6
When Yoongi comes to get him in the morning, a dark look on his face, he knows he's in some kind of trouble.
"The pack-leader wants to talk with you", the older alpha says curtly, motioning Jungkook to follow. There's no time to waste.
Honestly, Jungkook isn't too surprised. He's been expecting a call like this for a while now. Usually the pack-leader would have called for him earlier but in her weakened state, Jiwoo and Namjoon haven't been all that willing to let anyone in to give her all the needed time to rest.
She must be feeling better now, Jungkook muses as he gets up, Jimin's gaze heavy on him. The other is sitting on his bed next to the alpha, mismatching eyes confused and maybe even slightly concerned. It could be contempt too, but he prefers to look at the brighter side of things, thanks to Taehyung rubbing on him.
"I'll be back later", Jungkook tells the blonde omega, not entirely sure why he suddenly feels the need to reassure the other, but he knows he's said the right thing when Jimin's shoulders relax. "Go eat something while I'm gone."
That brings a displeased look on Jimin's face and he huffs, turning away from Jungkook. "Don't tell me what to do, puppy."
Yoongi scoffs but he sounds almost amused by the defiance in Jimin's tone and even the brunette alpha himself can't help but chuckle.
"Whatever you say, shorty."
The smile on Jimin's face is almost genuine, Jungkook thinks, when he turns to glance at the alphas before they head out. He looks small and cozy like that, hiding in his blanket with soft platinum hair a mess, eyes lacking the hardness they usually hold. The air smells like honeysuckles and for the first time, like something warm too.
Jimin looks like he belongs here and Jungkook can almost forget that Jimin belongs everywhere else but with them.
Almost.
"You two are getting along better", Yoongi comments as they make their way through the village and towards the pack-leader's hut.
"Yeah, I guess... I mean, I hope so", Jungkook only shrugs his shoulders, not entirely sure if this can be called progress—though, at this point, he's sure anything that doesn't involve yelling and getting yelled at with Jimin, is progress of some kind.
"It's a good thing. Maybe he'll be more willing to tell his pack not to attack us if he has a friend here."
At that, Jungkook can only grimace. He hasn't decided yet what to tell Namjoon or the pack-leader about Jimin possibly not even returning back to the mountains once they let him go—hasn't decided if he's going to tell about it at all. How is he even supposed to? They probably wouldn't believe him because no sane wolf leaves their pack, not in the middle of winter of all times.
"Jiwoo told me that he's healing well too, should be able to leave soon. That's another good thing—his pack has been getting restless."
What? Jungkook almost trips over his own legs. "His pack – what?"
Yoongi looks at him funny. "Didn't you hear what the morning patrol found?"
The way the older alpha speaks sends shivers down Jungkook's spine. There's a warning edge in Yoongi's tone, a clear sign that there's something wrong—that something has changed—and suddenly being called to meet the pack-leader seems like a death sentence.
Something is going on, involving Jimin's pack and the blonde omega and now, quite possibly, Jungkook too. Because he's the one who brought Jimin to them.
"I – no, I was at the infirmary the whole night and morning, and you know no one else ever comes there."
"A mountain wolf, or wolves, we aren't too sure, had been very close to our border last night. No one saw anything, but the scent was there", Yoongi tells and Jungkook can feel his gut twist uncomfortably. "I think they're looking for their lost pack members—which is why we need to speed things up and let the omega go as soon as possible."
"But Jimin said—" this time, Jungkook cuts himself off, feeling stupid. His words will lose all their weight as soon as he brings Jimin up, he knows, so he decides that it's better to not say anything. Despite, if Yoongi's right, if the mountain wolves truly had come to them, that means Jimin was lying.
His pack is looking for him.
"Were you going to say something?" the older alpha turns to him with a questioning look, having missed Jungkook's words.
"Ah, no..." he can only shake his head, no longer knowing what he can say—what he can trust and what he can't.
