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"There's a wolf at the edge of the forest."Seung's hands freeze from where he's peeling potatoes. The hiss of the boiling pot on the stove startles him into motion, sprinting out of the kitchen, and through the dining room to meet Haneul at the deck of their backyard, the door already swung wide open.It's late into the evening. The stars are barely blinking into existence. A thick fog blankets their farmland, seeping in from the acres of trees stretching vast beyond their terra. A chill breeze comes in from the east and Haneul shivers in his blanket wrapped around his shoulders, tugged up around his nose. Seung wraps an arm protectively around his mate as he smells the air, eyes roaming the dark line of the forest. The aroma of garlic is strong on his fingers and he is finding it difficult to catch the scent Haneul detects. Unconsciously, a growl builds low in his chest, rumbling and echoing through the eerie silence. Haneul jolts under his arm from the sound and slides behind him instead."There," Haneul whispers, peeking over his shoulder. His finger shakes when he lifts it, pointing out into the thick, dark green of trees. "It's strange..." he tiptoes to rest his chin on Seung's shoulder. “the scent is."The moment those words leave his mate’s mouth, Seung tenses, the scent having finally carried its way to him with the wind. Baffled, Seung steps out further onto the deck, fear ebbing away into curiousness. He thinks there are familiar notes in this scent; powdery, pure, but a bitter tang is intertwined within it, making his stomach turn.Haneul almost whimpers when Seung reaches the steps - who is determined to make out the scent for certain by edging closer - tugging the alpha back toward him, "What are you doing?" he seethes, but Seung turns and urges his mate back inside the house."Go, lock the door," he says, but Haneul is as stubborn as a mule, shaking his head and glaring at his alpha."No," he pulls the blanket away from his nose, a deep frown marring his face. "If you're going, so am I.""Haneul," Seung shakes his head, "please. For just this once, please go back inside. We don't know what this wolf wants, nor what kind it is. It could be dangerous."Haneul opens his mouth, ready to retort when they hear a sudden howl, high pitched and screeching coming from the pitch-black underbrush afar. Startled, their pulses race in tandem, instincts easily depicting what type of cry that is. Haneul then backs up inside the doorway, looking at Seung."Come back soon," he demands, reaching out to kiss his alpha before slowly closing the door. “or I will come in there after you.”Seung relaxes, the comfort of knowing that his family is safe indoors from whatever it may be lurking within the forest.The steps groan as he makes his way down from their porch. That bitter tang permeating the air the closer he gets to the lining of the trees. Kara, their dairy cow, is pacing along the fencing at the far end of their fields, her behavior restless and unlike her. Seung slowly approaches her with the goal to not panic her more, but when she sees him she moos loudly, tossing up her head.A twig snaps within the woods. Seung trains his eyes among the trees. His eyes zeroing in on the area from where it resounded from.Technically, this forest is his domain. If Seung finds trespassers, he has no qualms about killing whoever it is that lurks within the trees, an equal punishment for someone who’s spooked himself and his omega mate this late in the day. It's a rare occurrence when a wolf shows up unannounced, often, it's unwelcome; but it's been a long time since Seung has had to kill, and he doesn't wish to change that tonight. There is a pot of stew waiting for him inside his home and he wishes to get back quickly so he can enjoy the warm meal.The wood is rough on the palm of his hands, it creaks when he swings himself over the fencing.When he's further into the forest, the silence swallows him, and that scent is right there, underneath his boots. Copper fills his senses and he bends, taking in the disturbed foliage. Blood clots the dirt and he frowns at the dark trail leading north. Seung now knows for certain that whoever it is, it is injured. Packs always leave their injured behind, a sour reminder of their nature.When he stands, he hears a low whimper. There is some shuffling along the ground and Seung senses the creature up ahead, hidden behind the thick trunk of a tree. He creeps closer, the soft whining coming in more rapidly, high pitched and distressed. When he is on the other side of the tree, he crouches again, taking in the dark gray tail peeping out of its hiding space.Seung can't help but smile, those familiar notes of purity and powder hitting his nose in close proximity. His mate was right, this scent was strange, and he knows exactly what kind of creature it belongs to.There are old scents lingering behind within the soil, and Seung knows that there are times when wild packs pass through these woods, hunting for food, moving onto their next destination. He can sense that there are no others around, just this little one left behind in this vicious wildlife, where the woodland creatures would gobble it up within a day or two."Do not be frightened," Seung begins to speak, voice holding a coo. A cry is let out from the injured, startled at having been addressed. "I do not wish to harm you."When there is nothing but silence, Seung sinks to the ground, crossing his legs as a patience comes over him."I can see that you are hurt," Seung speaks again, that small gray tail stiffening. "if you are not hostile, I advise you to show yourself, pup. I don’t want to have to drag you out."There is another minute of silence before there is some shuffling and pained whimpering. A gray wolf pup pulls himself out from behind the tree, eyes glassy, demeanor shaken. He does not dare look the alpha in the eyes, a sign of respect and fear.Seung feels a pang in his chest as he takes in the pup, his fur is matted with blood, his body is thin from malnutrition. Seung wonders how long he's been alone in these woods. He would demand the pup shift, but then he takes in the way his hind leg is mangled, bent in strange angles, the open wound the result of all the blood loss. Shifting could damage it further, so he thinks of his mate, of how compassionate they would be, and takes pity."Your pack left you," he states. Not a question. “because you were injured."The pup does nothing to respond, just shakes on the cold floor, petrified."Would you let me take you to my home?"The pup's head lifts in shock, eyes holding disbelief, still fearful."I have an omega mate," Seung says. "he can heal you."The pup looks behind him, deep into the woods. Seung