Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Rain gently pitter-pattering against the roof draws Jimin from his peaceful slumber, an entrenching warmth encircling him from all sides as he curls up beneath his fur blankets, gradually inching towards awareness while he releases leisurely breaths and his heart thuds in a steady rhythm.

Complete and utter serenity.

He possesses no rush or urgency in his spirit, lackadaisical as he allows his body to soak up the puddles of comfort around him.

Darkness trickles in through the window due to the cloudy haze blocking away the morning sunshine. It only contributes to the lack of motivation to swiftly rise from out of the bed, Jimin flipping onto his other side to continuously slip in and out of restful sleep until the early morning hours fade into the demand for productivity.

Responsibility.

His obligations await him.

An undeniable heaviness sits atop his chest when his feet meet the hardwood floor, dragging along to the bathroom to wash up for the tasks ahead that require his attention, unable to refrain from thinking of the finality of everything surrounding him.

This marks the last day that he receives the privilege of conducting his daily routine within the confines of this home.

“Good morning!”

“Morning.” Taehyung replies when he passes through the front door, shucking off his shoes before trudging to the kitchen table.

“How was your patrol today?”

“Rainy.”

“I see, I see. I’m surprised you didn’t come home covered in mud from head to toe. It’s probably really messy out there.” Jimin remarks as he focuses on the stove in front of him, finishing up his freshly baked biscuits before he carefully swivels to deliver them to the table. “I’ve got a nice, hot spread ready for us this morning.”

“Thank you so much. It smells delicious. I was drooling on my walk home because I could already smell what you were cooking up.” Taehyung shifts in his seat, clears off the table, and extends his arms to help spread the dishes around the wooden surface.

“I need to use up the last of the ingredients in the kitchen, so we’ll be having some hearty meals today. No sense in letting anything go to waste, you know?”

“You’ll hear no complaints from me.”

“How’s the creek?” Jimin states across the table to the alpha on the other side, breathing in a deep breath of crisp grapefruit for the first time all morning. “Are things looking better now? Not as flooded?”

“It retreated a lot, actually. I think it’ll shrink back to its normal size in the next couple of days.”

“Your mom’s house?”

“Safe and sound. I went there first thing before I patrolled the grounds. None of the water reached her cabin.” Taehyung grunts out his words as he shovels biscuits, pork sausage, fried potatoes, and fresh pickles into his mouth.

“That’s good.”

“Mhm.”

Reluctantly slipping on a suitable outfit for the day and bidding Taehyung goodbye, Jimin exits their home to embark on his final day in their current location. A mixture of nervous excitement and bittersweet sadness battle in his chest while he contemplates the massive transition awaiting him. A change in life as he knows it will soon arrive.

From the shape of the trees to the wildlife that flourishes to the changing of the seasons, he finds himself comparing each aspect of his current circumstances to what might greet him in the near future.

Truthfully, he only hopes that the simple joys of existence follow him wherever he wanders.

“I heard that the Han Pack likes to elect beta teachers to watch over the pups. Isn’t that really interesting? That’ll be a change for sure.” Hari, Taehyung’s older beta sister, states with a smile on her face as she waves goodbye to her pup.

“That’s perfect for you! You can just become a teacher if you don’t find anything else!”

“I was thinking that as well!”

“I hope omegas are allowed to teach in the Jeon Pack since this is the only thing I really like doing. It would be so sad to have to give this up.” Jimin subconsciously pulls his lips into a beaky pout while he thinks of the unfortunate idea.

“I’m sure they can! No one would be able to turn away such a passionate teacher like you!”

Rather than allowing a somber mood to settle over them on their last day in their cherished classroom, Jimin puts forth his best effort to ensure that all of the students experience unadulterated happiness with him. He wants them to possess nothing except wonderful memories of their time together.

They review the material from their previous lesson, paint their wishes for the future, and play all sorts of engaging games.

Time flies.

All of the dazzling smiles flashing his way make his job more than worth the effort he enacts, choking back a thicket of emotions when lunchtime arrives and the perfect pups pack up their things to return home. Ignoring the elephant in the room proves an impossible task in their final moments. None of the words in his head successfully reach his tongue.

The pups take turns squeezing him in suffocating hugs while they endlessly thank him for teaching them over the past couple of years.

“Be good, okay?”

“Okay!”

“Don’t give your new teacher any trouble, especially not on the first day. Sit up straight, be quiet and respectful, show them all the things that you know in your pretty heads. Learn everything that you can.” Jimin forces a smile onto his face even as his heart trembles with grief.

“We’ll miss you so, so, so, so much! Come see us lots and lots!” Woosung, the oldest and most mature student of the bunch, states as he bounces up and down at Jimin’s legs.

“I’ll see you again before you know it! You’re going to have so much fun in your new pack that you won’t even have time to miss me anymore!”

“No way!” The students shout in unison. “That’s impossible!”

“Bye-bye!”

Although he hangs his head and mopes all the way home, Jimin manages to refrain from shedding a single tear in front of the pups. As long as they find excitement about the situation instead of sadness or uncertainty, he considers his work successful.

Droplets of sweat drip down Taehyung’s forehead when he returns to the cabin for a quick lunch, falling mostly silent while he scarfs down the thick chunks of meat Jimin piles on his plate.

Busy, busy, busy.

The rest of Jimin’s day passes by in a blur as he devotes himself to packing the remaining belongings inside of their home. Since Taehyung receives the duty of assisting everyone with loading their things onto the push carts, Jimin takes it upon himself to help his best friend put everything he owns into wooden boxes and sturdy satchels.

All things considered, they possess far fewer things than they expect, especially because they need to leave behind nonessential goods.

Selective.

It shatters his heart into mangled pieces to sort through all of their various things they collected over their years of living, from family heirlooms to sentimental remembrances to clothing, shoving it away in boxes while leaving behind the home that they adore more than anything. Their belongings hold value merely from the memories they evoke when glancing at them, packed full of their various experiences over their lifetimes.

“Is there anything in here that you want to take with you, honey? Taehyung already came by to grab his stuff, so it’s just down to you. You can take whatever you want.” Taehyung’s mom says in her sweet, lilting voice, her carnation scent abundantly comforting.

“Hmm… Let me think.” Jimin replies with a hum while he glances around her home.

“Take all the time you need.”

“I definitely want this blanket. I used to sleep with it every single night when I first moved in with you guys. It’s way too special to me to leave it behind.” Jimin swallows the rocky lump in his throat before he scoops up the quilt into his arms.

“I bet it still smells like jasmine. You’ve seeped into the fabric of that thing.”

“Good.”

For a final gathering as a pack, however measly and pitiful, the dozen or so members gather together in the dining hall to enjoy a meal in shared company. They spread along the various tables with obscene amounts of food in their bowls, the room buzzing with a lighthearted atmosphere as the lingering anticipation of the next day builds and builds.

Jimin’s eyes repeatedly wander across the room to gaze at the people he knows like the back of his hand, burying any depressing thoughts in favor of forcing himself to feel nothing except happiness.

He reminds himself that this strenuous move will serve them best in the long run.

“What do you think the Jeon Pack is like?” Jimin asks in a low voice, pushing his food around while his thoughts run rampant, breathing in grapefruit to soothe his surmounting anxieties. “I’ve avoided asking because I didn’t want to think about it, but it’s probably time to learn. We’ll be there tomorrow, after all.”

“I think it’ll be a great place to live. They wouldn’t have chosen to send us there otherwise.” Taehyung shrugs his shoulders, annoyingly nonchalant.

“Lots of young people.”

“Yeah, that’s what they say. Lots of young people, laidback attitudes, and enough resources to regularly take on new people. They’re one of the biggest packs in general, not just in this area.” Taehyung supplies Jimin with the type of information he desperately seeks, quelling his fears for now.

“Do you think we’ll be allowed to live together still? Are they going to separate us since I’m an omega and you’re an alpha?”

“I honestly don’t know.”

“I hope we can still be close.” Jimin wrings his fingers through the mess of blonde hair atop his head, pulling the plate of chocolate cake closer to himself to snatch it up before Taehyung. “As long as we have each other, we’ll be fine. I can’t imagine they would force us apart after all this time.”

“We wouldn’t let them, would we? We’re a bunch of trouble when people try to get between us. They’ll learn that really quickly.”

“Yes, they will.”

Tangling their arms together for closeness and affection, Jimin and Taehyung walk side by side to their home after dinner, a somber mood hanging over their heads after offering a last goodbye to those that remain from their childhood until now.

It hurts.

Jimin allows his feelings to flow through him, handling the good with the bad because he wants to experience the full depths of all that this wonderful life provides him.

Standing in the middle of their tiny kitchen and living room surrounded by the last of their things, the two of them undoubtedly share in the thoughts that race through their heads. Only the bags that will cling to the backs reside on their kitchen table, an empty box on the floor near the door to pack away the final items they need for the night and morning after they wake.

Everything will change when the sun rises again.

Intimidating.

Scary.

Hopeful.

“How about we share a bed tonight? Hm? Just like old times when you first moved in and wouldn’t get a wink of sleep unless you were with me.” Taehyung shoots Jimin a charming, boxy smile as he pushes open his bedroom door.

“Are you really saying this for my sake or are you too nervous to sleep alone?”

“Both.”

“Don’t lie!” Jimin exclaims in a shrill voice, squinting his eyes to glare at the alpha in suspicion. “I know when you’re telling a fib!”

“I am nervous, but I can tell from your scent that you won’t sleep well on your own tonight.”

“Hmm… Well… Only if I get to sleep next to the wall!” Jimin declares in a sudden proclamation that causes him to bolt into a run towards the bedroom in question, lightning beneath his feet as he gets a head start on his conquest.

“You little brat!”

Darkness engulfs every inch of land when they depart from their home with nothing except the clothing on their backs and satchels hanging from their shoulders, receiving nowhere near enough sleep to feel well rested for their cumbersome journey ahead.

Five.

Of all the members of their pack, only a total of five will relocate to the Jeon Pack, the others splitting off to join the Han Pack.

A world apart.

Since the Jeon Pack resides to the East of the original home place, they need to tackle a strenuous hike over a mountain while their belongings travel on push carts carried by a few alphas from their new pack. Instead of following their stuff on the lengthy trail around the mountain, the shorter trek requires them to spend their entire day conquering the massive force of nature in their wolf forms.

They start on their trek before the sun even rises, not allowing time for hesitance to settle in before they take off with their bags secured around their backs.

Difficult.

Jimin can count on one hand the amount of times he willingly traversed a mountain for leisure, experiencing it so few times due to the immense regret that consumed him whenever his muscles started to ache not even a few minutes into the trip. This time proves no different, except he possesses no option to turn back when his body strains in protest.

Onward and upward to new beginnings.

“Eat this.” Taehyung commands as he thrusts a banana in Jimin’s lap, releasing a host of comforting pheromones in his grapefruit scent that assist in calming the uncertainty in the omega’s soul. “Bananas have potassium which is good for fighting off muscle cramps.”

“I hate bananas.” Jimin huffs petulantly, eyeing the offending splash of yellow resting on his thighs.

“I know.”

“We’re not even halfway through yet. The sun only came up a few hours ago. This is pure torture already. Ugh.”

“Exactly, so you better eat that damn banana because I don’t want to hear you complaining even more when we stop for lunch. I can already picture your calves twitching like a fish out of water since you never run this far.” Taehyung plops another banana in Jimin’s lap despite his complaints, pulling another one out of his bag to eat it himself.

“I hate it when you’re right.”

“I’m always right.”

“You wish!” Jimin bursts into amused laughter at the ridiculous statement, begrudgingly opening the fruit to hurriedly swallow it down with minimal chewing. “If anyone’s always right, it’s me.”

Tingling nerves bubble beneath the surface of Jimin’s flesh when they finally approach the promised land. He glances out on their descent down the mountain to spot a manmade structure in the far distance, an expanse of trees spreading as far as his enhanced vision can see. Excited yips resound in the air, both from Taehyung and Jimin, the small group howling in delight.

With the worst of the hike behind them and the hope of ending their journey on the horizon, they move forward with renewed vigor.

Similar, but not.

Jimin finds himself inspecting everything.

The brown hue of the trees appears remotely close to those from back home, yet not identical. A sharp pine scent swirls in the air that resembles the furs he remembers, just not quite the same. From the firmness of the dirt beneath his paws to the amount of sunshine that pierces through the treetops, he compares everything around him to the only place he truly knows. It ignites a flurry of emotions in his chest.

Taehyung instinctually hovers around Jimin in a protective stance even after they shift, his chest puffed wide and his shoulders spread to display a larger and more threatening demeanor to ward off any potential dangers.

It takes a while for them to reach the actual part of the land that the pack members inhabit, consumed by curiosity the whole time.

“Hello.”

“H-Hello.” Jimin replies timidly, squeezing the strap of his bag in his chubby fingers.

“Hi.”

“Am I correct in guessing that you’re the travelers from the Kim Pack? I can see two members of my guard with you, but I don’t want to wrongly assume and make a fool of myself.” The moderately tall, dark haired, middle aged alpha before them possesses a striking aura that commands the attention of everyone around him without even trying.

“Yes, that’s right. We’re the newcomers from the Kim Pack. They told us that we were encouraged to join the Jeon Pack, so here we are.” Taehyung answers for them, standing confidently in a way that Jimin rarely experiences from him.

“Absolutely! We’re more than happy to have you here. Welcome to the Jeon Pack. I’m the Head Alpha and I’ll be here to help you with anything you might need while you’re adjusting to your new location.”

“Thank you for taking us in.” Jimin says softly, struggling to maintain eye contact. “We really appreciate your kindness.”

“Yes, thank you so much.”

“That’s truly not necessary. It’s an honor for us to have the provisions and resources to accommodate anyone who needs a place to belong. I’m well acquainted with the Kim Pack, especially what it used to be, so it was no question to take such strong, compassionate, respectful people into our fold.” The Head Alpha speaks with a deep rasp that rattles around in the air and bounces off the trees.

“Our things won’t be here for a couple of days. We only have what we were able to carry with us.” Taehyung states blankly, clearly thinking ahead and attempting to secure their comfort.

“That’s no problem at all. Your homes are stocked with whatever you might need until your belongings find you.”

“That’s great.”

“We get h-homes? Our… Our own homes? Just for us or shared?” Jimin musters all of his bravery to ask such a question, forcing himself to encapsulate the strength he always wishes to possess.

“Your own, of course. I don’t wish to keep you long since I’m sure you’re tired, so allow me to give you a brief tour before I take you to your new cabins.” The Head Alpha politely smiles when he turns, gesturing ahead of himself. “You’ll have plenty of time to acquaint yourself with our camp over the next few days.”

In one ear and out the other.

Jimin truly comprehends none of what the Head Alpha explains to them on their trek through the main areas of the pack settlement.

Overwhelmed.

His brain refuses to absorb anything that it hears, staring emptily at the various structures spanning around them without understanding any of it. From the dining hall to the library to the school, Jimin merely dutifully follows behind Taehyung and hopes that his best friend remembers any of what the Head Alpha says.

Jimin does, however, stop dead in his tracks at the meeting hall, coming to a screeching halt when he notices the most stunning alpha to ever greet his eyesight.

He ceases to properly function.

The dark locks of hair atop his head perfectly frame his sharp cheekbones and strong jaw, leading way to sparkling eyes that glimmer like the sun on a Summer day, the rounded tip of his nose undeniably cute in the middle of such a gorgeously handsome face. Everything about him garners Jimin’s utmost attention to the point that the hair on the back of his arms stands at a point from the mere sight of him.

It only makes matters worse when the alpha turns with a sharp gaze trained directly on Jimin’s flabbergasted figure, amber flowing thick and luscious through the air to wash over him like a tidal wave.

Instantly captivated.

“Most of the rules in our pack are fairly lax. Don’t worry too much about what you should or shouldn’t do. As long as you’re well-mannered and not harming anyone, you should be as good as gold.” The Head Alpha reassures them with a crinkle of his dark eyes and a smile on his lips.

“Are we free to explore however we please? Can we go into the woods and hunt and things like that?” Taehyung possesses the mental capacity to formulate questions even with so much exhaustion wracking their bodies.

“This is your pack now, so conduct yourself however you want. We offer communal meals in the dining hall three times a day. No need to stress about hunting unless you want to cook on your own.”

“W-What about our homes?” Jimin all but whispers, voice meek and weak.

“Hm?”

“Can… Can we share? Is that allowed? Are we permitted to live in the same place, or do we need to separate?”

“You’re free to use your home as you see fit, but there’s plenty of space to have your own place. The cabins are very close to one another, as well. You’ll be next door neighbors and only a few feet away.” The Head Alpha stops walking to gesture to the array of newly constructed cabins all in a row near the line of the forest.

“Oh.”

“Wow, this is amazing!”

“Thank you so much! Words can’t express how grateful we are that you’re accepting us into your pack and providing us with all these things!”

“Let me know if you ever need anything.” The Head Alpha says as his final goodbye, once more detailing the events of the coming days and alerting them to the helpful members in the pack who will guide them on their process of settling in.

Taehyung suggests that they try living alone.

Not in an adamant manner that suggests that he despises Jimin’s guts and wants to permanently eradicate him from his life.

After spending nearly the entirety of their existence in the same household, raised together from their most formative years to their current adulthood, perhaps living in their own spaces that reside only a skip away from one another will allow them a newfound sense of independence and identity that they never realized that they needed.

It makes sense.

Regardless of how much it terrifies him to step into a new home in a foreign location without anything familiar around him, Jimin channels his bravery to handle the situation with maturity.

“I’m right there. Like… Like right there. You can stick your head out your front door and see my house. We’re practically living in the same building considering how close they are.” Taehyung asserts as he helps Jimin unload his few necessary belongings from his bag.

“Can I come over if I need something?”

“Of course!”

“Let’s get breakfast together in the morning, okay? I’ll be so mad if you go without me! You can’t suddenly abandon me after everything.” Jimin pouts as he speaks, his mind already conjuring absurd ideas before anything of that sort even happens.

“If anything, it’s going to be the other way around. You’re all social and sweet and charming. I’ll have to fight off everyone with sticks for trying to steal you away from me.”

“You’re silly!”

“Sleep well. I’m going to come annoy you all of the time. You’re never getting rid of me for as long as you live.” Taehyung wraps his arms around Jimin’s neck to crush him in a loving hug.

“Goodnight!”

Jimin sits at the kitchen table in his cabin for an eternity after Taehyung leaves for the night, gazing around at the emptiness that surrounds him until his belongings arrive. It possesses one bedroom with a connected bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen area. Nothing over the top or extravagant, yet it provides everything he could need as an unmated omega.

He eventually crawls into bed with a sense of unease fizzling in his stomach, comforted by the quilt he brought with him from his childhood at Taehyung’s mom’s house, curling up into a ball while he hopes with all of his heart that life here treats him well.

Every muscle, ligament, and tendon in Jimin’s body aches ferociously when he gradually slips from his restful sleep, ravaged by such intense soreness that merely existing evokes pain from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.

A guttural groan tears from his lips when he stretches his arms and legs to momentarily chase away the stiffness wracking his frame.

Alone.

The reality check of waking in an empty, blank cabin in a foreign territory smacks into him headfirst.

He scoots to the edge of his bed to gaze around at the copious amounts of wood surrounding him. Jubilant birds in the trees outside his window chirp a lilting melody to bless his ears. Golden rays of sunshine filter into the room to bathe it in a luminescent glow. Trickles of warmth pour into his home from the wonderful temperatures embracing the Jeon Pack’s land.

Truthfully, Jimin cracks a pleased smile, not at all hating these new circumstances.

“Taehyung! Tae! Tae-Tae!” Jimin calls out as he skips the short distance from his front door to his best friend’s, a pep in his step despite the horrific amount of calluses and blisters splitting open the flesh tucked inside of his shoes. “Taehyung! Are you awake? It’s me!”

“Yes.” Taehyung grumbles when he swiftly pulls open the door with an exhausted expression painting his face.

“Yay!”

“Good morning.”

“Good morning! It’s our first full day here! How did you sleep?” Jimin smiles from ear to ear while he waits for an answer.

“Hmm… Okay, I guess.”

“Well, that’s alright. You can take a nap later if you’re still feeling tired. I might do that as well. The most important thing is that we eat before they stop serving breakfast because I’m starving!” Jimin reaches out to loop their arms together, tugging Taehyung out of his doorway and onto the trail that leads to the main portion of the camp.

“I’m so glad that you’re here with me. I would be lost without you.” Taehyung says softly, grinning when Jimin turns to glance at him.

“Me too!”

A host of various pack members congregate in the dining hall when they enter, dispersed around the massive space while eating, conversing, and starting their days, no one paying Jimin and Taehyung any mind when they attempt to figure out the flow of retrieving food from the kitchens.

With a multitude of wooden tables and chairs spread everywhere, it takes them no time to find a suitable spot to sit once they grab their trays from the counter along the wall.

Instead of chattering amongst themselves about whatever topics flash through their brains, both of them remain uncharacteristically quiet in favor of gazing at the strangers surrounding them. They observe the mannerisms and behavior of those in their new pack, nosily listening to the bits of conversation that reach their ears. Everyone appears to conduct themselves however they want, carefree and joyous even in the morning, the atmosphere light and unperturbed.

“Hello!”

“Uh… Hi.” Jimin replies in a low voice when someone slides into the seat across from him.

“You two are new here.”

“We are.”

“I’m Namjoon!” The stranger says through his dimpled smile, seemingly tall and broad from what Jimin sees. He grows long, black hair that reaches his jaw and possesses strikingly sharp eyes that immediately garner attention. An omega who smells of rosewood. “I’m a member of the Pack Council and I’ll be your guide today. It’s nice to meet both of you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, too. I’m Taehyung and this is my friend, Jimin. Thanks for taking the time to show us around.” Taehyung presents much less of a stoic display this time around, though still reasonably protective of Jimin in the presence of a stranger.

“It’s my pleasure!”

Namjoon, who towers over Jimin when they stand to their feet to trek around the pack settlement, exudes such a comforting and gentle disposition that Jimin instantly feels at home around him. He happily walks alongside him while they view the various important structures in the center of the grounds, unafraid of speaking up or asking questions when they pop into his head.

“I’m fairly certain that most packs operate the same way, at least I believe so. I’ve traveled a bit and they always place the most important buildings in the heart of the camp. Our pack is no different.”

“There are signs to help navigate it as well.” Taehyung says as he points to one of them.

“Precisely.”

“Our pack was much, much smaller than this, so we didn’t really have anything on this scale. It’s honestly a little overwhelming to have so much happening at once. There’s something going on everywhere I look.” Jimin admits his feelings in earnest, his eyes flitting from the infirmary to the library to the commerce chamber to the smith’s shop.

“As dismissive as this might sound, I promise that you’ll get used to it. It can be kind of nice to be able to disappear into the background with all of the commotion around you.” Namjoon crinkles his eyes in a smile before motioning them onward.

“Is this where the Head Alpha works?”

“Yes! I have an office in the town hall as well, so you can stop by if you ever need anything. I’m on the second floor.”

“I, um… I noticed that there are lots of shops around here and places to get things. Are you a bartering pack? Do we need money to exchange for the items we want?” Jimin purses his lips in thought while he contemplates the inner workings of such a formidable pack.

“Both.” Namjoon nods his head, pulling coins from his pocket. “Some places will happily barter if you have something to offer, but everyone takes these coins. It’s a simple exchange.”

“How do we get those coins? Our old pack was so small that we could just share everything without worrying about payment.”

“Let me clarify that we never let anyone go without in our pack. Things like food, shelter and water are provided without any sort of compensation necessary. Everyone works around the pack for a weekly stipend that can be used to get the things that you simply want.” Namjoon drops a few coins into Jimin’s hand and a few info Taehyung’s.

“Oh, that’s a neat system! It’s good that we won’t have to worry about the things that we really need!” Jimin smiles brightly, a weight off his shoulders.

All three of them spend a considerable chunk of the day discussing the way the Jeon Pack operates, hashing out the finer details to ensure their transition flows without issue. Namjoon conducts himself with patience and grace, never showing any sign of irritation at the obscene amount of questions hurtled his way, even taking lunch with them.

Many of the same basic concepts exist in nearly every pack, so they understand the idea of sharing resources, contributing for the greater good of everyone, and working together in harmony to create a peaceful life for all those around them.

Each thing that they learn removes more and more stress from Jimin’s shoulders.

“What sort of role would you like to assume here? We have just about everything you can think of. There’s no pressure to choose right this moment. We can also assign you something until you find what you like.” Namjoon sits with them on a bench in the nearby park while various other members enjoy the scenery.

“I want to be on the guard.” Taehyung answers without a second of hesitation.

“Oh! How cool!”

“Our patrol was pretty small and I was usually the one who really did it, but I would like to continue that here if it’s possible.”

“It’s certainly possible. We’re always accepting guards to help keep our pack safe. I’ll let them know that you’re interested in joining them. I'm sure someone will come find you soon.” Namjoon smiles politely, turning towards Jimin for his response.

“I’m a teacher.” Jimin smiles down at his lap, nervous for some reason, pangs of happiness and grief striking him at once.

“Perfect!”

“Are there any openings for that? I’m fine with any age, or combination of ages. I’m not picky.”

“I know it’s difficult to trust a complete stranger with pups, especially right off the bat, but Jimin was the only teacher in our pack for the last couple of years. He’s great with pups. Seriously. You won’t find a more dedicated, passionate, caring teacher.” Taehyung swoops in to defend Jimin in a heartbeat.

“There are almost always available spots for teachers as well. I’m positive we can find a class for you to teach in no time.”

Unequivocal success.

Their initial introduction into the Jeon Pack far surpasses either of their expectations.

Jimin bursts with excitement for the days ahead after he returns home from the extensive tour with Taehyung and Namjoon, more than assured in his decision to move to the new location to start a better life.

Home.

It might not feel familiar yet, especially without all of his belongings to add a personal touch to his cabin, but Jimin believes in the depths of his heart that this place could meet all of his hopes and dreams if he allows it the chance. He already envisions himself meeting friends, adjusting to a routine, and finding pure happiness at every turn.

He falls into his afternoon nap with a smile on his face and warmth sparking in his tummy.

“Do you want my watermelon?”

“Is that even a question?” Taehyung retorts without even taking time to think about it, snatching it off Jimin’s plate. “Of course, I want your watermelon. I’ve never not wanted your watermelon.”

“Stop saying ‘your watermelon.’” Jimin rolls his eyes at his best friend’s antics.

“Want to trade?”

“For what?”

“I’m not feeling the bread that much. You know I’m not all that big on carbs. They make my stomach bloated and whatnot. Have my rolls, if you want.” Taehyung shoves his tray across the table to offer the rolls to Jimin with ease.

“Thanks! I love bread!”

Spending years and years of their life together means that Taehyung and Jimin possess the luxury of existing in any state of companionship without awkwardness. Whether endlessly chatting about whatever they wish or remaining silent for various reasons, they find comfort in merely sharing a space regardless of how that looks.

This dinner precedes an entire day of speaking about the multitude of things that involve living within the Jeon Pack, so the urge to hold conversation all but dwindles away.

“I’m going to grab another glass of lemonade. I’ll be right back.”

Jimin happens to glance to the side when Taehyung hurries off, slightly taken aback to notice the handsome alpha from the day before sitting at the table directly next to them. He sits alone, shoveling food into his mouth, just as visually appealing as the omega remembers.

The breath forces from his lungs when the mystery alpha turns to stare at him with the intensity of a thousand suns.

Blatant.

He peers into Jimin’s soul from feet away, seemingly unashamed with the way he refuses to break his gaze or shy away, not shaken even when the omega nervously jerks his head away to hide from the devout attention.

It remains when he chances a look over again.

Whether due to absolute delusion, a penchant for embarrassment, or something else entirely, Jimin contemplates his actions for a split second before he musters the spontaneous courage to raise his hand and timidly wave at the alpha. He offers a soft smile and rosy cheeks, waving at him in a gesture of kindness.

Nothing.

The handsome alpha never acknowledges him.

In fact, rather than returning the gesture, he swiftly looks away to his tray to resume eating, pretending as if Jimin never existed.

“What’s wrong?” Taehyung asks when he plops down, eyebrows furrowed in concern.

“N-Nothing.”

“Let’s hurry up and finish our food so we can watch the sunset. I heard there’s a really pretty spot up the mountain. It’s almost time.”

“Yeah, okay.” Jimin nods, feigning nonchalance, burying the hurt from his weird interaction.

The next week or so transpires in a natural rhythm that allows Jimin to acquaint himself with the changes of his life without hounding him in stress.

He transitions into a routine that strongly resembles his previous lifestyle in the Kim Pack, adapting his preferences to the conveniences available in this new territory. Many of his daily occurrences offer him the opportunity to accommodate himself however he sees fit. Nothing unpleasant arises, no one ever pulling the veil from over his eyes.

Their belongings arrive on time, something that helps Jimin fully settle into his new place without experiencing homesickness or longing.

Lovely.

Everything feels wonderful.

Waking shortly after the sun, allowing a few minutes to slip in and out of sleep, crawling out from under the covers, washing up in the bathroom, and pulling on a proper outfit from his new range of clothing from the seamstress, Jimin completes his morning routine in an effortless manner that requires no thoughts from his sleep-addled brain.

Taehyung, of course, joins him for breakfast without skipping a beat, sometimes knocking at Jimin’s door before the omega receives the chance to exit his house first.

Easy.

“How did your first patrol go? Was it what you were expecting? Did you go on your own or did other guards join you?” Jimin formulates the inquiries swirling in his head, ever curious about how Taehyung’s experience at his new role.

“This territory is a shit ton bigger than I’m used to, but it went pretty well.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Taehyung nods, hunches over his tray, and shovels spoonfuls of oatmeal into his mouth before he pauses to speak again. “I had another guard with me for the first half, but they cut me loose after that. I mainly just surveyed the perimeter to make sure there wasn’t anything dangerous happening.”

“Were the other guards nice to you?” Jimin wonders with narrowed eyes.

“Mhm, no problems there.”

“I’m glad things went well for you! I hope you can make some friends with the other guards! I think it’ll be even nicer when we have people we can hang out with after we finish our work for the day.” Jimin hums thoughtfully, glancing around the dining hall to watch the pack members interact.

“Wow, are you saying I’m not enough for you? Is my friendship lackluster? You wound me!”

“I said no such thing!”

“Nah, you’re right. It’ll be more fun when we integrate better. I’d love to get to know some people our age and actually have friends besides ourselves. No offense.” Taehyung finishes the last of his food before reaching across the table to steal some of Jimin’s.

“Greedy, greedy alpha.” Jimin shakes his head in disapproval, swatting away Taehyung’s spoon.

Work.

He ponders the concept frequently these days, interested to learn the demands of teaching in a new pack.

They allot him a generous amount of time to adjust to the change of upheaving his life into a foreign location, but Jimin chooses to only rest for a week before he grows too restless to delay the inevitable any longer.

Secretly, in the deepest forages of his heart, he experiences a slight tinge of betrayal when he thinks about starting all over again with new students. He cherishes his old pups so much that allowing a new group into his life springs a conflicting amount of emotions inside of him. At the end of the day, nothing lasts forever, especially not the fleeting years of the youth.

Just as his old students receive a new teacher to pour into them each day, he accepts new students to offer his love, support, and knowledge to ensure they grow up well.

“It’s truly a pleasure to have you here, Jimin. We’ve been in great need of a teacher for our students since one of the previous ones left to raise her newborn pup.” Hyerin, the older beta headmaster, says with complete transparency. “We had to combine the 7-8 year olds with the 9-10 year olds since we had a teacher shortage.”

“Oh, wow. That’s quite the age range together. How many students will I have?” Jimin asks with wide eyes, shuffling his feet in the dirt outside the school building.

“About 10. We’re giving you the 7-8 year olds, which is who the last teacher taught.”

“Perfect.”