Yoongi gives him a look that clearly tells that he doesn't believe a thing, but the older alpha doesn't also push it, which Jungkook appreciates. And before they can continue talking about this topic, the brunette alpha makes sure to change it into something that will certainly take Yoongi's attention away from him and from Jimin, too.
"So, how's Junghwa doing? Everything alright with you guys?"
Yoongi might not like talking about himself a lot, reserved and calm by nature, but he sure loves talking about his omega mate, Junghwa. Jungkook never thought the two would end up together since they're so different, one is outgoing and always energetic, the other rather lazy and serious—but opposites work, and Yoongi and Junghwa have been happily mated for three years now. And expecting their first pup, too.
"We're good. She's perfect, like always", Yoongi answers, a dreamy look in his eyes.
It almost makes Jungkook snicker because damn, Yoongi's whipped, but he's also kind of jealous. So far, none of the omegas or betas in his pack have piqued his interest so he isn't expecting to find a mate for himself in a long time. He might have to look outside of the pack too, although, that's never a choice many approve of.
Not that anything Jungkook's been doing lately has gained approval from his packmates.
"The pregnancy is going well too, I take it?" he asks, genuinely interested. Junghwa is the sister of one of his close beta friends, Hoseok, so he has known her quite long too. It's too bad he doesn't have a lot of time to visit her or her brother these days.
"Yeah. I mean, she's pregnant so of course she's cranky and emotional, but I'm pretty used to it by now. And last night the pup started kicking too." The way Yoongi's tone has turned so soft and loving reassures Jungkook that everything will be fine with the older alpha and his family.
"That's very good to hear, Yoongi-ah, but don't call your mate cranky. I'd call it being hormonal", a new, amused voice chimes in and both Jungkook and Yoongi lift their gazes to the older omega standing by the front door of the pack-leader's hut.
"Minseok-hyung", Jungkook greets, bowing his head slightly, Yoongi following his lead.
"Ah, there's no need for that. We're all friends here, aren't we?" Minseok chuckles, patting Jungkook on the head gently. The air around him smells like milk and warmth, the distinguishable scent of a parent. "You're coming to meet my sister, right?"
Being the pack-leader's younger brother automatically makes Minseok a high-ranking and well-respected person in their pack, but the omega is also the mate of Changmin, an older alpha who has been working directly under the pack-leader for years. Also, the fact that Minseok has given them many, healthy pups might also have something to do with everyone adoring him and his children to bits.
Talking about his pups, Jungkook can see a familiar round face peek from behind the older omega.
"Chaeyoung", he calls out softly, crouching down to be on the child's level. "It's been a while, little one."
Chaeyoung is Minseok and Changmin's second eldest child, and definitely Jungkook's favorite. He doesn't spent a lot of time with pups, doesn't have the time for it, but Taehyung does and occasionally he tags along. Right now, his pack has a record number of young kids and out of them all, Chaeyoung is the calmest and wisest. It's obvious that she's taking after her carrier's kindness.
But she's also extremely shy and that's why Jungkook isn't surprised when she fully hides behind her parent.
Minseok just chuckles. "I'm sorry. She was just sick and is still a bit off her tracks—you know she really likes you, Jungkook-ah."
"I know", the young alpha nods, not offended. "Is everything good with her now? And everyone else from your kids?"
Minseok nods, his smile wide and reassuring. Behind him, Chaeyoung lets out a whine.
"Smells weird", she mumbles, almost inaudible. "Kookie smells weird."
The child's parent tilts his head in confusion at the same time with Jungkook. "Hm? What did you say, sweetheart?"
"He smells sweet."
"Jungkook's best friend is an omega, honey. Taehyung is—"
"It's not Taetae's scent, mommy!" Chaeyoung cuts Minseok off rather loudly, now peering at Jungkook almost accusingly. "He smells like those flowers that grow close to grandma's grave!"