can't imagine what is going through his head."You will die out here pup." Seung tells him honestly. "Either by starvation, or infection,” the pup shrinks with every word the alpha says. “As protecter of these lands, I feel no comfort in leaving you here to your demise. My conscience could not bear it."After more silence, Seung huffs.There is only so far where the one-sided conversation gets him. Making the decision for the pup, Seung stands, brushing the dirt off his jeans. The pup flinches back, crying lowly."I won't hurt you," Seung promises. He slowly approaches the pup, surprised when it allows him to gather him up in his arms without a fight. It only cries when Seung jostles his leg. "sorry." Haneul gasps when he comes through the door with the pup, rushing forward to comfort the small thing. In no time, Haneul brings out all his healing ointments and human-made medications. The worst of it is when Haneul makes Seung hold down the pup, having no choice but to re-break and reposition the mangled leg.After the pup is wrapped up, fed and washed, he is fast asleep on their bed with the aid of the medicines Haneul had given him.They expect him to sleep for days, their rapid healing abilities take a toll on the energy of a werewolf, and this pup is starved on top of being injured. He is in and out of it, only awake long enough to eat something light before passing out again. Haneul casts his leg on the third day while he is asleep, pleased to realize that his powdery scent is losing that bitter tang that aids with sickness. "We can't just let him leave," Haneul says from his seat at the dining table. He is feeding their son, Jungkook latched to his chest. "I'll take responsibility for him."Seung says nothing, looking out the window at the trees."He should've died out there," Seung says. “Nature wanted him.”"But we are not that kind of pack," Haneul admonishes. “we care for our kind and we do not abide by the laws of the wild ones. He's just a baby. If nature wanted him so bad I wouldn’t have caught that scent. You wouldn’t have found him."Seung turns to his mate and his child, smiling softly and leaning down to kiss both of their heads. Jungkook is falling asleep in Haneul's arms, milk dribbling down his chin."You're right," Seung nods. "I'm sorry."Haneul reaches out to touch his cheek, eyes full of affection."But we will not raise him as our son," Seung says. "he was not ours to carry, so he will know the truth.""Of course," Haneul nods hastily. "I've never been fond of pretenses." Days later, the pup is able to move around, cast hanging heavy on his leg. Haneul is one of the best healers in their village, and in no time does the cast come off. The pup is elated when it does, running around, jumping on their furniture and prancing around their fields. Seung makes him shift soon after that, both of their hearts reaching out when they see just how young this pup is.He cannot be any more than four or five months old, at least two years old in human years. He's a beautiful child, his cherub cheeks filling out from all the food they feed him, his thick dark locks framing his small eyes. He is paler in skin color, indicating that he might be from a pack up north where the winters are harsh and the clouds are heavy. He cannot speak well but can understand most of what they say to him. When they ask him for his name, he confidently says 'Jimin'.When Haneul is comfortable with it, they introduce Jimin to Jungkook, their infant son. Haneul always has the younger pup tucked away under the blanket he wears daily.They sit together on their couch, Jimin crawling closer, curiously as he takes in the baby. Jungkook is sleeping soundly in his arms, little chest rising and falling as he dreams. Their baby powdery scents mingle together, and Haneul wonders if this is what it would feel like to have another child. When Jungkook first shifts, Jimin is right next to him, squealing with joy."Look Hanny look!" he exclaims, giggling as Jungkook wobbles on all four legs, big doe eyes sparkling in wonderment."I see Jimin-ah," Haneul grins at the pair.The floor is a mess of children's clothes. Jungkook's having shed from him with his shift, Jimin shifting right after to play along. They toddle around the living area, Haneul redirecting them when Jungkook leads them to the kitchen. The first shift is always exciting, just as exciting as when he took his first steps as a human child. Pups normally learn how to shift at a young age, their instincts driving them to run and exercise their legs. They'd been expecting Jungkook's shift any time soon, the younger having turned one in human years.Jimin is sweet, having taken on the older brother role naturally, coaxing Jungkook into safer spaces when they play as wolves, letting Jungkook tackle him to the ground in faux submission. They nip at each other’s ears, bark and growl at one another.When Seung comes back after working in the barn, he exclaims in delight at his son in wolf form.It takes a few days, but Jimin finally teaches him how to shift back, bones crackling and fur shedding. Jungkook is sobbing at the end of it, but they all take their turns to comfort him, promising that it gets better, it gets easier. There is a large, decaying willow tree deep inside the forest. Jimin discovered it when he was on another one of his impromptu adventures. It is magnificent in size, the branches stretching wide, leaves and vines winding through the air. It is his favorite spot, located at the foot of one of their mountains just inside their pack territory. Jimin's makes it his own personal landmark. He finds himself returning to this spot often, the tree becoming one of the first things he possesses, having marked it with urine and laying his claim.Haneul and Seung let him wander off occasionally as Jimin's sense of smell is getting better and better as the days go on, the older he gets. He can always find his way back home now; easily detecting the scent of Kara and the familiar oak of their wooden home, a beacon in the air.Jimin huffs, out of breath from having sprinted here, and plops down at one of the roots. He leans back on his hands and stares up at the leaves. A minute later, a familiar scent hits his nose, and he frowns in confusion, looking around the dense wood."Jungkook-ah?"And the boy pops out from behind a tree, a large grin on his face. Jimin's eyes bulge out from his head."What are you doing here?!" he stands up, worries coursing through him. Haneul is going to kill him! “You can’t be out this far!”Jungkook glares, crossing his arms, “How come you can go wherever you want, but I can’t? It’s not fair.”