7
Jimin didn't mean to touch the little girl.
He knows he shouldn't have allowed Taehyung to convince him to come outside. "Just outside the infirmary, nothing more. You'll get some fresh air while Hoseok and I scent the pups", the silver-haired omega had said with a smile. Jimin—stupidly—agreed.
And he knows that he shouldn't have stood anywhere near the pup, let alone touched her, but he moved completely out of reflex. She fell, he was the closest, so of course he offered the pup a hand without thinking.
He didn't think that the forest wolves truly believe that he would hurt a child, that mountain wolves would go that low. But he was being foolish, once again, trusting their judgement.
The shock of suddenly being pinned down against the ground, an angry alpha growling at his face, fades away quickly. He should have seen this coming.
And maybe Jimin didn't mean to touch the girl but he won't just let some fucking alpha step on him.
A growl pushes its way out of his throat, low and threatening, and the unknown alpha on him growls back even louder, nails digging into Jimin's shoulders. The blonde omega can see, from the crimson eyes staring into his own, that the man is seconds away from turning. He can feel it from how tense the other's body is, how his bones are already beginning to bend and turn shape, and Jimin's anger makes quickly way to horror.
He knows that he can't defeat a fully-grown alpha in his state. Maybe his wounds have almost completely healed, but Jimin is unfamiliar with the forest wolves' fighting styles and strength. He doesn't think he has enough strength in his muscles right now to even properly wound the alpha.
Jimin is a little too slow to react and it becomes a blur of dark brown fur, black nails and sharp, white teeth after that.
As soon as he feels the nails break skin, pain searing through his system, Jimin kicks out his legs and tries to push the alpha off him with a surprised yelp. He attempts to shift forms too, rising onto his knees for a better position, but Jimin makes the mistake of exposing his wounded back which the alpha, and his newly required partner, aren't afraid to take advantage of.
He thinks he hears Taehyung scream his name in panic and absently, while struggling to hold his own against the two alphas, Jimin wonders what's going to happen to the other omega if he continues to fight back.
To Taehyung, who allowed him to step outside.
And he wonders what's going to happen to Jungkook if he injures one of the alpha's packmates.
To Jungkook, who brought him here.
Will he be punished because of what I did?
Jimin freezes and the wolf within him dies a little more. For some reason, the thought rips a hole in his heart.
His struggling ceases and in mere seconds, he's manhandled on the ground again, one wolf pressing him down, heavy paws resting against his bleeding back—Jimin at least thinks he's bleeding, it hurts and feels warm, and it smells like iron in the air—and the other has its jaw locked around his neck, ready to bite.
Ready to kill.
Silence falls and all Jimin can hear, is his own heavy breathing, the alphas angry huffs and silent sniffling. It's hard to look around with teeth digging into his neck, but he can move enough to see Taehyung on the ground a few meters away from him. The beta, Hoseok, seems to be holding the silver head in place. The mountain wolf is thankful for that—no one else needs to get hurt today.
But Taehyung is crying. Jimin can't help but wonder if the tears are for him. He hopes they're aren't. It would be the best for all of them if Taehyung didn't cry for him.
Suddenly he hears heavy footsteps and the smell of iron is overpowered by another scent—the scent of cedarwood and spices, heavy and angry in the air. Involuntarily, Jimin's tense body relaxes a little and he dares to let out a small sound of discomfort. He knows Jungkook can hear him.
"What the fuck are you guys doing?"
That's not Jungkook's voice, however. It's much deeper, much more powerful too, and the wolves pressed on his back flinch. Jimin's first thought is 'it's the pack-leader' but when he looks up, as much as he can, he meets the gaze of a fairly young-looking man. His eyes are a shade of warm amber, the same as Jimin's other eye.
"What is going on?" The man's sharp eyes move from Jimin to quickly scan the situation, waiting for someone to speak. No one does, and the alphas on him don't move away.
"Someone better speak up. Right. Now."
The next words come out as a growl, demanding and strong, and all wolves, alphas, betas and omegas alike, look away. Whoever the man is, he has power.
Finally, Hoseok speaks up. "Jim—I mean, the m-mountain wolf was outside and—"
"Why was he outside?" this time it's Jungkook who speaks, venom dripping from his voice and Jimin flinches at that, his wolf whimpering within him. Is the alpha angry at him?