"Honeysuckles?" Minseok blinks his eyes and turns to Jungkook, confused. But before the brunette alpha can come up with a valid excuse to as why he smells like Jimin—and most likely stutter and completely fail at trying to sound smart—Namjoon comes to his rescue, stepping outside of the pack-leader's hut with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Jungkook, Yoongi, the head-alpha is waiting", Namjoon says before turning to shortly greet his uncle. "If you don't mind, Minseok-hyung, I'll be stealing these two from you."
"Oh, not at all", Minseok just smiles and pulls Chaeyoung gently out of the way, so Jungkook and Yoongi can enter. The younger alpha makes sure to send the omega and his child an apologetic smile, feeling like he has caused trouble again—but Minseok brushes it off and Chaeyoung looks everywhere else than at him.
"She's got a crush on you", Yoongi snickers when they're far enough for no one else to hear. "And obviously didn't like the fact that you smell like an unknown omega."
"Jimin's scent is a stranger's scent to her, obviously I'm not expecting her to like it", Jungkook mumbles, a little embarrassed himself. "I mean, he's from a different pack and all that."
Yoongi snorts and Jungkook swears even Namjoon laughs at him.
"Yeah, and all that. Good talk, puppy."
"Hey!" Jungkook lets out a sound of complaint, cheeks turning red. One person calling him that is enough, his friends don't need to do it too.
"What?" Yoongi raises a brow at him, his smile teasing. "It's what Jimin calls you."
Jungkook wants to complain, wants to growl and warn the other alpha not to say it like that, not to say Jimin's name so carelessly, jokingly—but he knows better and keeps his mouth shut. And despite, they've already entered the pack-leader's house, there's really no space for fighting inside.
It's dark inside, curtains closed and the only source of light being the fire in the hearth. It smells strongly like herbs and while Jungkook always thinks that Namjoon's scent is overpowering, the pack-leader's scent is a whole another thing.
But it's not uncomfortable, no, he of course welcomes it. It's his head-alpha they're talking about, after all, Jungkook has grown-up under her protection and care.
Kim Chaerin is sitting by the kitchen table, Jiwoo standing behind her and braiding her long, light brown locks. Warm brown eyes flicker towards Jungkook as soon as he enters, the pack-leader's smile gentle but also hard in a way that reminds everyone that she is the one with power.
Jungkook bows his head automatically, gaze downcast until the head-alpha gives him permission to relax.
"It's been a while, alpha Jeon. I can see that your brother hasn't lied about you having matured." Her voice is slightly scratchy and deep, not having been used that much in a while. "Though, I must say, I didn't expect you to come here smelling like an omega. Has someone piqued your interest?"
The youngest alpha in the room can't help but shiver, unnerved by the way he's called. It's what they called his father, a title he doesn't think he deserves just yet—if ever. And no one ever calls him alpha Jeon because... well, it's true that Jungkook has just matured and still hasn't reached his full potential, but he himself refuses to acknowledge the title too.
"No, no of course not", Jungkook's quick to deny when he regains his composure, shaking his head violently which probably doesn't help at all because both Yoongi and Namjoon snort and the pack-leader seems even more amused.
"Ah, too young then. Perhaps", she chuckles. But there's a dangerous glimmer in her brown eyes and Jungkook knows that she's already very aware of whose scent is stuck on him.
"The mountain wolf I've been hearing a lot about lately has a nice scent, at least. You know, it's usually a good sign. But winter honeysuckles, huh... It's been a while since I've smelled those. Tell me, alpha Jeon, has he been behaving? From alpha Min I've heard that he's quite... troublesome."
"He's just scared", Jungkook says, just like he has said to Seokjin, Taehyung and Jiwoo many times by now. "I think it's justified to be a little disoriented. But he's been – well, getting better, I guess."
"Good enough to head back home?"
"I think so, yeah. He can probably change forms already but—" He glances at Jiwoo, who's still standing behind the pack-leader. "—it's safer to wait a few more days, just to make sure he doesn't rip open his wounds. I don't think the healer would appreciate that."