“You’re just a pup!” Jimin cries, throwing his hands out in frustration. He stomps his way over to the younger boy, sniffing him and patting him down all over to check for injuries. “What if you got hurt? Or worst, lost?”Jungkook scrunches up his face in annoyance, pushing him away and shrugging, “I followed your scent here, hyung. I’m fine.”Jimin shakes his head, exasperated. Ever since Jimin presented as alpha, Jungkook has become more rebellious, which is ironic considering that everyone assumed that Jimin would be the one out of control, hormones raging through him at the tender age of twelve. Jungkook has taken it upon himself to indulge in more risky behaviors like trying to make Jimin submit to him when play fighting in wolf form or having faced off with a wild boar last week. One night, he got it good when he refused to back down to his own father, the pack alpha simply demanded him to clean his own room.The others in the village said it was because he was in a rush to grow up, to present, it was natural. Especially because there was now another alpha living in the Jeon household, a small budding expectation to add another to the bunch. Jimin thinks that’s stupid.Something in his gut just tells him that Jungkook isn’t going to be another alpha and it’s always been in his nature to trust his instincts.Jimin rolls his eyes, holding out his hand toward Jungkook.The younger just stares at his palm, face growing darker with anger. When he begins to growl at Jimin, Jimin growls back, more ferocious. Jungkook tenses and falls silent.“Don’t growl at me,” Jimin warns. “We have to go back. Your mom is gonna give it to you good when he hears how you left. Did you even tell him?”Jungkook stubbornly shakes his head in a negative manner.“He’s probably worried sick about you,” Jimin reaches out and entangles their fingers, giving Jungkook no choice but to follow him as they make their way back home.As they trek back down the forest, the sun begins to set. With the trees as dense as they are, the forest becomes a little more intimidating at night. The moon creatures come out of their burrows and hiding places, their caws and calls foreign to Jungkook. Jimin snickers when he feels him cuddle into his back for comfort, shaken by the darkness.As they near the fencing, Jimin detects the distressed smell of Haneul’s omega wolf, almost cursing under his breath at the sourness.“Your mom is really upset,” Jimin warns him.When they come out into the clearing, Seung is already there, looming in the field, anger flashing in his eyes. Jimin cowers, feeling Jungkook press himself further into his back. The anger is oppressive, freezing him on the spot.“Where were you two?” Seung asks, annoyance leaking into his tone. “Jungkook, your mother is worried sick. How could you both leave without telling us?”He isn’t yelling, but he might as well be. His pheromones permeate the air, causing Jimin and Jungkook to shake. Haneul dashes out from within the house, running and meeting the two boys. He embraces them both in his arms, his scent becoming more welcoming and less sour as he sees them back and unharmed, nuzzling them and pressing kisses to their cheeks.“Do you have an explanation?” Seung asks, demanding to know what they were up to.Jimin wants to answer, but he feels like he can’t even meet Seung’s eyes. After all, he is the oldest, the one who is supposed to be more responsible for himself and for Jungkook.Haneul turns to Seung and snaps, “Stop it. You’re scaring them.”The looming and dangerous scent of angry pack alpha dies down and Jimin can finally breathe a bit easier. Jungkook refuses to let go of his hand, even as Haneul coos over him, scenting them both.“We just went into the forest to play,” Jimin mutters. “I-I didn’t realize how far out we were. I’m sorry, alpha.”Jungkook whips around to look at him, bewildered that Jimin would lie and take the blame upon himself.“That’s not true!” he cries out, eyes wet with unshed tears. His bottom lip wobbles as his cheeks redden with shame. “Hyung went into the woods by himself and I followed him. It’s not his fault!”“Shh,” Haneul coos, he holds out his hands for the boys to take as he stands. “It’s okay. Don’t be upset, you’re not in trouble.”“Yes, they are,” Seung says and Haneul rolls his eyes.“We were just worried,” Haneul says. “what if you two got lost? Or hurt? I would’ve turned the world upside down to find you, I nearly did if you hadn’t come back soon.”Later over dinner, Seung and Haneul tell them about how they found Jimin, hurt and alone in the thicket of the trees. They tell them about the wild ones - the packs that reside in the forests, that abide by no human rules. If they crossed paths with the wrong type of wild ones, it’d have been their demise. The young boys shivered at the unspoken threat.“I was a wild one?” Jimin asked curiously. Although he knew he was not their son by birth, he sometimes did wonder where he came from. Haneul nodded and Jimin grinned. Something about discoverig that he was meant to be wild sounded cool to him, even if he didn’t quite understand what that meant.“But this is your land, papa,” Jungkook said. “how could they hurt us if this is your land?”Seung smiled something fierce, “I would have had to kill whoever did. For no wolf should harm another on territory that is not their own.”After that day, he vowed to never wander too far off into the forest. The willow tree his farthest limit. Jungkook presents as an omega at the age of eleven. Haneul cries in happiness, excited to teach him about the healing skills he will acquire throughout his life.Jimin wouldn’t know, but the kids in the village tell him that heats are the worst to go through. Jimin is forced to stay with Taehyung – his beta friend - during Jungkook’s presentation heat.“I heard that omegas get like, super horny,” Taehyung offhandedly comments. He’s spread out on his mattress, head dangling as he attempts to read a book upside down.“Yeah,” Jimin affirms for him. He had to learn about heats after he had popped his first knot, along with ruts after his presentation was over. Back then, he had grimaced at discussing the subject, embarrassed at having to listen to Seung go into very distinct detail how mating works and what strange things would be going on with his body.“That’s so weird,” Taehyung comments again, looking at Jimin who shrugs.“Not really,” Jimin recalls his ruts. They’re mind-numbingly violent at times. The urge to claim someone so strong he can’t even think straight. He wonders if that’s what heats are like too. Except he knows that heats last longer and at times can be painful. He suddenly feels very sorry for Jungkook. “If you were an alpha or omega I think you’d get it.”