“We’d like to give you the chance to get familiar with the building, our books, and the daily schedule before you start. Would today and tomorrow be long enough for you to acquaint yourself with our school?” Hyerin poses her question in a firm, yet polite manner.

“That’s plenty of time. It might take me a minute to learn how you do things here, but I’ll try my best to adapt.”

“Don’t worry yourself too much with our exact teaching style. Do what makes you comfortable. As long as we have no problems with the students or parent complaints, we allow free range to teach the material how you wish.”

“Thank you so much!”

A flurry of movement in the trees along the edges of his peripheral vision draws Jimin’s focus away from the school building and towards the figure working in the distance, instantly alert when he realizes that the person appears familiar.

The handsome, rude alpha that he keeps seeing everywhere.

What a coincidence.

He experiences a sense of deja vu when the alpha drops his axe, turns around with a serious expression, and glares directly at him without hesitation. This time, rather than remaining still, he tilts his head to the side and raises his nose into the air, his face scrunching while he breathes.

Jimin decisively scurries away instead of making a fool of himself again, ignoring the harsh stare still stuck on him.

It takes a few hours for him to sift through the material the pups need to learn, skim over the books they currently use, take stock of the supplies available in the classroom, and orientate himself with the layout of the school building. He moves at a slow and steady pace to not overwhelm himself with the influx of information zapping into his brain at once. The methodology of this school appears highly similar to his old one, just on a much larger scale.

Afterwards, once he deems his necessary tasks finished for the day, satisfied with his progress towards handling a new class of students, Jimin ventures on a quest to locate Taehyung amongst the sea of pack members wandering the grounds.

“Hey.” Jimin whispers in Taehyung’s ear, sneaking up behind him with a nervous energy swirling in his veins, only slightly shocked to find several strangers around his best friend. “I’m back.”

“Hiya! How did it go at the school?” Taehyung turns back to shoot him a dazzling smile.

“It was good! I’ll tell you all about it later.”

“Okay.”

“You must be Jimin, correct?” One of the strangers asks, Jimin answering with a nod. “I thought so. We’ve heard so much about you today. It’s good to finally put a face to the name.”

“Y-Yeah, it’s nice to meet you.”

“My name is Hoseok. I’m one of the cooks in the kitchen. I believe I’ve seen you around in the dining hall.” The beta speaking possesses a bright, energetic demeanor about him that makes it impossible not to feel at ease.

“I’m sure you have! We’re there three meals a day without fail.”

“That quiet fella over there is Yoongi.” Hoseok points to an omega on the other side of Taehyung, just barely taller than Jimin.

“Oh, okay. Cool.”

Namjoon, Hoseok, and Yoongi seem to take a liking to Taehyung, so Jimin seizes the opportunity to join in their socializing time, hopeful that it might lead to true friendships down the line. They all huddle together as they follow the trail through the main part of camp, discussing whatever trivial topics that arise along the way to the library.

Everyone includes Jimin at every turn, even the notoriously quiet member throwing a question back to him to allow him to join in the conversation instead of falling silent behind them.

His cheeks ache from smiling so much.

After a lifetime of living within a pack of mostly older members, existing as some of the only young people amongst their group, it fills his spirit with exhilaration to engage with those he considers his peers. They laugh together, poke jokes at one another, and generally enjoy each other’s company. It feels effortless and simple even considering they just met in the past couple of hours.

All five of them sit together on a picnic table beside the library after Namjoon picks out some books for Jimin and Taehyung, the sun shimmering through the trees to supply them with glorious warmth as a fresh breeze flows through the air.

“We’re having a little shindig at our friend Seokjin’s house tomorrow. You guys should come! It’s just a bonfire and dinner, so nothing too crazy. We’d love to have you there.” Hoseok extends his invite with an infectious smile and a singsong voice that lilts in the air. “All of us will be there, plus a couple of our other friends that aren’t here right now.”

“Are you sure we won’t be intruding?” Taehyung asks with a furrowed brow.

“Absolutely positive!”

“It’s been a ton of fun getting to know you two. You’re going to fit in well with our group. I mean, you already are and it’s only been a few hours.” Namjoon smiles as he lifts himself off the bench, dusting off his pants to remove any debris that clings to the fabric.

“Thank you so much for the invitation! We’ll definitely be there!” Jimin’s heart pounds with excitement at the mere notion of attending their first get together.

“Where is Seokjin’s house though?”

“Oh, right.”

“I forgot you guys don’t know where most things are. You can meet us in the center of camp tomorrow afternoon, about an hour before dinner, and we’ll lead you there.” Hoseok answers with an amused chuckle.

“We’ll see you then!”

“Bye!”

The majority of their evenings pass in the same way, heading to dinner together before they retreat to the comfortable safety of their homes to relax until bedtime, typically sharing a single space until they actually plan to fall asleep.

Jimin curls up on the bed beside Taehyung to read the book Namjoon picked out for him, his alpha best friend doing the same thing.

It smells like the most wonderful combination of grapefruit and jasmine in Jimin’s bedroom.

They seamlessly tangle into one mass of a human body, arms and legs intertwining to offer a more intimate closeness, skilled at smashing themselves together after sharing small places for such a long time. Neither of them ever question their behavior, abundantly affectionate despite the fact that they presented as an unlikely pair of friends—an alpha and an omega.

“I think my patrol might run a little longer tomorrow, so I don’t know what time I’ll make it back. You can have breakfast without me if you need to.”

“I would never.”

“Don’t skip a meal because of me.” Taehyung asserts firmly, nuzzling into the crook of Jimin’s neck to scent him for comfort before bed. “Go ahead and walk to the dining hall if it doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to make it here in time.”

“I’ll grab a plate for you, then. Come eat whenever you can. I don’t have to be at the school at any specific time since I’m not teaching yet.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Goodnight! Sleep tight! Don’t let the bedbugs bite!” Jimin sings playfully, shooting Taehyung a lethargic smile as the alpha climbs out of his bed. “I’ll see you tomorrow!”

“Goodnight!”

Seokjin—a beta with a refreshing patchouli scent who apparently hangs out with their newest friends—resides in a cabin several minutes away from the center of camp, tucked into the trees of the forest that line the perimeter of the Jeon Pack’s territory.

His home spans easily double the size of the spaces that Jimin and Taehyung occupy, possessing a unique appearance even from outside of the wooden structure.

They all gather in his backyard.

“What would you guess that I do? What kind of person am I just judging from our first interaction? What feelings are you getting from me?” Seokjin tosses another stick onto the bonfire, turning to gaze at Jimin and Taehyung with a serious expression.

“I don’t know why, but I’m getting writer vibes from you. A poet, perhaps?” Taehyung answers honestly, shrugging his shoulders.

“Absolutely not.”

“M-Maybe… Uh… Maybe a carpenter? Do you build things?” Jimin wonders aloud.

“No.”

“Oh.”

“You’re closer, though! I’m actually a tailor! I’ve been working in the shop for several years now, so I’d like to think that I’m fairly knowledgeable about taking care of our clothing and fixing it to our bodies.” Seokjin puffs up with pride as he reveals the reality of his expertise.

“That’s such an important role! Wow! I respect you a lot for spending your time helping others.”

“Thank you!”

“What are we talking about?” Namjoon questions when he returns to the bonfire with a stack of sticks in his arms, the rest of the group approaching behind him in the same way.

“How I’m the most amazing, selfless, caring person in the world.” Seokjin dramatically flicks his hair off of his shoulder to emphasize his words.

“So… We’re lying?”

“Fuck you!”

It takes a good chunk of time for them to collect enough wood, properly arrange it into formation, and light it to start the fire, the late afternoon fading into early evening once the embers roar in front of them. Logs encircle the fire at a tolerable distance for them to enjoy the heat without roasting alive, all of them crowding around to soak up the warmth that radiates from the flames. Everyone in their friend group joins, offering a shocking surprise when that handsome, impolite alpha sits a few logs down from Jimin.

“We’ve all been here for our entire lives, or pretty close to it. Yoongi joined when he was a few years old. Hoseok was school aged when his family moved here.” Seokjin recounts their stories with ease as he pokes at the roaring fire. “Jungkook over there was born here like the rest of us.”

“Yeah.” Jungkook, the handsome alpha who wounds Jimin’s heart, grunts out his reply, staring blankly into the flames.

“Can I ask what brought you two here?”

“Death.”

“Whoa, that’s a dramatic way to explain it.” Jimin gawks at Taehyung’s ambiguously haunting answer, nervous about speaking up in front of everyone, the topic still fresh on his mind. “Our pack was kind of old, I guess. The members were mostly elderly, so… Yeah… Our numbers dwindled as they passed away.”

“We needed to join another pack for our own good since it’s hard to survive otherwise. The remaining members split between here and the Han Pack.” Taehyung finishes the explanation.

“That’s kind of sad, honestly. I hope you guys really enjoy it here. We have plenty of members so you’ll never feel lonely again.”

“Thank you so much!”

Partaking in a meal outside of the dining hall for the first time since their arrival nearly two weeks ago, Jimin and Taehyung obediently observe as Yoongi and Hoseok prepare their food over the fire. They skewer chunks of meat on sticks to cook them in the flames, everything else carefully heating along the edges of the bonfire.

Any of their offers to assist in the process receive a swift refusal from Seokjin himself, insisting that guests should relax instead of working.

Jimin finds it impossible to ignore Jungkook’s presence a few logs down, subtly sneaking a glance from the corner of his eye when he thinks no one pays attention. Curiosity eats him alive, especially since the alpha remains painfully quiet unless spoken to, his mysterious demeanor only piquing Jimin’s interest into it surmounts into something uncontrollable. He wants to know why Jungkook seems to dislike him already.

“There’s this amazing spot up the mountain that gives you a perfect view of the stars at night! It’s absolutely incredible! Nothing else compares after you see what it looks like from there.” Namjoon radiates joy from his pores when he describes the sight that he cherishes so much.

“Where is it? I need to check it out! I’m always down for a good hike if the view is worth it.” Taehyung hangs on every word, looking behind him to the general vicinity of the mountain regardless of the darkness hiding everything.

“I’ll show you!”

“Oh, I want to come, too!”

“We can take a little field trip up the mountain once we finish eating. It’s much safer if we all go together. Probably shifted since it’s hard to see our way otherwise.” Yoongi speaks up for one of the first times all evening.

“Yay! I’m so excited! I love the night sky!” Taehyung beams with such an intense delight that it provides Jimin secondhand happiness by proxy.

Delicious.

Focusing on scarfing down every bite of food available to him leaves Jimin preoccupied, unable to refrain from munching on the variety of dishes spread around the fire. From bread to roasted vegetables to rice, he cherishes all of it.

Nothing hits the spot quite like a freshly grilled meat and all the sides under the sky.

A chilly pitcher of strawberry lemonade sits directly within Jimin’s reach, a gravely mistake for everyone else considering how much he adores the flavor of the drink, sneakily filling his cup several times until his belly feels fit to burst and the liquid runs out. He savors every drop as he sips on the sweet treat in between eating his actual meal.

Perfection.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay here? I doubt we’re going too far, but I don’t want to leave you if you’re not comfortable with it.” Taehyung whispers lowly so that only Jimin hears him, tone wrought with worry.

“I think I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Jimin nods, his eyes flitting around the quaint space, fiddling with the fabric of his shirt. “Just… Just don’t be gone too long, okay?”

“I’ll be back before you know it, I promise.”

“Are we all ready to go?” Namjoon questions when he returns from carrying the dirty dishes into the house.

“Yeah.”

“I think so.”

“Jimin’s going to stay here, I think. He’s not the biggest fan of hiking. I’m definitely joining you guys, though!” Taehyung flashes him a mischevious grin before jumping to his feet to stand with the others away from the fire.

“That’s alright. Jungkook probably won’t mind staying here with him. He doesn’t care that much about stargazing.”

“I’ll stay, yeah.” Jungkook offers them a stern nod and nothing more.

Besides the awkwardness of sitting in complete silence with a stranger, one who pointedly stares at him in public yet refuses to return his polite gesture, Jimin experienced another layer of mortification when the copious amounts of strawberry lemonade start to weigh on his bladder.

He clutches his stomach, wiggles back and forth, and makes an extreme effort to ignore the sensation, but the biological need to relieve himself only surmounts as the minutes pass.

It leaves Jimin with a choice.

An unfortunate one.

“I, uh… I’m sorry to ask this, b-but… Do you know where the bathroom is?” Jimin struggles to maintain eye contact with the alpha, repeatedly glancing away with fiercely red cheeks and a flush wracking through his body. “I haven’t gone inside yet and I really need to go. Like… Like really badly.”

“There are some perfectly good bushes over there, aren’t there?”

“Oh… Should I just use them?”

“No, I’m kidding. I’ll take you to the bathroom. Follow me.” Jungkook, for the first time since Jimin laid eyes on him, cracks a dazzling smile that steals his breath away, even chuckling under his breath at his little joke.

“Thank you!”

He pointedly breathes through his mouth for the duration of their stroll to Seokjin’s house since he resides in such close proximity to this handsome alpha, overwhelmed by the depths of his amber scent that permeates the air like a fog.

They walk close, bodies nearly touching in the darkness, Jungkook leading them to the front door of the house in no time.

No mishaps.

It takes a second for the alpha to actually pull open the door, struggling to feel for the doorknob in the darkness. An indescribable thrill rushes through the Jimin’s veins while he huddles behind Jungkook in this precarious circumstance, but he wills his pounding heart to settle.

A warm glow flashes over them when they enter into the protective confines of Seokjin’s home.

“Thank you so much for helping me.” Jimin says in a soft tone, breathing a sigh of relief after he exits from the bathroom down the hall, finding Jungkook waiting for him in the living room. “This won’t be a problem, right? Is it okay that… that I went into his house without permission?”

“I’m sure he won’t mind. It seems he’s already taken a liking to you and your mate.” Jungkook shrugs his shoulders, standing stiffly on the rug while he stares at nothing in particular.

“My… My mate?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you t-talking about Taehyung?” Jimin’s eyes blow wide open with shock at the unexpected statement. “The… The alpha that moved here with me?”

“Uh… Yeah?” Jungkook’s answer sounds more like a question than an answer.

“He’s not my mate!”

“Mate, courting, boyfriend, whatever the hell you want to call it.” Jungkook furrows his brows at Jimin’s obvious sound of confusion at the further explanation, tilting his head to the side before sucking in an audibly deep breath.

“No, no! You’ve got the wrong idea! He’s not any of those things! We’re just best friends!

“Huh?”

“Y-Yeah. We were raised together since I was young. It’s… It’s more like a brotherly relationship than anything else. We’re not together together. Not l-like that.” Jimin vigorously shakes his head to deny the notion with his full ability.

“Oh, shit. My bad. I guess I just assumed you were mates or something.”

“Nope, not at all. Nothing like that. No way.”

Seizing the moment that lingers around them, only the two of them occupying the house while quiet falls in the atmosphere, the barrier between them temporarily broken as they hold a discussion about something for the first time, Jimin musters every last molecule of bravery that exists inside of him to pose the question that dares to drift from his tongue.

“Can… Can I ask you something?” Jimin all but whispers, nervously chewing on the inside of his lip when he turns to stare Jungkook directly in the eyes. Seeing him this close, he finds an emptiness in the alpha’s gaze.

“Okay.”

“H-Have I accidentally offended you? Did I mistakenly slight you or… or break some kind of cultural norm? Was it something I said?”

“Sorry, what? What the hell are you talking about?” Jungkook’s shoulders stiffen.

“I apologize for whatever it is.”

“I’m so lost right now.”

“I… I just… I didn’t mean to offend you. I keep seeing you around when I’m at the main camp, so I thought it would be n-nice to wave at you. I know you don’t have to wave back or anything, but I was w-wondering if you were bothered by me or something. I don’t know. I’m sorry for even asking.” Jimin endlessly rambles his thoughts instead of carefully thinking them over in his head first.

“Omega.” Jungkook’s commanding voice echoes off the wooden walls surrounding them, his amber scent spiking with so much richness that it makes Jimin dizzy, the hint of a smile ghosting on his lips as he speaks. “I’m blind.”

Chapter Text

More than a month of living in the Jeon Pack allows Jimin to slip into an effortless routine.

As the shades of red, orange, and yellow in the wilderness around them gain vibrancy, so does the confidence nestled deep in the omega’s chest. He gradually finds his place amongst a flourishing pack that offers him the chance to thrive with an abundance of resources and supplies.

Home.

It feels like he already belongs.

The interior of his cabin reflects his personality, curated with various shades of neutral colors to provide a calming place for him to reside, spending a sliver of his money every week to purchase goodies at the shops around the camp. He hangs curtains over his windows, spreads a rug across the floor, and organizes decorative pieces on any empty surfaces. It only takes a few weeks for his house to transition into a space fully his own.

After waking bright and early to start his day, he heads to the dining hall to feed himself a nourishing breakfast, most times not with Taehyung by his side since his best friend busies himself with the duty of patrolling the grounds every morning.

Jimin finds a new, somewhat unlikely friend to share his meal with everyday.

“What is this?”

“What?”

“It’s some kind of topping on the yogurt and granola bowl.” Jimin stares down at his food in wonder while he stirs it around, fascinated by the brown-ish addition to his sweet treat. “I’ve never had it before! There’s both sweetness and saltiness to it. It tastes delicious!”

“Hmm… Peanut butter?” Jungkook’s nose rapidly twitches while he attempts to decipher what captures Jimin’s attention.

“Oh, maybe! It could be that! It would make sense for this to be made from peanuts.”

“Pretty common around here because we grow peanuts in the Southernmost part of our territory. The cooks get creative with shit, you know?” Jungkook rests his elbow on the table to lazily eat his bagel without needing to move his hand back and forth to his mouth.

“I like it a lot!”

“Good.”

“It’s fun to see all the differences in our two packs even though we weren’t even that far apart. Some things are similar, but the number of pack members here means you have so many creative minds to work together. The changes aren’t as scary as I thought they might be.” Jimin beams as he discusses his feelings, his heart skipping a beat when he looks up to find Jungkook’s lips splitting in a devilishly handsome smile of his own.

“I don’t know how you do it, but you always have such a positive attitude. Does anything get you down, omega? I’ve never met anyone as bright and bubbly as you.” Jungkook crosses his arms over his chest, still smiling at Jimin, a rush of softness in his amber scent that makes Jimin’s head spin.

“Y-You’re friends with Hoseok, so that’s a strong statement. I… I get upset sometimes, but I try my best to not let it last.”

“I respect that.”

Although Jimin admittedly would love nothing more than to remain at the table for an hour while he continues to trickle out bits of information about the alpha across from him, enjoying himself far too much considering his cheek muscles ache something fierce every day after he leaves the dining hall, both of them possess roles and duties that require them to depart in favor of attending to their responsibilities.

He reminds himself that all the time in the world exists for him to get to know Jungkook better, a wealth of opportunity lingering in the future as they develop their newfound friendship.

Life endlessly excites him these days.

Teaching fulfills him in ways that he struggles to conceptualize or verbally describe, receiving intense satisfaction each day as he pours knowledge, power, and hope into the youngest of their pack. They possess such innocent minds and expansive hearts that always remain receptive to his lessons, eager to please him and learn new things along the way. His passion finds a place in this important role.

“Can you talk to me, sweetie? Can you tell me what happened?” Jimin crouches in the hallway outside his classroom door with a student sniffling pitifully in front of him.

“N-No.”

“Why is that? Hm? Don’t you think it would be good to explain what’s going on so that I can help you?” Jimin reaches out to tuck her hair behind her ear and out of her face. “It seems like you’re really upset about something, right?”

“Y-Yeah, but… but—“

“But what?”

“You w-won’t understand.” Sunhee huffs out her words in a rush before she hiccups, cheeks ruddy with tears that slowly trickle down her face. “You… You d-don’t get it.”

“How do you know?”

“What?”

“How do you know that I don’t understand? Is that something you’re just assuming on your own? I’m a person just like you, so I think I’ll have an open mind no matter what it is that’s bothering you.” Jimin patiently waits, watches as the gears turn in her head, never rushing her to divulge her feelings faster.

“I’m u-upset.” Sunhee sucks in a harsh, shallow breath while the remnants of her crying fit continue to wrack her small frame.

“I see that.”

“My… My dollie. I p-put it in its blanket and… and w-wrapped it up to keep it s-safe. Told e-everyone not to touch him so he could s-sleep. But… B-But Sunghoon took h-him out of my cubby and… and… and he threw him a-across the room! He t-threw my p-pup!”

“It’s okay, sweetie. Let it out. You’re alright.” Jimin offers no protests when Sunhee collapses in his arms for reassurance and comfort, softly crying against his shoulder. “I understand everything. You just want to take care of your pup, right? I get it more than you know.”

Empathy.

Compassion.

Part of teaching requires him to nurture his students' development in ways other than simply teaching them material from books, helping them to solve their social and emotional problems just another aspect of helping them grow into healthy members of society.

Alphas, whether presented or not, notoriously harbor a wealth of possessiveness towards their things and those that they hold dear.

It all blows over within half an hour.

Some days drain Jimin more than others, especially when the pups display a wealth of behavioral issues that seem to never end, but he considers himself blessed to assume such an important role in the future success of their pack. He handles it all in stride, truthfully thankful that they only attend school four days out of the week. The lengthy break always serves him well.

“I would like to think that our pack is quite progressive, but there are always areas for improvement. As much as we have freedom to live however we want, some of the older members still harbor ultra-traditional mindsets.” Namjoon reaches over to unclip another piece of clothing from the line.

“What sort of things are you talking about?” Jimin glances over with furrowed eyebrows, rosewood swirling in the breeze.

“Sex. Raising pups. Jobs. Courting.”

“Oh, right.” Jimin nods his head in understanding once he grasps what Namjoon refers to. “I know what you mean. It’s frustrating when they want to have a say in other people’s lives when it doesn’t affect them in any way.”

“I’ve had my fair share of dirty looks at council meetings because I’m a young omega, but I try not to let it get to me.”

“Screw them!”

“Yes, exactly! Their opinions shouldn’t have any place in my mind. I guess it can just be difficult to ignore their judgment when I’m trying to live my life as a person who deserves respect outside of being an omega. I have to remind myself that it’s okay that I’m not this pure, obedient womb that exists solely to bear pups.” Namjoon shrugs his shoulders, tossing the last article of clothing into his basket.

“It’s honestly so refreshing to listen to your thoughts about the world. I never really had omega friends my age. Thanks for sharing with me.” Jimin smiles happily, his heart overflowing with warmth.

“It’s nice to hear your perspective on things as well, Jimin. I’m glad to know you.”

Usually, instead of eating by themselves at a table on the outskirts of the dining hall, their new friends join them while they eat. Taehyung and Jimin pick a spot to stuff their faces, welcoming anyone who wishes to plop down beside them to join in the fun. Sometimes all of the group sits with them, sometimes only a few make it, but it always provides an enjoyable experience regardless.

They accept Jimin and Taehyung into their fold in such a natural manner that it never feels awkward from the first moment they meet.

Destined.

Whether sharing stories from their childhoods, discussing their potential love interests around the pack, or laughing at ridiculous jokes until their stomachs hurt, they spend tons of time getting to know the group as a whole and integrating themselves into the already flourishing friendships around them.

Jimin feels as if he somehow knew them all of his life, not just the past month or so.

“What did you do today?” Jimin asks from his spot on the loveseat that Taehyung splurged to afford, cramming it in the corner between the dining table and the wall, the two of them tangled together while winding down from the chaos of life. “Did anything fun or noteworthy happen? Give me all the juicy details!”

“I did the same thing I do every day. I went on patrol, stopped at the general store, took a nap, went on patrol again, and then met you for dinner. Nothing good.”

“Do you still like running patrol here?”

“I honestly love it. It’s so spacious and diverse. I don’t feel like I’m running in circles because I’m going up the base of the mountain, through creeks, between trees, all that kind of stuff.” Taehyung shifts behind Jimin, tucking his chin over the omega’s head for a more comfortable position.

“Are the other guards nice? Do you get along well with them?” Jimin flips the page of his book even as he struggles to maintain focus on the words.

“Yeah, they’re cool. I keep wanting to introduce you to them, but there’s just no time.”

“Mhm.”

“How about you?”

“What?”

“What did you do today? Did anything interesting happen? Was it the same as always?” Taehyung shuffles his own book against his leg that he props up to keep it steady.

“Same old, same old. It wasn’t anything different than what usually happens.”

“I see.”

“I ate breakfast with Jungkook, taught until lunch, went to the seamstress for a new jacket, cleaned my house, had dinner with everyone.” Jimin’s heart stops, his breath caught in his lungs, unable to read a single sentence from his book while he waits for Taehyung’s response.

“You ate breakfast with Jungkook? Just Jungkook? No one else?” Taehyung speaks in a low, deep rumble for the first time all evening.

“Y-Yeah.”

“Hmm… Interesting…”

“What? Why? What’s interesting about that?” Jimin rushes out his speech in a bumbling, nervous manner. “Am I not allowed to eat with my friends if you’re not there?”

“I didn’t say anything even remotely close to that.”

“Yeah, well… I…”

“I just find it interesting that you’re spending more time with him these days, that’s all. You two seem to be getting along well. Really, really, really well.” Taehyung shrugs his shoulders, nowhere near convinced by Jimin’s failed nonchalance and his flippant attitude about the handsome alpha in question.

“What are you insinuating? Huh? What are you trying to say?”

“I’m not saying anything. You’re the one who’s blowing it all out of proportion. The mere mention of Jungkook’s name has your back so hot that it’s burning my fucking skin.” Taehyung shoots Jimin a shit-eating grin when the omega swiftly jerks away in offense at the accusation.

“Stop making stuff up!

Possessing an unrivaled confidence in himself while harboring passion that meets no limits regardless of the circumstances, Jimin sometimes finds himself in unforeseen situations that lead to an immense amount of unfortunate consequences.

He never learns.

Endlessly pouring himself into his role as a teacher blindsides him when it comes to his own limitations.

Overzealous.

To adequately plan for a field trip into the wilderness to provide a hands-on lesson about the importance of various plants in the ecosystem, a huge fan of allowing students to experience education beyond the confines of a classroom, Jimin embarks on a journey into the dense forest surrounding their pack. He intends to survey the land, coordinate a route to traverse with the students, and find a diverse collection of plants for his lesson.

The excursion flips on its head and tumbles South in the blink of an eye, his lack of physical coordination and non-existent sense of direction swiftly biting him in the behind.

Jimin somehow never sees it coming.

Wandering helplessly through the forest without any recollection of his previous path, struggling to identify one direction from another while trekking forward in hopes of locating the way home, provides a tremendous amount of stress for an omega who dislikes these sorts of endeavors.

Tumbling down a hill to land on his cracked ankle infinitely worsens the situation in the blink of a watery eye.

Pathetic.

There he sits—covered in a thin layer of dirt, his butt on the bare ground, tears slipping down his ruddy cheeks, cradling his agonizingly painful, throbbing injury in his hands, unable to formulate a rational idea for successfully returning home, the light of day threatening to fully escape beyond the horizon—regretful that he believed in himself enough to act so foolishly on his own.

Maybe, just maybe, Taehyung will eventually find him when he heads on a patrol around the territory to secure the grounds.

Perhaps not.

He hopes that someone will offer him enough grace to come rescue him from his own downfall.

Hours pass.

Jimin rests his back against a sturdy tree for support while he props his foot on the edge of a massive rock, vaguely remembering a health lesson about elevating certain injuries. The sharp, gutting pain every time he moves a millimeter leaves him fearing for the worst when it comes to the condition of his ankle. It swells to triple its size in a matter of hours.

A sharp gasp rips from the omega’s throat when he hears the telltale sound of a twig snapping in the distance, his instincts jerking him into a state of awareness to protect himself from a potential predator should one suddenly appear in front of him.

His heart races at a worryingly swift pace, his stomach somersaults in anticipation, and his lungs refuse to inhale a single drop of oxygen.

Uncertainty.

“J-Jungkook?” Jimin whispers breathily, his eyes struggling to fully envision the figure several feet away, a knot catching in his throat while he waits for any sort of response. “Is… Is that y-you?”

“Jimin?”

“Y-Yes! Yes! Over here!” Jimin’s voice cracks as tears of relief stream down his cheeks.

“Almost there. Hold on. I’m right here.” Jungkook’s deep voice rattles through the air as it blesses Jimin’s ears, the scent of amber possessing intoxicating richness when it reaches his nose.

“You… You c-came! I thought I’d be l-lost forever! Thank you so… so much!”

“We’d never let that happen.”

As much as Jimin desperately wishes to fling to his feet, eager to hurry home to the place he recognizes as safe, he remains steadfast on the ground while he allows Jungkook to approach him. He pushes aside the inappropriate amount of thrill trickling beneath his skin, instead focusing on the urgency of retreating from the forest before a wild animal pounces on him.

“I… I d-don’t know how to get b-back.”

“What the hell are you doing out here?” Jungkook questions in a reasonably confused grumble, crouching down next to Jimin while he speaks directly to him. “You don’t like hiking.”

“I w-wanted to find a good place to t-take the pups for a lesson.” Jimin sniffles pitifully as the emotions inside of him wrack through his body.

“You should’ve asked for help.”

“I thought I could d-do it on my o-own.”

“Are you okay? Did something happen to you? Taehyung was really worried when you didn’t come to dinner, so he asked me if I would help look for you. We had no idea you’d be all the way in the middle of fucking nowhere.” Jungkook inches closer, only a tiny bit, his presence comforting to the omega’s ravaged spirit.

“No, I… I fell.”

“Where are you hurt?” Jungkook’s face morphs into a terrifyingly serious expression in a split second.

“A-Ankle.”

Jungkook hesitates only for a bit before he decisively extends his hands to feel for Jimin’s body, finding his calf before he works his way down to the spot that brings the most distress. He moves carefully, in a calculated manner, touch gentle when he traces his fingers to the swollen, mangled flesh.

A shockwave of pain radiates through the entirety of Jimin’s foot when Jungkook reaches his ankle, reflexively attempting to jerk away before the alpha’s hold keeps him still.

“H-Hurts.” Jimin sniffles helplessly, watching every movement of Jungkook’s hands like a hawk.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t… Don’t t-touch it, please.”

“I’m going to assume that you’re not able to put any weight on it, right? It seems too fucked up for that.” Jungkook delicately encircles the area around the injured ankle instead of touching it directly.

“Can’t walk.” Jimin nods his head in confirmation without realizing that Jungkook fails to see the movement.

“Okay.”

“O-Okay?”

“I’ll carry you.” Jungkook asserts without pause, pulling back to release his hold on Jimin’s ankle, swiftly assuming a squatting position before he extends his arms in front of him. “Come here, omega. I’ll get you back home in no time.”

Jimin tries, and subsequently fails, to ignore the way his heart kicks into a thumping race when he lies in Jungkook’s arms.

Soothing.

The luscious scent of amber captivates his senses, washing over him at such close proximity, unable to refrain from sucking in deep lungfuls while he rests his head against the alpha’s chest for comfort.

He fails to recall a time that he allowed an alpha besides Taehyung this close to him.

New.

It feels inappropriate to enjoy this so much.

“I’m s-sorry if this is a rude question, but… How did you find me so easily? You can’t see, right? Is it not difficult to get around the forest like that?” Jimin dares to voice the questions burning inside of his chest after all this time, still never breaching the topic since the day he learned about Jungkook’s blindness. “You don’t have to answer if—“

“I’m better at these lands than anyone else in our pack. I know them inside and out, backwards and upside down. They’re a part of me.”

“Oh, wow.”

“My other senses more than compensate for the lack of eyesight. I can hear the flap of a butterfly’s wing and smell the slightest shift in the air to the point that I can guess the weather. My instincts, especially shifted, give me such an advantage that I can still easily hunt any game in the forest.” Jungkook speaks with undeniable confidence, his voice deep and laced with pride, the power of his assertions making Jimin’s belly tingle.

