your name will do, for now."
The other lets out a chuckle that in any other situation might've sounded humorous but right now comes off lifeless and sardonic. "Keep trying, alpha."
Jungkook had expected an answer like that, so he just smiles weakly.
"Oh I will, omega."
Taehyung tags along with him the next time he leaves to go and visit the infirmary. It's been two days since the last time they talked and Jungkook would be lying if he said he wasn't curious to see what the omega has been up to while he's been gone.
"From what you told me, things went pretty well the last time", Taehyung says as they walk across the village. He's jumping up and down in excitement, buzzing with energy he can barely suppress. "You two didn't at least yell at each other, which is some progress, considering you almost had a physical fight with him."
Jungkook lets out a quiet sound of agreement.
"Hey, show some enthusiasm, Kookie. It's a good sign—it might mean that he's tired of constantly arguing with someone. Wolves aren't meant to be alone, you know?" Taehyung continues, poking Jungkook weakly on the shoulder.
"We get lonely easily."
The young alpha knows this, he knows it well. He lost half of his family in one night many winters ago and the silence of his home is a constant reminder of that. And his brother's, Seokjin's, suffering.
"Well, maybe it will be easier for him to befriend you, since you're an omega too", Jungkook says just as they arrive at the infirmary. "Just... give him some space, okay?"
Taehyung nods eagerly, a wide smile on his face, and Jungkook knows that none of his words have sunk in. Well, if the blonde omega bites, it's Taehyung's own fault.
He's surprised to see the mountain wolf up from his bed and even more surprisingly, he's with Jiwoo. From what Jungkook understands, it seems like Jiwoo is making some new ointments and the blonde is following her, heterochromic eyes full of curiosity the brunette alpha almost finds innocent.
The healer turns to brightly greet Jungkook and Taehyung, smiling at the two young wolves, before turning her head back towards the bowl in front of her.
"Sometimes when the medicine brought from the human cities runs out, we have to return to the old times and make our own. It's hard at winter because we forest wolves rely heavily on plants and herbs that bloom in the summer—but I always make sure to preserve some. Just in case", Jiwoo is telling the mountain wolf when Jungkook walks past, going straight to the kitchen.
It's a habit of his and he still doesn't know why exactly he does that—maybe it's because he needs a moment to collect himself or maybe it's because he wants to give the mountain wolf some time to get used to his presence. Because Jungkook knows that just like the blonde omega's presence affects him, his affects the other.
And he's pretty sure they don't want to find out what that means.
"I'm a little curious though... what plants do you use up at the mountains? Does anything bloom there when winter comes?"
"There's always snow on the ground where I live", comes the mountain wolf's quiet answer just when Jungkook comes to stand by the kitchen doorway once again, watching the other. This time the blonde barely glances at him before looking at Taehyung, who has taken a seat by the fireplace.
"That must be horrible", the silver-haired omega comments, absently eyeing the fire. "Don't you ever get to enjoy the feeling of grass or earth under your pawns?"
Heterochromic eyes give Taehyung an unimpressed look. "By the roots of the mountains, yes."
"And that's enough for you?"
"Wolves were created for winter, it's our best season", the blonde omega answers, frowning at the look of indifference on Taehyung's face. "You forest wolves are the abnormal ones, shying away from your own nature."
"Well now, don't fight, you two", Jiwoo cuts in, patting the mountain wolf carefully on the shoulder and Jungkook half expects the other to freak out but surprisingly, he doesn't. Which is process.
"Times have changed, and wolves change too. We readjust ourselves according to our surroundings, that's just how it goes. Mountain wolves and forest wolves chose different paths and there was nothing wrong with that. Don't fight about something that's only natural."
"You're right about us walking on different paths", the blonde omega sighs, walking away from Jiwoo to glance out of the window. "But that just goes to say how different we are."
"We're all still wolves, little one—"
"But we're different", the healer is rather rudely interrupted, the mountain wolf's eyes flashing in annoyance Jungkook is all too familiar with. "I have zero interest in the feud between you and that other pack, but you forest wolves just can't play fairly, now can you? Why do you always have to get us involved? We never bring our problems upon you so why the fuck do you have to do this to us?"
To me, are the words Jungkook hears.
"This isn't our pack's fault", Taehyung growls at that, standing up from his position and Jungkook can't understand where all the earlier enthusiasm has disappeared to. But he does know that Taehyung is extremely protective of their pack, just like him, and can't stand someone talking ill of them.