“I mean,” Taehyung ponders, “I guess. It’s not like I don’t get it, I’m just more fascinated by it.”Jimin shrugs again, not so fascinated by it because it’s just how things are.He spends a week at Taehyung’s house, the two boys spending their days going to school together, finishing up homework and roughhousing. He starts to get annoyed by the number of alphas and betas who come up to him and ask him about Jungkook in school. The whole pack spreads the news about Jungkook’s omega rank. Their instincts drive them to want to know more about the younger when they had no interest in him at all before. Jimin doesn’t indulge them, protective mode coming on, giving them short answers or none. Taehyung eyes Jimin curiously as he bristles over and over at the questions regarding Jungkook, something clicking together in his mind.Taehyung snickers to himself. When Jimin is welcome to come back home, he is nervous. There is anxiety clenching at his stomach, mostly worried about how he’s going to handle that scent change in Jungkook. They were raised together, but they are not brothers. No matter how strange it might seem, Jungkook and Jimin could still be driven by their instincts to find comfort or something more within each other.There is this unspoken thing in their household, all parties aware of what the complications could bring about two young unmated wolves living under one roof. They’d have to be smart about it, making one or the other leave the house when one goes into heat or rut. Accidental matings aren’t unheard of and they’d do anything in their power to prevent that.Jungkook is napping on the couch when he walks in, Haneul sitting at the end with Jungkook’s small feet propped up in his lap. They smile at one another as they greet, quiet as to not wake the exhausted omega.Jimin takes it upon himself to smell the air thoroughly before walking in further. The sharp zip of citrus, honey, and something floral, like jasmine hits his nose like a flower bomb. He slaps his hand over his nose and breathes through his mouth, face scrunched up at the overwhelming scent. Haneul snickers at his reaction, holding his stomach and cackling away.“It’s so strong,” Jimin notes quietly, shuffling out of his shoes and ready to make his escape into his room.“I had a hard time airing out the house after his heat broke,” Haneul smiles. “I’m sorry, love. It won’t be this strong all the time.”Jimin shakes his head, “It’s okay,” he slowly peels his hand away from his face, the scent becoming stronger. Jimin is relieved it hasn’t aroused him, something he was secretly worried about. “I’m gonna have to get used to it anyway.” It takes several years before they slip.Jimin wakes up one morning as grouchy as ever. His blankets are too warm, sticking to his back as he sweats what feels like buckets of saltwater into the sheets. He isn’t hard when he glances down at himself and that’s where his first mistake started.He dismisses his warm body temperature to the heat of the summer weather and assumes that the air conditioning was either turned off or broken. Jimin hops out of bed, feeling a little woozy as stomps down the hall. The house is silent save for the soft humming coming from the kitchen and he winds his way through the house toward the sound, disgruntled and inexplicably angry. Jungkook is singing lowly and innocently as he slathers jam on a piece of toast, shirtless with his hair in disarray.“Did you turn off the AC?” Jimin bellows, startling Jungkook into dropping his toast. Jungkook turns to glare at him.“What the fuck,” he sneers, bending down and frowning at the mess on the floor. “you made me drop my breakfast.”Jimin moves toward him, crowding in his space and Jungkook pushes him back with a hand on his chest, annoyed.“Ew,” Jungkook grimaces, wiping his hand on his pant leg. “you’re all sweaty.”“Why did you turn off the air?” Jimin questions, vision turning hazy. “It’s hot as hell in my room, Jungkook-ah!”And Jungkook tenses, lifting his gaze to meet Jimin’s hesitantly. There’s a wild look in his eyes, piercing, trying to pin him into place, and Jungkook is hit with the slight smell of rut.“Jimin,” Jungkook begins to breathe out of his mouth, placing his palm back on Jimin’s chest to push him off once more. “back off. I didn’t touch the thermostat.”Jimin grips his wrist, squeezing and Jungkook yelps. Jimin stares him down, huffing through his nostrils and closing in. Jungkook’s heart thuds in his chest and his ears begin to ring.“Jimin,” Jungkook slowly speaks. “I think you’re going into rut.”Jimin blinks, confused before his eyes flicker back to the present, taking in how he’s got Jungkook pressed against their kitchen cabinets and a white-knuckled grip on the omega’s forearm. He drops it, panic overcoming him as he immediately falls back and rushes toward his room. Moments later, he can hear mumbled cursing and clattering down the hall. The front door slams and then he knows the house is empty, Jungkook having left to stay somewhere else.The second day of this rut, he can’t take it anymore. Jungkook’s scent has faded off his palm and in the dead of night, he sneaks into his room and steals a shirt. It stays with him until the rut fades, the shirt soiled with cum and sweat.Jimin cries when he comes out of it, ashamed and scared. Haneul comforts him as Seung and he share a look. It’s been a long time coming, they agree, having a silent conversation with their eyes. Jungkook’s scent is distressed when they announce that Jimin will be moving out.“But why?” He questions, looking at his mother and father for answers.There was not a day where they were separated (apart from heats and ruts), having been by each other’s side all their life. It is all Jungkook knows and it is unheard of that an unmated alpha would have to reside by themselves. Typically, children live with their parents until they are courted and mated off with the blessing of their guardians and the pack, but Jimin’s is not a typical case. He does not truly have parents, and as much as it pains the Jeons, it is too risky to have the young alpha live with an unmated Jungkook. Especially given the last incident.“You know why,” Seung says and Jungkook’s cheeks burn along with his eyes. He pouts and crosses his arms but understands that this is just how things must be.They easily find him an old cabin on the other side of their small village. It would be a forty-minute walk across town, so Jimin takes comfort in knowing he won’t be too far away from his family. It will also be nice to spend his ruts how he would like, shame-free.The cabin is dusty, the furniture is falling apart, but Haneul and Jungkook help make his new bedding and curtains and Seung helps him build new dressers and a bed frame. The first week in the cabin, Jimin finds leaky faucets and roaches. He replaces the broken tile in the bathroom, fixes the old piping, and poisons all unwanted insects. It begins to feel like home after a month. Taehyung is the one who visits often, inviting himself to spend the night as he falls asleep in Jimin’s bed.On a bright morning, he wakes up to knocking. Taehyung is sprawled all over his body, bad breath puffing into his face and he shoves him off disgusted. He trips over his own feet, drowsy and lost as he opens the door. Jungkook is there, holding containers of food with a wide grin on his face. Jimin blushes.