He turns his mismatching eyes on the brunette alpha for the first time, his wolf bleeding for attention, and finds Jungkook already looking at him.
The alpha looks absolutely livid.
Jimin has seen the gold of Jungkook's eyes before, but not like this. Not this cold, this angry and upset. And his scent is so different too—it's spicy enough for him to taste it on his tongue, the scent of cedarwood too heavy, too thick in the air, making everyone around him uncomfortable.
And yet, Jimin's wolf swallows it up like a starving man.
The whimper that escapes him practically claws its way out of his throat, an upset, high-pitched sound, just to get Jungkook's attention. Just to plead him not to be angry. He hates himself as soon as he lets the whimper out, but it does work in a way. Jungkook's attention is on him, but he just becomes angrier, body tense and eyes aflame.
"Get the fuck off him", Jungkook spits out, golden eyes burning holes on the alphas on top of Jimin's much smaller form. "Get off him before I rip you off."
"Jungkook", the other alpha says, but Jungkook only shakes his head and steps forward, challenging.
"No hyung, they're ruining everything. He had just healed and they, they fucking—"
Jungkook sounds so upset that Jimin wants to laugh. Instead he lets out another high-pitched, distressed sound muffled against the ground. He feels like he's drowning in Jungkook's scent, but still needs him to get closer and cover him in the scent of cedarwood and jasmine, to make the stink of the alphas on him disappear.
His distress seems to truly affect Jungkook's train of thought too as the alpha stops talking mid-sentence, only to start growling again a second later.
"Get off him, get the fuck off him right now."
The brunette alpha is seconds away from going feral. Jimin doesn't have it in him to tell Jungkook to stop and control his wolf—to stop growling at his own packmates because of him. To stop putting Jimin ahead of his own.
Because they hate each other, don't they? Jimin made sure of that, tried to, at least.
Jungkook can't just throw it all away like this.
"Do as he said", the older man next to Jungkook sighs and finally, although begrudgingly, the wolves on him move away.
As soon as they're gone, Jimin takes in a sharp breath and groans, hands soothing up to his warm back. When he pulls one back and looks at it, he sees red. Fuck, the omega thinks, writhing on the ground as realization and pain slowly dawn on him. Fuck, fuck, fuck, this wasn't supposed to happen.
He was supposed to leave today, back to the mountains or towards unknown—either way, Jimin was supposed to leave. He was supposed to get out.
Both Jungkook and Taehyung are by his side in a blink of an eye but as soon as the silver-haired omega tries to lay a hand on Jimin, Jungkook growls at him. It surprises them all, perhaps the alpha himself the most, but he doesn't apologize, doesn't let Taehyung touch Jimin.
"Get Jiwoo", the brunette says instead, pulling Jimin towards himself as gently as he can, trying not to touch the opened wounds. When Taehyung doesn't move, still too shocked to have Jungkook growl at him like that, like he was really fucking about to hurt him, Jimin swats him weakly on the arm.
"Not your fault", he slurs out, the pain starting to slowly be replaced by paralyzing sleepiness. "Don't cry for me."
His words only make more tears run down Taehyung's cheeks. "Jimin—"
"Taehyung. Get Jiwoo, now", Jungkook cuts the silver head off, arms around Jimin's body tightening their hold before he's lifted up from the ground. He doesn't see Taehyung leave, can't focus on anything but Jungkook's warmth anymore, but he hears the distant sounds of footsteps. Otherwise, it's silent around them.
"And you", the brunette's words are now directed at Jimin, his golden eyes vivid even through the haze of pain. "Don't you fucking fall asleep now. Don't you fucking dare."
Now Jimin smiles, somewhat amused. But he wishes he could cry and Jungkook sounds sad, too.
He brings his bloodied hand up to touch Jungkook's cheek, leaving red fingerprints on sun-kissed skin. He's never realized how much paler he is against the forest wolves until now.
"Stupid alpha", Jimin then mumbles, head lolling against the other's warm chest. "Don't boss me around."
The omega knows he shouldn't let himself fall asleep because the possibility of never waking up again is big, but Jimin has never really valued his own life. Not that much, anyway. Even if the wounds can't possibly be as bad as they were when he and his grandmother were attacked, Jimin could still die. He's lost too much blood already.
They should just let it happen, he thinks, pressing a little closer against the warmth next to him. It would be for the best.