“You’re… You’re strong. In every way. I just… I find you very impressive, honestly.” Jimin whispers his words like fully voicing them aloud would shatter the peaceful bubble around them.

“Thank you, omega.”

“Do you know how to get to my home?”

“I’m not taking you home.” Jungkook shakes his head before he carefully readjusts his hold on Jimin’s body, his touch never drifting anywhere that would cause discomfort. “We’re going to Yoongi’s first.”

“Ah, right. I… I see.”

It requires a considerable length of time to exit from deep within the woods to arrive at the Jeon Pack’s settlement again, but the minutes fly by while Jimin allows himself to relax and soak up the soothing comfort of Jungkook’s presence. He attempts to ignore the pain shooting through his body with deep breaths and an empty head.

He admittedly harbors distaste for himself for even allowing this to happen in the first place, disrupting multiple people’s lives over a silly decision when the whole thing could’ve been avoided.

A lesson learned.

The pain of suffering through this traumatic event serves as punishment enough for his mistake.

“Before you freak out, he’s fine. It’s just his ankle. Don’t have a heart attack.” Jungkook’s booming voice echoes through the silence after Yoongi pulls open his front door with a horrified gasp.

“Thanks for the warning, but a heads up would’ve been nice.”

“Sorry.” Jimin says sheepishly.

“Don’t worry. It’s not the first time he’s shown up at my door like this and it certainly won’t be the last. Should be used to these surprises by now.” Yoongi steps back inside his home to allow Jimin and Jungkook entrance, not needing to utter a word before the alpha steps into the doorway.

“Where do you want him?”

“The couch is fine.”

“Your newest patient has been delivered.” Jungkook declares as he gingerly lowers Jimin from his arms onto the cushions, ensuring he avoids jostling his feet in the process. “I’ll let Taehyung know what’s up while you’re working your magic.”

“I told you not to call it that.”

In the worst possible turn of events that could possibly occur in Jimin’s life, breaking his ankle and a couple of his foot bones not torture enough for his undue confidence in himself, apparently Yoongi needs to snap the bones again to properly set them in place the correct way.

The mere idea of it horrifies Jimin to the point of hysterics, but allowing his bones to fully set in this manner without fixing them could lead to a permanent disability.

A necessary torment.

Needless to say that sweat drips down his forehead, along his temples, and from his eyebrows by the time that he suffers through the excruciating, agonizing pain of receiving a broken ankle a second time. He bites down on a pillow and yelps at the top of his lungs, in such gut-wrenching misery that he nearly faints by the time Yoongi completes the necessary procedure to help him heal.

“He’s a nice alpha, isn’t he?”

“J-Jungkook?” Jimin questions in a low whisper, slightly dazed from the drops of pain relief that finally kicked in.

“Mhm.”

“Yeah, d-definitely. He found me and carried me all the way here. I… I don’t think he complained once.”

“Taehyung was worried when he made it to the dining hall without you. He only had to say one word and Jungkook was jumping up to volunteer to help find you. It was really nice of him.” Yoongi nods his head, not making eye contact even as he shoots Jimin a gentle smile.

“I’ll have to do… do something to thank him. M-Maybe when I’m feeling better. He said he’s good at hunting and I g-guess he’s right.”

“That’s an understatement.” Yoongi asserts firmly. “He’s the best hunter in our whole damn pack.”

“Whoa, really?” Jimin’s watery eyes blow wide.

“By a long shot.”

Another emotional outburst occurs when Taehyung rushes into the cabin in a fit of hysterics, worried to the point of tears when he finds Jimin in such an injured state. They share an embarrassingly long hug where they nuzzle into each other’s necks for a soothing scenting that helps to quell the inner turmoil ravaging the both of them.

Taehyung helps Jimin into his arms to carry him home, slinging a bag of medicine and supplies over his shoulder, never even questioning his duty as a personal assistant in this moment.

No more daring decisions for a while.

According to their friends who know the ins and outs of the Jeon Pack like the back of their hands, the council occasionally holds a fellowship day that allows everyone the chance to come together for shared company.

A light-hearted, joyous event.

From a market of homemade goods to a feast of a dinner to competitive games, they join together in the central section of the camp in the late afternoon. Everyone seizes their opportunity to socialize, dance, eat, shop, and have fun. Gathering in a single place allows them to grow their friendships in an organic manner that continues to strengthen the bonds of the members of the Jeon Pack.

Delightful.

Jimin and Taehyung elect to arrive at the fellowship at the same time, naturally keen to share this first experience by each other’s sides.

It requires an ungodly amount of time for Jimin to decide on a suitable outfit for the occasion, sifting through his drawers of newly acquired clothing while searching for the perfect combination of comfortable and pretty, the Fall weather in full swing to provide a somewhat crisp atmosphere once the sun eventually sets.

He tugs on a simple, flowy set in a cream color, balancing the lack of detail by adding a fur vest to spice up the look.

“Hi.”

“Hey!” Jimin replies when he pulls open his front door. “Are you ready to go?”

“I thought that I was, but then I went outside. It’s actually much colder than I was expecting. No one warned us that the weather is harsher here than it was back home.” Taehyung shivers to emphasize his point, his hands clutching his arms to provide a sliver of warmth to the exploded appendages.

“You just get cold easily, I think. Go throw on a jacket or fur! We’ll be by a bonfire eventually, but that won’t help you now.”

“Be right back.”

A little more than a week passing since Jimin’s unfortunate exploratory accident in the forest means that he heals enough to put a bit of weight on his ankle. It certainly brings him a bit of pain when standing for too long, but he tanks it for as long as he can to not bother Taehyung—or Jungkook—too much.

Their gradual trek to the middle of camp reveals a gorgeous array of lanterns along the pathways, illuminating their surroundings in a warm glow as they approach the fellowship area.

Stunning.

Wooden stalls line the trails, various pack members selling and trading their homemade goods, a host of creative items available to everyone interested.

Jimin and Taehyung want to see everything.

“Be honest with me.”

“About what?”

“Is it too much of a burden for you to piggyback me around? I know I’m allowed to walk a bit more now, but my ankle is already killing me. We only just started. I think I need to go home if this keeps up.” Jimin hits his bottom lip out in a slight pout, unhappy with the idea of inconveniencing his best friend.

“It’s not a burden at all! I promise! I’ll carry you everywhere if that’s what you need.” Taehyung instantly crouches, turns back to peer at Jimin, and pats his back. “Climb on!”

“Thank you so much.”

“Let me know if you see anything that catches your eye, but I’ll probably stop at every damn stall anyway. You know how I love shopping.” Taehyung smiles when he tilts his head to the side.

“You’re a fiend for buying new things! I’m excited to see what you find today.”

“We both have to get something!”

“Okay!” Jimin nods his head in an excited motion, glancing ahead of them to the multitude of stalls lining the path, thrill buzzing in his tummy. “Let’s go!”

Stopping at every single wooden stall to survey the available items, not allowing a single hidden gem to slip between the cracks, refusing to hold back from taking anything that catches their interest, Taehyung and Jimin spend a good chunk of time merely shopping at the market area. They join the host of fellow pack members all finding joy in the same thing, overjoyed to acquire unique goods that serve a wealth of purposes from decorations to edible products to clothing.

The home goods garner the most attention from Taehyung, especially knick knacks that fulfill a role of appearing cool within the space of a room, the alpha never able to turn down a nice decorative piece. Jimin, on the other hand, finds a few clothing items that he needs to snatch up, the options much more varied than the simple ones at the seamstress shop.

“I think I’ll buy one of these for my mom. I already got my sister those nursing supplements from Yoongi a couple of weeks ago. It’s just bad manners to show up empty handed.” Taehyung points at a beaded bracelet along the table in front of them.

“That’s so pretty! She’ll love it!”

“You think so?”

“Yeah, definitely!” Jimin smiles brightly, both at the mention of the people he loves and the pretty jewelry, endeared by Taehyung’s thoughtfulness. “I’m sad that I can’t go with you, though. Make sure you tell them that I miss them!”

“Oh, I will. I already know that they’re going to ask me a million questions about you. I’ve accepted that mom might love you more than me.”

“Might?” Jimin playfully raises an eyebrow before leaning up to smirk at the alpha.

“Don’t be a brat!”

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. You’re her precious son. There’s no way she could love me more than you. She acts like you’re the sun in her sky. I can only imagine how she’s faring without you there.” Jimin experiences a moment of somber sadness, falling quiet at the idea of her missing them.

“Actually, I think she’s fine! The letter she sent me sounded like she’s loving it over there, remember? She even met that one librarian that asked her on a date.” Taehyung swiftly brightens the mood again.

“Oh, yeah! That’s right!”

After upwards of an hour merely shopping at the stalls of homemade goods, Taehyung carrying Jimin on his back for the entire duration of the event, the steadily lowering sun encourages them to wrap up their buying extravaganza. Jimin’s own satchel only possesses a few items while both of Taehyung’s bags overflow with goodies.

It makes logical sense for him to hurry home to drop off their things instead of bringing them with them for the rest of the evening.

Jimin waits on a bench by the park.

He enjoys watching as people skirt by with visible happiness radiating from their expressions, never finding this many members in a single space since joining the Jeon Pack. Little pups run circles around their parents’ legs. Older couples stroll hand in hand. Friend groups erupt in boisterous laughter. It makes him feel warm and fuzzy inside by proxy, his heart swelling with genuine delight.

“Forgive me for bothering you, but are you new around here?” A tall, broad alpha asks as he approaches the bench, his deep voice catching Jimin by surprise after several minutes of silence.

“I am.” Jimin nods, offering the stranger a polite smile. “I’ve been here for… Hmm… A bit more than a month, I think. A month and a half, maybe?”

“Oh, I see. That makes perfect sense.”

“What does?”

“I was sure that I would remember such a beautiful face, so there’s no way you could’ve been here for very long. I’m glad to know that I was right.” The alpha’s soft petrichor scent swirls through the air.

“T-Thank you.” Jimin’s voice drops lower, breathier. Warmth floods his rounded cheeks.

“At the expense of sounding like an irredeemable creep, I was standing over there with my friends when I saw you sitting here. It took me a couple of minutes to work up the courage to come talk to you, but I couldn’t resist.”

“I… I don’t even know what to say. That’s a very kind sentiment.”

“Sorry, I’m so bad at this. I just realized that I didn’t even properly introduce myself yet.” The alpha stands up straight, brushes back his short, brown hair, and extends his hand between them. “I’m Yeong-il. I’m a blacksmith.”

“It’s nice to m-meet you. I’m Jimin and I teach at the school.”

“Whoa, how sweet!”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Jimin readjusts his vest to wrap it tighter around his waist, the increasing darkness around them bringing chillier temperatures with it. “I like it.”

“I know we only just met, but would you be interested in getting to know each other? I would be honored to take you out to and possibly court you if we get along well enough. You’re honestly just so beautiful that I can’t pass up the chance to ask.” Yeong-Il nervously bounces on his feet, staring down at Jimin with sparkling eyes.

“Thank you for the offer, but… I just… I don’t think I want that. I’m sure you’re a perfectly nice a-alpha, though. I appreciate you asking.”

“Ah, no worries. Have a nice night, Jimin! I hope to see you around more!”

“You, too!”

While certainly flattering to receive attention, especially from an attractive alpha who treats him with kindness, some part of Jimin struggles to accept such an offer when he knows he would much prefer the company of another.

Belatedly, when he finally finds the chance to breathe without pressure hanging over his head, Jimin looks up to catch Jungkook standing in the nearby distance against a tree. He faces the omega’s direction, silently lingering around without any explicit purpose. Something about his presence makes Jimin’s skin tingle.

Taehyung swiftly arrives to scoop Jimin up once more, the two of them heading towards the field where a delicious aroma billows through the air.

Nothing but fun.

Heaps of dishes span along the wooden tables near the bonfire, a crowd of pack members preparing their meal including the Head Alpha, the atmosphere abundant with jubilation and excitement as everyone bounces around, socializes without restraint, and generally enjoys the lighthearted event.

They locate their friends in no time at all, rushing to their sides with smiles beaming from their faces.

“How’s your foot doing?” Namjoon asks when Jimin lowers onto the seat beside him, his rosewood scent lightly wafting around the fellow omega. “I heard you got the okay to walk again, but I’m guessing it’s not working out all that well.”

“I can walk a little. It just really hurts after a while. I was already going back and forth at school earlier, so I need a bit of a break.”

“Totally understandable.”

“How does this thing usually go? Are we just chilling here until we get bored?” Taehyung questions with raised eyebrows, glancing around at the humongous crowd in the field around them.

“Pretty much.”

“It’s a super relaxed sort of thing.” Seokjin says as he sips from his glass of undoubtedly spiked cider. “There aren’t any expectations besides having fun and spending time together.”

“Do you do this every month? Without fail? Really?” Jimin asks with disbelief.

“Not every month.”

“Almost.”

“When it’s really cold in the Winter, we typically don’t force everyone out into the snow, but it depends on how the season is. Sometimes we get too busy, like next month we’ll be preparing for the blizzard. It just depends. We try to come together as a pack as often as we can.” Hoseok helpfully explains everything in a gentle manner, brightly smiling while swaying back and forth.

“I like how close you guys are. It’s really nice to have this sense of community, especially because of the size of the pack. I wasn’t expecting it.” Taehyung states honestly.

“Yes, I agree! It’s so cool to have these things! I like it a lot.” Jimin rapidly nods, bursting with happiness.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Our pack places a lot of importance on coming together and building our relationships. It also gives people the chance to socialize, meet possible courting interests, that kind of deal.” Namjoon strikes a nerve with the last point since Jimin knows that aspect far too well now.

Even though pain daggers through his ankle when he puts weight on it, Jimin loathes the idea of missing the bonafide buffet experience for the first time.

He wants to see it with his own eyes.

Taehyung would struggle too much to carry two plates while also transporting Jimin on his back, undoubtedly strong and capable but not to that point, meaning that the omega needs to make a move for himself. No one questions Jimin much when he springs to his feet to join them in the food line, accepting his presence with open arms.

An array of delicious foods spread across the tables with ample access to as much as people can shove into their gullets.

Luxury.

Jimin scoops up a bit of everything to allow himself the ability to try the new dishes that appear unfamiliar to him. He buzzes with excitement, carefully maneuvers himself on his wrapped foot, and sneaks a quick bite while waiting for the rest of their group to finish. All of the chattering and laughing and commotion from their fellow pack members creates an undeniable spark of energy in the atmosphere.

“I’m thinking about adding another room to my cabin in the Spring.” Yoongi says out of nowhere, everyone too busy stuffing their faces to hold conversation for the past couple of minutes. “I’m outgrowing the two that I have now.”

“What are you going to use it for?” Seokjin questions with a raised eyebrow.

“I think I’ll build a spacious room and switch it to my main bedroom. The other two can be for guests and work. I’ve got too much shit going on to only have the two small rooms that I do now.”

“It sounds like you’re trying to become Jungkook.”

“What the hell?” Jungkook whips his head around so swiftly that Jimin feels an increase in the breeze that wafts past him.

“You add a new room to your house every single year! You’re living in a castle!” Hoseok declares in an accusatory manner, playful yet truthful at the same time. “You’ve got more rooms than you know what to do with!”

“Don’t say that like it’s a bad thing. I’m proud of my house, especially after building it with my own fucking hands.”

“Have you seen it?” Namjoon asks, turning to Jimin when he speaks.

“No.”

“I haven’t either.”

“It’s a really nice home! We’ll have to go annoy Jungkook one day and show you where he lives. He’s got the added bonus of being secluded from everyone else, so he has plenty of space to build whatever he wants. The place is impressive.” Namjoon helpfully divulges enough information to keep Jimin hooked, but not too much that gives all the details away.

“Wow. It seems like everything about you is impressive, huh?” Jimin’s belly tingles when he stares down at Jungkook, hopelessly enraptured by the way the alpha tilts his head to listen closely. “What can you not do?”

“See.” Jungkook answers with a mischevious grin that causes everyone to burst into laughter.

“Fair point.”

The urge to behave in an overly responsible manner slips away from Jimin when he crowds around a small fire with his friends, far too engaged in their fellowship time to ponder the impact of staying up late on a work night.

He adores quality time.

It fills him to the brim with delight when he listens to their various topics of conversation, learning an infinite amount of things about his friends in a short time. He now knows that Seokjin likes the color pink the most, Yoongi once snuck away for an escapade with a rogue wolf, Namjoon likes to write books, and Hoseok eats a watermelon per day in the Summer. While mostly pointless and silly, he remains captivated for the entire night with their incredible stories.

Jimin wishes he possessed worthwhile information to share about himself, but he struggles to think of anything that could compare. He occasionally slips in a minute detail when the topic allows it, nothing too serious or heavy, noticing how Jungkook always pays attention to when he speaks.

Time transpires so swiftly that it shifts into much later in the night before any of them realize how high the moon hangs above them.

A wonderful event.

“We should enjoy ourselves while we can since Winter will be here before we know it. The farmer’s almanac is predicting an influx of snow this year. Even if the temperatures are less harsh, the precipitation is going to be worse.” Namjoon announces to the group as they gather themselves and prepare to leave the field after a night of merely hanging out.

“I’ll go stir crazy if I get snowed inside my house. I have to go out and run and stretch my legs at least once a day. It’s not going to be good for me.” Taehyung shakes his head, wordlessly crouching down in front of Jimin.

“Luckily you live right beside me so we can still see each other when the weather is bad!”

“Yeah, I would die otherwise.”

“It was really great to spend more time with everyone together. We’ll have to do dinner or something in the next few weeks. A lot of us will be busy with the seasonal preparations, but we can make a day of it.” Seokjin smiles brightly in the light of the fizzling fire.

“That sounds awesome!”

“I’m in.”

“Me too!”

“Goodnight.” Jimin utters quietly, everyone so far ahead that they fail to hear his words. “Thanks for letting us join you.”

“Goodnight.” Jungkook grunts back, offering a handsome smile before he disappears out of sight, sending Jimin’s stomach into a flittering fit.

“You’re going to be so tired tomorrow.”

“Ugh, I know! Don’t remind me! I might just fall asleep on your back before we make it home.” Jimin dramatically drops his head on Taehyung’s shoulders while feigning a horrendously loud snore directly in his best friend’s ear.

“I’ll toss you right on the ground!”

Everyone discussing the impending Winter, including the wealth of problems that arise with the colder temperatures and excess precipitation, leaves Jimin wondering about his own living conditions. He knows next to nothing about properly preparing a home for harsh conditions after spending most of his life in places that other people cared for. Nerves start to settle inside of his chest.

He peers around his cabin in the early morning when his eyes first crack open, his dwindling fire no longer providing warmth in the tiny confines of his bedroom. His body shivers and trembles as the cold washes over him.

Endless possibilities.

Perhaps some adjustments should occur before the worst of the tortuous conditions descend upon them to make their lives miserable.

Forcing himself out of bed to dress in school appropriate attire, wash up for the day, and tend to his ankle by tightly wrapping it up again, Jimin shakes like a leaf in a thunderstorm. He contemplates crawling back into bed to refuse living a productive life, but swiftly pushes through those thoughts.

Breakfast always motivates him to head out of his house to start the day.

“How much would it cost for a new bed?” Jimin asks as he sits across from Jungkook in the dining hall, overjoyed to spend time together after almost a week without their morning fellowship due to added work on the alpha’s shoulders. “I don’t know how to build it, so I’d need to pay for someone to do that as well.”

“Free.”

“Huh? Definitely not!”

“I’ll do it for free. I’m pretty good at putting our kits together. If you get one from the shop, I’ll build it for you.” Jungkook appears nonchalant while he makes such a kind offer, his amber scent luscious and thick in the air.

“Oh, no. I… I couldn’t ask you to do that—“

“You’re not asking. I’m volunteering, omega. Let me build your bed.”

“Well, I guess I can’t refuse that. Can I?” Jimin’s lips pull into a pleased smile at the abundance of generosity showing in Jungkook’s actions. “Thank you so much for helping me!”

“Do you need help carrying it, too? Will you need me to retrieve it?” Jungkook raises an eyebrow before he scoops eggs into his mouth.

“No, no. I’ll have Taehyung do it. You’re doing enough already.”

“How about this evening?”

“T-Today?” Jimin gawks, his eyes blowing wide and his mouth dropping open, wholly unprepared for such swift action.

“Mhm. I’m free after dinner. Not sure when I’ll have time otherwise.”

“Okay.”

“Yeah?” Jungkook‘s deep voice and handsome face send Jimin’s heart into a worryingly fast speed, the omega willing the organ to spare him before he throttles into cardiac arrest over something so ridiculously simple. “Does that work for you?”

“S-Sounds good to me!” Jimin rapidly nods, a million thoughts flitting through his mind at the speed of light as he realizes Jungkook will visit his home in a number of hours.

“Perfect.”

Try as he might, invoking an embarrassing amount of energy into the noble cause, Jimin fails to vacate thoughts of the evening from his mind while he teaches his students about multiplication. He finds himself constantly plagued by the current tidiness of his home, how he might grow flustered with Jungkook in such a confined space, and the possible discussion topics to keep things interesting.

His students force him to remain on his toes at all times, constantly springing random conversations upon him without warning.

It helps to clear his mind.

Jimin absolutely adores spending time with his pups regardless of the litany of issues that arise on any given day. From falling on their skinned knees to fights between bickering parties to crying fests about the simplest of concepts, he never finds a dull moment in his life as a teacher.

Luckily for him, he knows how to handle their behavior after several years of dealing with these sorts of problems.

“Teacher! Teacher!”

“Yes?” Jimin asks as he spins around in the classroom, wiping away the chalk on the board from their previous lesson.

“We have a question!“

“Go ahead.”

“We were playing house on the playground and… and we had many parents with pups. I was the pup and Hyungwon was my alpha mom. Some of us… Well… We got talking about families, so we wanted to know about you!” Bitna, one of the smaller of the bunch, pours out her words a rapid speed while she stares up at Jimin with humongous eyes.

“Okay, okay. That’s making sense so far. What are your questions? I’ll do my best to answer them.” Jimin holds back his nerves that simmer as he ponders where their inquiries could lead.

“Are you mated?”

“N-No.”

“Do you have an alpha? Or a beta? Or… Or even an omega?” A voice calls out among the crowd of pups eagerly awaiting answers.

“I do not.”

“Do you want one? Do you want to find a mate, Teacher?”

“I—“

“What about pups? Do you have any pups? How many of them are there? Are they big or small?” Another students questions with undue excitement, bouncing up and down while they encircle Jimin like a pack of hyenas.

“I also don’t have any pups, darlings. No mate, no alpha, and no pups. It’s just me.” Jimin shrugs his shoulders to appear as relaxed and carefree as humanly possible.

“Oh, okay.”

“That’s fine, right?”

“Of course!” Hyungwon answers without hesitation. “He’s still young and pretty!”

“Do you want to have pups like us one day, Teacher?”

“I would love nothing more than to have a family of my own. Not everyone wants pups, and that’s okay, but I hope to have some. Maybe a couple, I think. My lovely little students like you guys make me look forward to that day.” Jimin smiles politely, crinkling his eyes as he tilts his head to the side. “Now run along and play before break time is over! Go on!”

“Bye!”

“Bye bye!”

Since his students only attend school for roughly half a day, ending about an hour after noon to enjoy lunch in freedom, Jimin typically heads straight to the dining hall with a rumbling belly when he completes his duty of educating their youngest members.

He skips along the pathway with saliva pooling in his mouth and an ache in his foot that he attempts to ignore.

Food.

The hunger he experiences after chasing pups back and forth compares to nothing else in the world.

“Wait, so… Let me get this straight… You want me to carry a whole ass bed to your house after this. Like… Like a literal bed? The frame and headboard and mattress? All of it?” Taehyung grips his chopsticks in his hands while he hunches over his tray, glaring at Jimin with disbelief in his eyes.

“Yes, a double bed.” Jimin nods his head with perfected calmness that reveals none of the amusement building inside of him.

“A double bed?”

“Mhm.”

“Do you know how many trips this is going to take? How heavy even is it? Am I going to strain my back trying to get all this shit into your cabin?” Taehyung sighs while scrubbing his face with his hand.

“I have no idea about any of the fine details.”

“Of course not.”

“You don’t have to worry about it if it’s too much for you to handle. I didn’t realize you weren’t strong enough to carry all of that stuff. It’s my fault for even asking. Maybe Jungkook will have enough time to pick it up for me since I need a really powerful alpha for the job. Don’t stress yourself out if it’s too difficult for you.” Jimin flashes Taehyung a pitying smile as he emphasizes his condescending tone, motioning his hand in a nonchalant manner.

“You’re the worst, you know that? How dare you try to use mental manipulation tactics to do your bidding?” Taehyung emphatically rises to his feet to snatch up his empty tray.

“I’m not doing anything.”

“Come on, then. Let’s go get this thing. I won’t have my strength questioned by the likes of you.”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?” Jimin shoots him an angry look while he swiftly trails behind him to the return counter. “I’m allowed to question anything I want!”

“Yeah, yeah. Hurry up.”

Jimin follows Taehyung to the furniture shop to fork over the coins necessary to purchase the bed he wants, assisting in carrying the smaller pieces that easily fit within his arms, swinging open the door to his home when it comes time to deliver the first bout of materials.

Unfortunately, due to the fragility of his physical health, he remains at home while Taehyung makes the last trip on his own, dutifully waiting for the last delivery to arrive at his doorstep.

He thanks his best friend handsomely and promises to deliver him a special reward for his hard work.

Nervous.

Spending the duration of the afternoon obsessing over every minuscule detail of his home feels appropriate given the situation to follow. He channels his focus into cleaning his house, tidying it of all messiness to ensure he saves himself from embarrassment, paying extra attention to the bedroom since they intend to spend the most time in that particular room. Jimin wants to give off the best impression possible.

Jungkook stands broad and formidable at the front door when Jimin answers it, only just returning home from dinner at the dining hall.

Butterflies take flight in his tummy.

“These things are actually pretty fucking easy to put together. We keep the kits as simple as possible so that everyone can do it. Most of the steps and crucial pieces are similar for all of the furniture.” Jungkook explains as he sits on the floor of Jimin’s bedroom, surrounded by various tools while he skillfully builds the bed frame.

“I should probably learn to do it myself, then. It’ll be good to know how to take care of these things without bothering anyone else.”

“Eh, no need.”

“No? You don’t think I should learn how to build stuff?” Jimin reflexively raises an eyebrow from the doorway.

“There are way too many experts at this to waste your time with stressing over the instructions. You’re better off just finding someone to do it for you. It’s not like you get new furniture often anyway.” Jungkook shrugs his shoulders, his amber scent intoxicatingly thick in the confines of Jimin’s bedroom.

“Experts like you?”

“Yeah.”

Jimin frequently flits from the kitchen to the bedroom while he attempts to remain out of the way, not interested in bothering Jungkook while he kindly volunteers his precious time. He enjoys watching the alpha work a bit too much, finding himself struck by distraction when he intently stares at the striated muscles that flex with every move of Jungkook’s strong arms.

“Was there something wrong with your old bed? Did it need to be replaced for any specific reason?”

“Oh, no.” Jimin shakes his head before he remembers that Jungkook fails to see such a motion. He chews on his bottom lip while fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. “I just, uh… I wanted a bigger bed, actually. T-There’s nothing wrong with the other one except it being so small.”

“A bigger bed, huh?” Jungkook’s voice drops an octave, his scent spiking with richness that makes Jimin weak in the knees.

“Y-Yeah.”

“I guess I can’t blame you there.”

“They’re a lot more comfortable, in my opinion. And… And W-Winter is coming. I need lots of space to nest to stay warm.” Jimin dutifully defends himself to justify such a frivolous addition to his home.

“Of course. Your nest. Absolutely.” Jungkook pauses, only for a split second, when his hand slips from the tool, swiftly recovering his fumble.

“E-Exactly.”

Naturally, as they gravitate together in the shared space, Jimin drawn to Jungkook’s presence as he observes him working so devoutly, their conversation drifts from the task at hand to things that further interest them. Their socialization at meals usually limits to surface level discussions, but something about the covering of night in a secluded place encourages them to dig deeper.

Jimin leans back against the wall from across the room, keeping his distance to not disturb the working process of his gracious volunteer. Sparks of thrill simmer inside of him at the closeness they share throughout the building experience.

“I was actually born with sight.”

“You… You were?”

“Yeah. I could see for the first few years of my life, so I have a general idea of some concepts, but there’s a lot that I can’t imagine anymore. Some shit just doesn’t exist in my head.” Jungkook maintains a relaxed demeanor that provides Jimin the comfort to prod without worry.

“What happened to you? How’d you lose your vision? Sorry if that’s an inappropriate question.” Jimin twiddles his thumbs and leaves his gaze transfixed on the handsome alpha before him.

“Don’t worry about offending me, omega. I’m way too tough for that shit.”

“O-Okay.”

“My mom says that I got super sick in the Winter of my fourth year. There was a horrible blizzard that I really wanted to play in, so I snuck outside without any protective clothing. I apparently got lost and nearly froze to death by the time they found me. The healers think that my high fever afterwards was what caused me to go blind.”

“Wow, I’m sorry to hear that. It sounds like a huge adjustment to lose your sight at such a young age. You’ve been through so much already.” Jimin tries his best to express sympathy without any pity reading its head.

“It’s hard to miss something that I barely knew in the first place. I’ve been without sight longer than I even had it.”

“That’s very true.” Jimin slowly nods his head. “I like your perspective.”

“How about you?” Jungkook asks when he turns to face Jimin who resides behind him, tilting his head to the side while he visibly sucks in a deep breath through his nose. “I noticed that you don’t talk about the details of your life very much. What happened that brought you and Taehyung together?”

“Oh.”

“Too personal?”

“No, actually. I just wasn’t expecting it. Everything happened when I was too young to remember, so I’m not so affected by it. I guess I just… I don’t know. I was orphaned. Taehyung’s sister found me crying in the woods as a pup. They took me in, cared for me, and let me become part of their family.” Jimin smiles as he thinks of those that he loves so much, forever grateful that they took him in without question.

“I never would’ve guessed that in a million years. Maybe that’s on me for stereotyping, but you’re so lovely that I couldn’t imagine a tragic backstory like that.”

“T-Thank you.” Jimin appreciates that his blushing cheeks go unnoticed. “We’ve got some similarities in that way.”

“I guess so.”

Somehow, some way, despite all logical reasoning, they end up on the bed together, just the two of them. Jungkook ascertains his need to test the construction of the bed, Jimin joining him to plop on the edge of the mattress. Mere inches apart, confined in a tiny space, nothing interrupting their time together.

It appears that neither of them yearn to part amidst such gentle simplicity.

Jimin dares himself to conjure his bravery, pushing forward even as his heart pounds violently in his chest and his lungs threaten to give out from the weight of his breathing.

“I won’t lie and pretend like I don’t wonder about it sometimes.”

“What things look like?” Jimin questions gently, his hands neatly folded in his lap, attention raptured by the alpha beside him.

“Yeah.”

“W-What kind of things?”

“Times like this.” Jungkook answers in such a deep voice that it rattles inside of Jimin’s head to evoke a sense of utter delight. His dark eyes possess captivating intensity when he angles his head in the omega’s direction. Amber flourishes in the air, blooming with depth. “It would be nice to put a face to a name, to a voice, a scent.”

“Do… Do you want to f-feel it? Would that help you?” Jimin nervously poses his question even as his hands tremble, electrified by the mere idea of skin to skin contact.

“Are you offering to let me feel your face right now, omega?”

“Y-Yes.” Jimin nods.

“Okay.”

Words fail to describe the consuming emotions that rush through Jimin’s veins like wildfire, timidly inching closer while he fails to hide his excitement, mustering the courage to grab Jungkook’s massive hands and bring them to his overheated face. He struggles to force away his smile, cheeks obscenely rounded when the alpha first makes contact with his jaw.