“I brought food,” Jungkook pushes his way in. “mom said to bring it over beca- oh.”Jungkook cuts off as he sees Taehyung slowly sitting up in Jimin’s bed, rubbing the crust out of his eyes. His shirt is hanging off his shoulder, hair everywhere. The beta yawns and scratches his tummy.“Hi Kook,” Taehyung greets, one eye opened.Jungkook colors, his scent turning strangely sour.“I’m sorry,” he stutters. “I didn’t know you had company.”Jimin frowns, it’s just Taehyung. Jungkook knows they’re friends and they sleep in other’s beds all the time. So, Taehyung tumbles toward the bathroom, clad in nothing but his boxers and the loose shirt and Jungkook hurries into the kitchen.“What did you bring?” Jimin croaks, voice scratchy from disuse. He comes up behind Jungkook and settles his chin on his shoulder.“Um,” Jungkook relaxes, unconsciously leaning back into the alpha. “some meat dad cooked last night. Mom made too much breakfast this morning. We milked Kara, so I brought you some of that. It’s fresh.”Jimin grins, excited to eat.“Gonna head out,” Taehyung calls from behind them. Jimin walks him to the door, Jungkook straining to hear their conversation as the beta leaves.Jealousy burns when Jimin reenters the kitchen with a dopey smile on his face. Jungkook busies himself with packing away some of the leftovers in the small fridge Jimin has.“Are you courting him?” Jungkook asks, cursing himself for his loose mouth.Jimin glances at him, eyebrows raised. He doesn’t answer for a moment, opening a container to start eating straight out of it, “No. He’s a friend.”Jungkook says nothing. Just because Taehyung is a friend, doesn’t mean they aren’t having sex. He knows now how these things work, sometimes the pack members sleep with each other. It’s a welcome exercise as far as everyone is concerned since there is always that subtle wavelength of sexual tension among the unmated. Some wolves say it’s like sampling what you get before you take your pick.“I’m pretty sure he’s being courted anyway,” Jimin shrugs, shoving food into his mouth. “by that alpha Seokjin.”Jungkook blinks, having not known that piece of information and feeling somewhat ridiculous for asking.“Oh.”Jimin scoffs, smirking around his utensil.“What?” Jungkook pouts.Jimin shakes his head, “Nothing.” Jungkook begins to bring Jimin food almost every morning, claiming that Haneul cooked too much or that Seung said Jimin might like the pot roast he made. Soon enough, there is so much food in his fridge that some of it starts to go bad. Jimin is only one person and therefore can only eat so much food.Taehyung comes over with Seokjin in tow when Jimin mentioned all the meals he has in his fridge. With the promise of good free food, they scarf down what they can, groaning and grunting when they stuff themselves silly.“Haneul and Seung are the cooking gods,” Seokjin mutters, slouched into the couch and patting at his food baby.“Yeah,” Jimin giggles. “but sometimes I wish they would stop. Jungkook comes over, like every day, to bring me something. I appreciate it, but I feel sorry that I have to throw stuff out. I can only take so much.”Seokjin looks over at him with a confused look on his face, “Jungkook does that?”Jimin nods. Taehyung gasps as he locks eyes with Seokjin.“Wait Jimin,” Taehyung grabs for him at his shoulders, shaking him. “are you sure Haneul and Seung are cooking all this for you or is Jungkook?”Jimin blinks, “I mean, that’s what he said.”Taehyung’s face lights up, “Oh my god.”Jimin looks over at Seokjin who’s wearing a smug expression on his face.“What am I missing?” Jimin questions, lost.Taehyung shakes him again, “Dude, Jungkook is courting you.”Jimin’s mind stutters to a stop and then to a blank. Wait, what?“N-no he’s not?” he replies stupidly.“I bet my fuckin’ ass he is,” Taehyung exclaims, clapping his hands excitedly.“Don’t do that,” Seokjin mutters.Taehyung jumps up and down, having seen it coming from a mile away.“I knew this was going to happen! I knew it!”But Jimin is tuning them out at this point, mind suddenly racing. It would make sense if Jungkook was courting him. It would explain the bitterness to his scent when Jimin mentions other omegas or betas, why he’s been bringing over so much food and making sure Jimin likes everything he eats. Sometimes when Jungkook stays over for longer, he catches him rubbing his scent into Jimin’s sheets or pressing himself into Jimin’s personal space. But that isn’t particularly news. Jungkook has always clung to him, always liked cuddling or being protected by Jimin.This is the first time he’s ever thought about Jungkook as a potential mate, outside of his rut and completely sane.Taehyung slaps him on his arm and Jimin growls at the sting, “What the hell Tae?”“You have to ask him next time,” Taehyung says seriously. “If this is what it is, you have to ask and make sure or else Jungkook will be completely crushed if you don’t take him seriously.”Jimin’s head spins. Jungkook comes by the next morning and Jimin can’t bring himself to act naturally around him, thoughts plagued with mate mate mate.“Wow, hyung!” Jungkook beams up at him from where he’s lowered into the fridge. “You ate so much! I’m happy.”There is a blush high on the apples of his cheeks and Jimin flushes. Taehyung is right, he must be.“I didn’t bring that much today because I knew your fridge was getting really full,” Jungkook rambles. “Last time there was so much fruit, huh? I bet you could hardly eat all the stuff I bring. I just hope you like it, I know how picky you can be sometimes.”“Jungkook,” Jimin calls, he settles himself up on the counter, picking at his shirt nervously. Jungkook blinks at him from over the door of the fridge. “Do you cook some of the food too?”Jungkook looks away, fidgets before he closes the door and stands up to face him.“I mean,” Jungkook reaches up to scratch at his nape. “sometimes. I’ve been, uh, learning a bit. Why? Does some of it not taste that good?”“No, no,” Jimin comforts. “it’s not that. It’s just…I was just wondering.”Jungkook grows quiet at that, looking at Jimin with wide eyes.“If you don’t like it, you can tell me,” Jungkook says after a while, shifting uncomfortably on the tile. “I won’t bother you.”“I promise Kook,” Jimin pleads. “it’s not like that.”Jungkook nods, “Okay.”