And that's why Jimin isn't afraid to surrender to darkness when it comes back calling for him. He knew it would end like this no matter what.
But he fails to hear Jungkook's frantic voice, calling his name, telling Jimin to stay.
Apparently, there are three ways to react to a situation like this—cry your eyes out, act indifferent or threaten to rip everyone's head off. At least, that's what Seokjin learns when he finally manages to come to the infirmary.
The first thing he sees, is a sobbing Taehyung, an indifferent Yoongi and then a livid Jungkook. Somewhere in the sidelines, there's Jiwoo mumbling incoherent curses and Namjoon stands in the middle of it all, looking a little lost.
He doesn't know exactly what happened, just heard that both Jungkook, his idiot little brother, and Namjoon, his idiot mate—well, future mate at least—did something... well, idiotic. And unfortunately, it involves the mountain wolf too.
The poor little thing lying on a bloodied bed, breathing shallow and scent almost as weak as the day he arrived.
Seokjin gives the boy a pitying look and sighs heavily. Then, with determination, he slams the door close behind him and that seems to snap everyone back to reality.
"Alright you idiots", he growls. "Care to explain what the hell is going on?"
Namjoon's eyes snaps to him right away and Seokjin can feel his wolf preen at the attention, nearly smiling when he notices how the alpha's gaze softens—but then Jungkook's panicked, golden eyes land on him and Seokjin is on alert right away. It's not very often he sees his little brother like this.
He hates it.
The last time he saw Jungkook this upset must've been when he begged Seokjin to allow him to bury the mountain wolf's companion in their family grave. And before that, he can't even remember.
Must've been around the time they lost their parents.
"Well", Yoongi says with a shrug. "The mountain wolf got hurt—"
"I can see that", Seokjin hisses. Does the alpha think he's an idiot?
"—and Jungkook here", the black-haired alpha continues with a pointed glare. "Didn't take it so well."
"How do you expect me to take it well when Jimin got hurt for no reason? He was supposed to leave today and those two, those fucking assholes just – they just ruined everything!" Jungkook argues right back and Seokjin winces at the rage he hears in his brother's tone.
He's never seen Jungkook this mad. And to think it's all because of a mountain wolf, an omega the other barely knows.
"The mountain wolf shouldn't have been outside", Yoongi snarls, standing straighter. He might not be tall, falling shorter than both Seokjin and Taehyung who are omegas, but his cold glare and overwhelming presence have always made up for it. He could take down the younger alpha easily despite their difference in muscle mass.
But Jungkook doesn't back down.
"He would have been outside soon anyway. And don't you think it's plain cruel to just keep him inside four walls from day to another? That's inhuman and we—"
"We are not human."
"And he was suffering. He still is", Jungkook growls, the sound coming from somewhere deep, deep within him. It scares Seokjin.
"Don't think we're not aware of the fact that you took him out a couple of times. Have you become soft for the mountain wolf, alpha Jeon?" Yoongi's tone is mocking and Seokjin feels more than a little suffocated in the house that is filled by so many hostile scents. Then there's the sobbing omega, a nervous healer and a dying omega—not good.
"He's an enemy", the black-haired alpha goes on. "Mountain wolves are our enemies; you can't just forget that. You were aware of the risks when you took him in and now you just have to face responsibility—"
"Hold on", Seokjin steps in. "Jungkook isn't at fault here. He didn't do anything, now did he?"
"Other than publicly make clear on whose side he is?" Yoongi raises an unimpressed brow at him. "No, I guess not. Oh, by the way, it's not our side he picked."
The eldest omega snaps his gaze at his brother, sadness seeping into his eyes. "Jungkook..."
Seokjin warned him, warned him not to get too fond. Because the omega was never there to stay.
The cedarwood scent in the air falters and Jungkook looks away. "I couldn't just – hyung, it wasn't right. Jimin didn't do anything wrong, and I just – if the mountain wolves attack, it's going to be my fault. And then what's going to happen to the pack, to me? What's going to happen to Jimin?"
The atmosphere shifts, becoming something dark and sour. Namjoon lets out a long, tired sigh and Yoongi stops bristling, becoming his indifferent self again and Seokjin feels a little like joining Taehyung's crying.