Slow.

As if to not startle a baby bunny.

Jungkook’s hands remain in place for several seconds, time suspended between them as they rest on the edge of Jimin’s bed.

Jasmine and amber intertwine until they grow suffocatingly thick in the closed space of Jimin’s bedroom, dripping down the walls and puddling on the floor with their unparalleled intensity. Everything smells like them, like their unconcealed emotions that they no longer hide.

Gradually, taking his time to feel every feature that Jimin possesses, Jungkook’s rough hands pat along the delicate flesh of the omega’s face to bring recognition to his mind. He scrunches his eyebrows, straightens his lips, and intensely focuses on memorizing every detail of Jimin’s face. Neither of them utter a word for an eternity, tension building and building around them.

“I fucking knew it.” Jungkook cups Jimin’s flushed face in his hands, the pads of his thumbs gently caressing over the luscious lips that part in obedience. “I knew you were beautiful.”

Chapter Text

Developing a routine for daily productivity and normalcy allows Jimin to effortlessly find a comfortable place in their new pack.

Time transpires at a terrifyingly swift pace when following a schedule that fills many hours of the day with various activities around the settlement grounds, the days meshing together to create a conglomerate of minutes turned to hours turned to weeks.

Life flows onward.

Jimin, despite his inclination to harbor his feelings close to his chest, finds himself unable to deny the crush that blooms like tulips in his chest.

A goner.

“I’d like to think that I know you pretty well by now, omega. Don’t underestimate my ability to listen. You’ve been yapping my ear off every morning for the past month, at least. I understand you better than you think.” Jungkook proudly asserts himself, sporting a dazzling smile that reflects on Jimin’s own face.

“Oh, yeah? Are you an expert on all things Jimin now?” Jimin huffs petulantly, playfully ornery for no reason, crossing his arms over his chest in a defiant display. “Do you just know everything about me?”

“Yes.”

“Then… What’s my favorite color?”

“Pink.” Jungkook takes no time to contemplate the question before he spits out his answer, undoubtedly correct in his declaration.

“What season do I hate the most?”

“Summer.”

“How many times have I broken a bone?” Jimin narrows his eyes as he tries to think of adequate questions.

“One.”

“Ah—“

“But two if you count that time you smashed your finger under a rock when you were little.” Jungkook shoves a slice of buttered bread into his mouth before he smugly smiles. “I don’t, by the way. Doesn’t count at all.”

“That totally counts!” Jimin releases the least threatening growl possible in retaliation.

“What else? Lay it on me.”

“How many years have I been a teacher? All of the years combined.”

“Eight, I think.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Two years as an assistant teacher, three years as a part time teacher, and three years as an official, full time teacher.” Jimin fills with pride as he details his extensive background in the field that he adores.

“You’ll be at nine years before you know it. Time really flies these days.”

“What’s my biggest fear?”

“Spiders.” Jungkook answers without pause, like always, stuffing a piece of sausage into his gullet.

“Do I like carrots or cucumbers better?”

“Neither.”

“But—“

“That’s a trick question and you know it. You don’t like vegetables. Basically everything even remotely close to a vegetable gets pushed off your damn plate and onto Taehyung’s so that you don’t waste it.” Jungkook possesses far too much confidence in himself and it only pleases Jimin further, embarrassingly so.

“Okay, fine. Fine. I admit it. You do know a lot about me. Maybe I should shut up more often, but I like talking to you.” Jimin cheeks flush a rosy red as he meticulously observes Jungkook’s handsome face.

“No, you’re good. I like listening to you talk. We’ve got a good balance.”

“I know plenty about you as well.”

“You do.”

On the days that Jimin receives a break from the responsibility of educating the pack’s pups, his duties essentially nonexistent without the need to care for, watch, and teach the lovely younglings, he favors venturing into various hobbies that keep him busy without too much stress on his shoulders.

From sewing quilts to painting rocks to beading jewelry, Jimin prefers to occupy his mind without creative endeavors instead of merely lying around without any sort of goal.

Today he chooses to bake.

Knowing only the bare minimum about the process of cooking anything means that he needs an excessive amount of practice before he harbors confidence in his skills, yet he puts forth his best efforts to ensure that he follows directions, pays attention to the ingredients, and creates an incredible end product.

Hoseok offers him a wealth of tips about properly baking, even talking him through a batch of muffins while they spend time together at Jimin’s home one evening.

It gets easier each time.

While his actions may stem from a desire to continuously learn and perfect new skills, Jimin’s current motivations may or may not reside in the batch of bananas that sit along his dining table. A fruitful trading event with fellow packs around them led to them receiving things their weather conditions no longer permit on their own lands. Bananas serve as a prime example of that.

It just so happens that a handsome, charming, strong alpha greatly enjoys bananas, particularly banana bread, so Jimin channels his knowledge to whip up a special batch of the treat for him.

Infatuated.

Jimin spends a shameful amount of time ensuring that each aspect of the baked good turns out perfectly. He meticulously reviews the recipe card on the counter, obsessively checks his measurements for each ingredient, watches the pan like a hawk while it rests in his oven, and refuses to let it burn. The directions provide the ideal guidelines to create a model product.

In the end, when abundantly satisfied with his banana bread, Jimin allows it to cool before he carefully wraps it in a cloth and sticks it in a basket for simple delivery without trouble.

Wonderful.

He overflows with excitement as he skips along the pathway to the secluded section of the grounds that lead to Jungkook’s home, only slightly familiar with the precise location since he rarely finds himself in this area on a regular basis.

His heart races, his stomach somersaults, and his lungs struggle to breathe.

A surprise, of sorts.

With no intentions of making his presence known, especially without any prior warning to arriving at Jungkook’s residence, he plans to drop the basket off without making himself known. The scarf tucked neatly inside the package that douses in his jasmine scent should alert the alpha to his identity. Waiting around to see his reaction sounds like a bit too much, regardless of how much he yearns to experience it with his own eyes.

Unfortunately life possesses its own ideas for how the event should occur.

“Hello.”

“O-Oh.” Jimin releases a lengthy puff of air from his lips as he swivels around on his feet to face the front door of Jungkook’s house once more. “Hello.”

“Is there something that I can help you with?” An older woman asks, soft and lilting.

“N-No, I… Uh… I was just dropping s-something off. I didn’t… Um… I don’t need anything. No. Sorry for bothering you.”

“Dropping something off? Oh!”

The shock of someone unexpectedly confronting him before he sneaks away leaves him unable to formulate rational thoughts in his head, stunned into silence while he watches the woman stare down at the basket at her feet. She pauses, not moving an inch while she seemingly ponders the turn of events, frozen in time for an eternity.

Jimin finds no opportunity to contemplate her identity before she swoops down to apprehend the basket, clutching it in her arms with an indecipherable look on her face.

“What’s your name?”

“Jimin.”

“Well, this is very nice of you, Jimin. Thank you for stopping by. I’ll make sure Jungkook knows that you were here.” The woman flashes him a smile that fails to soothe the feelings teeming beneath the surface of his skin.

“Sorry, but… W-Who are you, exactly?” Jimin dares to ask.

“I’m Jungkook’s mom. My name is Chaewon, but I’d just prefer to be called Head Omega. I occasionally like to stop by and do a little cleaning. You know how parents are.”

“Oh, yeah. R-Right.”

“I won’t take any more of your time. Thank you for your kindness. I’ll make sure that he receives your gift next time he’s home.” The Head Omega waves at him as he steps inside the house again.

“B-Bye.”

Somehow, despite never seeing it coming, learning that Jungkook’s parents lead the pack comes as a minimal shock to Jimin’s system. He understands it perfectly once the reveal happens. Only the alpha of such a powerful leader could possess the impressive capabilities that he notices in Jungkook.

Jimin receives a knock on his door later that evening after dinner. Jungkook shows up with the basket in his hand and a smile on his face, asserting that they should enjoy a little dessert together before bed.

What a lovely surprise.

Although certain aspects of his daily routine might shift depending on external circumstances surrounding his life, many things remain transfixed regardless of the situation. Whether the harsh conditions of the approaching winter whip the air outside or the business of preparations steal most people’s attention, Jimin, Taehyung, and their friends still eat together at meals whenever possible.

They crowd around a table together, whoever finds the availability to join at that current moment, to enjoy lighthearted conversation while stuffing their faces.

“No.”

“Really?”

“I don’t think the river freezes that securely. It’s way too deep and the current is too strong. I can’t imagine that it’s sturdy enough to skate across, not even in the dead of winter.” Namjoon shakes his head in refusal of the notion, furrowing his eyebrows as he ponders the odd inquiry.

“How about the ponds? Or creeks? Is nothing strong enough to support ice skating?” Taehyung poses his question with a frantic sense of disbelief.

“Is that normal where you come from?”

“Yeah!” Jimin answers emphatically, vigorously nodding his head, his mind flashing with memories of his time playing on the around their old pack. “Pretty much everyone would put on their snowshoes and skate around on the ice. It’s like a tradition for us. We always did it every year.”

“Wow.”

“I’ve never heard of that.” Hoseok answers truthfully, eyes wide.

“Me either.”

“It’s one of my favorite winter activities! We have to make it happen! I’m going to scope out the water around here when I’m on patrol to see what place will work the best.” Taehyung confidently asserts as he decisively nods his head.

“What happens if the ice cracks and you slip into the water?” Namjoon asks next.

“You die.”

“What the hell?” Yoongi chokes on his water.

“Are you serious right now?”

“No, no. He’s joking. It’s not an instant death sentence, but it’s actually pretty dangerous. You might not be able to find a way back up through the ice before you run out of oxygen.” Jimin fails to soothe their worries with his realistic information regarding the reality of ice activities.

“Damn, that’s a dangerous hobby. I’m surprised you like it, omega. You don’t strike me as the risky type.” Jungkook smiles devilishly handsomely when he speaks to Jimin across the table.

“Oh, he doesn’t.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I, uh… I mostly stick along the edges where it’s safe.” Jimin says as he chews on the inside of his lip.

“We’ll consider it.”

“Maybe.”

Relaxation time arises in the evenings before the biological need for sleep overtakes Jimin’s mental processes. After he returns from dinner, washes up, and changes into comfortable sleeping clothes, he typically winds down next to the fireplace in his living room.

Sometimes Taehyung joins him, other times he finds himself in the peaceful tranquility of his own company without another soul around.

Simplicity.

He parses through the pile of books stacked on his dining table for something to occupy his mind while he rests, idly allows his hands to work on another sewing project to keep his thoughts from wandering, or writes in the journal that he brought along to document his experience in this new life.

It provides a serenity he never expected.

Jimin adores owning a space that he commands complete control over, free to decorate it however he pleases, never burdened by the presence of others when he seeks calmness.

Crawling into his comfortable bed to nestle in the mess of blankets arranged into a perfect formation provides the omega an endless amount of satisfaction. He curls up in the warmth of his own making with a satisfied smile pulling on his lips, surrounded by the gentleness of his jasmine scent. The fire flickers along the far wall to supply gentle noises that lull him to sleep.

Life treats him well in the Jeon Pack.

Hoseok’s home possesses a sprightly way about it that perfectly encapsulates what Jimin envisions before he ever steps foot into the space.

While each cabin in the Jeon Pack, and beyond, contains an immensely similar appearance considering they construct everything out of the wood that grows plentifully around them, each member decorates, organizes, and personalizes their residence to provide an entirely new experience depending on who inhabits the place.

Cozy.

It wraps around him like a hug.

Soothing neutral tones that possess a welcome warmth about them, pops of color to add dimension with decorative pieces, everything meshing together in a beautiful display.

Jimin loves spending time with all of his friends regardless of the location of their hangout.

“What do you think about the game this year? Have you noticed a lot of animals on your hunts?” Namjoon inquires as he gazes in Jungkook’s general direction, the alpha always amazing Jimin by locating the person addressing him without the ability to actually see them. “There’s been talk about it at the council meetings and some members are worried about a possible shortage.”

“It seems pretty average to me. I’ve been stalking them out to find where they like to hide. I haven’t noticed anything worrying yet.” Jungkook shrugs his shoulders in a nonchalant display.

“That’s reassuring, I suppose. The last thing we need is a lack of protein through the winter.”

“I see them, too.” Taehyung interjects when he steps closer to the couch and fireplace instead of lingering in the kitchen with the others. “There are a ton of deer and elk along the North near the border of the territory. I don’t know what’s normal for you guys, but I think there are plenty out there.”

“How about hogs?”

“Really?”

“What? It’s just a question!” Jimin defensively raises his voice a pitch higher while he feigns innocence towards Taehyung’s reaction.

“What’s wrong with hogs?” Namjoon raises an eyebrow as his stare flits between them.

“Nothing!”

“There’s nothing wrong with hogs. It’s just that Jimin is a fiend for them. I swear he could eat a whole one by himself if he could. He always made me catch him one and bring it home for us to eat throughout the winter.” Taehyung smiles fondly despite his annoyed tone, his grapefruit scent spiking in the air, undoubtedly thinking back to their past together.

“Is that so?” Jungkook quirks an eyebrow when he tilts his head towards Jimin who sits on the opposite end of the couch.

“I just think they taste really good! The best, actually! Is that a crime?”

“Nope.”

“Of course not. I agree with you. Hogs are usually juicier and more filling.” Namjoon confidently nods his head in agreement.

“Let’s see if you guys are still saying that when Jimin’s knocking down your door to beg for you to catch him a hog when there’s a blizzard outside. You’ll be changing your minds quickly.”

Togetherness.

Even if they never explicitly express their feelings about their friend group, it remains abundantly clear that they prioritize spending time in each other’s presence on a regular basis.

They force life to allow them to bask in the glory of their shared company.

Occasions like these—crowding together in a home while they enjoy themselves with a hearty meal, engaging in pointless conversation that leads to no productive end, and lounging on the couch near the fire to receive much needed warmth—clearly prove their devotion to their friendships, always splicing time out of their busy lives to fortify the relationships they created over years and years.

He attempts to integrate as much as possible, making himself useful to not serve as a burden, happily assisting in their cooking endeavors to build his skill along the way.

“Most of us haven’t changed much since we were pups.”

“Our dynamics have always been the same. I mean, we weren’t as close growing up because of our age differences, but our personalities have stayed consistent.” Hoseok smiles brightly as he scoops up a healthy serving of potatoes to deliver them to Jimin’s plate.

“I’ll never forget the time that Yoongi had a full on meltdown at school because Seokjin skinned his knee.”

“Oh, yeah! I remember that!” Seokjin exclaims enthusiastically.

“That damn teacher didn’t care!” Yoongi huffs out defensively, narrowing his angular eyes as he pulls a slice of chicken onto his plate. “He had blood pouring down his leg and all kinds of dirt on there from playing in the woods. It was like nobody cared about him when he was clearly injured.”

“I think that was the day that he set his future in stone.”

“Yeah, a twist of fate.”

“He cleaned him up himself, wrapped the wound in a bandage, and helped him elevate his leg to stop the bleeding.” Namjoon recounts the moment with surprising clarity considering how much time transpires between then and now.

“People think that he doesn’t care, but he just shows it in less obvious ways.”

“Okay, enough of that. Let’s not get introspective during a relaxing dinner. You’ll make me cringe too much to eat.” Yoongi grumbles out his words, cracking a smile when the others around him laugh at his outright avoidance.

Jimin, try as he might, struggles to ignore Jungkook’s presence beside him.

Persistent.

Regardless of where they go and what circumstances surround their time together, it seems as if the two of them always gravitate to one another. It endlessly delights Jimin to the depths of his soul while also making him perpetually nervous. He finds himself constantly glancing over, sucking in breaths of luscious amber, and willing his heart to calm down.

Thinking about what their steadily increasing closeness could mean sends him into a spiral, so he chooses not to pontificate the possibility of Jungkook viewing him as anything other than a friend.

Secretly, though, he hopes so.

His instincts fail to bury his blossoming feelings towards the indubitably handsome, overwhelmingly kind, utterly capable alpha when he effortlessly cares for him without even trying. Jimin nearly falls out of his seat to swoon when Jungkook reaches over to feel for his hand, silently offering him a napkin just when the omega needs it.

“Have you two changed since you first met?” Jungkook asks in his deep, low rasp, pointedly facing Jimin to address him directly.

“Uh… Hmm… Not really.”

“We’ve basically been best friends since the moment we met. It’s incredible looking back on it now because I’m amazed at how little everything affected him. He just attached to me and didn’t care about all the shit that went down.” Taehyung flashes an endearing smile at Jimin from the other side of the table.

“I think attached is an overstatement.” Jimin retorts in a swift reply.

“Don’t pretend like you weren’t glued to my hip! You wouldn’t do anything or go anywhere without me. We slept in the same bed and ate every meal together and pushed our desks close at school. I can’t remember a time when we weren’t side by side growing up.”

“Well, I guess I’m just lucky that you never got annoyed by me. You were the only sort of family I ever had.” Jimin swallows the lump in his throat while he smiles softly at his best friend.

“What happened when you two presented? Did anything change then?”

“No.”

“Not one bit.” Taehyung shakes his head. “I think the others were worried that things might get weird or something. We’ve always just been us, alpha and omega or not.”

“I think it’s sweet how people can adapt through all sorts of life changes together.”

“Isn’t it?”

“It feels like just yesterday that we were wild pups running around without a care in the world. We’ve grown up into adults with responsibilities on our shoulders, but we’re still the same people inside.” Hoseok offers a sentimental expression to add to the poignant moment.

“We’ll be mated and raising pups of our own in no time at all!” Seokjin proclaims.

“Speak for yourself.”

Jimin volunteers to offer his assistance for cleaning up once the meal ends, eternally grateful for friends that enjoy hosting in their lovely homes, highly aware of the importance of everyone playing their part to ensure that the get-togethers run smoothly. He stands at the sink washing the dishes while Namjoon rinses them, both of them silent after a full evening of talking.

Rather than immediately retreating to their homes after the meal finishes, they choose to clamber onto the couch to continue their evening of fellowship without skipping a beat.

It leaves Jimin and Jungkook side by side.

Again.

Lingering in the same area already gives Jimin heart palpitations, so squishing together on the couch to the point that their sides press together for every breath they inhale causes much more intense nerves inside of the omega.

He focuses on maintaining a sense of normalcy, acutely aware of every inch of his body, wondering how much Jungkook notices his panicked mannerisms amidst their closeness. The conversation carries on around them, yet the words flow in one ear and out the other. Jimin’s heart speeds like a racehorse, his palms drip with sweat, and the heat of his body radiates like an oven.

“W-Wait!” Jimin says loudly, swiftly grabbing Taehyung’s wrist before he walks away. “Where are you going?”

“Have you not been listening?”

“No.”

“We’re going to hike up the mountain again since it’s a full moon tonight. Jungkook volunteered to walk you home because it’s getting kind of late. You can wait here for me if you want, but it’ll be a while before we’re back.” Taehyung allows Jimin to cling to him even as the others wait near the door for him to join them on their adventure.

“Oh, okay. I… I think I’ll head home. I’m pretty tired.” Jimin rapidly blinks his eyes, unsure how long he zoned out.

“I thought you’d say that.”

“Be safe.”

“I always am.” Taehyung shoots Jimin a heartwarming smile that soothes any lingering anxiety bubbling inside of him. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight!”

Heat burns from the top of Jimin’s head to the soles of his feet as he trails along the pathway to his home with Jungkook dutifully by his side. They walk so closely that their arms occasionally brush together, sending sparks of thrill down the omega’s spine each time they come into contact. Even the slightest touch nearly throttles him into a cardiac arrest.

“I don’t remember exactly how to get to your house. I’ve only been there once and Taehyung took me there.” Jungkook admits with a chuckle, deep and raspy, the sound pleasing to Jimin’s ears.

“I thought you knew this place like the back of your hand.”

“I do.”

“It’s this way.” Jimin points to the left side where the path splits off, his mind inundated with a flurry of emotions that leave his thinking capacity lacking.

“What way?”

“Oh, sorry. It’s, uh… We take the path on the left and then through the trees.”

“Alright.”

“I… I c-can show you, m-maybe.” Jimin uses his split second courage to pause his steps, reaching out to brush his fingers over the expanse of Jungkook’s large hand, daring himself to testingly push the boundary the tiniest bit. “If, um… I-If you don’t mind. Not… Not that I think you can’t do it o-on your own or… or anything like that, I just—“

“That would be lovely, omega.” Jungkook rumbles his words in a captivating manner that absolves Jimin of his worry in a second.

“Oh.”

Hand in hand, embarrassingly sweaty and overheated from the copious nerves that wrack through Jimin’s inexperienced body, they complete the last few minutes of the trek to Jimin’s home. It exhilarates him to the point that he verges on bursting from the confines of his skin with excitement. Jungkook’s hand in his feels like a dream come true.

Neither of them want to let go.

A certain timidity paints every interaction between Jimin and Jungkook, adoring proclamations lingering on the tips of their tongues, words never quite finding the bravery necessary to reach the air. Things remain unspoken in favor of dancing around the notion that both of them understand. Rather than directly addressing the feelings flourishing inside of them, they simply allow their hearts to guide them forward.

They import a wealth of knowledge each day as they pick each other’s brains, learn what makes them tick, and share their deepest thoughts without fear or reservation.

Special.

“I thought that I might find you here.” Jungkook’s raspy voice cascades in the air before it reaches Jimin’s ears, embarrassingly pleasing to his innermost self as it bounces off the wooden walls of his empty classroom. “You’re predictable.”

“This is where I work.” Jimin says incredulously, looking up from his desk to find a handsome alpha lingering in the doorway, shivers rushing down his spine.

“Yeah, but school finished hours ago.”

“I’m busy these days.”

“Aren’t we all? What’s so important that you had to skip lunch? Have you started writing an entire textbook on your own or something?” Jungkook raises an eyebrow in question as he rests his body weight on the column of the door.

“I keep hearing that a snowstorm will come soon, so I want to prepare work for my students to do at home whenever they can’t come in to school.”

“You’re very dedicated.” Jungkook declares without pausing.

“Thank you.”

“Unfortunately for you, I know the importance of eating at least three meals a day, so you’re going to have to take a break to have this lunch that I packed up for you.”

“W-What? Really?” Jimin’s eyes blow wide when Jungkook lifts a woven basket into the air.

“Of course.”

Several seconds pass where Jimin glances between the basket in the alpha’s hands and his blank expression, unsure what to think of the unexpected consideration. He endlessly appreciates such thoughtfulness, his heart fluttering from the simple act alone, the omega inside of him ready to burst free and beg for Jungkook to claim him.

“I’ll eat it on one condition.”

“What is it?”

“I’d like for you to join me while I do.” Jimin holds his breath, wills his tingling skin to settle, and patiently waits for an answer towards his ambitious request made with courage.

“I was already planning to do that, omega. You should dream bigger next time.”

For perhaps the first time since meeting, Jimin observes how Jungkook operates in a space completely unfamiliar to him. He inches forward at a cautious speed, far less confident to plow ahead without knowledge of the layout around him, using the walking staff in his hand to feel for large objects that might cause him to trip.

Jimin rises from his spot at his desk to move closer to the free tables along the outskirts of the classroom, finding the perfect place for them to reside while he devours the food in Jungkook’s hands. Thrill consumes him whole.

“We can sit over here, I think. The tables are made for students, but you might be able to squeeze into the chair if you try hard enough.” Jimin cracks a smile at his own teasing, fascinated by the way Jungkook tilts his head to follow the sound of the omega’s voice to lead him toward the spot in question.

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Jungkook flashes him a devilish smirk after feeling for the flat surface to rest the basket on. “Are you calling me big? Is that what this is?”

“Well… You’re definitely not small. I mean that in the best way possible, though. I promise.”

“I’m not offended.”

“Good.”

“That just confirms what I already knew. You’re a little munchkin. I bet you’re a tiny thing that’s not even half my height, probably small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.” Jungkook’s amber scent spikes as he reaches out to feel for the top of Jimin’s head, patting it like he would a precious kitten.

“Hey! That’s not true! I’m almost as tall as you! I’m not small!” Jimin exclaims defensively.

“Bullshit.”

It becomes abundantly clear over the months, particularly the current one, that both Jimin and Jungkook search for excuses to spend time in each other’s presence, finding reasons to appear in daily life that allow them to interact beyond the scope of meal times in the dining hall.

Eager.

They merely need more.

Even if the others notice their inclination to gravitate towards one another, they never utter a word about it, not even when they make it completely obvious and difficult to ignore.

It takes a couple of weeks of meticulously focusing on the task at hand for Jimin to finish his project he creates with Seokjin, devoting hours of his free time to making the perfect piece of clothing. He learns all kinds of things regarding seamstress work, thankful for the increase of his skills along the way, spending quality time with a new friend while hand-making something that fills him with pride.

Showing up at Jungkook’s cabin after dinner feels ridiculous and necessary simultaneously, unable to refrain from skipping to the alpha’s house to deliver the item he poured his love into.

“Jimin.”

“Hi.” Jimin says with a bashful smile, voice breathless and weak after rushing across the pack grounds to arrive in a hurry. “I’m sorry that this is so unexpected. I hope I’m not bothering you.”

“You could never bother me, omega. Don’t even worry about that.”

“I, uh… I h-have something for you. It’s… It’s not anything crazy or magnificent or… or perfect, but I wanted to g-give it to you. I just couldn’t wait another day.” Jimin nervously chews on his bottom lip, bounces back and forth on his feet, and grips the fabric in his hand while he stares intently at Jungkook’s steeled expression.

“Come inside.” Jungkook commands with a smooth, deep voice, stepping back to gesture towards the expanse of his home. “It’s too cold to stand out there for long. Come in where it’s warm.”

“O-Okay.”

Jimin perches himself on the edge of the couch next to Jungkook, excitement simmering in his bones as he gazes around at the alpha’s personal space to absorb every detail, never directly entering into his house like this.

It appears precisely like he expected.

Most items possess a neutral tone to them, simplicity and functionality surpassing all visual aspects. It remains uncluttered with ample space between pieces of furniture around the room. With several rooms judging by the number of doors down the hallway and a clean appearance from top to bottom, the neat cabin represents Jungkook well.

Not to mention how it drips with the scent of amber so strongly that it sends sparks of warmth to simmer in the omega’s lower belly.

“What is this? I can tell that it’s made from a really nice material. It’s so fucking smooth and soft. The fur inside feels like it’s from a mountain lion, maybe.” Jungkook’s eyebrows scrunch as he focuses on identifying the clothing in his hand, intently caressing every inch of the fabric from the seams to the button clasps.

“It’s a winter coat.”

“You made this? Not even just that, but you made it for me?” Jungkook stills with his face trained on the omega next to him.

“Y-Yes.”

“Wow… What the hell? This is so nice. No one’s ever done anything like this for me before.”

“I just… I wanted to try my hand at making some clothing and… and I thought of you.” Jimin whispers out his words, meek and shy, his cheeks heating to a rosy red. He gazes at the dark, suede leather and luscious fur with pride. “I hope it’ll help k-keep you warm during this winter season.”

“Thank you so fucking much.” Jungkook drops the fur into his lap before surging forward to embrace Jimin in a breathtaking hug.

“You’re welcome.”

Jimin and Jungkook think of each other. All of their gift exchanges, moments of consideration, and ample amounts of compassion all clearly display their inability to remain selfish in the face of the feelings flourishing inside of them. When crafting something by hand or shopping at the market or baking a sweet dessert, they think of one another without cease.

Neither of them dare to express the depths of what these thoughtful moments mean, content to allow life to sweep them away without putting labels or words to their desires.

Intimate.

They express their care with tenderness.

It excites Jimin to always anticipate something lingering around the corner, never certain when Jungkook might pop up to ask him on a walk or lean across the table to offer a hearty chunk of meat from his own tray. Their affections for each other brings a new thrill to life that the omega never possessed the joy of experiencing until now. Everything feels so new and fun and pure.

“Oh my!” Jimin screeches when he pulls open the front door to find a bloody carcass at his doorstep, shrinking away to escape from the gory sight in front of his squeamish eyes. “What is going on? What is that? W-Why is there a mangled animal in front of my house?”

“I caught it.” Jungkook answers succinctly, not at all satisfying Jimin’s frantic inquiries.

“But… But why?”

“What do you mean? I hunted it.”

“I’m well aware that you’re a skilled hunter, but why did you feel the need to drop it here? There’s… There’s blood everywhere! It smells so strongly! What am I supposed to do with it?” Jimin’s overwhelmed mind struggles to make sense of anything occurring, shocked to the core by such a gruesome situation, unfamiliar with these sorts of dealings.

A pause.

Jungkook falls silent.

The stillness around them in the early morning causes Jimin to pull open his eyes once more, pointedly ignoring the carcass at his feet to gaze at the alpha standing stoically near the door.

“It’s a hog.” Jungkook grunts, deep and low, something gut-wrenching in his tone. “I… I thought you liked hogs.”

“I do.”

“That’s why I hunted it for you.”

“I do like them. I like them so much. I… I love hogs, actually. Hogs are my favorite. I want to eat them every day of my life.” Jimin rushes to pour out his words when the realization hits him, kicking himself for failing to understand the gift in the first place.

“You don’t have to like it. I’m sorry. I thought you would want it.”

“I want it.” Jimin chokes on his breath, desperate to reassure Jungkook after all his effort. “I promise. I’m sorry I didn’t get it at first. I don’t usually s-see them like this. I’m kind of scared of blood and stuff but… but I want it. Thank you so much, alpha. I really appreciate this gift.”

“Are you sure?” Jungkook raises an eyebrow, uncertainty clinging to his features, the bitterness in his scent dissipating by the second.

“I’m positive. Thank you. You’re such a good hunter. I mean… Wow.”

It confuses Jimin when Jungkook scoops the animal back into his arms without a care in the world, unbothered by the bloody mess clinging to his clothes or the idea of carrying a dead creature, smiling proudly with his chest puffed out in a boisterous display. He takes a couple of steps back, handsome despite Jimin’s queasy stomach.

“Where are you going? I swear that I like it. I do want it. I really do.” Jimin fumbles over his words, terrified of offending this alpha that he cares for so much.

“I’ll be honest.”

“Okay.”

“I was so happy that I finally found a hog for you that I didn’t even think about all of this shit. It didn’t even cross my mind that you wouldn’t know what to do with it or even want to handle all that stuff in the first place. I’ll skin it, clean it up, and bring it back to you in usable ways that you can actually cook.” Jungkook shoots him a smile that soothes the storm still lingering in the pit of Jimin’s belly.

“You’re the best for even trying. I’m so touched that you wanted to do this for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, omega.” Jungkook proudly pads away.

Delicate pillows of snow pile up outside the walls of Jimin’s home, collecting along the ground until it spans several inches deep, blanketing the world in a sense of calmness that only exists when white engulfs everything in sight.

Tranquility.

Hardly a sound anywhere.

A welcome silence falls around him both inside and outside the confines of his personal abode. Curled up in his nest of blankets, a crackling fire heating his dimly lit bedroom, and the remnants of sleep lingering in his bones, Jimin experiences utter serenity in the early morning. No worries hang over his head when the earth provides such a glorious moment of peacefulness in abundance.

Winter possesses the ability to both comfort and disadvantage at the same time.

Jungkook.

He serves as the main driving force behind the omega’s desire to rise from the coziness of his bed, motivating him to pull on several layers of clothing and drag himself to the dining hall for the brief opportunity to bask in Jungkook’s company before the day truly begins.

“I snagged this for you.” Jungkook states blankly, pushing a small plate towards Jimin. “I was afraid they’d run out before you got here.”

“Toast.”

“Peanut butter toast.”

“Thank you for thinking of me. It wasn’t up there when I grabbed my tray, so it seems like they did run out. You know how I love my peanut butter.” Jimin’s heart swells until it doubles in size and threatens to burst with the delight inside of him.