Jiwoo's smile is soft, almost fond, and Jungkook feels a little better about himself. He knows the beta healer has grown at least a little attached to Jimin and will be saddened to see the mountain wolf go, so the least they can do for her, is to make sure Jimin sets off safely.
"Hm, that would be unfortunate indeed", the pack-leader muses before turning to Namjoon.
"We'll wait a few more days until healer Kim is certain the mountain wolf is well-enough to leave. Scent mark the northern borders in every patrol until then, but do not forget to keep on eye on the road borders as well."
The head-alpha's hardened gaze turns to Jungkook, sparks of flaming amber in her eyes. "If alpha Jeon is right, the Lee pack is up to something. Killing wolves on neutral ground is a punishable crime, after all. I doubt this was just an aimless act of violence. Either they're trying to start a war between mountain wolves and forest wolves, or perhaps..." She trails off, the look on her face darkening. They never hear the rest of her sentence.
"Mother?" Namjoon seems concerned, stepping closer from the shadows. "Is there something wrong?"
The pack-leader lets out a humorless laugh.
"Namjoon dear, everything is wrong. And let me tell you what's worse." She looks up and at Jungkook again, her eyes like two pools of pitch-black water.
"The thing that saddens me the most is, that once again, the innocent must pay the price."
Jungkook's only able to return to the infirmary the next day. Namjoon had ordered him to patrol right after leaving the pack-leader's hut and after that, he had volunteered to go hunt with a few other alphas. By the end of the day, Jungkook had been too tired to even imagine dragging his feet to the infirmary. Had Taehyung not been close by the food storage and dragged him home, he might as well as slept there.
As expected, Jiwoo isn't present when he comes in and Jimin is quietly sewing blankets in the exact same place Jungkook had left him yesterday.
The alpha stops by the door and sighs, eyes never leaving the small omega. It's somewhat a calming sight to see Jimin like this, so unmoving in the world that seems to be going off its trails, and the wolf within Jungkook seems to settle down too, pacified by the sweet scent of honeysuckles and herbs.
"There's food in the kitchen", Jimin is the first one to speak, glancing up from his work shortly. He frowns a little when he notices the exhausted look on Jungkook's face but doesn't mention it. "Go eat."
Any other day, the brunette alpha might've just done as said—mainly to dodge any arguments—but today he just sits down on the bed next to Jimin's.
"Let's talk."
Curious, mismatching eyes turn to him right away. "About what?"
"About what's going to happen once you've healed. Your pack—"
"Like I said, they're not going to do anything—"
"Your pack has been looking for you", Jungkook continues a little louder, drowning out Jimin's soft voice.
Silence falls into the infirmary and for a moment, Jimin looks like a very realistic statue, frozen in time with his breath caught in his throat. Then, he blinks, the dark blue of his other eye turning to warning electric blue Jungkook's more than familiar with.
"What?" the blonde omega chokes out, his voice high with surprise, anger and maybe even fear. "What do you mean my pack is looking for me? That's not – that shouldn't be possible."
Jungkook raises a questioning brow at the smaller man. "Why not? I don't know what exactly is going on with you and your pack, but everyone knows it's risky to let wolves leave in the middle of winter. Maybe they just realized that they need you."
Jimin looks like he wants to laugh. Or cry.
"One of the morning patrols picked up the scent of mountain wolves by our northern border. So, did you lie to me?" Jungkook asks, wanting to hear the confirmation out loud.
"Jimin, did you lie to me?"
"No!" The denial comes faster than neither expected, Jungkook flinching back because of the rise of volume. Jimin collects himself quickly though, lowering his voice, but the electric blue of his eye stays, a clear sign of the turmoil within.
"My pack wouldn't risk coming to look for me", the omega continues. "You don't even know if it was my pack, it's not like you can distinguish mountain wolfpacks by their scent. You just want to point fingers—"
"That's definitely not it."
"Then just fucking take my word for it! It's not my pack, they won't attack you even if you kill me—"
Jungkook cuts him off at that point, gently grabbing the omega's hand. "Jimin, if I had any intentions of killing you, I would have done it a long time ago. But you and I both know that your word has no weight here and I can't do anything about it. Even if I believed you myself."