"Jungkook saved your life and is trying to save many others too. The ones you should blame are the wolves from the pack across the road, not ours. If you want to revenge your companion—"
"I don't want to revenge her", the mountain wolf once again cuts in, his tone sharp like a knife but quiet and in a way, gentle. "The thirst for revenge destroys people, I've seen it, and I don't want someone's blood in my hands knowing that they could've had someone waiting for them at home. I don't want to tear families apart. I'm not like you."
That renders everyone silent and the annoyance in the mountain wolf's eyes dissolves into bitter sadness Jungkook has seen before. He knows that it's not just the death of his companion the blonde is talking about—Jungkook knows that hatred, sorrow, like this comes from years of being in pain.
"Have the forest wolves done something to you before?" the brunette alpha can't help but ask quietly, carefully.
The omega lets out a snort, his back turned at them. "You forest wolves have taken everything from me." There's a short pause before he continues, tone rough with anger. "But wolves are greedy creatures."
Glimmering eyes turn towards Jungkook, one holding the warmth of summer and the other the cold of winter.
"And life is never fair."
For once, Jungkook can do nothing but agree with the mountain wolf.
"He's a troublesome one, for sure", Seokjin says to him when Jungkook returns back home that night. His brother is standing in the kitchen, warming up last nights soup for dinner, his broad back and caramel-like scent a sign of familiarity Jungkook readily welcomes.
"Maybe I should go and knock some sense in his head. Troubling a baby like you..."
"Hyung", Jungkook whines. "I'm not a baby."
His older brother turns to give him an amused look, warm brown eyes twinkling. "How dare you even suggest something like that while whining? Try again, Jungkook."
The young alpha just rolls his eyes at that, ignoring Seokjin's teasing in favor of turning his attention on the warm food. He's missed his hyung's cooking, having been way too busy lately to truly eat anything but dried meat and bread in the forest.
While thinking about how sad his absence has made Seokjin who no one else really visits—not at their house, at least—he can't help but also think about the mountain wolf. Does he miss his home food? Is there someone waiting for him to return like Seokjin always waits for Jungkook?
"You've taken away my reason for living."
Or, he wonders, remembering the omega's bitter words. Is he alone now?
Is he alone like Jungkook and Seokjin once were? Will he have to return to an empty, cold house, sit down by a table too big for one and lie in a bed made for two?
Don't leave him alone, don't leave him alone, don't leave him alone, is the chant in Jungkook's mind and it keeps getting louder the more he thinks about the sorrow in those heterochromic eyes. The pain in them.
"I think he's just scared", he says aloud quietly, earning a questioning look from Seokjin.
"Who?"
"The mountain wolf", Jungkook explains. "I think he's just scared." And maybe a little lonely, too.
His older brother looks at him for a while before smiling, his smile warm like the fire dancing in the hearth. "Of course he's scared, Jungkook. Wouldn't you be in his situation?"
The younger hums, nodding. He would be scared shitless if he'd be alone in the mountains, hurt and aware of how hated he is there.
"But it's been a month already and he has had some time to calm down. He must know, by now, that we're not trying to kill him", Seokjin continues, turning to look out of the kitchen window into the dark night with a thoughtful look on his face. "And considering that both you and Jiwoo—now Taehyung too—have explained the situation to him, I don't think his anger is really all that justified. Or at least, it shouldn't be directed at you."
"He has no one else to blame", Jungkook points out. "And I can't point fingers either, because I don't know who attacked him."
Seokjin turns his gaze back on him, a smile still on his lips and amusement clear in his eyes. "You care about him."
It's not a question, Jungkook realizes right away. The older one is talking like he'd be stating simple facts, and the brunette alpha finds it terrifying how he can't bring himself to refute Seokjin.
"I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, as long as you keep it under control. Don't get too fond of him; the mountain wolf isn't here to stay."
"I'm not fond of him—" the younger man starts but he's quickly cut off by the older.
"You don't have to make excuses in front of me, I know you too well for that, Jungkook. And I'm serious when I say that it's not a bad thing to care for others—rather, it's a trait I wish more people would have, especially in this pack." Seokjin's smile turns sad and even before he continues, Jungkook knows who he's thinking about.
"You're a lot like our father, Jungkook, and it's a good thing because he was a great alpha. But this kindness... that's from mom."