“Yeah, I know.”

“How did you sleep last night?” Jimin genuinely wonders.

“I slept like I’ve never slept before. It was so damn good. I don’t know what it is about snow, but it always knocks me out for the entire night.” Jungkook smiles in Jimin’s direction, handsome and happy, remaining at the table even after finishing his meal.

“Me too!” Jimin giggles at the way his sudden exclamation catches the alpha off guard. “I wish it wasn’t so cold, though.”

“Are you using all your blankets and the fire?”

“Mhm.”

Although they typically only converse about simple topics that possess no deep meaning, carrying lighthearted conversations about nothing in particular for their short time together before parting, both of them highly enjoy sharing company without anyone else around to shatter their little bubble. Sometimes, more often than not, it feels as if they exist as the only two people in the world.

Unfortunately, the minutes tick on and the time continues despite their wishes to remain in each other’s presence indefinitely.

Reality.

“There’s never enough wood no matter how much of that shit we stock up before the bad weather hits. Between families and older people and the community stoves, we go through it like there’s no tomorrow. I’ll probably spend most of my day chopping up trees and carrying them across the grounds.” Jungkook stalls as he collects his tray and utensils, clearly not eager to depart from Jimin’s side.

“I hope everything goes well for you. Don’t work yourself too hard. You can always come find me for a little break if you get tired of chopping wood.” Jimin sucks in audible lungfuls of Jungkook’s amber scent to savor it while it lasts.

“I’m afraid I’d never get anything done if I came to find you every time I wanted to.”

“Bye!”

“Bye, omega.”

Since the winter conditions temporarily absolve Jimin of his teaching responsibilities, he hurries back home to spend the rest of his morning in the comfortable safety of his own bed.

He reads.

His hands idly work on a new knit.

Howling winds whip through the air outside.

The heaviness of relaxation slips over his head to drag him under, tempting him to close his eyes for a few minutes of peaceful rest. He drifts in and out of sleep for an hour or two until the sun rises to a higher point in the sky. It always sends his heart into a racing fit when his best friend inevitably pounds on the front door to force him fully awake for another round of liveliness before lunch.

“I’m not sure about the color. If the pillow was blue then I’d like it a lot better.” Taehyung taps his finger against his chin while he contemplates the item splayed on the shelf in front of him.

“How about yellow?”

“Hmm… I don’t know…” Taehyung furrows his eyebrows in serious thought.

“I think you could buy the white pillow and dye it blue, but that’s more trouble than it’s worth. Do you really need to buy another pillow for your couch? Like… Like seriously think about it. You have so many already.” Jimin traces his finger over the soft fabric before he turns to gaze at the other items on display around them.

“That’s rich coming from you. You have another blanket in your hand even though you’ve got like ten at home. It’s exactly the same thing.”

“Nuh-uh!”

Spending a couple of hours perusing the stores around the center of camp fulfills Jimin’s soul in ways he fails to describe, unbelievably thankful for the chance to enjoy Taehyung’s company while also bringing himself happiness in the form of material possessions. He only buys a couple of items, but it evokes joy in his heart either way.

His best friend, on the other hand, loves forking over obscene amounts of coins without rhyme or reason, a fiend for collecting belongings that clutter his home in an undeniably eclectic way.

“Please!” Jimin begs.

“No way!”

“But think of how fun it’ll be to match! We never wear matching outfits! Come on!” Jimin pulls out all the stops to get his way, pouting obnoxiously while he opens his eyes as wide as possible, clasping his hands together beneath his chin. “It doesn’t even have to be the same color! You can get the green set and I’ll get the pink one. It’s perfect for us! Please, Taehyung! Match with me!”

“Ugh, fine! If it’ll make you stop whining, then I’ll do it! Just stop pouting!” Taehyung begrudgingly reaches out to snatch the green clothing set from the shelf before he stomps away.

“Yay! Thank you!”

Since duty calls on Taehyung to complete a few patrols around the outskirts of their territory after lunch, Jimin finds himself on his own once more.

Bored.

Cooping up inside his home for hours on end sounds like torture considering the copious amounts of time he already remains trapped without any sunshine or fresh air. He wants to seize the opportunity to exist outside before another snowstorm blows in to torture them all again. The early winter season should allow at least a few more weeks of milder conditions until the worst of it begins.

Jimin elects to walk around the pathways in the middle of camp to stretch his legs, breathe crisp air, and bask in the minimal sunshine.

“O-Oh, Head Alpha!”

“Good afternoon!” The Head Alpha says, bowing his head in a polite display before he shoots Jimin a smile. “I haven’t seen you in quite a while. I hope you’re doing well. It’s usually a good sign when you haven’t come to me with any problems.”

“Yes, thank you. I’m doing good. This is a lovely place to live.” Jimin nervously fiddles with his fingers, eyeing the two people in front of him.

“I’m so happy to hear that.”

“Your name is Jimin, right? Are you the omega my brother’s been talking about?” The person beside the Head Alpha, seemingly another alpha from what his senses deduce, stares directly into Jimin’s eyes when he addresses him.

“Your… Your brother?” Jimin questions with furrowed brows.

“Jungkook.”

“Oh, y-yeah. Right. I’m… I’m Jimin.”

“I thought so. It’s really kind of you to be so friendly with him. I’m sure it’s not easy to have to deal with someone like that, but everyone needs a friend, you know? I hope he’s not too much of a burden on you.” Jungkook’s brother’s smile harshly contrasts the cruelty flowing from his mouth without consideration, stealing the breath from Jimin’s lungs.

“No, not at all. He’s… He’s a wonderful person. It’s not a burden to be around him.” Jimin swiftly utters the only words that come to mind, stunned by the mere idea of his family’s attitude towards him.

“It’s good for him to have some normalcy.”

“I agree.”

“Uh… Y-Yeah, I guess.” Jimin’s heart pounds, his stomach turns, and his palms grow sweaty. “I think he’s lovely.”

“Good, good.” The Head Alpha smiles.

“Just don’t let him get too close, okay? I would hate for him to get the wrong idea and get his hopes up. Not many omegas give him the time of day, much less entertain the idea of having a mate with his issues. A broken heart is the last thing he needs.”

“Well… I… I don’t—“

“Have a nice day, Jimin! We’ll see you around!” The Head Alpha exclaims as he heads off with his son in tow, both of them happy and chattering without a care in the world.

Although a million questions dance on the tip of Jimin’s tongue when he enters into the dining hall for dinner, his heart aching when contemplating why Jungkook’s own family would treat him with degrading pity, he chooses to refrain from asking anything at all, instead savoring his time with his friends before the harsh circumstances of night force them apart for another day.

“I’ve been checking the creek to see if it’s frozen yet. It’s probably too early in the season, so nothing has happened.” Namjoon states as he scoops rice into his mouth.

“Me too! I check almost every day!” Taehyung proclaims excitedly, grapefruit spiking in the air.

“Really?”

“Are you actually going to try and skate on the ice here? I don’t know if that’s a good idea. It seems dangerous to even attempt.” Yoongi’s eyes drip with concern while he flits his gaze between Taehyung and Namjoon.

“I think we should give it a go.

“Please, no.”

“We can always back out if it feels too risky when the time comes. It’ll be a couple of months before it’s ready for it anyway. The creek at the base of the mountain isn’t even deep enough to drown in.” Hoseok shrugs his shoulders, smiley and nonchalant, bouncing around while he chews his food.

“Any amount of water is enough to drown in.” Yoongi huffs, affronted.

“Don’t stress yourself out yet.”

The scent of amber graces Jimin’s senses the entire duration of their meal, always soothing his soul and providing him with a comfort that reaches deep into his being.

Jungkook remains steadfast by Jimin’s side more often than not, purposely sitting next to him rather than across the table, their dynamic slightly shifting when they exist in the presence of others. The alpha speaks less, but he silently shows attention to Jimin in ways that no one else even notices.

It feels good.

In fact, Jimin adores it, spending every moment with a racing heart, stuttering breaths, and tingling skin.

Harboring such a deep-rooted crush leaves him desperate for any brush of physical contact that life offers him. He wants more, wants to delve into the desires of his inner omega. Months pass and his affections for Jungkook only grow stronger as he learns more about him.

Jimin hopes with all of his might that he reads the signs correctly and that Jungkook’s own feelings match the caliber of his intensity.

He wants him.

“Wait, so this is all yours? You have this workshop to yourself? The whole thing?” Jimin stares at the fairly sizable structure with wide eyes, pausing at the entrance to absorb the full expanse of it, taken aback by the new discovery.

“Yeah, basically.” Jungkook nods his head. “I share it with the others if they need somewhere to work or something.”

“This is so cool!”

“Thanks.”

The alpha guides them into the building at a slow and steady pace, much more quiet when he focuses his senses on functioning rather than socializing. He steps to the side to allow Jimin in behind him, switches on the lantern by the wall, and shuts the door to keep out the cold. It blows Jimin’s mind to glance around the dimly lit room at the various tools and work stations shoved into every corner.

“I’m so sorry if this is an inappropriate question, but… Do you ever just not turn the lights on? I mean, it doesn’t make any difference for you either way, right?“ Jimin looks over at Jungkook while he waits for an answer to his curiosity.

“Fuck yeah, I do. I try to use them for safety reasons, though. It’s better to be in the habit in case anything happens.”

“I understand.”

“This might sound crazy to you, but I can feel the difference between dark and light. I haven’t exactly admitted it before. My body just knows somehow and it’s much less comfortable working in pure darkness.” Jungkook effortlessly strides across the room to a workbench while he lets Jimin explore the surroundings on his own.

“I imagine that there are quite a few things that your body just knows. You’re very aware of everything around you.” Jimin breathes a sigh of relief when the stove ignites on the other side of the room, silently freezing half to death.

“Yeah, you’re not wrong. I keep forgetting that you pay attention to me and notice things.”

“Always.”

Admittedly, while he harbors no care for the act of woodworking itself, exploring the personal workspace that belongs to Jungkook provides him with a wealth of fascination. He strolls around the room to sneak a glance at everything the alpha pours himself into. From the hammer messily strewn across a table to a pile of sawdust in the corner to a drying animal hide on a hanger, a plethora of interesting things exist in the formidable space.

It endlessly amazes him to observe Jungkook in his element, somehow skillful at everything he sets his mind to despite any physical limitations that arise along the process.

Inspiring.

He adores the alpha’s tenacity.

Allowing Jimin into his personal shop feels abundantly personal, something intimate about exposing the details of his inner workings, touching his heart to know that Jungkook willingly lets him in. Not just in a literal sense, but an emotional one as well. He divulges the parts of himself that no one else receives the privilege of knowing.

An honor.

“Come here and I’ll show you, omega.” Jungkook rasps into the confined space, motioning his head in a directive manner.

“I… I don’t know how to make anything.”

“I know.”

“What if I mess something up? Think of how sad it would be to lose our fingers. I don’t want to ruin all of your hard work or… or break something.” Jimin’s mind runs a mile a minute while he gradually inches closer to Jungkook.

“I’m just going to show you how it’s done. That’s all. Don’t worry about all that shit.”

“O-Okay.”

“One of the simplest things to make is a walking stick. It’s so easy that I don’t even know if you can consider it making anything. The stick is already there when you start, but I guess that’s not the point.” Jungkook moves from his position at Jimin’s side to stand directly behind him, close enough that their bodies brush together, sending bolts of lightning down the omega’s spine. “This is how it looks at first.”

“It’s, uh… I-It’s just a stick.” Jimin’s breath hitches when he feels Jungkook’s arms encircling around him from behind.

“Yeah.”

“Y-You make the design yourself?”

“I do. All I need is a pocket knife and a little time. I’ll show you, okay?” Jungkook possesses a confidence that pleases Jimin in the pit of his belly, amber luscious and rich as it washes over him.

“Okay.”

“You hold the knife tight, but not too tight. Yeah, just like that. Keep your fingers on the handle. Stick in one hand, knife in the other. All you do is drag the blade down to chop off slivers of the wood to carve it into the shape you want. It’s simple.”

“S-Simple.” Jimin repeats, breathlessly nodding his head. “Like this?”

“Slice a little deeper.”

“How… How do you know? If you can’t see it, how do you know what you’re making?” Jimin dares to pose his questions in the safety of their private company, itching with curiosity after all this time.

“I hear it.” Jungkook rasps directly into his ear, hot breaths ghosting over Jimin’s flesh.

“You do?”

“If you close your eyes and listen, the sound is much different depending on how deep the cut goes. Surface level cuts sound shallow, whereas deeper ones are different. Give it a try. Just slice away from your body and be careful of your fingers.”

“Whoa, you’re right.” Jimin struggles to focus with Jungkook engulfing him whole, but he hears the change in sound when he truly tries. “It does.”

“That’s how I know.”

“You’re like this with everything, right?”

“Like I said, my senses are really heightened to make up for the lack of vision. I feel things that I don’t think anyone else can. There’s an awareness that’s just always there. Sometimes it’s too much, honestly.” Jungkook’s hands glide lower until they rest directly over Jimin’s, carving out the stick for the both of them.

“Like… Like what? When is it too much? C-Can you give me an example?”

“Right now.”

“Oh.”

“It’s always hard to focus when I’m around you. I hear every breath you take and the beating of your heart and the slightest movement of your body. Not just that, either. I smell every change in your mood. It’s like my body is more attuned to you than it is to me. I feel everything when it comes to you.” Jungkook rumbles from within his chest, deep and gruff, sending a rush of goosebumps across his skin.

“Is, um… I-Is that why I thought you were s-staring at me when I first came here? Did you feel me back then, too?”

“Yes.” Jungkook answers truthfully, his formidable body radiating warmth from behind the omega, amber suffocatingly thick in the air around them. “I've always been way too aware of your presence. I see you, omega. Not with my eyes, but with my soul. It’s a lot.”

Contemplation.

Jimin blankly gazes at their still joined hands, frozen in place as he attempts to process the words lingering in the air.

The mere sentiment expressed from Jungkook’s lips leaves his spirit trembling. To think that someone could feel such a strong connection towards him makes him want to burst into flames of delight, his heart swelling until it doubles in size. It blows his mind that a handsome, capable, skilled alpha like Jungkook could reciprocate the longing inside of him.

He finds his courage.

Jimin knows what he wants.

Wordlessly, without any warning, Jimin drops the stick and knife in his hands, carefully turning around in Jungkook’s hold to leave himself wedged between the counter and the alpha’s caging arms.

“What about now?”

“Hm?”

“How do you think I f-feel? What’s happening with my body at this very second? Tell me what you think, what you notice, what you hear. P-Please.” Jimin struggles to breathe at such close proximity, face to face, chests almost touching.

“I… I don’t know, omega.”

“No?”

“No.” Jungkook shakes his head while his eyebrows furrow. “I’ve been trying to figure it out, but it’s hard to read when you smell this sweet.”

“I’ll show you.”

Mustering the bravery to close the gap between them requires far less effort than anything else in Jimin’s life until this point, never more assured in his actions than when he inches forward to press their lips together in a delicate kiss. It possesses only gentleness, an expression of timid affection, the featherlight touch lingering for but a second before he pulls back to read the stillness of Jungkook’s handsome face.

The heavy rise and fall of the alpha’s chest, amber spiking richly in the air, and his eyes blinking rapidly leaves no confusion in Jimin’s head, spurred on by the way Jungkook steps another foot closer until they cling together from top to bottom.

Reaching up to cup Jungkook’s jaw and kiss him again begs no question in Jimin’s mind.

“Omega.”

“I’m, um… I… I’m not an expert at any of this. I don’t exactly know what I’m d-doing. It’s probably a l-little clumsy and awkward, but that’s what’s going on inside of me. I also struggle when I’m with you b-because… because of all the things I feel in my heart.” Jimin seizes the opportunity to display vulnerability since Jungkook bravely wears his own heart on his sleeve like this. “You m-make me melt, alpha.”

“No one’s ever shown me this kind of interest, so I wasn’t sure if it was my own wishful thinking that was reading it wrong. It’s hard to believe that someone like you could want this with me.”

“W-Why?”

“You know why.”

“I know that you’re strong and kind and sweet. I know that you’re the most handsome alpha I’ve ever seen. I know that you treat me well and think of me when I least expect it. I know that my heart skips a beat every time I even picture you in my head. I know that your scent drives me crazy and makes my belly warm and… and gives me hope.” Jimin leans up on his tiptoes to brush their mouths together, not quite kissing but desperate for connection regardless. “I only know things that make me want to have you as my alpha, nothing else.”

“I want you so fucking badly that I can’t remember what it was like to not have every moment of my life consumed by yearning. You’re right. I do think of you. I always look forward to being with you. I’ve never felt like this before.” Jungkook audibly swallows, releasing a shaky breath when he wraps one hand around Jimin’s waist and snakes the other up the back of his head.

“I want to be yours, if you’ll have me. I’m not above asking. I’d like nothing more than to be able to hug and kiss and touch you whenever I want. I don’t even care about courting or whatever. I just want you to be my alpha.”

“I can’t do anything less than that.” Jungkook growls, stern and serious.

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t do casual. It’s all or nothing with me. I can’t flip my life upside down and change my routines and readjust everything I’ve ever known if you don’t want something serious. It’s too risky for me.”

“I do. I… I definitely do. I want you, Jungkook. N-Not for sex or until someone else comes along. I want to be yours and only yours.”

Jungkook kisses him with such passion that it hurts, their mouths forcefully pressing together in a tactless manner indicative of the emotions bottled up inside of them, only lasting for a few seconds because Jimin mewls so loudly that it startles both of them from their stupors.

As much as he longs to remain in this bubble forever, Jimin desires a proper relationship that they build from this moment forward to reflect the feelings that refuse to relent.

“I’ll give you everything that I have, omega. It might not be normal compared to everyone else, but I promise that I’ll do my best. I want to do this right and take care of you like you deserve.” Jungkook whispers his words into Jimin’s lips, peppering his mouth with gentle pecks in between breaths.

“I’ll be a good omega for you. I’ll work hard for both of us. I just want to be happy with you, alpha.”

“You’re mine now.”

Chapter Text

In the midst of an ever-changing life, time flowing so seamlessly that it barely offers recognition from one moment to the next, Jimin finds that he values simplicity above all else.

Easy.

Effortless.

Rather than grand gestures of devotion that serve to garner the attention of everyone and boast about the circumstances of present life, he prefers the quiet bouts of utter peacefulness that provide nothing except tranquility for him and his alpha.

Luckily enough, it seems that Jungkook mimics the sentiment, both of them content with abundant normalcy.

“Will you show me how you make the bread next time?” Jimin asks softly, pushing himself up on his toes to crook his chin on Jungkook’s shoulder from behind. It smells like a delicious combination of sizzling food and rich amber. “I want to see how it all comes together and turns into this gigantic loaf.”

“Sure, baby. Remind me in a couple of days when we run out of this one. I’ll let you watch me make it next time.” Jungkook nods, focusing intently on honing his senses onto the dishes cooking before him.

“Thank you.”

Although the cooks in the dining hall provide them with the opportunity to consume three meals per day without any effort on their own behalf, Jungkook requests that they spend a few nights per week at home where they cook on their own. He enjoys the private time together that allows them to freely express their affections while continuing to grow closer. Jimin obviously agrees, just as delighted by the idea as his alpha.

Taking things relatively slowly offers them the chance to develop a routine and grow accustomed to this new transition in life instead of flipping everything upside down in the blink of an eye.

Slow and steady.

On nights like these, several passing in the last few weeks since their monumental confessions, Jimin typically sets the table while Jungkook devotes himself to perfecting their food. They share tasks to ensure everything flows smoothly, adopting roles that work for both of them without issue.

Teamwork.

“I’m carrying the pot from the stove, so be careful. Stay where you are until I get it put on the table, please. I can’t imagine anything worse than a boiling tub of soup dumping onto you.” Jungkook calls out as he lifts the pot into his hands and steps back from the flame, offering plenty of time for recognition.

“Okay! I’m on the other side of the table now, but I won’t move until you’re done. The spot is cleared and ready for you.”

“Perfect.”

“Do you want me to move a chair so you can put the skillet down more easily?” Jimin glances at the mostly empty table as Jungkook retreats to the kitchen to grab the next dish ready to deliver.

“I think it’s fine, baby. Thank you, though.” Jungkook swiftly strides to the table once more.

“It looks amazing!”

“Does it?” Jungkook shoots him a charming smile after he drops the final pot onto the table, their spread overflowing with a wide array of dishes this time, everything steaming hot to contrast the freezing temperatures whipping out the windows. “I used to be embarrassed about cooking for other people because I wasn’t sure if the visual presentation would be good enough.”

“I think you do an incredible job making everything, so it’s impossible for it to not look delicious. I love eating your cooking, alpha.”

“That’s very sweet.”

They assume their positions at the table, directly across from one another like usual, a layer of delectable foods separating them. Jimin bounces with excitement over the thought of devouring this meal after several hours of waiting. Nothing tempts him more than the bread.

“Oh! You added a flavor this time!” Jimin exclaims with wide eyes and his mouth full of bread.

“Huh?”

“The bread has garlic in it! That’s new! You’ve never done that before!” Jimin hums in delight while he chews the spongy goodness, bopping his head from side to side while the flavors wash over his tongue.

“Oh, yeah. I forgot about that.” Jungkook chuckles under his breath.

“It’s so good!”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah! The best!”

“I’ll add that to my endless list of things that you like. It grows more everyday.” Jungkook noticeably pauses to focus on Jimin instead of feeding himself, smiling while the omega releases a cacophony of pleased sounds and devours a whole slice of bread in a matter of seconds.

“I hope you put yourself at the top of the list because I like you the most!”

“That can be arranged.”

Somehow, despite the obscene amount of time they spend in each other’s company on a daily basis, stealing every opportunity to see one another when their schedules allow, Jimin and Jungkook never seem to run out of things to talk about, mostly due to Jimin’s propensity for chattering about anything and everything.

They discuss their days, tell stories about their lives, make plans for the future, and gossip about the events occurring around them.

Jungkook often just listens.

It works well for both of them since the atmosphere never grows awkward or uncomfortable, always something to speak about when it comes to the inner musings of Jimin’s mind.

“What did you make for dessert for us tonight, baby? I’m hankering for something sweet.”

“You already know.”

“Pfft, what?”

“It’s not fun surprising you.” Jimin huffs out his words, pouting dramatically while he crosses his arms over his chest, staring down at the baked fish on the table like it offends him. “I know that you can smell exactly what I brought. I bet you can tell by just the sound alone. It’s impossible to surprise you.”

“Well, I’m certainly not going to lie to you. I do already know what you made, but that doesn’t mean we can’t pretend. I’ll play along, I promise.” Jungkook grins from ear to ear.

“It’s brownies.”

“Hell yeah! Brownies are great!”

“I wanted to add some peanut butter to them, but I ran out. I’ll have to pick some up tomorrow after work.” Jimin says passively, cutting out giant slabs of dessert for both of them.

“That does sound like a nice addition. We love peanut butter and chocolate together.”

“We do!”

As much as Jimin enjoys filling his belly with a delicious meal prepared by the most wonderful alpha in the world, he likes curling up on the couch in front of the fireplace much more. With the dishes freshly washed, the glow of dim lanterns illuminating the room, and a fuzzy blanket pulled over his lap, the omega wants nothing more than to nuzzle into Jungkook’s side for the remainder of the evening.

It soothes his soul to cling to the alpha’s chest, a strong arm wrapped around his back to keep him close. Their scents flourish in the air to bless their senses with amber and jasmine. This form of togetherness exists in a unique space, a type of intimacy previously unknown to him.

“Maybe it’s silly and selfish to admit, but I like that you haven’t shared your life with other omegas like this. I’m the only one who gets to have you so specially.” Jimin smiles softly, his head on Jungkook’s shoulder for maximum comfort.

“Are you saying that you’re glad that I was lonely?”

“No.” Jimin’s stomach drops in an instant, the smile disappearing from his face as he tilts his head back to gaze at Jungkook’s expression. “Of course not, I didn’t—“

“I’m joking, baby.”

“I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean it that way. It wasn’t my intention to—“

“It's okay, omega. It’s alright. I promise I wasn’t being serious.” Jungkook peers down at him with something intense written across his features, his hand sliding up to tangle in the back of Jimin’s hair. “Truthfully, I wasn’t even lonely until I met you because I didn’t have anything missing from my life.”

“This is both of our first times being with anyone like this, so we’re in the same boat. I like it. It feels like you understand what I’m experiencing.” Jimin readjusts himself on his knees to sit level with Jungkook’s face.

“Maybe I’m selfish too because I want you all for myself.”

“Good.”

It truly amazes Jimin that Jungkook always knows exactly what he wants before he ever vocalizes it, overwhelmingly perceptive to the tiniest change in the omega’s body. He never misses a shift in behavior or a rush of consuming desire. His awareness of everything Jimin makes it hard to believe that he actually forgoes the ability to see him in the first place.

No words.

When Jimin stares into the galaxy of Jungkook’s eyes with the wish for affection in his heart, the alpha instantly indulges him in a tender kiss that pools warmth in his belly.

Tingles race down Jimin’s spine every time they engage in the whims of their bodies regardless of how often it happens.

Never enough.

He always craves more.

“Alpha?” Jimin whispers sweetly, his voice low and breathy in an instinctual way, the swollen puff of his lips stinging so deliciously.

“Yes, baby?”

“Will you mark me?” Jimin dares to ask, pressing wet kisses to the column of Jungkook’s throat. He savors the way his alpha’s body stiffens beneath his touch, how his scent spikes with richness, and every hitch of breath that pulls from his lungs. “I want it so badly. Everyone should see that I’m yours. I need it.”

“You want it here?” Jungkook questions as he caresses the pad of his thumb over Jimin’s swollen scent gland.

“P-Please.”

“It‘s going to shock everyone that comes close enough to notice, especially my parents, but I don’t give a fuck. I think it’s their fault for not noticing what’s been going on for the past few weeks. I would love to mark you up, omega. Let them see that you’re mine.” Jungkook emphasizes his point by pushing Jimin onto his back, skillfully balanced and careful regardless of his spontaneity, hovering over him with raw passion bleeding from his pores.

“My… My omega craves it. I don’t know if t-that’s normal or not. Think about it all the time. I want to feel like I’m yours.”

“I’ll make sure that you do.”

For perhaps the first time in his life, excluding biological circumstances beyond his condition, Jimin experiences a sense of arousal that activates deep in the depths of his being, so consumed by the pleasure of Jungkook’s sucking bruises into his neck that trickling slick leaks from between his cheeks when he least expects it.

To say that it catches him off guard serves as an understatement.

Embarrassing.

Jungkook, however, receives the greatest shock of all, overwhelmed to the point that his head spins and he nearly faints from the swiftness in which his body reacts to the scent of Jimin’s sickly sweet slick emerging into the air.

They end their fun for the night.

“I feel bad that you have to walk all the way to my house when it’s so cold.” Jimin says with an exaggerated pout, certain that Jungkook recognizes it even without seeing it with his own eyes. “You’re freezing yourself for no reason.”

“I don’t have to do anything, baby. I want to make sure you get back safely.” Jungkook places a warm kiss on Jimin's knuckles where their hands entwine on the walk home.

“If you’re sure that’s what you want…”

“I’m positive.”

“Can I come see you tomorrow even if it snows a lot? I heard them talking about how it’s going to be a big snowstorm soon. Taehyung might get sick of me if we’re locked together in such a small space for so long.” Jimin inquires softly, lingering near the door of his cabin while he stalls as much as possible, sad to bid his alpha adieu.

“No.”

“H-Huh?”

“You can’t come to me because I’ll already be coming to you. If it snows and it leaves us all trapped inside, I’ll spend it with you here.” Jungkook answers decisively, leaning down to kiss the top of Jimin’s head.

“Goodnight, alpha. I hope you sleep well tonight. I’ll miss you lots and lots.”

“Goodnight, baby. I’ll miss you more.”

Excitement races through Jimin’s veins as everyone gathers in the spacious area of Jungkook’s living room, beaming with visible happiness that radiates through his body as he basks in the glory of all of his friends surrounding him once more, no longer separated by the circumstances of life in the dead of cold.

They sprawl across the couches, lounge on chairs from the dining table, and fold themselves on the floor to comfortably fit inside the space.

Joy.

It bleeds from every corner.

Jimin voluntarily assists Jungkook with preparing steaming drinks for everyone in the house, trailing back and forth from the kitchen to deliver new mugs once the alpha fills them with the sustenance of everyone’s choice.

They seamlessly accommodate the guests without a word of complaint from anyone.

Something about the domesticity of it all makes Jimin’s insides tingle with delight, already envisioning a future for them where this serves as a normal occurrence in their lives, sharing the same space for a home because they loathe the idea of splitting apart at the end of the day. It makes him beam with happiness to think of all the wonderful things that might await them in the not-so-distant times ahead.

“Personally, I think we should go to the creek at the base of the mountain instead of the river.” Namjoon states blankly, clutching his mug of coffee in his hands while he rests it on his lap. “It’ll be a simpler and safer experience.”

“Are we trying to be simple and safe or are we wanting to have fun?”

“Both.”

“The river is a farther walk, so that’ll leave us outside for even longer. It doesn’t matter if we shift or not because of how freezing it is right now. Traveling farther gives us less time to actually play on the ice.” Hoseok speaks in a matter-of-fact way that no one argues with.

“That’s true, I guess.”

“Yeah.”

“Makes sense.”

“I, for one, hate the idea of any of this shit, but the closer to home the better. It’s not fun carrying anyone back here in an emergency. We should be safe and not risk it. Go to the creek.” Yoongi shares his own opinion, one that Jimin highly favors, the preference for safety not surprising anyone.

“So then it’s settled?”

“Creek?”

“The creek it is.” Taehyung rapidly nods his head from behind Jimin. “We’ll go after we finish our drinks and get all our gear on.”

“Sounds good.”

With the majority of the day ahead of them and no other obligations hanging over their heads, everyone takes their time to enjoy themselves instead of stressing over every minute of their afternoon.

They currently reach the middle of Winter where the conditions reach their harshest point, no greater time to attempt to skate on the ice than now. While the extreme circumstances will undoubtedly continue for at least another month, possibly two, the temperatures will inevitably warm to the point that this feat becomes entirely impossible.

No better time than the present.

Now or never.

Taehyung leads the excursion due to his abundance of enthusiasm regarding the event, certainly the most experienced with the concept of skating across the ice, knowledgeable enough to supply everyone with the information they need for success.

Bitter cold engulfs them as they trek from Jungkook’s house through feet of snow to reach the base of the mountain where the creek resides.

Tortuous.

“Are you not eager to get out there and give it a try?” Jimin asks with wide, sparkling eyes, bundled up in several layers of clothing that leave him struggling to see his own feet, nuzzling into Jungkook’s cheek from where he tucks into the alpha’s side. “Don’t you want to go wild on the ice like everyone else?”

“I’m waiting.”

“Why?”

“I’ve never done this before, so I’ll let them test it out first. It’ll be better to let them make sure the ice isn’t going to break under us. I don’t want to risk it.” Jungkook smiles when he hears the others giggling in the distance.

“You’re very responsible, you know that? I like that about you.” Jimin pulls back to pucker his lips for a kiss that Jungkook satisfies within a single second.

“That’s good because I like everything about you.”

“Me too!”

“You let me know if you get too cold, okay? If you’re not having fun anymore or you just want to go home, I’ll walk you back without question. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.” Jungkook sweetly presses their lips together for another innocent peck.

“Thank you, alpha. I think it’ll be alright. Hopefully your first ice skating experience goes well.”

“We’ll see.”

True to his word, Jungkook lingers around the outskirts with Jimin for several minutes, stoic by the omega’s side while the rest of their friends explore the deepest part of the frozen creek. They all possess an uncertainty about the act at the beginning, requiring a whole to warm up to the idea of floating across the ice instead of sinking through to soak their bodies in deathly cold water.