“If I ask you something, will you promise not to get all weird on me?”Jungkook licks his lips nervously, hands clasping together in front of him. He nods.“Are you…” Jimin clears his throat and looks down at his pants, unable to look back up. “um, are you courting me, Jungkook-ah?”There’s an abrupt intake of breath and then Jungkook’s scent sharpens. Jimin feels his body tense at the onslaught of omega, nostrils flaring and heart thudding. When Jungkook doesn’t answer Jimin looks up, nearly choking on a breath as he sees Jungkook standing there, arms holding his own body and tears streaming down his face.He immediately rushes forward, gathering the omega in his arms to comfort.“Jungkook,” Jimin coos. “why are you crying? Please don’t cry.”“I-I just,” Jungkook chokes up, a sob caught in his throat. “I’m embarrassed.”“What?” Jimin shakes his head and pulls back. Jungkook tries to cover his face with his hands but Jimin doesn’t let him, “Come on look at me. Why are you embarrassed? Don’t be. This is nothing to be embarrassed about.”Jungkook shakes his head, body shuddering with his sobs, “I couldn’t even be honest with you hyung. I-I couldn’t even tell you that I wanted to court you.”Jimin frowns. It is tradition to ask the one you’re interested in mating for permission to court, but Jungkook hadn’t done that at all. Jimin wasn’t even aware of his intentions until an outer party had to tell him, and even then, he found that hard to believe because it was that unexpected.Even so, there are occurrences where mates have courted one another without even asking. Jimin must be one dense alpha if he hadn’t recognized the signs.“No, that’s okay,” Jimin brings up his hands to gingerly wipe his tears away, saddened by the distraught look of the omega. “I know now. It’s okay. I should’ve realized. I’m sorry.”Jungkook’s lip wobbles but he presses himself against Jimin, chin and wet nose digging into his scent gland at his neck. Jimin would be disgusted at the wet pressing against his skin but this is Jungkook, and this isn’t the first time the omega has sought comfort in Jimin this way. Jimin walks back until his ass meets the dining table and he clambers to sit on it, Jungkook following instinctively as he settles on top of his lap. Jimin says nothing and wraps his arms around the omega, hands soothing over his back and down his sides.They sit for a while until Jungkook is calm enough to pull back and wipe at his own face. His ears are still red from embarrassment and Jimin’s heart lurches.“You okay?” Jimin asks and Jungkook nods.“My feet are asleep,” Jungkook sniffles. Jimin’s hands roam over his legs folded underneath him at each side of his hips. He pulls them out from their bent position and wraps them around his waist instead, promoting the blood flow.“Better?” Jimin asks.Jungkook hiccups but smiles softly, “Yeah.”They sit and stare at one another, wondering which one of them is going to speak first.“We gonna talk about this?” Jimin asks, hands resting safely around the omegas waist. Jungkook squirms.“Yes…” he mutters.“Do you want me to go first?” Jimin asks after Jungkook still doesn’t elaborate on anything. Jungkook nods.Sighing, he asks, “Since when have you wanted to mate me?”Jungkook looks away, toward a window that suddenly became interesting to him, “For a while.”“Like a few months?” Jimin wonders. If he must squeeze every detail out of Jungkook until he’s kicking and screaming, he’ll do it. He just wants answers. Wants everything put into perspective for him.Jungkook sags, knowing that he’s not going to get out of this conversation no matter what. If Jimin is one thing, he’s a let’s-talk-out-our-problems sort of guy.“No,” Jungkook huffs. “probably ever since I presented.”Jimin’s shock shows on his face, “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”“I did!” Jungkook admits. “Well…not to you, but to mom and dad. That’s why they always had to separate us when we went through our cycles. I’ve always liked your scent. Even when you presented, and I hadn’t. They were the first ones to notice.”Jimin is completely flabbergasted, wondering how he could’ve overlooked something like that.“I had no idea,” Jimin says. “You never let it show.”“I couldn’t.” Jungkook shrugs. “after my first heat, I knew you didn’t like my scent. You couldn’t even be near me without having to cover your nose.”“It wasn’t like that,” Jimin frowns. “It was just so strong, so sweet. I think all first heats are like that.”“Do you like my scent now?” Jungkook asks, large doe eyes swimming with hope. “I wanted you to like it so much that you’d consider me a mate, but it never happened. I gave up hope. But then you had that rut…”Jimin colors with shame.“I found my shirt after that,” Jungkook tells him. “the one you used to get off. There was your cum and your scent soaked into it. When you had to move out, I asked alpha and mom if I could court you. Of course, they said yes.”“I’m sorry,” Jimin mutters. “about the shirt.”Jungkook giggles, “I could give a shit about the shirt hyung. You cornered me in the kitchen, remember? Before your rut and I wanted nothing more than for you to finally claim me. That thought scared me a lot, how easy it could have been if you weren’t in your right mind. If you were too far into it.”Jimin doesn’t like to think about that incident, because Jungkook is right, it would have been too easy to lose himself in Jungkook’s scent if he had been conscious of his rut and his need to claim the first thing he’d seen.“I wouldn’t have regretted it,” Jungkook whispers, his scent sharpening in slight arousal. “You could’ve taken me right then and there in our kitchen and I would’ve happily become your omega.”Jimin looks into Jungkook’s eyes and nearly groans when he sees how possessive and blown out they’re becoming. There is something so primal in the expression on his face, making Jimin’s stomach clench and his hands ball into the shirt Jungkook is wearing.“This is…” Jimin trails off. “a lot.”Jungkook loops his arms up around his shoulders, fingers tangling in his hair, “Too much?”Jimin nods. Jungkook smiles a little sadly, pulling back and keeping his arms tucked into his lap.“I’m not saying no,” Jimin shakes his head and Jungkook lights up again. “I just, I think we should still keep this going.”Jungkook grins, “You want me to still court you?”Jimin nods, heart blooming in affection.