"It's not your fault", he says, trying to swallow down the lump in his throat. "Kookie, please. It was never your fault. You and the mountain wolf—I mean, you and Jimin... you were both just in the wrong place in the wrong time. You have both been forced in a bad, bad situation. And I wish I could do something—"
Jungkook shakes his head. They both know there's really nothing to be done.
"—and I wish you weren't so kind, Kookie. But you must know, that if the pack ever turns against you and you're – well, banished, I'm not going to let you go alone."
Namjoon looks at him with eyes full of sadness and hurt but Seokjin can't bear to look back. He knows that he practically declared that he'd pick Jungkook over his own mate but it's his brother they're talking about.
Seokjin has lost half of his family already, like hell he's going to let his idiot baby brother go anywhere alone. And Namjoon knows that.
"Don't", Jungkook shakes his head again. "Don't say that, hyung. Your place is here."
"So is yours, Jungkook", Namjoon, Seokjin and even Yoongi, say at the same time. But the look in Jungkook's eyes is full of distrust.
"And I understand why you're upset, but you have to be more careful, okay?" Namjoon continues, taking brave steps forward until he's standing by the younger alpha's side, a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Although personally, I'm happy that you've overcome the prejudices we have against mountain wolves and befriended one, the pack doesn't see him like you do. To everyone else, he is an enemy."
The dimpled-alpha hushes Jungkook when it seems like he's about to make a protest.
"He's an outsider, Jungkook, an outsider who caused us trouble—who could possibly start a war at our weakest moment. Everyone is tense, everyone is scared, rash decisions and acts will be made. But this is nothing we can't fix. Right, Jiwoo?"
Everyone turns to gaze at the healer still working on treating the mountain wolf's—no, Jimin's—wounds. She seems almost as upset as Taehyung and Jungkook, but masks it better, although the disdain is still very visible in her eyes.
"It'll take him long to heal", she says in a serious tone, eyes glued on the small omega's trembling form. "His body wasn't completely healed yet and there are new wounds to be treated alongside the old ones. He's feverish, lost too much blood, and you stupid alphas creating havoc here isn't helping."
Namjoon smiles sheepishly and Yoongi grunts, most likely agreeing. Jungkook's eyes are solely focused on Jimin and Seokjin smiles as well, sad and weak.
His brother has never been good at hiding things because his eyes always revealed the truth. They do today, too.
"Taehyung, dear, why don't you go and take a walk with Seokjin? Calm down a little. Then I would like you to go home and rest, drink some chamomile tea and hug your mother", Jiwoo continues, sad eyes on Taehyung. The silver-haired omega has stopped sobbing at some point, but he's still quietly sniffling and Seokjin doesn't understand why he was forced to stay here and watch this shitshow.
Fuck, he can't understand why they all had to go through this.
"Also, I would like everyone else but Jungkook to leave."
Hell no, is the first thing in Seokjin's mind after Jiwoo goes quiet. Not this again. He shakes his head rapidly at the healer, but Jiwoo ignores him completely, dark eyes turned to Jungkook now.
"He needs you here, Jungkook-ah."
Of course, the brunette alpha doesn't hesitate to agree. Seokjin knows that it's more than simple kindness then.
But he doesn't have the heart to tell Jungkook not to do it, to stay away from Jimin. Not when the smaller omega is in such a sorry state and Jungkook seems to be the only one truly willing to help.
As if on cue, the mountain wolf lets out a small, high-pitched sound of distress, jerking in sudden pain. Jungkook is by his side in a second, hushing him, coaxing him to relax with a gentle tone he doesn't use with anyone else. It smells like cedarwood, jasmine and honeysuckles in the air.
Seokjin forces his protests and worries down his throat. There's nothing he can do anymore.
"Taehyung-ah", he instead calls out for the silver-haired omega. "Let's go. I'm feeling a little hungry and I bet you haven't eaten anything either. So c'mon, let's go pick up your mother and head to my place for dinner."
It's better if they just do as Jiwoo asked and leave. Jimin is in good hands—Seokjin just hopes that his brother is in good hands, too.
"Jin", Namjoon calls his name as they step outside, the older omega fully intending on dragging Taehyung as far away as quick as possible. He doesn't have the energy to argue with Namjoon as well.
"Seokjin, hey. Please love, let's talk."
The alpha is insistent, however, and Seokjin knows he can't just ignore him. His wolf would never allow it. So, he tells Taehyung to go ahead and spins around, coming face to face with an upset looking alpha. He hates the fact that he has been forced to see both Namjoon and Jungkook look like this today, the two people he'd die for without hesitation.