"But do you?"
"I do."
There's something broken in Jimin's gaze, something so vulnerable it makes Jungkook's heart ache a little too, but he sees no lies. Even if the blonde hasn't given him any reason to believe his words, even if they're just strangers who fight all the time, Jungkook sees no lies, hears no lies.
So, he believes Jimin.
The hold he has on the omega's hand tightens a little but for the first time, Jimin doesn't pull away. For the first time, he doesn't show disdain on his face when Jungkook touches him, doesn't argue back or mock him.
And it feels good like this, Jungkook thinks. Almost comforting.
The way they hold hands now, tightly but still almost carefully, makes him wonder if it's what they were made for.
For simply holding hands, while the world around them falls apart.
And as he looks at their intertwined fingers before gazing back into Jimin's heterochromic eyes, the warmth in them doesn't disappear and the universe has never looked more calling.
"See?" Jungkook breaks the silence after a moment. "Peace isn't that bad either, now is it?"
Jimin lets out a breathy laugh as he finally pulls his hand back, the twinkling in his eyes turning teasing. "I think you're getting ahead of yourself again, puppy."
"Am I?" the alpha just smiles.
Jimin only answers him with a small smile that doesn't reach his eyes but doesn't seem quite fake either. And Jungkook thinks that's more than enough.
They don't talk about Jimin's pack after that.
The day goes on as any other before it—Jungkook stays, Jimin busies himself with the little tasks Jiwoo has left him and when the night comes, the infirmary is filled by the scent of honeysuckles, slowly mixing with the scent of cedarwood and jasmine.
Two days later, Jungkook hears Jimin laugh for the first time.
It's not the bitter, humorless snort he has heard before, or the sad, breathy chuckle Jimin offers him most of the time—no, this is loud, bright and happy laughter that could make flowers grow and melt the coldest of hearts in a blink of an eye.
This is what joy sounds like.
He's so taken aback by the sight of Jimin laughing, the smile on the omega's face so wide and happy, the twinkle in his eyes so bright and warm—unlike anything he's seen before—that Jungkook can only stand and watch for a good minute, frozen by the infirmary door.
The air is filled by the scent of honeysuckles, strawberries and tangerines and then milk, milk and milk. Pups, Jungkook's brain supplies. The scent of milk equals pups. Strawberries mean Taehyung and tangerines mean...
"Hoseok-hyung? What are you doing here?"
The said beta turns to Jungkook, seeming a little surprised, before a wide smile breaks on his face. Hoseok looks like he's just about to answer but before he can, Jungkook takes in the rest of the picture in front of him and asks:
"No, let me rephrase that whole question. What is going on here?"
There are five pups, sitting in a small circle on the floor, all under the age of five, it seems. There are books and toys scattered all over the place too and Jungkook wrinkles his nose, knowing very well that Jiwoo won't be happy to see this.
Taehyung is sitting on the floor with Hoseok, one cub on his lap, and Jimin's sitting on his bed with an amused smile playing on his lips.
"I brought the kids over to help me cheer up Chim", Taehyung is the first one to offer an explanation. "It's working."
Jimin laughs again and Jungkook's heart does a funny thing.
"And I was free, so I asked if I could tag along", Hoseok then continues. "If I had known that mountain wolves are such cuties, I would have come earlier."
Honestly, Hoseok is the only person who can say that so casually. And Jungkook's thankful to the beta for that because it brings another smile on Jimin's face, so wide that it makes the omega's eyes turn into crescent moons.
"Am I not cute enough for you?" Taehyung whines, mock offended. The pups start whining for attention too and Jungkook snorts, watching as Hoseok tries to give everyone an equal amount of love. (He keeps the fact that most of Hoseok's love belongs to Taehyung to himself not to upset any of the pups.)
While his friends continue their pointless arguments, Jungkook sits down on the bed he regularly occupies, not quite able to stop himself from glancing at Jimin every other second.