I know, the younger of the brothers thinks, answering the omega's sad smile with one of his own. You've said that many times before.
"I'm glad you're not afraid to share this kindness of yours with a stranger, a wolf from another pack nonetheless, but seriously, be careful", Seokjin tells in a quiet, gentle tone. "I personally like to think that kindness is a strength only a few possess, but it's also a weakness, Jungkook. Because the more you care, the more pain you'll feel once you have to let go."
He thinks about Seokjin's words a lot that night.
It's not the first time the older has warned him like this. One summer when he was nine, Namjoon and his father took them to the closest human city, and Jungkook had seen an injured stray dog and wanted to take it in—and he would have, if Seokjin hadn't warned him about all the diseases the dog possibly had and that it wouldn't be possible to take care of it in the middle of their own troubles.
"You'd grow too attached to it", his older brother had said with a strict tone. "I don't want to be the one to wipe away your tears once some disease takes the best of it."
Back then, Jungkook had thought that his brother was just being cruel. Later he realized that Seokjin hadn't just wanted to see him cry again.
Then, once when he was twelve, Jungkook fell in love. Or, he had thought that it was love.
The omega's name was Youngjae and the twelve-year-old Jungkook thought that there was no one else in this world with a smile as pretty as Youngjae's.
"Oh Jungkook", Seokjin had warned him when the younger told him about his crush. "That little omega boy has eyes set for someone else already, so don't get your hopes too high or you'll get hurt."
Jungkook, once again, had thought that his brother was talking nonsense because he had never seen Youngjae look at an alpha before. But it took only two weeks until he had come to the realization that Seokjin was right—Youngjae had eyes for someone else and that was Jaebum, an alpha two years older than Jungkook.
Now when he thinks about it, he finds it ridiculous. Jaebum and Youngjae are literally the perfect pair and if anything, Jungkook's glad he didn't mess with that.
But he's not sure if Seokjin's warning really applies for this situation. He doesn't care for the mountain wolf enough for that. He's not fond of the other—if anything, the omega is fucking annoying and obviously takes pleasure in making Jungkook feel as miserable as possible. He can't possibly be fond of the mountain wolf.
Still, when Jungkook in the morning leaves to visit the infirmary before his turn to be on patrol, he's shocked by the wave of relief that washes past him when the omega right away glares at him.
It's something familiar, he realizes, offering a small smile at the smaller wolf. The anger directed at him is something Jungkook can deal with—unlike the bitter sadness he had seen yesterday.
"I can take you to the grave tonight", he says, deciding to rather stay by the door because that's all Jungkook is there to discuss.
"I'm not telling you my name—"
"You don't need to", Jungkook interrupts and surprise flashes past the omega's face.
"What?"
"I said that you don't need to tell me your name. I'll take you the grave tonight to visit your companion if you want to—and if you're willing to take the risk of going out. That's also why I'd appreciate if we go at night when there are less people outside."
Stunned silence follows his suggestion and the anger in the omega's eyes turns into honest confusion that Jungkook almost finds cute.
"Why?" the blonde speaks after a moment. "Why would you do that for me?" Why do that when you get nothing in return? is the question Jungkook knows the other wants to ask.
"Because it's only fair", he says lamely before continuing. "And I think that it would help you to... be a little less lonely."
The frown and glare are quick to return, an offended pout on the mountain wolf's lips. "Who the fuck are you calling lonely, you big-ass baby?"
"The person who keeps calling me a baby although he's like a head shorter. And ten times smaller in general", Jungkook counters easily. "I'll come and pick you up around midnight, be ready to go out then or I'll ditch you. And no more playing nice after that."
"You've said that before too", the blonde omega snorts just as Jungkook opens the door to leave. "Yet here you are, offering kindness to someone you shouldn't."
Jungkook winces when he realizes how right the other is—he did say that he'd stop playing nice with him, but for his defense, he was angry then. And hurt and tired. Just like the person sitting behind him, curled in a fluffy blanket with eyes boring holes on Jungkook's back.
"Well, contrary to you", he says, glancing back. "I don't hate your guts like you hate mine."
The mountain wolf doesn't say anything to that, just gives Jungkook a long, unreadable look and watches as the alpha leaves. Only after the door has closed behind Jungkook does the blonde speak again.
"I don't hate your guts, alpha. I hate how you make me feel."