All of them follow Taehyung’s erratic behavior once he truly ventures onto the ice.

He laughs and squeals and makes a fool of himself by toppling over, freely racing from one side of the creek to the other without a care in the world, innately trusting that the laws of nature will keep him safe instead of worrying over the possibility of sinking to his demise.

Ice skating.

Their friends give it an earnest try.

Even watching from the sidelines provides Jimin with enough satisfaction to burst at the seams with delight, overjoyed by proxy as they enjoy their first time on the ice.

It takes a fair bit of coaxing for Jungkook to feel comfortable enough with the concept to drift off onto the ice without the safety of land in his near vicinity, but he excels once he skirts around like everyone else. They welcome him with open arms, laughing uncontrollably each time one of them falls, jubilant sounds echoing off the trees that surround them at the base of the mountain.

“Stop pushing me!”

“No!”

“You’re going to make us both fall, you idiot!” Jimin screeches and hollers while attempting to remain upright as his best friend propels them forward around the edges of the ice. “I’m not breaking my ankle again! I’ll lose my mind!”

“It feels like we’re pups again!” Taehyung says with a smile so bright that it makes tears sting at the backs of Jimin’s eyes.

“It really does.”

“I can practically hear my mom yelling for us to come back home for lunch.”

“Except we’re fully grown now, so there isn’t anyone stopping us from doing what we want. You can stay out here all day. Skate your heart out.” Jimin struggles to breathe with the energy he exerts to keep himself moving steadily on the ice.

“Yeah, right! You’d be out here on my ass if I didn’t come home soon enough!”

“Okay, true.”

Even with several layers of clothing, the sun high in the sky, and exercise heating their bodies, it eventually grows too cold to continue much longer. The wind whips through the clearing to slice into them as they skate, tormenting their bodies until it becomes too much to enjoy.

They remain outside until they physically fail to stand it anymore.

Fun.

Jimin clings to Jungkook’s side when the alpha returns to him, selfishly soaking up his heat without a care in the world, the two of them wrapped in their own little bubble like always.

Nothing else matters when they come together as one to bask in the glory of shared company.

Jungkook reaches into Jimin’s pockets to pull his chubby fingers out, cupping them as he brings them to his mouth to huff hot breaths onto the reddened flesh. They exchange an obscene amount of kisses in the process. Excitement rushes through them as they crowd beneath a tree, laugh at nothing funny, and wait for their friends to finish for the day.

“Did you have fun ice skating?” Jimin whispers softly, unable to wipe the smile off his face.

“I did.”

“Taehyung says it’s better when you have a bigger area to work with, but I think this was a good starting point for everyone. Maybe next time they’ll be ready to tackle somewhere new.” Jimin lays his head on Jungkook’s shoulder for comfort, highly exhausted from the exertion of his body.

“I wonder what our lives will be like a whole year from now. It’s fun to imagine how much things might change.” Jungkook turns his head to plant a kiss on Jimin’s forehead.

“I can’t wait to find out.”

They stroll hand in hand back to Jungkook’s house with everyone in tow, hankering for a satisfying meal after expending that much energy, nowhere near as chatty or social after working their bodies for a couple of hours straight.

A group sleepover.

Namjoon proposes the idea.

The concept intrigues Jimin, though he wonders how everyone will fare in one place all night.

It seems that the rare occasion feels appropriate for everyone to pile up in the house until the next day, far too tired to even entertain the idea of dragging themselves back into the horrid conditions that linger outside the walls of safety. Jungkook’s place contains several bedrooms with enough space to fit all of them, so it serves as a nonissue.

They split the duty of cooking, serving, and cleaning up afterwards, everyone playing a part to remove the burden from Jungkook’s shoulders since he already allows them to invade his personal space.

Relaxation.

Togetherness.

All of them crowd around the fire until the sun dips below the horizon, cuddling up beneath blankets for extra warmth, reading books or talking about whatever topics spring to their minds. Jimin mostly closes his eyes to drift off to dreamland, sometimes listening and sometimes not.

“You’re going to sleep in here with me, baby. I’ve got a big bed with lots of room for you, so I let the others take the spare bedrooms. Is that okay?” Jungkook whispers in Jimin’s ear, gently brushing his fingers through the omega’s hair.

“Yeah, s’okay.” Jimin lethargically nods, sleep clouding his brain, too comfortable to move an inch.

“Good.”

“Can… Can I wear your pajamas?”

“Of course.” Jungkook answers without hesitation, chuckling when Jimin whines at the lack of contact when he steps away to something across the room. “What do you want? I’ve got big shirts, shorts, pants, sweaters. You name it, I have it.”

“Shirt, please.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t need anything else.” Jimin answers confidently, preferring an unrestricted sleeping outfit.

“Here you go.”

The gravity of such a monumental moment only settles in Jimin’s chest when he opens his eyes to slip out of his clothing, alone in Jungkook’s bedroom for the first time in their whole lives. He realizes what it means to sleep in a bed together, the inherent intimacy of sharing a place of rest in their most vulnerable time of life. Even with nothing explicit occuring, it still makes his belly tumble with nerves.

Jungkook, of course, notices Jimin’s shift in emotions when he enters into the room, carefully sliding into bed beside him without drifting too close. Neither of them utter a word for a minute or two. The meaning of it all hangs over their heads.

In the end, they fall asleep in the same bed in the same bedroom in the same clothing, experiencing another first of what will serve as an increasingly normal occurrence in their lives.

Special.

The Winter months offer a wide variety of experiences that differ from the circumstances that detailed Jimin’s life in the previous start of his life as a member of the Jeon Pack.

Ever-changing.

It snows nearly every single day in some capacity. From gentle flakes falling to the ground to instantly melt to thick sheets of white that pile up to knee length, it snows frequently. The weather condition itself fails to disturb the swing of daily occurrences for most people because they alter their routines to avoid it altogether, but it still brings Jimin irritation sometimes.

Students only attend school once or twice per week, pups mostly studying from home to avoid putting them in the harsh conditions of the outside world.

Everything slows to a gradual pace.

Simple.

While the notion of spending every waking moment by Jungkook’s side proves physically impossible, Jimin well aware of the limitations of reality, he still loathes the times that he spans long periods without even speaking to his alpha.

“I’m still thinking about what kind of speech I should give him. I’ve never had to do this kind of thing, so I’m not sure how it works.”

“What speech?”

“You’re my best friend.” Taehyung deadpans, serious as a heart attack, staring directly into Jimin’s eyes with no emotion on his face. “I have to at least pretend that I’m going to beat the shit out of him if he ever hurts you. That’s my job. I need to threaten him and all that.”

“You don’t need to do that, but I understand where you’re coming from.” Jimin nods in earnest, not lost on the concept of best friend protections.

“Do you think I could even come close?”

“To beating him up?” Jimin questions for clarification. “Because the answer is an immediate no. Absolutely not. I think you would try your best, but something tells me he could win a fight with his hands tied behind his back.”

“I really want to argue with that… I just can’t.”

“You really can’t.”

“The fact that you’re so pleased just thinking about fighting is making me want to gag. It’s still kind of weird for me to see you like this. I’m freaked out.” Taehyung shivers dramatically, shaking his head as he finishes up the last of his breakfast.

“You should be happy for me, not weirded out. I found such an amazing alpha that makes me really happy. It’s a good thing, right?”

“Right, right. I’m glad that you’re happy, don’t get me wrong.”

“I’m a little insufferable about him.”

“A little.”

Most days, instead of cooping himself up inside of his tiny cabin to grow insane from the lack of environmental stimulation, Jimin ventures out onto the grounds to accomplish some sort of errand that keeps him productive. He might visit the school to lesson plan, retrieve a new book from the library, visit his friends at work, or find something in one of the many shops available.

Something always resides on his agenda unless the snow prevents him from stepping outside of his front door, highly favoring the opportunity to stretch his legs and breathe in fresh air for an hour or two before he returns to his home.

Occasionally, though, things catch him off guard, particularly in the form of people.

“Hello.”

“Hi.” Jimin replies without thinking, an automatic response that slips from his mouth as he scans over a book on his desk.

“Do you have a minute to talk?”

“Oh! Head Alpha! Of course, come in. And… And Head Omega, too. C-Certainly.” Jimin springs up from his chair to cross the room towards where the guests in question reside, his heart stuttering in his chest when he contemplates what could possibly warrant such an unexpected visit. “Would you like to take a seat?”

“No, no. That won’t be necessary. We just wanted to stop by for a minute.” The Head Omega, Jungkook’s mother, says with a soft smile.

“Okay, sure.”

“How are you doing these days? Are you still enjoying yourself here in our pack?”

“I’m doing very well. Thank you so much for asking. I’m not the biggest fan of the cold, but it’s still a lovely place to live. I like this pack a lot.” Jimin answers with as much pleasantry and calmness as his body will allow given the nerve wracking circumstances.

“That’s wonderful. We’ve heard that the pups highly enjoy your class and sing your praises often.” The Head Alpha states kindly.

“It’s an honor to teach them.”

“We’ve heard some interesting news through the grapevine and wanted to check for ourselves whether it was true. It seems that our son doesn’t prefer to spill the beans himself, so we figured we’d just address you directly. I imagine you know what I’m referring to.” The Head Omega speaks sternly, yet politely, maternal in an obvious way.

“Y-Yes.”

“Does that mean that the rumors are true and you are, indeed, involved in a courtship with Jungkook?” The Head Alpha asks, both him and his mate glancing down at Jimin’s perpetually bruised neck with mirrored intensity.

“Yes, I am. It’s quite new. Around a couple of months or so, though we’ve been interested in one another for a while before that.” Jimin possesses nothing except honesty for them.

“Very well.”

“That’s what we wanted to confirm.”

“It would be lovely to get to know you on a more personal level. We haven’t discussed the idea with our son yet, but perhaps you two can come to our home for dinner in the next month. I fear we’ll miss a lot if we wait too long. You seem very serious already.” The Head Omega smiles even as she glances back down at Jimin’s neck with wide eyes.

“Thank you so much for the invite and for stopping by. As long as Jungkook wants to attend, I’d be happy to join him.” Jimin offers them a courteous bow, his heart pounding out of his chest, unsure how to comprehend everything.

“Have a lovely rest of your day.”

Inevitably, as the days pass in a swift manner, Jimin and Jungkook spending copious amounts of time alone without a care for tradition or technicalities, they grow closer in every way imaginable. Their physical affection grows as their emotional connection strengthens, unable to deny themselves the pleasure that their innermost selves desire.

Nothing stops them from indulging where they see fit, exploring depths of life that previously remained foreign to them.

Pleasure.

An interesting concept.

“I will do anything and everything to you that you want. All you have to do is say the word. Tell me. You can have it all, omega.” Jungkook curls around Jimin’s back after climbing into his nest for a comfortable nap, body hotter than the surface of the sun and flooding the air with delicious amber.

“Kiss.” Jimin whispers softly, need gnawing away at him even with sleep still tickling the edges of his mind, longing for more. “K-Kiss me, please. Want a kiss.”

“Turn your head, then.”

“No.”

“You love begging for something and then making me do all the work.” Jungkook chuckles from within his chest, ultimately leaning over Jimin’s side to press their lips together in a searing kiss.

“Another.”

“Okay.”

“Kiss me like…. like you mean it.” Jimin breathily begs for what his heart desires.

“I am.” Jungkook asserts. “Always.”

“M-More.”

Regardless of the fact that sleep hangs over them, still tugging at their awareness to cloud their senses, they offer no qualms about exploring everything their bodies allow. Jungkook uses Jimin’s high-pitched sounds of desperation as motivation to push forward and take all he wants. He licks into the omega’s mouth, holds him still to properly devour him, nips at his bottom lip, and steals the breath from his lungs.

It serves as no surprise when they end up with Jimin flat on his back, ripe for the taking as slick trickles past his twitching rim, Jungkook a heavy weight between his thighs that only adds pressure to an already pleasurable sensation.

“This is so fucking humiliating to admit, but I don’t think you can touch me, baby.” Jungkook chokes out gasping breaths.

“What? W-Why?”

“I’ll lose my mind. It’s too much, way too much. I already struggle being around you when you smell so damn good. I’m not ready for that yet.” Jungkook’s cheeks stain a rosy red, embarrassment aplenty, yet he bares his heart instead of hiding away.

“Not… Not at all? I can’t t-touch you in any way? Are you sure?”

“Not my cock, I mean.”

“That’s okay. That’s… That’s fine. I don’t have to touch you, even though I would love to.” Jimin chokes out his words, skirting his fingers up Jungkook’s shirt to feel his toned muscles, desperation eating him alive. “I hope that you’ll let me do it one day.”

“Soon, I hope. I want it, too. So fucking bad. I’m trying to touch myself so I’m not as sensitive anymore. My body is so overwhelmed by you.” Jungkook’s face scrunches when Jimin circles around his perky nipples.

“C-Can you touch me, alpha? Is that okay? Will you do that?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I… I want… I need your hand here. Please. R-Right here. Touch me for real. Want to f-feel you so badly, alpha. Really need it. I… I think about it so much these days. Please.” Jimin takes Jungkook’s hand to push it down to his little, leaking cock that twitches with anticipation.

“Like… Like this? Or under your clothes?”

“Under.”

“I would love to make you feel good, baby. You sound so pretty when you’re desperate for it. I might just pop a knot from fucking hearing you.” Jungkook smiles in amusement, only lingering for a second before hooking his fingers into the waistband of Jimin’s pants.

“A-Alpha’s hand is so hot.” Jimin pants, stars in his vision, tossing his head back as he experiences the overwhelming sensation of a hand around his untouched cock.

“Messy, hm? So messy. Wow.”

“S-Sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. It’s cute that you’re already so wet and needy for me, omega. I bet I’ll hardly have to touch your little cock at all and you’ll be coming.” Jungkook leans down in search of Jimin’s mouth, misses, and settles on kissing down the column of his exposed neck.

“I… I think I like it s-soft. Haven’t d-done it much, but… but not rough.” Jimin attempts to voice his preferences before he loses his mind.

“Alpha will be easy, then. Don’t worry.”

“T-Thank you.”

It takes all of five pumps of Jungkook’s three fingers around Jimin’s cock for the omega to come.

Mere seconds pass.

He reaches his peak with such urgency and violence that it wracks through his body like a tornado, wreaking havoc on his functioning capacity with the intensity of it all. His muscles tense, his mouth parts in a salacious moan, and his cock twitches out ropes of cum onto his bare belly. Jungkook’s lips stay attached to his neck while whispering words of praise, jerking him through his violent releases.

If Jimin possessed the presence of mind to conjure humiliation inside of him, he would die of embarrassment at the swift turn of events, but instead of that happening, he collapses lifelessly and melts into a pile of mush beneath his alpha’s encompassing chest and body.

“It’s sweeter than I imagined.” Jungkook hums lowly, causing Jimin’s eyes to fling open with rapid urgency. “Only a little bit salty.”

“O-Oh my god.”

“Tastes like you, though. Definitely.”

“I changed my mind. You… You need to let me touch you soon. It’s not fair that I’m the o-only one suffering like this.” Jimin whines from the back of his throat, burying his face in Jungkook’s neck to hide his shame, still boneless with contentment.

“Next time, baby. I promise. I’ll try to be ready next time we do this.”

“Thank you for making me feel good, alpha.” Jimin smiles dopily, pressing kisses to Jungkook’s neck that leave him shuddering. “Hopefully I can last longer next time. It just felt so good.”

“I’m glad I could help.”

Indescribable amounts of nerves course through Jimin’s body as he attempts to make himself comfortable in the Head Alpha’s home for the first time in his entire life.

He knows nothing regarding what to expect, how to conduct himself, or the proper etiquette involved with the meeting, but he puts his best attitude forward in hopes that he leaves a good impression with his alpha’s family. From the way he dresses to the poise of his body language, each aspect of his existence receives careful consideration.

Important.

Their future together weighs on this.

Jungkook, while undoubtedly less worried about the occasion, remains steadfast by Jimin’s side like a beacon of comfort, offering his soothing scent and warm touch that chases away the omega’s anxiety.

“I’m proud to say that I built this place with my own hands.” The Head Alpha declares as he smiles.

“All of it?”

“Yeah, every last bit of it. I spent more than a year making it because I had no idea what I was doing. It took me quite a while to get everything right, but I managed in the end. Everyone in the pack thought I had lost my mind for trying to do it all on my own.”

“Wow, that’s really impressive! You must’ve been so dedicated.” Jimin nods along with wide eyes, his hands folded in his lap while they sit in the living room.

“I think they were right.”

“Me too.”

“It seems like my own family conspires against me.” The Head Alpha playfully shakes his head at the Head Omega and Jungkook, clearly not actually bothered, leaning back in his seat for better comfort. “I can admit now that it was probably not the smartest idea, but I think I proved myself to everyone along the way. I don’t regret doing it.”

“What was your motivation for making a whole house by yourself?” Jimin asks, teeming with curiosity at the concept.

“Love.”

“It was to win me over.” The Head Omega says with a dazzling smile.

“She wouldn’t be with me because she said I wasn’t serious about her. I had to prove that I was a mature, responsible alpha and not some hopeless idiot, so I had the bright idea of building a whole house for us to build a family in.”

“I guess it worked, though.” Jimin shrugs his shoulders, glancing around at their surroundings to observe the craftsmanship on display.

“A little too well, maybe.”

The initial foray into personal time together with Jungkook’s parents flows smoothly, most of Jimin’s worries melting away as they converse about lighthearted topics that ease the burden of speaking with such important figures. Jungkook mainly remains silent unless adding some witty remark or joking quip to the conversation.

He keeps his guard up and ready just in case their words ever drift towards the degrading comments he fails to shake from his mind.

A simple dinner.

The Head Omega prepares the food while they lounge in the living room, rejecting Jimin’s offer to assist with the meal in any way, all of them continuing to speak about nothing of importance while the smell of deliciousness wafts through the air.

If anyone notices Jimin’s stomach rumbling with hunger, they never mention it.

“Tell us a little about yourself.”

“We know that you came here from the Kim Pack last year and that you’re a teacher, but not much else.” The Head Alpha states blankly, scooping up a spoonful of purple rice.

“What else is there?”

“Plenty.” Jungkook grunts roughly, taking personal offense to Jimin’s words.

“I’d like to think that I’m a fairly relaxed type of person. I like to stay away from unnecessary drama and conflict. Most of the time I’m trying to do something productive with my day or keep myself busy, baking or crafting or reading. I prefer living a simple life without too much going on all the time.” Jimin speaks from the heart, unsure to describe himself from an outsider perspective.

“I see why you two get along so well, then. Our son is much of the same. He lays low, works hard, and keeps to himself. No drama there.”

“Very true, dear.”

“I’m nowhere near as impressive as Jungkook, but I try my best to do a good job.”

“You’re impressive in your own way, omega. It’s not easy to wrangle up a bunch of pups and make them learn boring shit, but you more than manage. Don’t sell yourself short.” Jungkook turns his head to face Jimin while he speaks, intensely voicing his own perspective that makes the omega’s cheeks flush pink.

“I, uh… I mostly just tend to chores, run errands, or spend time with my friends when I’m not working.” Jimin says after a lengthy pause.

“That’s perfectly reasonable.”

“It is.”

“What about your family? Were you not inclined to follow them instead of coming to our pack?” The Head Alpha questions next.

“No family.”

“Hm?”

“He doesn’t have a family.” Jungkook replies in clarification to his previous statement.

“I have Taehyung and his family, but none of my own. The Kim Pack took me in when I was a pup after they found me abandoned in the woods. They’re all of the family I have right now.” Jimin politely smiles to make the sudden turn of information less depressing in the eyes of the older couple.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Jimin. We had no idea. It makes sense why you and Taehyung are so close, though.”

“You seem to have turned out well despite the rough start you had.”

“I think so, too.” Jimin smiles in agreement. “I give all of the credit to Taehyung’s mother for raising me like one of her own and treating me nicely. I never felt that I lacked anything or like I was an outcast. I’m just me, I guess.”

“How sweet!”

Although nerve wracking to spend a considerable chunk of time merely divulging information about himself, Jimin handles the dinner discussion in stride while he attempts to eat as much as his nervous stomach allows. Jungkook swoops in to rescue him whenever he struggles with how to answer or what to say to a particular inquiry.

Inevitably, of course, Jungkook’s parents eventually stray towards other topics that interest them, ones that involve their son instead of solely focusing on the omega.

“So, how did Jungkook manage to win you over? We never expected this.”

“Did he bring you lavish courting gifts and make lofty promises to rule the world together? What was it that made you so inclined to be with him? We’d love to know more.” The Head Alpha asks with a quirked eyebrow and curiosity dripping from his tongue.

“He didn’t do anything.”

“No?”

“To be honest, this is embarrassing to admit, but I thought he was the most handsome alpha from the first time I saw him.” Jimin’s cheeks burn like the sun as he bashfully fiddles with his fingers on the table.

“Wow.”

“I liked him already before I even met him, so getting to know him only made me more interested. It wasn’t any single thing in particular.”

“You can imagine our shock when we heard that our son snagged himself an omega. Not just any omega, but one that everyone speaks highly about and finds beautiful. We thought it was some kind of joke since we’d never heard anything about it from Jungkook himself.” The Head Omega speaks softly as she finishes the last of the food on her plate.

“Is it really that hard for you to believe that Jimin would want to be with me?” Jungkook rasps lowly, a hint of bitterness to his amber scent.

“Not exactly…”

“Yes.”

“Wow, thanks.”

“We can’t help but wonder about your plans for the future. You seem fairly serious about each other already. How do you see this moving forward?” The Head Alpha asks as he stares directly at Jimin.

“There aren’t any plans yet. It’s only been a couple of months.” Jimin answers with complete honesty, his heart pounding and his stomach somersaulting.

“Well, it’s just…”

“What?” Jungkook chokes out in a deep grumble. “What is it?”

“Surely you want pups, right? You’re a school teacher who’s great with the little ones. I can’t imagine you not wanting some of your own. Are you sure you want to sacrifice that part of life to be with someone like Jungkook?”

“I… I do. I want pups, but… W-Why would I have to sacrifice that?” Jimin’s eyebrows furrow as he attempts to follow their line of thinking.

“Obviously he can’t raise pups.”

“Why the fuck not? Why wouldn’t I be able to raise pups? Am I that incapable in my own parents' eyes?” Jungkook’s breathing quickens, his hand bunches into a fist on Jimin’s thigh, and bitterness spikes suffocatingly thick in the dining room around them.

“No, of course not. Raising pups is just very difficult already, much less with added struggles. We only want what’s best for you.”

“I would be honored to have Jungkook as the alpha of my pups, should it come to that. It’s not even a question that crosses my mind. He’s the most capable person I’ve ever met, vision or not, so I don’t find any reason why you should worry about that.” Jimin says with as much sincerity as he can muster, acutely aware of the way Jungkook faces him with a serious expression painting his features.

“Our apologies.”

“If that’s what you want, we won’t question it again.”

“Thanks.”

Although tension remains as they finish their dinner with a sweet dessert, a slight lull falling over them while they eat the rest of their meal, it mostly dissipates by the time they return to the living room to lounge by the fire for a bit longer.

Jungkook, perhaps in a sadly familiar way, seems accustomed enough to these types of occurrences that it fails to shake him.

Unfortunate.

The two of them curl up on the couch beneath a blanket to share warmth, the effects of Winter gradually fading away with each passing day, unafraid to express their affections for one another despite the company that surrounds them. Jungkook wraps his arm around Jimin to pull him close, steadfast and assured through everything.

“For what it’s worth, though I’m sure our son doesn’t care, we approve of your courtship both as parents and the leaders of the pack. We think Jimin would be a great addition to our family, so we support whatever decisions you make in the future. As long as you’re happy, we are too.” The Head Omega smiles as she eyes Jimin from across the room, her hand resting on the Head Alpha’s arm as she speaks.

“I agree with everything she said. We hope you two have a wonderful life together if that’s where this leads. Every parent dreams of something like this for their pups, so we couldn’t be happier for you.“

“Thank you so much.” Jimin replies so softly that his voice barely reaches above a whisper. “That’s… That’s very sweet of you to say.”

“You’re more than welcome.”

“Are we really that serious already? I feel like we’re just a normal couple, but you’re acting like I’m going to take Jimin home tonight and sink my teeth into his neck. What am I missing?” Jungkook sounds both exasperated and amused simultaneously, adjusting the edge of the blanket to keep Jimin warm.

“You know what they say…”

“When you know, you know.” The Head Alpha asserts with a shrug. “It wouldn’t surprise us if you just turned up one day as mates.”

“A warning would be nice, though.”

“We’ll see.”

Family affairs feel rather complicated in Jimin’s eyes, especially with his lack of experience with anyone besides Taehyung’s family, but he walks away from the ordeal with conflicting emotions. He appreciates their effort and explicit support, yet they clearly view Jungkook in an unfair way. Regardless of the technicalities of the night, he possesses undying confidence in his choice of alpha.

Whatever the future may hold for them, he skirts forward with nothing but assurance in Jungkook by his side.

“I don’t know what I’m doing.” Jimin confesses for the umpteenth time, overwhelmed beyond recognition with the surge of desire devouring him from the inside out, channeling all of his energy to focus on pressing his lips to Jungkook’s feverish flesh. “If… If it’s too much or… or if you don’t like it or—“

“I’m being so fucking serious when I say that I’m about to come already, baby. Just having you touch me like this is driving me crazy. Forget about that shit.”

“Y-Your body is so nice, alpha.”

“Fuck.”

“It shows how h-hard you work. I mean… L-Look at you. You’re so hot without even trying. I can’t believe you’ve been hiding this from me for so long.” Jimin slides down Jungkook’s body at a snail’s pace, leaving searing, sloppy kisses along the ridge of his chest while he makes his way to what he truly wants to indulge.

“Omega, I… I don’t think—“

“Are you sure it’s okay if… if I do whatever I want? Is it too m-much for you?” Jimin dips his tongue in the separation of Jungkook’s defined abs to sneak a taste of his skin.

“Jimin, sweetheart, the most precious person in the world… You can do whatever the hell you want to me. If I get overstimulated and die of a heart attack because you’re so fucking sexy, then that’s my fault for lacking. I’m going to knot you tonight whether it kills me or not.” Jungkook dramatically sucks in a harsh breath, his entire body tensing when Jimin inches lower, the strength of his scent almost worrying.

“I… I don’t know if I can s-say this—“

“You can, you can.”

“But I find this little patch of hair so sexy. It’s… It’s l-like a trail to the prize. If… If I follow it, then I g-get what I want.” Jimin traces the pad of his finger through Jungkook’s happy trail below his belly button, his heart nearly beating out of his chest as he prepares to face the monstrous cock that waits for him.

“Oh, fuck. Holy shit. Oh my god, baby. I… I—“

“What?”

Jimin receives no formal notice before Jungkook’s muscles tighten and his cock twitches, a hearty grunt tearing from the alpha’s lips as he shoots thick ropes of cum all over his own body. With no time to jerk away or prepare for the sudden release, Jimin ends up with splashes of the viscous liquid along his chin and the side of his cheek.

“I didn’t even touch you yet.” Jimin slightly pouts, frozen at Jungkook’s hip while he watches his massive cock finish its efforts.

“S-Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“You… You can t-touch me still, if you want. I meant what I said. I’m not getting out of this bed until I fill you with my knot, omega.” Jungkook’s chest heaves as he recovers from his orgasm, shakily patting along the bedside table to grab a cloth to wipe Jimin’s face clean.

“Can you really go again so soon?” Jimin questions with wide eyes.

“I guess we’ll find out.”

They do, in fact, learn that Jungkook possesses the ability to grow hard again shortly after his first release, perhaps influenced by the lack of a knot. He seems to suffer through the oversensitivity judging by his throaty groans and breathy moans, unable to keep his hands still while Jimin testingly licks his cock clean. Fingers fist through the omega’s hair the whole time, Jimin feeling undeniably powerful to make Jungkook this weak so easily.

Somehow, some way, before he ever seizes the opportunity to sink his mouth fully over Jungkook’s cock to try to swallow it down, another ravaging peak strikes the alpha in the blink of an eye.

Two times in a matter of minutes.

Unfathomable.

“Give me a break.” Jungkook requests in earnest, voice hoarse and low, his body clumsily rising into a sitting position as his cock softens against his belly. “I don’t know much more I can fucking handle before my cock falls off.”

“We wouldn’t want that.” Jimin giggles as he crawls closer to his alpha.

“Fuck no.”

“Give me a kiss, please. I… I feel like it’s been a year since the last one.” Jimin gently cards his fingers through Jungkook’s dark hair, butterflies swirling in his belly as he puckers his lips.

“My needy baby.”

“Always.”

Much of Jimin’s exhilarating confidence crumbles when he finds himself the object of attention, simmering with nervous anticipation while he lies on his back beneath Jungkook, holding his breath while he allows tepid fingers to brush over his slick-drenched, tight clench that begs for a knot.

Preparation, Yoongi asserts, resides as a paramount part of enjoying such an intimate act, stressing the importance more times than one.

Vulnerable.

Jimin willingly allows himself to open up for his alpha knowing what hopefully lies on the horizon.

“This is one of those moments that I wish I could see your face. There are so many things happening at once that it’s hard for me to focus on any one in particular. I don’t know how you’re feeling like I usually do.” Jungkook pauses with two fingers buried inside of Jimin’s hole, leaning down in search of his face to feel it with his free hand.

“It’s o-okay, alpha. I’m… I’m fine, I p-promise. Just a lot at once. I’ll t-tell you if I don’t l-like something, alright? This… This is good.”

“Does it hurt?”

“No.”

“Good, good. That’s good. Really good.” Jungkook pulls away to sink lower once more, pressing delicate kisses to the inside of Jimin’s thigh while he fingers him open, growing more confident in his movements with each moan that slips from the omega’s lips. “You sound so fucking pretty for me, baby. Holy fuck. The sweetest little noises.”

“F-Feels so good.”

When it comes time to actually dive into the most intimate form of connection possible with another being, Jimin thoroughly stretched open to receive a cock while Jungkook recovers from his multiple peaks, a sense of adoration lingers around their heads and washes over their longing bodies.

Jimin wants to accept Jungkook inside of him in this monumental moment of devotion, never more certain of anything than his confidence in fully offering himself to his amazing alpha.

He waited his entire life for this.

Special.

“I can’t make any promises because I already feel like I’m going to bust a fucking nut, but I’ll do my best to hold out for you, omega. I want this to be as good for you as it is for me. Talk to me, please. Let me know how you’re feeling.” Jungkook presses kisses to Jimin’s swollen lips as he prods the head of his cock at his sopping, stretched entrance, the combination of sensations wholly overwhelming.

“I… I want to f-feel you, alpha. I-Inside. Let me have you, please. Want you so b-badly.” Jimin chokes on his gasps, struggling to maintain a sound mind when everything leaves his teetering on the edge of his sanity.

“Shit.”

The initial stretch stings.

Not too much.

Jimin holds his breath while he accommodates the massive intrusion inside of him for the first time, forgoing all other forms of functioning while he focuses on not losing his mind.

Everything happens at an agonizingly slow pace, hardly moving forward at all while the newness of such an experience settles over them, inching deeper and deeper with no urgency or hurry. Jungkook takes his time with spearing Jimin open, his body shaking in contrast with the omega’s almost painful tenseness. Neither of them utter a word for a minute or two as they adjust to the earth-shattering sensation.

Nothing prepares Jimin for the consuming bout of emotions that rush through him like wildfire, threatening to burn him to ash beneath the intensity of the flames in his veins.

Jungkook seems equally affected.

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my g-god.” Jimin releases strangled puffs of air from his lips as mind-numbing pleasure tingles within him from head to toe. “A-Alpha, it’s… You’re… I’m…”

“Good?”

“So, so good.”