The blonde omega looks healthy today. The color is back on his cheeks and it looks like the bandages have been finally removed, at least from everywhere else but maybe the deepest wounds on his back. It also seems like the pups truly do cheer him up, because Jimin never stops smiling, not even when he glances at Jungkook and notices the alpha staring.
Seeing that, Jungkook can't even get mad at Taehyung for bringing pups to the infirmary. He's pretty sure that none of the parents will be happy to smell Jimin's scent on their kids and hopes that Taehyung has the brains to scent them before sending them off. They don't want to start any trouble—not when Jimin is so close to being able to leave home.
Or well. Wherever he's heading next.
And that reminds Jungkook that he had something important to talk with Jimin.
He reaches over to weakly poke at Jimin's shoulder, searching for the omega's attention again. When heterochromic eyes turn to him, Jungkook smiles weakly, hoping that the tension that is slowly returning to him doesn't show on his face and scare Jimin.
"Can I talk with you? In private, I mean."
The smile is gone in a second, replaced by a worried frown and Jungkook feels like the whole atmosphere deflates even though no one else is even paying attention to them.
"Is it... about my pack again?" Jimin asks back, tone hushed.
Jungkook only grimaces, sure that it's far more than enough to answer the omega's question. He then nods towards the kitchen and gets up, hoping that Jimin will follow without him needing to drag the omega with him.
Taehyung sends them a questioning look but luckily doesn't make a loud fuss about it and so, Jungkook and Jimin manage to slip away without any of the kids noticing. Still, the brunette alpha can't help but think that it might've been better to wait until the pups leave—he's aware that this might end up with another argument and those are never pleasant to witness.
"So", Jimin starts once they're in the kitchen, his body tense and the space between them seems suddenly too big. In reality, it's just a few steps Jungkook could overcome easily.
"What is it?"
"This morning, one patrol picked up a mountain wolf's scent again, this time a little too close for comfort", Jungkook tells, tone tight. "No one had stepped over the border, no, but I think people are starting to get scared that it might not take long for that to happen. I know you said that it's not your pack but—"
"There are two other mountain wolfpacks living in this area; has the chance of the wolves being from those packs even crossed your mind? My pack isn't even the one closest to yours."
"I think that in this situation, it's pretty normal for us to suspect your pack first."
Jimin narrows his eyes at him and Jungkook's expecting the omega to start spitting accusations any moment now. But to his surprise—and relief—Jimin just takes in a deep breath and continues in a calm tone.
"You have to let me smell the scent. I can naturally tell mountain wolfpacks apart, so I could tell you if it's my pack or not."
"I can't let you out of this house—"
"Say that I'm ready to go", Jimin interrupts him once again. "Tell your pack-leader I'm ready to go back home and take me to the border."
Ready to go? the wolf within Jungkook stirs at that and a wave of something uncomfortable washes over him.
If he had to name it, he'd call it reluctance. But towards what, Jungkook isn't sure.
"Jimin..."
The blonde omega raises his hand, telling Jungkook to let him continue. "You want a confirmation? Then tell that I'm ready to go and take me to the border where your pack picked up a mountain wolf's scent. I'll tell you whether it's my pack or not—if it's not, then it's not my problem and I can leave wherever I want to."
"And if it is?" the alpha enquires.
Jimin bites his lip, something dark flashing over his soft features. "Then I'll head back home, to the mountains. I'll go back to my pack, like you asked me to."
No.
That's the first thing that comes into Jungkook's mind after Jimin goes quiet.
Just no.
He should be happy and support the blonde's decision, Jungkook knows he should be fucking ecstatic because finally Jimin is ready to do what he's been asking for all along—but instead of relief or joy, it's the feeling of reluctance that grows within him.
The reluctance to let Jimin go.
"You – are you sure you're—"
Jimin's eyes flash in annoyance and his scent spikes up, rendering Jungkook silent.