Like promised, Jungkook returns at midnight, wrapped in a thick coat and a long scarf he thinks belonged to his mother at some point. Too bad her scent has long faded away and Jungkook can't even remember exactly what she smelled like—only that it was a good scent, a really good one he loved very dearly.
As expected, the mountain wolf is still wide awake when he opens the door. The blonde is sitting on his bed like hours before, wrapped in an old sweater Jiwoo must've borrowed him and looking ready to go, albeit a little nervous.
His mismatched eyes turn to Jungkook as soon as the door opens and silently the alpha motions him to come. It seems like there's no one out right now, no one else but the night patrols that are checking on their borders, so it should be okay for them to go.
The mountain wolf moves up, grimacing almost unnoticeably—a clear sign of how he's still healing. But despite this, he moves gracefully, almost as if he was dancing to a melody no one else can hear.
As soon as he's out, the omega takes in a sharp breath of the crisp night air, eyes blown wide. Jungkook expects him to show fear, to maybe ask him to just forget this whole thing because surely the dozen different scents in the air must affect him—but instead of that, the mountain wolf just turns to him with a scowl on his face.
"Why the fuck do you guys smell so bad?" he asks, sounding almost hurt by this.
Jungkook isn't offended because he thinks that some alphas in his pack really do have an unappealing scent. Rather, he's amused and quietly laughs at the other's reaction. "You tell me."
Something in his relaxed attitude seems to help the omega relax too, his narrow shoulders shagging down. "Smells like old socks out here. I can barely even smell the actual air."
"Understandable", the brunette alpha laughs a little more.
He's used to his pack's smell and isn't the least bothered by it—and he's pretty sure the omega is exaggerating anyway because if you ignore some of the individual scents in the air, his pack smells like pine trees and earth after rain. And it's a good scent, to Jungkook at least, but then again, the mountain wolf might not like it.
Jungkook still remembers the weird wintery scent the blonde carried when they first met—the scent of coldness that is gone now because the other hasn't been around his own pack. Instead, he now smells like Jiwoo's herbs and ointments and honeysuckles. Like always.
They walk in silence, Jungkook a little ahead of the mountain wolf. He's half expecting the other to attempt to escape but surprisingly, he doesn't. He follows Jungkook obediently to the outskirts of their village where their pack members are laid to rest under trees that are all older than a hundred years. It's not a graveyard, not really, but it's as close to it as you can get in the forest.
The most freshly dug one is by Jungkook's family grave, of course. There's a thin layer of snow on top of the pile of soil but the flowers are fresh—Seokjin's work, the alpha thinks right away, because recently he hasn't had enough time to visit the grave.
"Honeysuckles?" the omega asks quietly when he sees the flowers, his tone almost fragile. The brunette alpha feels bad when the other falls on his knees on the ground, hesitant hands coming to brush some snow off the grave. "How did you know it was her favorite?"
"We didn't", Jungkook quickly answers. "It was just a guess, because you..."
"Because I what?" The mountain wolf turns to look at him, obviously attempting to glare but it comes of a lot softer than he even knows.
Jungkook shakes his head, embarrassed. He can't just tell the other that it's because he smells like honeysuckles, now can he? That could sound really creepy.
"Nothing", he ends up saying. "There's just this small tree of them close by and because it's small, it reminded me of you. And at this time of the year, there are really no other flowers to bring."
The other is obviously not buying it, but he lets it go, not even bothering to point out how Jungkook just indirectly called him small. Instead, the blonde omega turns his gaze back on the grave and sighs quietly, fingers dancing on the white flowers.
"You said we—does that mean someone else comes here too?"
"Uh... yeah, my brother. He comes here every other day to visit our parents; he's the one who brought those flowers here today too, Jin is nice like that."
"Your parents? Are they...?"
"Dead?" Jungkook asks and the omega nods shortly, lips pursed.
"Yeah, they are. Have been for some time, now."
The brunette alpha comes to kneel next to the mountain wolf, trying not to flinch when their shoulders touch. In favor of not freaking out about the sudden close proximity—and how he's not being pushed away—Jungkook turns his gaze towards the grave as well.
"They died when I was seven and my brother twelve. It was an accident", he quietly tells, feeling the omega's eyes on him once again. But this time, those eyes don't hold hatred but understanding. "There's a lake close by here and usually in the winters the ice is thick enough for us to walk on it. But not that winter, no..."