“Feel like I’m in fucking heaven, baby. Holy fuck. You’re so tight and wet and… and soft. Think my cock is going to get squeezed death inside of you. Oh, god.” Jungkook’s head hangs between his shoulders as he pushes Jimin’s knees to his chest, steadily increasing his pace as he grows familiar with the act of plunging his cock inside of him.

“Y-You’re so deep. Feel… Feel you i-in my belly. A-Alpha’s inside of m-me, right here.”

“My perfect, little omega.”

“I don’t t-think I can l-last much longer.” Jimin admits without shame, burning alive beneath the heat of his pleasure, unable to process the consuming bliss that builds and builds and builds in his core.

“Good, because I might lose my goddamn mind if you don’t come soon. C-Can’t knot you until you do. I refuse.”

“H-Harder, please.”

The debaucherous squelches echoing off the wall combine with the wet smack of skin on skin, each thrust of Jungkook’s cock punctuated with a breathy moan that rips from Jimin’s throat to play like music in the air.

All manner of sensations and sounds and smells occur simultaneously.

As much as Jimin desires to remain in this divine moment for the rest of eternity, more than satisfied with the idea of never separating from his alpha for his duration on earth, the surmounting pressure building in his belly leaves his so desperate to come that tears line his lashes and threaten to stream down his cheeks.

He needs to meet his release, needs to finally experience the glorious moment that his alpha’s knot fills him until he feels close to tearing in two.

Jungkook understands.

“Taking me so well, baby. Oh, shit. Swallowing my cock like you were born for it. Wish I could see how pretty you look, hole gaping and sloppy all for me. Holy fuck. So fucking good.” Jungkook’s weight rests more heavily on Jimin as he pounds into him with reckless abandon, angling just right to hit that sweet spot inside of the desperate omega.

“Yes, y-yes, yes.” Jimin chants like a mantra, seizing with the intense pleasure overtaking him, his little cock twitching helplessly. “Please, alpha. Please—“

“Come for me, sweetheart.”

“Oh, god—“

“That’s it, that’s right. Just like that. Ah, feel so fucking good. Doing such a good job for me. Can’t believe I get to have you like this.” Jungkook growls in Jimin’s ear as he continues to pound into him while the pressure bursts within him.

“Alpha, alpha, alpha, alpha—“

“Yes, baby. That’s right. I’m your alpha. Making you feel so good, hm?”

The moment when Jimin’s peak of pleasure reaches its highest point, soaring through the clouds as undeniable bliss devours him whole, Jungkook loses his narrowly remaining control to join him in a well-timed orgasm of his own.

Together.

Always in tandem.

Jimin’s cock spurting pitiful sheets of cum onto his belly helps to distract from the ache of a massive knot splitting him in half, the sting drowning in the momentary pleasure that washes over him from inside out. No words can describe the wholeness encompassing him as he takes his alpha’s knot, complete in a way he never imagined possible before he met Jungkook.

“How do you feel?” Jungkook questions softly, peppering lazy kisses to Jimin’s face while they catch their breaths.

“Boneless.”

“Was it what you hoped it would be? Did I meet your expectations?” Jungkook intently waits for an answer, melting into the touch when Jimin caresses his hand down the alpha’s flushed cheeks, amber and jasmine thick in the air. “Was it good for you?”

“It was perfect, alpha. Even better than I ever dreamed of. You did so good, but you always do.” Jimin answers truthfully, emotionally fragile for some reason.

“I’m so lucky to have you.”

“I’m luckier.”

Chapter Text

Warmth.

It trickles from every corner of the atmosphere to engulf Jimin in tingling totality.

A heavy sigh pulls from his lips as he turns over, trapped between a mess of blankets and his alpha’s formidable arms, promptly burrowing himself in the empty space between Jungkook’s shoulder and his neck.

Amber.

Rich and delicious.

If the musings of life allowed him the luxury of remaining in his alpha’s arms until the end of time, Jimin would seize it without a doubt. For now, he chooses to savor the moment, sucking in lengthy lungfuls of peace, comfort, and satisfaction. His heart aches when he thinks of how swiftly their early minutes together will cease.

“Don’t be sad.”

“M’not.”

“You are.” Jungkook counters in a gruff, throaty voice that clearly displays his night of disuse. “It’s the only thing I can smell when I breathe.”

“Wait, really?”

“Well, that and my cum still dripping out of you from last night, but mainly the sadness.” Jungkook cracks a smile when Jimin bursts into a fit of giggles, leaning up on his elbows to hover over him, still as handsome as ever.

“I just… I don’t know… I hate when you have to leave me.” Jimin pouts dramatically, voice low and whiny, his heart skipping a beat at Jungkook’s soft touch.

“I know, baby. I know.”

“It’s Spring so you’re really busy and… and I feel like we barely get to see each other these days. I only get to be with you at night or in the morning if we have a sleepover. I just miss you lots, alpha.” Jimin sighs pitifully, pressing open mouthed kisses to Jungkook’s scent gland, perpetually craving his presence without cease.

“Let’s eat breakfast together, okay? We still have a little while longer before we have to separate. Don’t be sad yet.”

“Okay.”

Jimin occupies his mind by tracing his fingers over Jungkook’s handsome face, kissing each of his freckles to emphasize his affections, whispering endless praises and remarks of wonder to ensure that his alpha knows how much he adores him.

Before they force themselves out of bed, the omega pointedly kisses Jungkook’s eyelids in an act of devotion, tenderness, and care.

His heart wants to burst.

“It’s so warm this morning! I just want to open all the windows and let the fresh air in! I love it!” Jimin happily exclaims as he returns from the kitchen, flashing Jungkook a smile that he mirrors without question. “The sun is shining and the birds are singing and everything is bright!”

“Your emotions change so fast that I can’t keep up.” Jungkook chuckles under his breath.

“I can’t help it!”

“Are you ready to go to the dining hall?”

“Mhm.”

“My parents have been hounding me to come to their place for dinner again soon, so we’ll probably have to arrange something with them. My brother, too. Everyone wants to see us.” Jungkook states blankly, pulling Jimin’s hand up to kiss his knuckles.

“Tell me ahead of time before we go. I want to make a dessert for it!”

“Will do.”

Preceding his filling meal in the dining hall with Jungkook, Jimin reluctantly parts from his alpha’s side to trek to the school building to prepare for a full day of teaching. With the weather much warmer and the snow melting away for good, they return to their regular schedule of learning without anything to hinder their education efforts.

The students adore spending time with one another in a safe environment, fostering their minds with more than just formal knowledge, building socialization skills, manners, and kindness.

Fulfilling.

It provides Jimin joy in abundance to pour love and care into these pups’ lives.

Although he harbors his innermost feelings close to his chest for now, he finds himself unable to stop wondering about a life with pups of his own. He yearns for a family to cherish, little ones to nurture, and endless happiness even through the rough patches of existence. With an alpha that he adores more than anything in the world, his dreams feel more possible each day.

His lovely students make his job more than worth the effort that he pours into it.

Wonderful.

“It’s so lovely to see you again, sweetie. You look absolutely beautiful. I mean, really, you're glowing right now. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you thriving like this.” Taehyung’s mom says with love dripping from her eyes, the soothing waft of her carnation scent settling deep in Jimin’s chest.

“I’m so happy that you’re here! I feel like it’s been years since I’ve seen you!”

“Not quite.”

“It’s because he’s in love!” Taehyung exclaims without hesitation, not at all shy about voicing aloud the quiet parts that usually stay hidden. “That’s why he’s so happy these days!”

“Taehyung!”

“Don’t pretend like it’s not true!”

“I… Uh… I d-do have an alpha now, but you already know that.” Jimin’s cheeks stain red as he shies away from their harsh gazes.

“I’ve heard a little about him, yes.”

“Life is good here.”

“I’m thrilled that you’re doing so well here. I didn’t worry about you for a single second. I’m not sure if there’s ever been a time that you didn’t pull through with that resilience of yours. I’m so proud of you two.” Taehyung’s mom pulls both of them in for another round of squeezing hugs.

“I missed you so much!”

“Me too!”

“Don’t think that I’m letting you off that easily, honey. I’m going to have to meet this alpha of yours and make sure he passes the test. Nothing but the best for you.” Taehyung’s mom shoots him a stern look.

“He’s great, I swear! I’m sure you’ll like him!” Jimin declares with undying confidence.

“We’ll see about that.”

Life feels perfect in every sense of the definition. With his family around for a visit, the weather amazingly agreeable, a horde of friends at his side, and Jungkook as his alpha, Jimin floats on top of the world. He hopes that this feeling never ends, a pep in his step and happiness threatening to burst from his pores. Nothing better than this.

He attempts to soak up every minute of time with Taehyung’s family since he rarely, if ever, travels lengthy distances, making the most of their shared company while it lasts.

Days fly by.

Cruel.

Every minute spans packed with something on his agenda, whether introducing Taehyung’s family to new acquaintances, showing them how they live their lives, or merely soaking up their presence. They shower the omega in endless love like always, not a single thing changing between them despite the many months apart. Jimin smiles so much that he worries his face might fall off.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Jungkook states confidently, voice deep and rich, his shoulders puffed out in a display of power. “I’ve heard nothing but good things about you.”

“Likewise.” Taehyung’s mom says, offering Jungkook a courteous bow.

“Do you mean that?”

“Yeah, not only from my sweet omega who’s been singing your praises for the past three days, but also from my precious son. Everyone only has nice things to say. That’s why I had to meet you for myself and see what the truth is.”

“Well, I’ll try my best not to disappoint. I’m not sure I’m worth such lofty expectations, though. Nothing special here.” Jungkook shrugs his shoulders, receiving a swift scoff of dissent from Jimin.

“He’s being modest.”

“I see.”

“You’ve done a wonderful job raising Jimin. I hope you know that. He’s the loveliest person I’ve ever met. Thank you for all you’ve done.” Jungkook speaks with sincerity and openness.

“What about Taehyung?”

“He’s alright, too.”

“Hey!”

Everyone, of course, likes Jungkook. From Taehyung’s mom to his sister to his niece, they all enjoy getting to know him and spending time with him. His busy schedule in the Spring only allows him limited free time with a million projects piling up around the pack grounds, but he puts forth an earnest effort to socialize with the family when possible.

It breaks Jimin’s heart when it comes time for them to pack up and leave, nearly a week passing with nothing except lackadaisical, simple moments that fill him to the brim with contentment.

Taehyung cries.

One day they all live together in a home without a care in the world, the next day they occupy their own spaces halfway across the world from one another.

Life changes too quickly.

“You’re welcome to come see us anytime you want, okay? Bring your alpha, bring your friends, bring whoever you want. There will always be a home for you with me. I don’t care how big you get or how old you are. You’ll always be my sweet omega.” Taehyung’s mom speaks with such a comforting voice that it steals the breath from Jimin’s lungs, the two of them swaying back and forth in a hug by the door of Taehyung’s cabin.

“I’ll forever be grateful for that, especially now that I’m grown and know how important you are to me. Thank you for coming to see us. I’ll miss you the second you leave.” Jimin whispers his words, airy and light, refusing to allow himself to shed a tear since this feels hard enough already.

“You boys better take care of each other. Be good and don’t fight too much. I expect to hear lots of positive things in your next letter.”

“Yes, mom.”

“We’ll try our hardest.”

Returning to his empty house feels like stabbing himself in the foot, so painful and crippling that Jimin willingly departs in search of comfort, dragging himself across the entire pack grounds in the dead of night without even thinking about it.

His heart longs for peace and comfort.

Jungkook.

Trekking through the dark freaks him out more than he cares to admit, but crawling into a lonely bed without his alpha by his side sounds like utter torture. Jimin’s heart hammers against his ribcage while he makes his way to where his soul belongs. Every little rustle in the woods, each shuffle behind him, the slightest shift of the trees from the wind, they all put him on edge and leave him more eager to seek out Jungkook.

A hand swings open the front door before Jimin even receives the opportunity to touch the door knob, Jungkook standing in the doorway with an expectant expression across his face.

“I thought I felt you coming.”

“You’re awake?” Jimin questions with wide eyes, releasing a deep breath, his arms itching to grab ahold of his alpha.

“I wasn’t, but then something felt off. I woke up out of nowhere. My instincts were all out of sorts.” Jungkook answers gruffly, immediately extending his arms to pull Jimin into the house with him. “Guess this explains it, hm?”

“Don’t want to sleep without you.”

“Let’s go.”

Jungkook fusses over Jimin’s chilly skin and pointed lack of clothing, burying him beneath the nest of blankets atop his bed, offering guttural grunts and hums instead of any intelligent forms of communication.

Home.

It feels like home.

With indescribable warmth surrounding him from all angles and a steady figure behind his back to hold him close, Jimin knows in his heart that he wants to live like this forever.

“Alpha?”

“Mm?”

“Are… Are you awake?” Jimin whispers timidly, crooking his head back in search of Jungkook’s assured affection.

“I am now.” Jungkook answers with a grunt, kissing the side of Jimin’s neck. “Why?”

“There’s something I want to tell you.”

“Okay.”

“I love you.” Jimin confesses the heaviness on his chest in a single breath, unable to hold it in any longer, uncaring of how much time elapses within the technical confines of their courtship or whether it exists as the ideal moment to admit such a lofty thing. “I never want to be without you. I can’t picture my world without you in it anymore. I just… I love you, alpha.”

“I love you, baby. I love you so fucking much. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much you mean to me.” Jungkook grips Jimin tighter, planting a passionate kiss on his lips when he finds them, pouring all of his meaning into the words.

Rather than conforming to any rigid structures regarding courting, not paying explicit attention to the guidelines and traditions that surround things like the number of gifts to give or refraining from physical intimacy, Jimin and Jungkook conduct themselves in their own way, living comfortably without stressing about the specifics of their relationship.

Most of their time together presents with domesticity, sharing a bed at the end of a long day or eating meals in the dining hall.

Effortless.

Official dates serve as a rare occurrence.

Jimin appreciates any time that allows him to bask in the glory of Jungkook’s presence, but knowing that his alpha specifically plans an outing solely for them fills him with excitement until he verges on bursting into a million pieces. He thinks about the proposed date all day, even as he works, unable to stop imagining what might await him when lunchtime arrives. Anticipation courses through his veins, hot and fiery.

For the first time in their several months together, they traverse off the pack grounds and through the expanse of their territory in their shifted forms, Jimin putting forth his best effort to maintain his footing while he dutifully follows after his alpha.

They play.

Jimin yips gleefully as he chases after Jungkook, the two of them settling in a gorgeous clearing that overflows with an abundance of flowers.

It feels satisfying to interact in their most primal forms, no contemplative through a racing their heads or worries about their behavior, allowing their innermost selves to lead at the helm while they nip at each other’s sides, race through the trees, roll in the lush grass, and bounce around the rocky terrain at the base of the mountain.

Graceful.

Skilled.

Jungkook possesses such beauty as his heightened instincts guide him along the earth without any signs of hindrances, so aware of his body and the world around him that he skillfully dances through the gorgeous nature surrounding him.

Eventually, when they tire of playing, Jungkook takes it upon himself to set up the scenery for their date, unloading the basket he carries with his teeth.

A picnic.

Simple and sweet.

They find the perfect spot to lounge in the center of the meadow, bathing in the golden sunlight that shines upon them from the heavens. Their personal slice of paradise flourishes beneath the warmth of the sun, flowers dancing in the subtle breeze, everything vibrant and glowing now that the time for life springs around them.

Jimin assists him in spreading out the blanket for them to rest on, the alpha arranging a plethora of dishes all prepared solely for this occasion.

The attention to detail blows his mind.

“Wow.”

“What do you think, baby?” Jungkook asks with wide eyes and a hopeful expression on his face, sitting proudly on the blanket while he waits for a response. “Does it look nice?”

“It’s wonderful, alpha!”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah! I love it! You did everything perfectly!” Jimin scrambles closer to wrap his arms around Jungkook’s neck for a squeezing hug.

“Thank fucking god.”

“This really is the perfect time for a picnic, I think. It’s not too hot since it’s still spring, but it’s also not cold. There are flowers everywhere. The grass is so soft and thick. Everything looks like something out of a dream.” Jimin smiles brightly, pecking his alpha on the lips several times, unable to pull himself away.

“I’m happy that my idea worked out. We don’t do this kind of shit often, so I thought it might be nice to try it out.” Jungkook hums under his breath, deep and raspy, his amber scent billowing from his pores to drown Jimin in its richness.

“You’re the best alpha in the whole world!”

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

“Let’s eat!”

Neither of them find it necessary to fill every moment of silence with some sort of conversation, instead comfortable enough to savor the shared company without uttering a word. They focus on feeding themselves above all else. Nothing grows awkward or weird, the two of them more than adjusted to the flow of things by now.

From jam sandwiches to fresh vegetables to finger cakes, they enjoy a light and delicious array of foods that require next to no effort to eat.

Simple.

It thrusts Jimin back to his childhood.

The sun shines down on them, wind whips through their hair, animals scurry about in the distance, and grass cradles their bottoms beneath them.

“Did you make this yourself? I don’t think I’ve ever tried it before.” Jimin questions as he brings the half of a sandwich up to his mouth, furrowing his eyebrows while he examines it, glancing over to Jungkook who stuffs his face with carrots. “Peanut butter, honey, banana slices, and bread.”

“Try it. It’s a classic for me. One of the most amazing sandwich combinations there is.” Jungkook taps Jimin’s elbow as he nudges his hand up to encourage him further.

“Oh, whoa! It’s actually really good!”

“I know.”

“Did you create this sandwich?”

“No, my mom did. I specifically remember being a pup and whining because I wanted to incorporate bananas into everything I ate. She somehow came up with this mixture one day. I’ve been eating it ever since.” Jungkook gently tucks Jimin’s hair behind his ear, accidentally poking him in the eye in the process.

“I can tell that she loves you a lot. It’s kind of difficult for you, right? They say such hurtful things, but they seem to mostly mean well.” Jimin carefully broaches the topic in case it makes him uneasy.

“Right. I try not to take their bullshit to heart. No one wants to have a blind son, but it happens.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, baby.” Jungkook leans forward to deliver an affectionate kiss to his lips, slightly missing the first time given their distance, promptly pecking him again to recover it. “I love you so much.”

Nothing.

Jimin and Jungkook engage in nothing of worth whatsoever on their date.

They spend a considerable chunk of time savoring their meal, devolving into lovingly feeding each other bites of food while attempting to finish the wealthy spread Jungkook packed for them.

When worthwhile words spring into their minds, they speak them. If nothing important lingers in the forefront of their consciousness, they remain silent. Nothing feels forced or pressured, neither of them possess any sort of stress, merely a lackadaisical affair in which they enjoy their romantic escapade together.

Lying on the blanket, with nature bursting with life around them, everything feels right with the world.

“Beautiful.”

“You think so?” Jimin’s stomach flutters as Jungkook traces his index finger over his face.

“I know so, even if I can’t see you myself.” Jungkook speaks in a low, gravelly voice, swallowing thickly as he delicately outlines the omega’s features. “You’re so fucking pretty, baby.”

“What do you think I look like?”

“Hmm…”

“Can you picture anything in your head? Like… Like are there still parts of your memory that can see? Do you have those kinds of things?” Jimin questions with earnest curiosity, never before considering the idea, always keen to learn more about his alpha.

“Yes and no. I have a vague memory of what things are, but it’s been so long that I can’t really see anything anymore. It’s hard to explain.”

“That’s okay.”

“I think you have a soft kind of beauty. That’s what I feel. Your lips and your cheeks and your hair. Everything about you is soft.” Jungkook brings up his second hand to cup Jimin’s round face in the clutches of his tender grasp.

“I… I think so, too. It’s pretty accurate. My features aren’t as sharp as others.”

“Gorgeous.”

“Thank you, alpha.” Jimin whispers breathily, unable to breathe when Jungkook’s eyes bore into his soul at such a close proximity. “You’re so, so sweet.”

“I bet you look like an angel.” Jungkook rasps, low and slow, his scent spiking around them.

“Not quite.”

“No, I’m sure you do. I know just from the way you make me feel that you’re gorgeous. The only time I ever get jealous is when I remember that other fucking alphas can look at your pretty face, but I can’t. None of them deserve it.” Jungkook speaks candidly, a thick bout of emotion in his voice without holding back the depths of his feelings.

“The world is so cruel, but it feels like you see me anyway. You see me in a different way. You’re the only person alive who sees me for who I am, wholly, from my soul.”

“Do you mean that, omega?”

“Of course.” Jimin nods his head to let Jungkook feel the motion. “I think that’s way more important and special than anything else.”

“I think so, too.”

“Plus, those other alphas might be able to see how I look, but they’ll never have me like you do. You’re the only one who gets to love me. Only you’ve kissed me and hugged me and k-knotted me. No one else.” Jimin reminds Jungkook of his place, of the power he holds, vowing to never let him forget it.

“You’re so right, baby. You’re so fucking right. You’re mine and I’m yours and nothing will ever change that.” Jungkook releases a shaky breath when he leans down to share a poignant kiss with the omega.

Lighthearted.

Their intentional date passes without issue.

Both of them lounge around on the blanket, whispering sweet words of praise and giggling uncontrollably, their hands incapable of remaining by their sides when such a tempting body resides within reach.

Jungkook eventually grows tired of his position, switching with Jimin to allow the omega the opportunity to worship him for a turn. They lie there on the blanket without a care in the world, their duties and obligations temporarily vacating their minds, nothing else mattering except the love they harbor for each other in the depths of their hearts.

“You can say no.”

“What?”

“I’d like to consider myself an understanding alpha, so you can tell me no. Not just now, but always. It might hurt my feelings for a second, that definitely could happen, yet you should be honest with me anyway. Okay?” Jungkook speaks in a general manner that leaves Jimin utterly confused.

“Okay, but… I just… I don’t know what you’re referring to.” Jimin furrows his brows, pulling back from the divine space of Jungkook’s neck.

“Move in with me.”

“What?” Jimin releases a whoosh of air from his lungs the second he processes the suggestion.

“I want you to move in with me. I want us to live in the same house. I want, more than anything in the world, to share our lives together.” Jungkook slightly leans up, putting his weight on his elbows, the steady beating of his heart audible in Jimin’s ears.

“Like… Like for real? Permanently? You want us to actually live together?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my god! Yes! Of course! I… I want to! Yes!” Jimin vibrates with excitement, his smile so massive that it threatens to melt off of his face and into his lap. “I would love to live with you, alpha!”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

“I just finished building some new furniture for the bedroom so that you’ll have a set of your own. There’s space in the closet as well. You can use one of the spare bedrooms if you want some privacy or something, but I have a feeling you won’t want it. The house is plenty big enough for both of us, obviously.” Jungkook releases hearty chuckles when Jimin squeals and peppers a barrage of kisses to his entire face.

“Finally! I thought it would never happen! I’m so happy that we’re going to live together! We’ll be able to see each other even more! Yay!”

“I can’t wait, sweetheart.”

It takes a week for Jimin to officially move into Jungkook’s house, though he technically sleeps over from the night he receives the invitation and never leaves from that point forward.

Carrying everything takes time.

Tedious.

He accumulates a hefty amount of belongings over the months of his time in the Jeon Pack, not counting the things he already brought with him when he first moved, everything piling up to the point that he dreads the idea of transporting it all across the grounds. Luckily for him, and not so lucky for Taehyung, he works together with his best friend to carry a few items per day to reduce the burden of such a task.

Moving away from his closest friend and family feels like a stab to the gut, but he knows that he possesses the power to visit him whenever he pleases, refusing to allow himself to drown in sadness for too long.

Life changes in the blink of an eye.

Gazing at all of his belongings inside of Jungkook’s house strikes him like a fever dream. His clothing hangs in the closet, his shoes linger by the front door, his blankets crowd the bed, his knick knacks reside on the shelves, and his personal touch exists in every room in the house. It swiftly represents him just as much as it represents the alpha who worked tirelessly to build the structure in the first place.

Home.

Amber and jasmine entwine in the air, dripping from the walls to create the most intoxicating scent that showcases both of the inhabitants of the humble abode, never allowing them to forget.

This marks the first step of them moving decisively towards their future together.

“It looks nice.”

“Thanks.”

“I like how it actually feels like you both live here now. Jimin’s coat is by the door and his pink blanket is slung across the couch. It’s not like it’s just your place anymore.” Jungkook’s mom says softly, her voice carrying into the bedroom where Jimin folds laundry.

“Yeah, I like it, too.”

“I brought a little housewarming gift for him. It’s nothing too crazy.” Jungkook’s mom announces as she steps closer down the hallway. “Jimin! Are you busy?”

“Not too busy, no.”

“This is for you. I tried to think of some useful things to give you instead of just decorative, but you know how that goes. Hopefully it can be helpful with your big move.”

“Oh, thank you so much!” Jimin flashes her a sparkling smile as he accepts the basket of goodies.

“What about me?”

“Hmm? What about you?” Jungkook’s mom retorts.

“You’re going to come all the way over here to give Jimin a gift, but not being anything for me? I see how it is. You’re just going to neglect me now that you have a pretty omega to dote on.” Jungkook dramatically scoffs under his breath, shaking his head.

“I’ll bring you something when you two become mates because I’ve got a feeling it’s right around the corner. You’ll get your gift then.”

“Wow.”

It turns out that their friends also harbor the desire to congratulate them on their next step in life by gifting them housewarming presents. They arrive on the weekend after their big move to deliver a plethora of things from dish towels to a woven rug to a picture for the bathroom wall. Everyone approaches them with kind words and well wishes despite Jungkook’s propensity to shy away from these types of affectionate moments with anyone except his omega.

Jimin feels a never ending amount of love from those around him, especially Taehyung who spends several hours helping him organize and arrange his belongings without him even asking.

Support.

He even writes a letter to Taehyung’s mom to let her know the news from afar.

Possessing the luxury of waking up, getting dressed, preparing for the day, resting after work, cooking dinner, and going to bed all with Jungkook by his side makes Jimin the happiest person in the universe. They exist together, merely living their lives in tandem, such beautiful simplicity to their daily routines now that they call the same place home.

“I’d like to think that I’ve come a long way since we started fucking.” Jungkook grunts roughly, scraping his teeth on the fat globe of Jimin’s ass cheek. “I’m getting a lot better at this.”

“H-How so?”

“I literally came the first time I tasted your slick. I couldn’t even make it through in one piece.”

“That’s… That’s true. You a-almost passed out the first time you smelled it. I still can’t e-even take you in my throat because… because your heart beats so fast. Maybe you are getting better, though.” Jimin releases a throaty moan, struggling to focus with Jungkook’s tongue lapping at his gushing hole, surrounded by a nest of blankets drenched in their scents.

“We’ve got the rest of our lives to practice, right? I’ll get there one day. Maybe. I guess it’s possible that you just existing could overwhelm me to the point that my body never stops being so fucking sensitive.” Jungkook offers an obscenely messy slurp before deeming his job well done.

“Y-You can do this, though. My alpha can give me his k-knot, so… so I guess that’s all that matters. You more than make up for it.”

“Hell yes, I do.”

More often than not, regardless of what struggles and triumphs the day before them offers, Jimin and Jungkook spend their night tangled between the sheets while they express their undying devotion to each other.

They never feel satisfied.

Never.

Falling asleep on Jungkook’s knot only further solidifies the wonders of living together, always supplied with unlimited access to his alpha no matter the hour. Jimin wants him more than he knows how to put into words, endlessly craving the intimate connection that binds their souls, happier than he ever thought life would allow.

Jimin, admittedly, fails to attend some fellowship gatherings due to his wishes to spend time with those he cherishes in his own way, making the actual event that much sweeter when he finds himself surrounded by the other members of his pack.

Fun.

He highly enjoys the occasion.

With Summer officially descending upon them, a warm breeze swirling through the air as they congregate in the clearing, everything bathes in a sprightly atmosphere. The evening sun paints the world in a golden sheen, joyous music plays from a stage in the back, and the smell of roasting hog overpowers any rogue scents. People excitedly join together to celebrate the start of a new season while running various stalls of goodies once more.

Jimin, Jungkook, and Taehyung trek along the pathway while gazing at the multitude of creative items available for exchange this time around.

“Mm, no.”

“What? You don’t like it?” Jungkook quirks an eyebrow, his hand stilling over the fluffy object on the counter.

“Are you seriously asking that?”

“Of course not!” Jimin chokes out a shocked gasp, sheepishly making eye contact with the stall owner afterwards, not at all intrigued by the item on display. “I mean no offense, but I don’t want a dead animal carcass hanging from the wall in our bedroom. That’s just not happening. Sorry. I’m not looking at that everyday.”

“What if I hunt, kill, and preserve it myself? Would you approve of it then?” Jungkook offers the curator a polite bow before they continue along the pathway to the other stalls.

“I love you, but I would politely decline. Unless you want to keep it in your workshop.”

“That’s a good idea!”

Taehyung remains painstakingly enthusiastic about everything he lays eyes on, unable to resist the urge to snatch up everything that piques his interest. Whether useful or purely for looks, he wants it all. Jimin recognizes the impossibility of attempting to wrangle him in, so he merely lets him run free to purchase whatever his heart desires.

“Wait, why are you looking at furniture? You don’t have room in your house for this stuff.” Jimin glances over at Taehyung in confusion.

“I want to move.”

“Oh.”

“Jungkook says that I can request a bigger cabin once I’ve been here for a year, which is coming up soon. I’ll hopefully have more room for this kind of stuff in a couple of months. I’m mainly trying to get ideas, you know?” Taehyung shrugs his shoulders, tracing his finger over the wood grain of the table.

“It’s not a guarantee, remember? I can’t fucking promise anything. You can definitely make a request, though.” Jungkook states in a gruff voice that tickles the back of Jimin’s neck.

“I’m sure it’ll work out!”

“Yeah!”

In the end, once they tire of perusing the rows of stalls overflowing with items, apprehending a couple new things for themselves while Taehyung fills an entire bag, they make their way to the main area of the gathering in search of their other friends.

Jimin realizes that this serves as the first time that everyone sees him by Jungkook’s side as his omega.

Surprise.

It seems that anyone not in the know about their courtship gazes at them with utter shock, whispering amongst themselves as they walk by with their fingers tangled together and their bodies. Jimin, in typical fashion, possesses several bruises along his neck, almost permanent at this point with how often he requests Jungkook marks him.

He finds that the attention fails to bother him, instead filling him with pride as they learn that Jimin and Jungkook belong to one another.

“Everyone in this damn pack is talking about us.” Jungkook grunts, rough.

“Really?”

“I can hear everything they say. Most of them are shocked because you’re so fucking beautiful. They can’t understand why you would be with an alpha like me.” Jungkook stands with his head tilted to the side, eyebrows scrunched in concentration.

“There’s no way that’s true! You’re the most handsome, strong, caring alpha in this whole pack! I don’t believe you!” Jimin crosses his arms over his chest with dramatic intentions.

“Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little. Not everyone is saying that.”

“I hope not.”

“What are you going to do if they are? Hm? Are you going to shout at them? Will you put them in their place?” Jungkook cracks a handsome grin that makes Jimin weak in the knees, unable to force away his depraved thoughts before they cross his mind.

“I’ll do whatever I need to. No one’s allowed to be mean to my alpha. Not on my watch.”

“You’re so cute, baby.”

After a couple of detours and unnecessary pauses, the three of them finally locate the rest of their crew at a picnic table on the outskirts of the clearing. The remaining daylight illuminates their smiling faces as they approach their closest friends. A sense of brightness and jubilation encompasses the atmosphere, in turn affecting everyone around.

No one addresses Taehyung’s massively overflowing bag slung over his shoulder or the hunting knife in Jungkook’s hand, instead continuing with their heated conversation without even officially greeting the newcomers at the table.

“I think the idea of an arranged courtship is kind of interesting these days.” Namjoon asserts blankly, shrugging.

“An arranged courtship?”

“What’s that?”