“Now that I know,” Jimin says, nudging his nose against Jungkook’s. “I want to pay attention.” Jimin is making his rounds in the forest, a new position that Seung had given him. It’s been a privilege, checking the borders of their territory to make sure nothing strange has been going on without them knowing. Jimin is one of the best trackers in their pack, having learned from Seung himself at a young age, and he’d always hoped that one day he’d be considered special enough for a task such as this one, even if it might be dangerous.His round is just about to end, shift turning over to Namjoon before he can head home for the day. But then he feels the presence of a new wolf joining his run, the faint smell of citrus, jasmine, and honey tickling his nose. Jungkook bursts through the trees, his black wolf galloping easily along the alphas pace.Jimin feels uneasy letting his omega so close to the border where there could be risks, so he leads their impromptu race back into the village. He can sense Namjoon coming on shift and he leaves the forest relieved, but slightly upset. Jungkook follows him through fields until they are at the door of Jimin’s cabin. They shift before they head inside, panting to catch their breath, Jimin frowning and Jungkook grinning.A second after they step through the door, Jungkook picks up on his sour mood.“What’s wrong?” Jungkook asks. “Not happy to see me?”“I just wish you would stop doing that,” Jimin complains, tossing Jungkook one of his large hoodies so he can cover his nakedness. Jimin pulls on some jogging shorts. “It’s really dangerous.”“Oh please,” Jungkook rolls his eyes. “We haven’t had issues with the neighboring packs for decades, I doubt it would start today. Besides, I like running with you.”“That’s not the point,” Jimin fingers through his hair, pouring them both a cup of water to drink out of. “I would hate myself if you got hurt.”Jungkook doesn’t reply and Jimin knows he must have said something to annoy him.“Want something to eat?” Jimin changes the subject, in hopes of evading an argument.“No,” Jungkook snaps, brushing past him to get to the living area.“Okay,” Jimin slams the fridge shut. “Wanna watch a movie or something?”“No.”Jimin tsks, shaking his head before he comes to settle next to Jungkook on the bed.“Why are you mad?”“I’m not,” Jungkook grumbles, lifting the hood to cover his face as he burrows into the sheets.“What do you want to do then?”Jungkook is silent. Jimin gets up to move to the kitchen, taking out some food to warm up. He’s been running for a while, his hunger catching up to him and making him cranky. He eats by himself at the table, watching Jungkook wriggle around in his sheets from the corner of his eye.“My heat is tomorrow,” Jungkook announces suddenly. Jimin chokes on a piece of pork.Gasping, he downs some of his water to aid in catching his breath.“Really?” Jimin asks unintelligibly; Jungkook is looking at him unimpressed.“I want you to mate me hyung.”Jimin stares down at his food, suddenly not hungry. He throws the rest away, rinsing his utensil in the sink before climbing his way back onto the bed.Jimin can smell it now, the way Jungkook’s scent is cloying in the air, a little more heavy and dense.“Are you sure you want me?” Jimin asks, laying down on his side to face the omega. Jungkook wastes no time in pressing in closer, naked legs tangling with Jimin’s own.“Yes,” Jungkook sighs contentedly, pressing Jimin onto his back before he settles on top of him, laying down on his chest to reach where Jimin’s scent is the strongest in the crook of his shoulder and neck. “I want this more than anything. If you want me.”“I do,” Jimin nods, pressing his nose into Jungkook’s gland, licking at the skin. They kiss well into the night, mouths slick and teeth nibbling. Jungkook ruts softly against Jimin’s hips until he comes, and Jimin cleans him up as he falls asleep against the mattress. He can already feel the beginnings of Jungkook’s fever, so he pulls off the hoody so that the omega sleeps in nothing but his skin. He falls asleep to Jungkook’s soft snores and wakes up to Jungkook whining in his ear.“Hyung,” Jungkook pants, alerting Jimin to the omega at his side. “h-hurts.”Jimin shoots up, sleep yanked from him. Jungkook’s scent is everywhere, in his sheets, on his shorts. There’s a wet patch on Jimin’s thigh and he looks down confused before he realizes that Jungkook’s cum and slick is what coats it.Jimin coos, catching Jungkook’s face in his hands and kissing him hard. The omega mewls, face scrunching up and tongue coming out to lick obscenely at his mouth.Jungkook is desperate and needy during his heat, Jimin discovers early. After he had tugged out a few orgasms with just his hands and his mouth on his nipples, Jimin made the mistake of getting up to fetch a towel to clean up the mess. When he returned, Jungkook was sobbing uncontrollably, reaching out to him like a child missing his favorite blanket. He finds that Jungkook refuses to be alone, can’t stand it when Jimin isn’t within his reach at all times of the day. Jungkook also refuses to let Jimin wipe away their mess, loving the smell of semen and slick mingled together on his skin. When Jimin finally slips inside of him, Jungkook is wailing.“You’ve got it so bad, don’t you baby?” Jimin coos, hips snapping roughly into the omega. Slick is gushing out of his hole and around his dick in unbelievable amounts, coating his thighs and staining his sheets. There are some omegas who suffer from the most intense heats, burning up and delirious and Jungkook seems to be one of those. He’s almost inconsolable, insatiable, coming multiple times even after his cock has run dry. His hole pulses around Jimin, the tight heat pulling Jimin into his rut. “Who’s been taking care of you, huh?” Jimin asks, leaning down to crash his mouth against Jungkook’s. He bites his lips red, nips his way down his jaw, to his ear. “Who’s been in this ass before?”Jungkook clenches around him again, tears streaming down his cheeks, “N-no one!”Jimin groans, alpha growling in pleasure, “Poor baby, had to take care of himself all these years. All alone,” he sucks marks into his neck, nips at his scent gland too hard and Jungkook gushes. “You’re so fuckin’ wet, Jungkook. So perfect, such a perfect needy hole,” Jimin reaches around and grips at his butt cheeks, one in each hand, squeezing them, spreading them and slapping the sensitive skin.Jungkook’s head thrashes from side to side, fisting his cock and coming again.When Jimin has him on all fours, Jungkook is bouncing back to meet Jimin’s violent thrusts, the slapping of skin on skin a rhythm to their mating. Jimin groans at the sight of his cum dribbling out of Jungkook’s hole, he’s yet to knot him, instead, coming inside the omega several times throughout the day. But eventually, Jimin can feel himself start to swell at the base, watching in amazement as his omega feels it too, whimpering coming in succession louder than before, forcing that knot in and out of himself with his hips.“A-alpha,” Jungkook whimpers, reaching back to spread his cheeks wide open to accommodate the intrusion. “knot me, please. W-want it so bad.”