"Can we talk later? I have to take care of Taehyung right now. And you should go and tell your mother what's going on."
Namjoon winces, feeling guilty when he notices the exhaustion on Seokjin's face. "She already knows, I sent Jaebum and Hoseok to speak with her. We're still figuring out what to do next but I just... I just wanted to make sure that you know that I'd come with you."
"Joonie, you don't have to..."
The other just cuts him off with a gentle shake of head, hand reaching to touch. Seokjin allows him.
"I want you to know, that I would pick you, Jin. Over everyone, over everything else."
The omega smiles, feeling warm inside. It hurts a little less too.
"Namjoon, I knew that already. Now, stop being a sap and go back to work." He reaches over to pinch the alpha's cheek, grinning when Namjoon makes a face at him.
"I love you", the alpha calls after him when Seokjin gets on the move again.
"I love you too", he laughs, sending Namjoon a blow kiss. He laughs a little louder when the alpha shamelessly sends one back.
Seokjin knows that this is love—the best kind of love, one that keeps him going and makes his days brighter, a little warmer and always a little better.
The omega can't help but wonder if the look in Jungkook's eyes, if the way he behaves with Jimin, could someday too, become this. If someday they could just laugh it off and hold hands without a fear.
He thinks that would, perhaps, make Jungkook finally happy too.
Jimin wakes up feeling warm and confused.
His whole body aches, pain thrumming in his system, and it's a little too hot for comfort. With a groan, the blonde omega rolls on his side, trying his hardest not to but too much pressure on his wounds and crashes into something heavy and warm.
There's a low sound, then some uncertain movement and the scent of cedarwood is stronger than ever before.
He blinks his mismatching eyes open, suddenly a little nervous. With a quick scan of his surroundings, Jimin comes to realize that he's still in the infirmary, now upstairs in one of the private rooms Jiwoo has. There are only a couple of candles lighting up the room and it smells like herbs and cedarwood. The undertone of jasmine is very subtle.
He's on a bed, like he suspected, dressed in only an oversized shirt. He'd complain, honestly, but then he notices the bandages wrapped around his thighs and goes completely still for a moment. Jimin hadn't even realized he received injuries there too.
There's another shift on the bed and he feels something rather rough rub against his bare skin, gaze quickly moving on the dark-furred wolf lying next to him.
"Y-you..." Jimin breathes out rather nervously—but then the wolf turns its golden eyes on him, cedarwood scent flaring in the air, and his fear fades.
"Jungkook?"
The alpha is bigger than he remembered, but Jimin does recognize the fur that is a mixture of all kinds of brown, sharp but surprisingly warm golden eyes, the presence he's grown to accept. And the small, low sound the wolf lets out, is also familiar.
He's silent as Jungkook presses closer to him, snapping his jaw weakly when Jimin attempts to move. It's an obvious warning to stay put and he freezes, barely breathing when the large wolf settles back down next to him before huffing and turning his head away.
Jimin can hear his own, rapid heartbeat in his ears and swallows. Jungkook's scent is like a cloud of warmth on him and his wolf baths in it, joyous. It's been a while since it was this lively and Jimin knows it's his fault.
His fault for trying to keep Jungkook away.
Now it has all just backfired because the alpha is stubborn and Jimin's wolf is starved from contact, greedily drinking it all up now that it has the chance. The human side of him can't even control it, as he leans closer, hesitating a few seconds before pressing himself against Jungkook's warm body.
The alpha grunts but doesn't move away. Jimin's wolf preens, taking the other's reaction as a positive sign, and he releases a trembling sigh. Jungkook's scent is making him crazy.
The tension in his muscles fades away quickly and the pain too, becomes nothing but hot pulsing under his skin, something Jimin can handle. He's sure it's because of the calming pheromones Jungkook is releasing and feels thankful, although he doesn't voice it out.
Jimin doesn't know how much time passes with him pressed against the alpha like this, but he's sure he fell asleep at some point. When he moves to lie on his stomach some moments later, perhaps hours, with a pained sigh, Jungkook crowds his space right away.
"'m fine", the omega mutters, pushing the wolf's head away from his face. It takes a good while for the alpha to settle down again, still pressed right against Jimin like a protective barrier. He can't quite understand what's going on, what changed, because just hours ago—at least he thinks it was hours ago—he and Jungkook had been at each other's throats like usual.