"If you start fucking second guessing now, I swear I'll—"
The omega doesn't finish his threat for some reason; he just shakes his head in disbelief and turns to leave. "Hurry up and go to your head-alpha. I'd rather go before the storm starts."
Jungkook glances out of the kitchen window and up to the sky, that is slowly filling with dark, grey clouds. He knows that tomorrow, there will be nothing but white to see.
The winter has finally arrived.
"If there's going to be a storm, you can't go today. You shouldn't go today."
He blurts out the words before he can stop himself and Jimin freezes in his tracks. Jungkook can imagine the surprise on the blonde's face and swallows nervously—it's hard to read Jimin even when he's staring straight into his eyes, but with the omega's back turned to him? Yeah, it's impossible.
"Puppy—"
"No, listen", Jungkook tries to reason, all the while also trying not to choke on his own words. It feels like his wolf is just feeding him with the exact things he shouldn't say, and he can't stop it—doesn't even know if he truly wants to stop it.
The brunette alpha takes the few steps between him and Jimin, and carefully reaches over to wrap his fingers around Jimin's arm.
"I already said this before, but I don't know what's going on with you and your pack. However, I know you don't want to go back. I can see that you don't want to go back. And I – I can't force you to do that to yourself."
Jimin spins around so fast Jungkook has no time to properly react and step back, and suddenly they're pressed chest to chest, Jimin's face so close to his that he can feel the other's sugary breath on his lips. The scent of honeysuckles is so strong around him that Jungkook can't even breathe, too afraid to let his wolf have a taste of the sweetness in front of him.
"What the fuck are you saying?" Jimin hisses, his hand coming to grip Jungkook's. The other's blunt nails dig through his shirt, but the alpha only welcomes the pain as a distraction from Jimin's overpowering scent and the warm body against his.
"Have you lost your fucking mind, alpha? You're talking from your heart, not your brain. Don't get your fucking emotions into this—I don't give a flying fuck about your feelings so don't you dare, don't you fucking dare to care about mine either. Do not even think about putting me ahead of your pack."
"I—"
"Jungkook. Don't."
The anger in Jimin's tone fades away just like that, replaced by something so heavy and desperate Jungkook can feel it in the air. And the fact that Jimin is, for the first fucking time, using Jungkook's name only makes his words weight more.
Slowly, the omega releases his hold on Jungkook's arm and pushes away. Jungkook wants to pull him right back, the need in him almost primal.
"Go to your head-alpha and tell her I'm ready to go", Jimin says again. "Everyone has to return home at some point, after all."
Jimin's words only make Jungkook think about how the omega has never called the mountains his home until now.
He still nods though, forcing his wolf down. Jimin is right—he can't let one moment ruin everything. He can't let his wolf, his incredibly irrational wolf, get ahead of his human side. Not when it comes to this.
But the thing is, the more he thinks about it, he just realizes that he's pretty sure no part of him wants to go through with this.
Not like this.
But then Jimin looks at him with sad, pleading eyes and Jungkook understands that he can't keep torturing the omega like this. He's suffered enough already and needlessly too. Jungkook doubts Jimin did anything to deserve this.
It's now, when he stares into Jimin's glimmering eyes, that he understands his pack-leader's words. The innocent must pay the price.
So, with a heavy heart, Jungkook goes.
With no other words shared between him and the mountain wolf who completely wrecked his world, Jungkook leaves to do as asked.
It's time to tell the head-alpha that Jimin is ready to go.
He returns with Namjoon and Jaebum, the two older alphas having been ordered to accompany him and the mountain wolf to the borders. They're chatting about something lighthearted and Jungkook wishes he could join in, but he can't shake off the nauseating feeling sitting in his stomach, the weight on his chest.
He can't get his wolf to stop crying, either.
They're already quite close to the infirmary when suddenly, the wind turns and brings a weird scent to all their noses. Jungkook is the first one to recognize it and he can't quite stop the cry that escapes his mouth.
It's the scent of iron, mixed with sweet, sweet honeysuckles.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen3h.Co