Jungkook tries not to think about the warning screams of his mother, tries not to think about the cold that stung like a million knives, tries not to think about the pitch-black water, and her screams, her screams, god if he had just listened to her then maybe—
"I lost my parents when I was young, too", the mountain wolf's gentle, melodious voice cuts through Jungkook's thoughts, bringing him back to reality and there's no words to describe how thankful the alpha is for that.
He turns to glance at the other only to find that the heterochromic eyes are already fixated on him, and he's shocked by the warm understanding in them.
"Actually, I don't even really remember them, so I guess I'm lucky. I have nothing to miss now, unlike you."
"That's one way to think about it", Jungkook mumbles, smiling weakly. "But I'm glad I knew them. I'm glad I got to love them, too."
The mountain wolf smiles too and it's the first time Jungkook has seen a feeling so genuine cross the other's face. His eyes leave Jungkook, but the alpha doesn't turn away, watching how the amber in one eye burns with warmth and the universe in the other shines with a million stars.
"Jimin", the omega suddenly says, tone barely audible.
Dumbfounded, Jungkook tilts his head to the side. "H-huh?"
An amused smile is offered at him, the mismatching eyes glimmering with both sadness and mirth.
"My name", he says. "It's Jimin."
It takes a long minute for Jungkook to comprehend the other's words, Jimin's words, and in that long minute he never looks away and neither does Jimin.
"That's a nice name—"
"This doesn't mean that we're friends", he's cut off, Jimin's heterochromic eyes turning towards the cloudless sky. "You're still an enemy to me, Jungkook."
Now the alpha smiles, feeling amused by the defiance in the blonde's tone—in Jimin's tone. God, now that he knows the other's name, he can't get it off his tongue.
"Whatever you say, Jimin."
Half an hour later they're standing by the infirmary door again. Jungkook's quietly watching Jimin as the blonde omega eyes the dark forms of the mountains far away from them, obvious longing in his eyes.
"You know", the brunette alpha says. "If you just do as I say, you'll get back home in no time."
Chuckling at his words, Jimin turns to send him an amused look. "Please, I'm not going to follow an alpha's orders. Especially not a baby-alpha's."
Jungkook scowls but decides to not say anything so they won't get into a loud argument—not when anyone could hear and if they see him like this, speaking with the mountain omega like they'd be something close to friends, Jungkook would lose his reputation completely.
Jimin seems to sense his worry and the smile on his lips fades away. "I won't tell anyone that you took me out", the blonde omega says then, walking past Jungkook to get to the infirmary door.
The way he shivers and holds onto his right side doesn't go past the brunette alpha, who feels relieved that they left when they did—Jiwoo would kill him if he ended up worsening Jimin's wounds.
"I'm not worried about that", he tries to deny but Jimin's not stupid, that much Jungkook has learned. "I just—"
"No need to make excuses for me", the omega cuts in, his tone changing from the soft melodious one Jungkook actually likes to that defensive, sardonic one he hates. "I know pride is everything for alphas."
It's not, the brunette wants to deny, but in the end, he doesn't. Jungkook has no reason to deny anything when Jimin is only right.
"Vanilla", the said omega suddenly mutters, his mismatching eyes meeting Jungkook's brown ones for a moment. "That's the scent."
"What?" the alpha asks, once again confused.
"I thought you smelled a little different tonight", Jimin explains, quietly opening the door behind. "And I realized what it was. Vanilla. You smell like vanilla and jasmine flowers."
"O-oh..."
Jimin gives him a look of amusement and Jungkook's not sure if he imagines the warmth in those mismatching eyes. "Well anyway, go to sleep, alpha. You'll need your energy tomorrow."
"Right", Jungkook nods slowly. "Goodnight, Jimin—"
The door closes behind the omega and he's left to stand alone in the darkness, surrounded by the scent of honeysuckles and maybe, if Jungkook really tries, he can smell a hint of vanilla and jasmine flowers as well.
Ah yes, he muses, burying his nose in the scarf as he turns around to head back to his own house. Mother's scent. Vanilla and jasmine flowers. How could I forget?
Vanilla to him, is the scent of warmth and safety, and the scent of jasmine reminds him of kind smiles and gentle touches. To Jungkook, vanilla and jasmine flowers mean home.
And honeysuckles, they mean mysterious smiles, stubbornness, and eyes that hold the whole universe in them.
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