"What's gone into you?" Jimin asks despite knowing that he won't get an answer. It's not like he understands the grunts and growls Jungkook lets out in this form.
"He's worried about you, little one. You were unconscious for two days", a familiar, gentle voice cuts in and Jimin makes a small sound, trying to look up. Over Jungkook's large form, he can barely see Jiwoo standing by the door.
The healer just laughs as Jungkook growls when she comes closer. "Down boy, okay? I'm just here to change Jimin's bandages and give him some water. I'll leave you two alone then, no need to look at me like that."
If Jimin had the energy, he'd scold Jungkook. The alpha is being stupid.
Jiwoo works fast, like always, cleaning Jimin's wounds and adding some soothing ointment on his burning skin before wrapping them all into new bandages. He tries his best to stay quiet the whole time but can't help the occasional whimpers and whines of pain. The whole time Jungkook paces around the room anxiously.
"If you're wondering why he's in his wolf form, then it's because I told him so. His wolf is wiser than his human side, honestly", Jiwoo rolls her eyes, fondly glancing at the young alpha. "It knows what it needs to do to make you feel better."
"I don't—" Jimin starts but cuts himself off when he glances at Jungkook. The brown wolf has stopped pacing, dark golden eyes watching him intensely. It makes the omega feel bad for questioning the alpha's care and protection.
"I don't know why he's doing all this."
Jiwoo gives him a funny look, finished with her work. Jimin is allowed to slip the shirt back on and absently, he picks Taehyung's scent on it. The silver head must've been there too.
"Why he's doing all this?" the beta chuckles, shaking her head. He and Jungkook must amuse her a lot since she does that all the time with them.
As soon as she moves away, Jungkook jumps back on the bed, moving to rest next to Jimin. The omega doesn't flinch back anymore when the alpha's warm body presses against him.
"Well, little one, have you ever considered that maybe he cares?"
No, Jimin almost answers, but he knows that's a lie. He also knows for a fact that Jungkook cares—he cares too much. One of the reasons he was so adamant on keeping the alpha at an arm's length.
"You're still figuring things out, I see", Jiwoo says with a soft grin. "That's fine. It's not like you're going anywhere anytime soon, not with you back at the starting point."
Jimin, who had been ready to fall back asleep again, perks up at that. "You're seriously going to keep me here...?"
"Well, I'm not entirely sure yet. The pack-leader hasn't spoken about it, but I think that yes, you're staying here, little one. For now, at least."
She then glances at Jungkook's bigger form and smiles. "I doubt Jungkook will let you go until you're completely healed. So, rest a lot, Jimin-ah, and please, do something to ease our Jungkook's agitation, too."
The blonde omega only hums, eyes closed. Whatever drugs Jiwoo had put in the water she made him drink are making him sleepy and he doesn't even notice when the healer leaves.
Jimin keeps his eyes closed but doesn't quite fall asleep, listening to the small sounds around him. The candles pop occasionally and there are distant sounds coming from outside the room, outside the house, but none that Jimin can really make sense of. Jungkook's breathing is the loudest sound alongside his own and slowly, the omega opens his eyes.
The wolf next to him isn't paying attention on him, head turned towards the only window in the room. His ears move, back and forth, and Jimin wonders if something's going on, involving him—them. Since at this moment, it's pretty hard to separate them because they're a mess.
Or, Jimin is a mess and he ended up dragging Jungkook right into it.
He's causing trouble, like always, and everyone around him must pay the price.
The thought makes his stomach churn and his eyes fill with tears, the sudden need to cry almost choking him. Jungkook senses his distress right away and his head whips around, worried golden eyes trying to search for the cause of Jimin's pain.
If the alpha only knew that it's him—he is the one making everything so fucking hard.
Not quite knowing what's wrong or what to do, the alpha lets out a distressed sound of his own before leaning closer, wet nose pressing against Jimin's forehead.
It's that, the pathetic attempt of trying to comfort him, that finally breaks the dam.
Jimin breaks into broken sobs that make his entire body tremble and ache, tears running down his cheeks like rivers run down the mountains.