“Yeah,” Jimin reaches forward to tug the omega up, impaling him on his knot. “gonna fill you up again. You want that, baby, want my cum?”“Yes, pleasepleaseplease,” Jungkook begs, arms scrambling for Jimin’s hair behind him. “want it alpha. Mate me, mate me. Bite me, please.”Jimin’s teeth ache at the request. Groaning and grunting he shoves Jungkook down onto his cock one last time, knot swelling in his ass and Jungkook comes hard, the omega pulsing and twitching around his knot. When Jimin feels the first spurt of cum releasing and throwing him into orgasm he finally gives in to his instincts and bites down into Jungkook’s scent gland, claiming him.Jungkook cries out, tightening once again around Jimin.“Wanna mark you,” Jungkook sobs, teeth aching to complete their bonding and Jimin bites down a bit harder, subduing the omega before he works himself into a panic.They lay side by side until his knot goes down, Jungkook restless in his arms. Jimin knows his omega is itching to get another round in, to earn another knot so that he can mark Jimin as his own. So, he lets Jungkook ride him into another orgasm, but Jimin won’t be able to knot for a little while.Jungkook refuses to claim him without the presence of a knot, so he plops down after tiring out his own legs and pulls Jimin as close to him as he can.When Jungkook is out like a light, body sated and fever mild, Jimin kisses around his bite before getting up to get some food and bringing it back to bed to eat beside his mate. After he’s finished, he downs some water from a gallon and wakes Jungkook to do the same. The omega fights him on it but Jimin is stern, making Jungkook drink before he sleeps some more.Surprisingly they get a good night’s rest. Jungkook’s heat must have been sated enough to let him sleep a healthy number of hours before they’re at it again the next day. Jungkook preens, excited when Jimin is able to knot him in the early morning. Jungkook is brutal as he bites into Jimin’s gland, teeth blunt as they break the skin, but then something in his soul shifts to distract him from the pain, like a veil is lifted from his eyes and all that Jimin can see and feel is nothing but Jungkook, his mate, his omega. A molten liquid emotion swirling deep down into his very core. There is something magical in the feeling, something complete like Jimin didn’t realize he was missing a piece of himself before it was given back.Jungkook licks at his wound gently as he rests upon his chest, the first time he’s almost lucid since his heat started.“Feels so good,” Jungkook says, voice croaking. “to be yours.”Jimin kisses his temple, tracing up Jungkook’s spine with the pads of his fingers, “Love you.”“Love you,” Jungkook grins, affection blooming over their bond.Jungkook’s heat ends earlier than they were expecting, coming out of the four-day cycle exhausted but sated. The first thing Jimin does is warm up a ton of food for his new mate, eating in the soiled sheets but caring less because it feels right that everything reeks of them.Jimin draws them a bath, pouring in some soothing oils for his sensitive mate. Jungkook nearly collapses when he tries to walk by himself and Jimin cackles, carrying a pouting Jungkook to the tub. They take turns scrubbing each other of their filth, pressing careful kisses over their marks and watching in satisfaction as the filth goes down the drain.They haven’t the time to wash the sheets, Jimin grabbing a blanket from the closet and Jungkook throwing the ruined ones on the floor. They long to be in one another’s arms, bond fragile and impatient. They do nothing but stare at one another in awe, almost like seeing each other in a new light for the very first time. Jungkook glows, cheeks flushed and eyes bright. He looks so happy and Jimin can’t imagine he looks any different. The pack gets word of their new bond, Haneul and Seung visiting a few days later with their blessings and celebratory food. The pack knows that a new bond is to be catered to when so fresh, the honeymoon stage, as they like to call it. So Jimin’s tracking and border duties are handed off to someone else for the time being.The newly mated couple christen Jimin’s home during this period, making love anywhere and everywhere they possibly can. It’s incredibly filthy and when Taehyung swings by to congratulate the couple with Seokjin, he makes a joke about not wanting to sit on their furniture just yet. Jungkook colors embarrassed and Jimin slaps Taehyung’s arm.When they finally feel like they can spend time apart, their bond solidified, Jungkook goes home to pack his things so he can move in with Jimin. It takes a whole day but Jimin is not there to help when he’s immediately put back on his duty at the border. He thinks about his mate all throughout his shift, running through the woods and splashing through the creek. Impatience itches at him until his shift ends with the setting sun. When he senses Namjoon coming into the woods to take over, he sprints faster than he ever has before, racing home.He bursts through the door of his house, startling Jungkook who is eating watermelon on the couch, watching a VHS on his outdated television set. He’s swaddled in one of Jimin’s shirts and Jimin can’t help but snicker at the sight, the shirt tight around his torso.He knocks into an unpacked box as he practically jumps into his omegas arms. They scent each other, kissing softly between shared smiles.“Missed you,” Jimin confesses, yearning and yearning even though Jungkook is here.“Missed you too,” Jungkook clings to him.Eventually, Jimin needs to wash up, but Jungkook follows him into the shower. They make love under the stream, coming together and cackling when Jungkook slips on his semen on the tub floor, knocking them into the curtain that rips from their weight.They patch up each other’s scrapes and then eat dinner with their legs tangled under the table.When it’s time for sleep, they make out until Jimin has to tug out an orgasm from a worked up Jungkook. Jimin licks up the mess, too tired to get a towel before sleep pulls them down.In the morning, Jimin rises before Jungkook, the younger spread out sloppily beside him. His black hair is haloed on top of the pillow, drool leaking down his chin. Jimin’s never seen such a perfect sight. There are boxes upon boxes that need to be unpacked, clothes that need to be hung, their soiled sheets are still in the corner, screaming to be washed, but those can wait for another day. Eternity stretches on before Jimin, a lifetime of love right here in his very bed, so he reaches down and kisses him. Those deep brown eyes flutter open, the beginnings of a soft smile pulling at Jimin’s favorite pair of lips in the whole world. His arms wind around his everything, bond tugging at their hearts.“Hello, beautiful.”