"I'm sorry", the blonde omega sobs, pressing his small hands against his own face, trying to hide the ugly tears. "I'm sorry, Jungkook – I didn't mean to hurt you or Taehyung, please don't tell me they hurt you because of me, please don't—"
The wolf nudges his hand, trying to get Jimin to remove them but he doesn't. He just shakes his head rapidly, his sobs quickly turning into pained whimpers filled with heartbreak. Jungkook lets out a long, low whine when Jimin's tears show no signs of drying.
"D-don't fight for me, Jungkook", Jimin sniffles, sad mismatching eyes peeking at the golden ones through his fingers. "Please don't." I'm not worth it. Not someone like me.
Jungkook only continues to stare at him and Jimin thinks the sadness in his golden orbs mirror his own perfectly. He can't bear to see it, so he closes his eyes and lets the tears fall.
Suddenly, the bed dips and the warmth next to him disappears. The blonde can feel something in him break a little more, his wolf howling unhappily when they're suddenly left alone, in a state like this no less, but a much more rational side of Jimin knows that it's okay. That it's better if Jungkook leaves.
A few minutes pass with Jimin's slowly subsiding sobs drowning out every other noise. That's why he almost has a heart attack when just as suddenly as Jungkook had left, he returns. But instead of rough fur pressing against him, Jimin feels the soft material of clothes and hears Jungkook sigh.
This time, when the alpha reaches to pry Jimin's hands off his face, warm skin against cold skin, the omega lets it happen.
"Don't cry", Jungkook says, holding Jimin's smaller hands in his bigger ones tightly. "I hate it, so please don't cry."
He wants to retort it with a snarky comment like he usually does, wants to tell the alpha to leave because Jimin doesn't want to give his wolf any false hope—can't give Jungkook's wolf any false hope. But he knows, when he looks into Jungkook's warm chocolate brown eyes, taking in the worry in them, that this isn't only about their wolves.
Jimin wants to scream. Instead, he holds onto Jungkook's hands a little tighter.
The tears dry on their own.
"Good", the alpha mumbles. "Good omega." Jimin hates to admit how the praise makes the hurt in him ease a little.
A moment later the other has settled down next to him, much like he did in his wolf form, and maybe that's why Jimin doesn't freak out. Maybe because he let Jungkook's wolf do it too, he lets the man now wrap his arms around him, lets himself rest against the other's warm chest and breathe in his cedarwood scent.
It doesn't feel wrong.
Jimin wishes it did.
"So, the mountain wolf... I don't think I ever quite caught his name."
"He told alpha Jeon that his name is Jimin."
"Just Jimin?"
"Just Jimin."
The alpha hums, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "And he's an omega, if I'm correct?"
Jiwoo nods slowly, curious eyes watching the tall woman standing by the window. "Yes, that's right. But why are you asking? I thought you put your son in charge of this issue."
The woman just shakes her head before turning her warm, amber eyes on the beta. "No particular reason, Jiwoo dear", Kim Chaerin says, playing with the old leather bracelet around her wrist. "His scent just reminded me of someone I haven't seen in a long, long time."
"May I ask who?"
"You remember my youngest brother, don't you?"
"Of course", Jiwoo nods. "It's hard to forget someone like him."
Chaerin laughs gently at that, agreeing. She then walks past Jiwoo and to the small nightstand next to her bed, reaching over for the old picture resting on it. There are three people in it, two women and one man.
"Do you know who these people are, Jiwoo-ah?" she turns to ask from the healer and the smile on her face has become almost melancholic.
"Well, the taller woman is you and the man, he's Yoojoon, right? Your brother." Chaerin nods and Jiwoo turns her gaze back on the picture, frowning as she takes in the pale woman standing on the man's other side.
She's beautiful, long platinum blonde hair dancing in the wind, a proud smile on her face. The leather bracelet in her other wrist is identical to the one Chaerin has. But what really catches Jiwoo's attention, are her dark blue eyes that seem to hold the whole universe in them, gazing back at her with mirth.
She swears she has seen those eyes before but can't quite place the time or place. Can't quite think of a name or a face.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I know who she is. But she's very beautiful."
Chaerin's smile turns fond. "I agree with you. Poor Yoojoon was so smitten with her", she says and only then does Jiwoo notice the way the woman holds hands with the amber-eyed man next to her, like her whole life depended on it.
The pack-leader tilts her head towards Jiwoo, slowly setting the picture back down.
"Tell me, Jiwoo, have I ever told you the story of Park Minyoung?"
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