“It’s exactly what it sounds like. The pack officials sometimes come together to play matchmaker with single and willing participants looking for a mate. Alpha, omega, beta, it doesn’t matter. They set them up in hopes that it works out.” Seokjin explains in a simple, concise manner that leaves no room for confusion.

“They also do it with members of other packs. Sometimes it helps if people struggle to find anyone compatible with them within their own pack.” Hoseok adds for good measure.

“That’s what you want?”

“I’m open to the idea. It’s not like it’s set in stone or anything. I can turn down the pairing if they aren’t suitable for me. It would take away a lot of the burden of having to find a mate for myself.” Namjoon appears abundantly nonchalant about something that blows Jimin’s mind.

“I can’t even imagine it, honestly.”

“Me either.”

“That’s because you’ve already found a love match of your own. You don’t need help finding a mate.” Taehyung rolls his eyes at Jimin.

“Well… Yeah!”

The time to pounce on the serving tables full of food swiftly arrives, Jimin and his friends some of the first people to flock to the line to wait for their turn, eagerly anticipating the feast as the smell of juicy, hearty goodness swirls in the air.

Delectable.

His mouth waters the entire time.

Jungkook stands protectively behind him as they gradually inch forward, his hands burning Jimin’s hips where they rest on his flesh.

It takes an eternity for them to finally reach the actual food, blessed with the opportunity to pile their plates full without guilt because they possess more than enough to feed everyone. From roasted vegetables to chunks of meat to fresh bread to sugary sweets, they take all that they want. Everyone knows that the meal serves as the best part of the entire gathering.

They return to their table with eager faces, overflowing plates, and stomachs ready to receive the abundance of delicious food awaiting them.

“Try this.”

“What is it?” Taehyung asks, his eyebrows scrunching in confusion, warily staring at the green glob on Jimin’s fork. “I’ve never seen that in my life. It doesn’t look edible.”

“Peas.”

“What was that?”

“They’re peas.” Jungkook answers with a deep grunt, his smelling skill undeniable.

“What the fuck? You’ve never had peas?”

“Not that I know of.”

“If I can try them, so can you. Just give it a little nibble. You’re not going to die.” Jimin waits with an expectant look on his face, curious of his best friend’s reaction to the new food. “I had them for the first time a few weeks ago because Jungkook put them in a stew we eat for dinner. They’re really not bad, I promise.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll fucking try them. Stop staring at me like that.”

“So?”

“What do you think?” Yoongi questions lowly.

“Hmm… Not much flavor… Kind of mushy. I don’t hate them, but I don’t love them either.” Taehyung makes a weird face before sticking out his tongue, obnoxious as always, swiftly sipping his lemonade to wash down the taste in his mouth.

“Yeah, I agree. They’re good for bulking up a meal and adding nutrients. Most people aren’t going crazy for them.” Hoseok nods his head, pointedly scooping up his own peas to eat.

The group spends an ungodly amount of time eating, some of them even going back to the serving table for a second helping, not at all rushing through the meal since they wish to savor each bite.

Usually, attending the gathering means heading home shortly after the food.

Not tonight.

It seems that Jungkook possesses other plans for them, though he chooses to wait until the last minute to suggest them. Everyone stands to their feet to prepare to leave, yet his head keeps turning back in the direction of the band playing music. Jimin notices his hesitance.

“What is it, alpha?” Jimin inquires gently, reaching out to clutch Jungkook’s forearm.

“Do… Do you want to dance?”

“With you?”

“Of course.” Jungkook’s amber scent spikes with a sort of uncertainty, audibly gulping when he turns to fully face the omega next to him. “I, um… I don’t really know how the fuck to do it, but I’d like to. With you. If that’s okay.”

“I would love to dance with you.” Jimin’s smile sparkles like the stars in the night sky above them.

“Thank you.”

They stroll to the portion of the clearing near the band where a specific spot remains empty for those who wish to enjoy the music at a close proximity. A few other couples dance together to the beat of the music, all sorts of pups happily bouncing along without a care in the world. No one pays them any mind when they walk up to join in the fun.

As if divinely attuned through brainwaves, perhaps possessing some innate ability to read Jungkook’s mind, the band ends their quickened melody to play something much slower and gentler that requires far less gusto.

Jimin takes the lead.

Ever so slowly, he tenderly pulls Jungkook close to his body until they stand chest to chest.

Perfect.

“I’m not all that experienced either, but this kind of music is very simple to dance to.” Jimin whispers softly, as light as a feather, pressing his mouth to the shell of Jungkook’s ear while placing the alpha’s hands on his hips. “All we do is sway.”

“Sway? That’s it?” Jungkook inquires in a tense voice, allowing Jimin to guide their movements.

“Yes.”

Although he feels self-conscious about the eyes around the area that surely observe their public display of affection, Jimin refuses to let it affect him. He rests his head on Jungkook’s shoulder, tightly grips around his neck, and sparks up the glory of his unfettered scent in full. Jungkook throughly enjoys himself as well, pressing tender kisses to the side of the omega’s head as they move in time with the slow music.

“This might be corny as hell, but this is one of the only things I remember from before I lost my sight. I watched all of the adults dancing with their mates and thought it was so special. My mom promised me that I’d be able to do it with my own mate one day when I was older.”

“That’s… That’s not corny. It’s adorably sweet. Thank you for sharing that memory with me.” Jimin smiles into Jungkook’s neck, offering him a heartfelt kiss to his pulse point. “She was right, wasn’t she?”

“Yeah, she was. I guess I sort of lost hope along the way, so it’s hard to believe this is actually real.” Jungkook squeezes him tighter.

“I love you, alpha.”

“I love you, too, baby.”

Spending his life with Jungkook feels as natural as breathing to Jimin.

He never questions whether their love possesses the depth they assert it does, nor does he doubt the intentions behind his alpha’s devotion. They care for each other as they would themselves, endlessly considering how their choices might affect their relationship. Never do they jump to anger or offense in the few moments that miscommunication arises.

Every moment of every day mimics a dream regardless of the circumstances that encompass them, drowning in delight from the moment they feel each other’s bodies pressing together in the morning, happy just knowing they have each other.

Meant to be.

Slightly more than half a year together and Jimin just knows that he wants Jungkook forever.

They crowd around the dining table on a late evening in the middle of Summer, sitting across from one another with bountiful dishes spread between them, talking about everything and nothing simultaneously as they recount the events of their days. Amber and jasmine swirl in the air to create the finest cocktail of scents to ever grace the Earth. A light breeze flows through the open window to cool their home and soothe their overheated bodies.

“I think your parents were right.” Jimin says in a contemplative voice, staring down at his plate with a pensive look at his stirs his leftovers around.

“About what?”

“They always say that we’re super serious about each other. Even from the start, from the second they found out, that’s what they said.” Jimin recalls his initial interaction with them as clear as day in his mind, unable to forget it.

“Okay, yeah. I think so, too. We’ve been serious since we decided we wanted to be together.” Jungkook nods his head.

“There’s something else they were right about.”

“What?”

“I… I want us to be m-mates.” Jimin confesses the weight sitting atop his chest, no longer containing the strength to leave it unspoken, desperately yearning more than he knows how to explain. “It’s quick and we haven’t been together that long and maybe it’s a foolish decision, but I don’t want to wait. I really, really, really want you to be my alpha. O-Officially.”

“Do you mean that? Are you sure you want to be tied to me for the rest of your life? Have you actually thought about everything that would mean?”

“Yes. I’m sure. I dream about it every day of my life, alpha.” Jimin chokes out his lofty words.

“Me too.”

“You… You do?”

“I feel like you’re already my omega, so it bothers the hell out of me that you don’t have my bite. My soul feels incomplete. I want you to be mine more than anything ever.” Jungkook unceremoniously drops his utensil onto the table, glaring ahead at Jimin with such intensity that it sends a shiver down his spine.

“Let’s do it, then. There’s no reason to wait any longer. Bite me. P-Please.”

“Now?”

“Right now.”

“You can never go back from this.” Jungkook reminds him one last time. “Mating bites are forever. There’s no way to change your mind or undo what’s been done. You’ll be stuck with me until you die.”

“That’s… That’s perfect.” Jimin hurriedly scoots back his chair, panting, desperate for it.

“Fuck.”

“You’ll always take care of me, right? You’ll be kind and loving and sweet? You won’t hurt me or turn your back on me? You’ll give me as many pups as I want so we can raise them together? You and I will be happy, yeah?” Jimin struggles to breathe as he musters the mental capacity to pour out all of his hopes and dreams for their future.

“Yes. God, yes. I’ll do all of that and more. I love you so goddamn much. I want to give you pups and protect you and cherish you. Always. I swear it.”

“I’ll be everything for you, too.”

“It’s settled.” Jungkook grins from ear to ear, his chest heaves up and down, and amber drenches the air surrounding them.

“B-Bites, now.”

It requires an ungodly amount of concentration to focus on safely relocating from the kitchen to the bedroom, Jimin possessing half a mind to flop onto the hardwood floor and demand his mark right there. Jungkook commands a bit more control of his functioning brain to understand the responsibility of safely tending to their home before descending into desire driven chaos.

By the time his alpha shuts down, cleans up, and locks the house to his standards, Jimin lies stark naked on the bed with his bare nakedness on full display without an ounce of shame.

Jungkook knows.

Even without seeing, he knows.

Both of them reside as bare as the day they were born within a matter of seconds, Jungkook chucking off his clothes to climb into bed to join his omega, the tension over their heads surmounting into something suffocatingly thick by the minute.

“I want you.”

“I want you, too, omega.” Jungkook releases a throaty groan when Jimin wraps his frantic hand around his already throbbing cock.

“Do you need this? Like… Like do you really need it? Can you knot me without it?”

“Y-Yeah, but—“

“What?” Jimin clumsily jerks Jungkook’s cock up and down with an embarrassing amount of enthusiasm. “But what? I’ll do it if you need a minute to warm up before you get inside of me.”

“I might not last long.”

“That’s okay. That’s… That’s fine. I don’t think I will either. J-Just as long as you knot and bite me, I don’t care.”

“How about you? Are you going to let me open you up and stretch you for my cock?” Jungkook pants into Jimin’s mouth, beads of pre-cum dripping from his tip while he hovers over the omega with hunger bleeding from his pores. “Got a feeling I already know the fucking answer, but I have to ask anyway.”

“No, d-don’t need it. Take me like… like this. Want you so badly that it doesn’t matter. S-So wet for you, alpha. Knot me. Bite me. P-Please.”

Raw desire.

Unlike most of their intimate experiences together, drenched in the gentleness of consuming love, a wild fervor paints their every movement that leaves them tameless, uncontrollable, and desperate.

Neither of them hold back.

For perhaps the first time since their relationship shifted to engage in this sort of physical connection, Jungkook possesses the strength to fuck the life out of Jimin without his body growing too sensitive from the circumstances surrounding him. He snaps his cock into the omega like his life depends on it, plunging deep into the recesses of his being with every punishing stroke, not holding back from taking him like he means it.

Jimin falls speechless, unable to utter a single comprehensible word while he lies beneath his alpha who thrusts into him again and again and again without cease. He curls up on his knees, properly mounted for the first time in his life, something animalistic and feral about the way they express themselves.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck—“

“A-Alpha—“

“Feel so goddamn good, baby. Holy shit. Taking my cock like a good, little omega. Sound so pretty when you whine and cry like that. Oh my god.” Jungkook punctuates his sentences with agonizingly deep, harsh thrusts that plunge so deep that they force waves of slick to squirt from Jimin’s used hole.

“F-Feel you so deep, alpha. In… In my belly. C-Could give me a p-pup like this. So… So big, h-hurts so good. Please, please.” Jimin chokes out whatever sentiment comes to mind, lost to the throes of his desire, ravaged from inside out by undeniable pleasure.

“Is that what you want? Hm? Want me to fill you with my fucking knot and pump you with my cum? Give you no choice but to carry my pup inside of you?”

“W-Want it so badly.”

“Can’t stop thinking about how pretty you’ll be with full tits and a round belly. Might have to gouge everyone’s eyes out so they can’t look at you. Drives me crazy just imagining your soft, supple skin get even softer in the best fucking places. Know you’d carry my pup so well, omega.” Jungkook flattens his palm over Jimin’s belly, sneaking his hand around from the back, undoubtedly feeling every thrust of his own cock as the tip threatens to breach the surface.

“Yes, y-yes, want it. Give me your knot, alpha. B-Bite me. Want to be your mate and wear your mark and carry your pup. P-Please, want it so badly.”

“Fuck—“

Although Jimin loses all track of time as he lies helplessly beneath Jungkook, a slave to his excruciatingly intense pleasure while he exists as a scorching, gushing hole for his alpha to enjoy, he possesses no problem with the duration that their coupling lasts.

In fact, he wants it to end so that he can receive that piercing bite to his neck that forever marks him as Jungkook’s mate.

Desperate.

Stars cloud his vision as he reaches his peak a couple of times before Jungkook’s knot forms at the base of his cock, forced to ride out the overstimulation as his alpha wraps his fingers around his tiny cock to bring him to release again and again.

“L-Last time to change your mind.” Jungkook grunts, turning Jimin onto his back.

“No, never.”

“I’m going to shove my knot inside of you and then bite your fucking neck. There’s no going back after that, baby. You better be sure. We’re bonded together forever after I sink my teeth into your skin.”

“D-Do it. Do it now. Want… Want it more than a-anything. Please, make me yours.” Jimin suffocates beneath the scent of delicious amber.

“Might hurt.”

“Good.”

The knot itself hurts like a bitch since Jimin’s hole receives a rough battering that leaves it raw and abused, but it somehow makes the occasion more real and believable. Their consuming desire to remain together for the rest of their lives gnaws away at their functioning to leave them like wild beasts that only care about one thing. He fucks it into Jimin, painfully hard, spearing him open until he threatens to burst into pieces from the stretch.

Jimin tosses his head back, instinctively elongating his neck to allow for unfettered access to his achingly empty flesh, gasping and writhing and pleading for the bite that ties their souls together.

It takes an eternity, but Jungkook eventually obliges the request.

Pain.

Searing, debilitating pain.

It lasts for several seconds, stealing the breath from Jimin’s lungs, sending his heart into an arrhythmia, captivating him from head to toe with the sensation of bonding their beings.

So, so, so good.

“Alright, your turn, baby. You need to bite me. Come here and make me your alpha. Give me that mark. Got to finish the bond. Come on.” Jungkook gently pats along Jimin’s face to garner his attention, face scrunched with a serious expression as he attempts to process the situation.

“So much, t-too much. S’too much, alpha. Oh my god—“

“I know, Jimin. I know, but you need to bite me right now, okay? Be a good omega and finish the bond. You can do it.” Jungkook leans down, his eyes full of galaxies as he waits for his turn.

“S-Sorry.” Jimin whispers apologetically.

“Fucking bite me.”

Something about tasting his alpha’s blood on his tongue freaks out the sliver of logical reasoning remaining in Jimin’s brain, but he musters the necessary strength to fully form their connection as mates without any issues.

It only takes one, singular bite to the next to lock them together for the rest of forever.

Mates.

No amount of mental preparation, daydreaming about this day, or advice from Yoongi could ever help him process the consuming sensations devouring him from the inside out. He sobs as he feels Jungkook everywhere, racing through his veins and beating in the rhythm of his heart. The two of them exist as one, souls entwined to create one being, sharing the essence of their souls through the bond that connects them.

“H-How do you f-feel?” Jimin whispers through his hoarse voice, every inch of his body sore to the point that he aches when he breathes. “Are… Are you okay?”

“Absolutely fucking perfect.” Jungkook growls, eyes wet with tears, stunningly handsome as always.

“That’s g-good.”

“How about you, omega? Are you alright? Do you feel uncomfortable or have any pain or anything?” Jungkook’s eyebrow furrows as he caresses up and down Jimin’s body, pressing their lips together for the first time since their escapade begins.

“H-Hurts, but… but I don’t care. You’re my m-mate, alpha. Mine. Makes me so happy.” Jimin sniffles pitifully as he confesses his feelings.

“I’m yours, baby.”

“I love you more than anything. I don’t know how I was so lucky to f-find you, but I’m never letting you go. It’s… It’s going to be me and you forever. I’ll take care of you and make sure you’re happy. Always. I w-want to have p-pups with you and watch you be a d-dad. I just… I can’t wait for everything our f-future holds.”

“You’re the love of my life and the blood in my veins. I can’t imagine ever deserving such a beautiful future, but I’ll do everything I can to earn it. I love you, I adore you, I want you forever.”

“Thank you.” Jimin whispers brokenly, utterly exhausted. “Thank you for everything.”

Recovery.

They need it to a worrying degree after such intense stress on their bodies, Jungkook cleaning Jimin with a wet rag since the omega possesses no strength to move himself, tending to the wound on both of their necks before deeming it suitable enough to fall asleep for the night.

It takes a couple of days for anyone to come knocking on their door, neither of them venturing from the cabin while resting and soaking up the glory of existing as mates.

“I wish I could say I was surprised.”

“Too predictable?”

“I knew before I even came here this morning that something like this would be waiting for me. I told Namjoon and everything.” Yoongi shakes his head, not an ounce of disappointment in his expression. “Sit down and let me see the damage.”

“Hi!” Jimin says from his spot on the couch, smiling brightly. “We’re mates now!”

“I see that.”

“Aren’t you happy for me?” Jungkook bounces around like an eager puppy while he waits for an answer, always enjoying the moments when he teases his friends like this.

“Of course. We’re all happy for you. For both of you.”

“Thank you!”

Everyone offers a similar sort of reaction to the monumental reveal, congratulating them at dinner when they finally emerge from their home for the first time, unfortunately covering their fresh marks with bandages due to Yoongi’s demands.

They squeeze them in hugs, offer words of encouragement, and remark about the turn of events for an hour.

Taehyung sobs.

He also forces Jimin to come home with him to discuss every detail of the event with excruciating precision, the two of them curling up on the couch until Jungkook arrives to retrieve him and walk him home for the rest of the night.

“Congratulations, Jungkook. I can’t believe you got mated before me.” Jungkook’s brother playfully grumbles under his breath.

“Always fucking underestimating me.”

“Seriously, congrats.”

“Congratulations to you as well, Jimin.” The Head Omega says with a proud smile, a gentle sparkle in her eyes, and nothing except happiness in her scent. “We’re honored to officially welcome you into our family. It brings us nothing but pride to have you as one of our sons.”

“If you two ever need anything at all, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here for whatever it is. I mean it.” The Head Alpha asserts firmly.

“Thank you so much.”

The present that Jungkook’s mom offers him in celebration of his mating to Jimin shocks both of them, her quiet voice leading them into a spare bedroom of their spacious home, finding several pieces of furniture and boxes of items.

Memorabilia.

Everything she hoards since Jungkook’s childhood until now, all that she holds near and dear to her heart.

Drawings from his earliest days, clothing he wore as a pup, books she read to him once he lost his vision, his first knife, the list of pieces inside the room continues to grow everywhere Jimin glances. Most notably, though, resides a sturdy, hand carved crib along the wall.

“Call it parental intuition, but I have a feeling you’re going to need some of these things in the near future.” She flashes Jimin a dazzling smile.

“I think you’re right.” Jimin nods, bursting with hopefulness at the mere idea.

Never in a million years did Jimin anticipate that his life would change so abruptly in such a short amount of time, more than content with the turn of events since his move to the Jeon Pack. Only a year passes and he finds himself still awestruck with how everything continues to fall into place with ease. Every day of his life offers a seemingly endless amount of happiness and possibilities.

While he possesses no feasible way to predict the future, undoubtedly both positive and negative things waiting for him around the corner, he basks in the knowledge that Jungkook, his parents, Taehyung, his family, and their many friends will stand by his side through it all.

Of course, Jimin hopes that he finds himself with a family of his own soon, eager to hold a precious pup in his arms.

“I love you, my handsome mate.” Jimin whispers as he delivers delicate kisses to Jungkook’s closed eyelids. “I can’t believe that I thought you were a rude, manner-less alpha when I first met you because you were ignoring me. It sounds horrible to admit, but I was happy to learn you’re blind.”

“You’re quite possibly the only person in this world who treats me like me instead of dancing around the reality of my life. I love you, baby. I might be blind, but I’m not an asshole.” Jungkook tilts his head up to catch Jimin’s lips for a searing kiss.

Chapter Text

Jimin struggles to imagine anything worse than abruptly waking in the early morning to expel the meager contents of his stomach onto the ground beside the bed, unable to control his own body as he coughs and gags right next to his sleeping mate, but the flickering flames of the fireplace, his nest of blankets surrounding him, and Jungkook’s soothing voice make it slightly less unbearable.

He clutches his belly as he rests against the headboard to catch his breath, only feeling slightly guilty that his alpha cleans up his mess considering he suffers through the physical discomfort all on his own without reprieve.

It takes him several minutes to fall back asleep, misfortune ultimately clutching him twice more before the sun rises.

“Drink.”

“No.”

“Come on, omega. At least give it a sip. I know you like it.” Jungkook carefully shifts the mug into one hand, extending the other to find Jimin’s face to gently cup it in his palm. “Isn’t it worth a try if it might make your stomach feel better?”

“Why is the pup torturing me like this? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“It doesn’t mean to.”

“I hope I’m one of those lucky omegas that no longer gets morning sickness after the first trimester because I’m teetering the line right now. I don’t know how much more of this I can handle. I’m not sure if I’ve had a full meal for the past three months.” Jimin releases a shaky sigh, tilting his head forward to sip the steamy tea, soothed by the scent of amber billowing in the air.

“Yeah, I know. I’ve been tracking every damn day because it freaks me out so bad. Yoongi’s going to lose his mind by the time that pup actually gets here.” Jungkook huffs a short breath.

“Hold me while I sleep.”

“Okay.”

Jungkook cradles his arm around Jimin’s belly as they curl up on their sides together, the warmth of their bodies fighting off the frigid cold that threatens to sneak through the cracks in the walls, neither of them rushing to remove themselves from such a comfortable situation even as the sun hangs high in the sky.

Anything that Jimin wants, he gets.

No exceptions.

If he so much as breathes too heavily in a way that might indicate some sort of discomfort, Jungkook springs up to care for him without any hesitation or complaints.

From brewing pots of tea to scenting him profusely to cleaning up his vomit.

These troubling times serve as a solidifying factor in Jimin’s mind that he chose the perfect alpha for his mate. He never doubts himself for a single second, more and more assured of his decision with each gentle whisper and every hand rubbing his barely rounded belly. While the difficult moments leave him questioning his desires in life, he never thinks twice about how much he loves Jungkook.

“I won’t be far in case you need me.” Jungkook states gruffly, his head twitching with every voice that hurries past them on the trail through the settlement grounds. “I’ll stay at the town hall with my dad until you finish teaching for the day.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I’m afraid my alpha begs to differ.” Jungkook clutches his hand tightly as Jimin navigates them through the hustle and bustle of the pack.

“I love you.” Jimin says with a smile. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“I love you, too, baby. It’s an honor.”

“See you soon.”

Several years as a teacher to pups of all different ages fails to prepare him for the struggle of teaching while experiencing so many changes within his body, unable to escape from the onslaught of physical and emotional discomfort that plagues him daily, the constant ups and downs completely unavoidable.

Guilt riddles his system when he grows frustrated at a student’s outburst or finds himself annoyed by their nonstop need for attention.

A true trial.

He manages to keep his sanity for another day.

Aside from the occasional break to vomit, heavy emotions gripping him without relent, and overwhelming exhaustion that begs him to close his eyes every time he sits at his desk, Jimin successfully avoids any untoward behavior that might scar his students in the long run.

They try, for the most part, to behave and make his life easier, though their efforts only go so far when they all congregate together in a small classroom for hours upon hours at a time.

Luckily, his mate eases his mind.

“Where to?”

“I think I’m going to spend the afternoon with Taehyung.” Jimin says softly, resting his head on Jungkook’s shoulder as they linger outside of the dining hall. “He wants me to help cook some recipes that his mom sent back with him a few days ago. Apparently they should help with everything I’ve got going on.”

“Are you going to stay and nap there as well?” Jungkook’s low voice makes Jimin want to fall asleep on the spot.

“How’d you know?”

“You smell tired as fuck.”

“I think I will, yeah. I’m sure he won’t mind. He’s even got spare bedrooms now, so I can sleep wherever I want.” Jimin sucks in deep breaths to muster the strength to trek across the grounds again.

“Do you want me to stay with you?”

“No.”

“I’ll work, then. No one says anything about my lack of help with the firewood or shoveling snow, but I should step in where I’m able.” Jungkook peppers kisses to his head before he ultimately pulls away to head in the direction of Taehyung’s cabin.

“Can we eat dinner at home tonight? I’m craving your spicy stew with deer. Bread, too.”

“Of course.”

“Yay, thank you! Maybe I’ll be able to eat more than a few bites this time.” Jimin happily hums under his breath as he drags his feet along the dirt, holding back the urge to ask Jungkook to carry him.

“Don’t go too far, please.” Jungkook requests as he drops him off. “It’s really hard for me to not worry about you.”

“I’ll be fine, alpha. I promise.”

Everything feels comfortingly normal when he spends time with Taehyung, thrust back to their younger days when they lived without a care in the world, the two of them always joking around, laughing their heads off, and playing like pups. It allows him to, just for a moment, forget the ailments that plague him on the daily.

Taehyung and Jimin stand in the kitchen while preparing the nausea-safe recipes directly from Taehyung’s mom.

Simple.

When Jimin dumps in an ingredient, Taehyung stirs. If Jimin spends time chopping something into small pieces, Taehyung collects and measures everything else they need. They work together like a team on a mission, dedicated and second nature, making everything without any mishaps along the way. Neither of them stays silent for any length of time as they catch up on all the finer details since their last conversation.

“Does this really not bother Jungkook?” Taehyung asks in a low grumble, curling up behind Jimin to hold him close. “You can be completely honest with me and tell me the truth. I’ll only be slightly offended by your answer.”

“No, I don’t think so. He never mentions anything about it upsetting him.” Jimin releases a yawn as he shakes his head.

“Shocking.”

“Why?”

“I think it makes sense for an alpha to be protective over his pregnant mate, especially towards another alpha. I’m holding you and touching your belly and scenting you. It’s kind of crazy that it doesn’t irritate him at all.” Taehyung nuzzles into the back of Jimin’s neck before releasing a tired sigh.

“Maybe he feels like he can’t say anything because of how close we are. I also think he just accepts that we’re basically brothers.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Let’s sleep for a bit.” Jimin suggests while his eyes slip closed on their own. “Just a little nap.”

“Okay.”

Their version of a little nap ends up lasting two entire hours. Jimin excuses his with pregnancy exhaustion, but Taehyung possesses no reason to sleep for such a lengthy duration of the afternoon. It provides the perfect amount of rest without leaving him useless for the rest of the day.

Afterwards, with the tiredness escaping their bones, they eat the food waiting on the counters.

Jimin only nibbles.

From specific nut combinations to mint tea to pumpkin soup, they explore the world of dishes that serve the sole purpose of offering sustenance to anyone struggling with nausea like Jimin.

Unsurprisingly, considering the intention behind the dishes, the omega finds that his stomach displays no unfortunate reactions to the food they cook. It could exist as a fluke or rare occurrence given the late time of day, but it provides him with just enough hope to hold on a bit longer. He decides to save the recipes for another day to retry them when his nausea reaches its absolute peak.

“Is it everything you dreamed of?”

“Even better.”

“Yeah?” Jungkook’s rough voice carries across the confines of their dining area, soothing to the depths of Jimin’s being, warmth radiating from the food on the table and the fire across the room. “Does it hit the spot this time?”

“Yes, definitely. It’s not too spicy for me to handle, so it tastes just right. I’m going to eat every bite.” Jimin slurps up a spoonful of his food to prove it.

“Good.”

“I can’t be held accountable if I eat the whole pot.” Jimin says jokingly, his stomach nowhere near expansive enough for that.

“As long as you eat, I don’t care how fucking much I have to cook.”

“Thank you, alpha.”

Evenings in the Winter last far less time than in the Summer, barely offering a glimpse of golden sunshine before total darkness engulfs the land, dreary in a way that never dissipates no matter how badly Jimin wants it to. The glow of their various lanterns throughout the home helps to bathe them in the warmth that the omega craves more than anything.

Together, with gentle voices and soft smiles, they sit at the table to enjoy an intimate dinner, just two mates who adore one another.

Perfection.

“Can you believe it’s been almost a year since we had our first kiss? I swear, I remember it like it was yesterday. How has so much time passed already? It’s too much!” Jimin speaks freely as he lounges on the bed in his comfortable clothing, intently watching Jungkook while he washes up in the bathroom and prepares for sleep.

“Oh, you’re right. I almost forgot about that. One year since we officially started our courtship and now you’re a few months pregnant. Funny how that works, hm?” Jungkook flashes him a cheesy grin.

“We move fast.”

“What’s the point of taking shit slow? That’s boring! We’re better than that.”

“Do you think your brother is jealous of you? He’s older, yet you managed to get mated first. Not just that, you’re having a pup, too. It’s like he can’t catch a break with you.” Jimin thoughtfully stares at the wall while he impatiently waits for his mate to switch off the lanterns and crawl into bed beside him.

“I think he’s so fucking jealous that he doesn’t know what to do with himself, but he’s pretending that he doesn’t care.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yeah. No doubt about it. I just know he’s seething that his blind brother ended up with such a gorgeous, perfect omega while he’s still all alone. It definitely bothers him inside. I know it.” Jungkook’s amber scent spikes with pride, rich and encompassing, his smile making Jimin’s heart pound.

They curl up chest to chest for a brief moment of affection before formally attempting to sleep, Jimin tracing his finger up and down Jungkook’s chest to occupy his mind. Both of them appreciate these tender times together more than any other part of their day. It heals the heart.

“I love you, alpha.”

“I love you, too, baby.”

The progression of Jimin’s pregnancy offers a slew of changes, both internal and external, that occur with such swiftness that he hardly possesses the opportunity to process them before something new happens.

His belly swells.

Every part of him softens.

A heavy weight hangs off of his chest.

Jungkook’s endless devotion and attention that never wavers leaves no room for self doubt even through the flurry of it all, Jimin essentially worshiped every day of his life. His alpha pampers him beyond belief, his friends treat him with an abundance of kindness, and his pack helps in every way they know how. It makes him feel like royalty.

The extreme, never-ending, ravaging pregnancy hormones make him so horny that he spends an ungodly amount of time on Jungkook’s knot.

His mate never complains.

“It’s probably for the best that I can’t see you because I think I would lose my damn mind.” Jungkook growls out his words, deep and gruff, pressing searing kisses to the swell of Jimin’s belly. “I’m already losing it and all I do is smell you.”

“That’s… That’s not true.”

“Hm?”

“You f-feel me too, right? I… I know you do. Feel like… like I’m an e-extension of your body sometimes.” Jimin pants helplessly, cock leaking everywhere from just the simplest touches.

“Right, I do.”

“It’s l-like you know my moves before I d-do.”

“I’m very aware of your existence. I always have been. With my senses accommodating for the lack of sight, it’s like you’re a part of me that I don’t even have to think about. It’s even stronger now that we’re mates. You’re connected to my soul.” Jungkook slips his hands to Jimin’s hips while he kisses up and down his flesh, leaving no spot without affection.

“I l-love that about you, alpha. We’re like… like one being sometimes.” Jimin’s fingers fly down to tangle in the dark tufts of hair on Jungkook’s head.

“We are.”

Waiting for Jungkook to finish his nightly bout of affection feels like pure and utter torture, Jimin so desperate for a knot that he thinks he could cry. He tries his hardest to appreciate the time that his alpha takes to ensure he feels cherished and beautiful, but the beast inside of him makes that embarrassingly difficult.

“Will you let me have a little taste when your milk supply comes in? Can I just give it a try so I know what it’s like?” Jungkook sucks along the swollen flesh of Jimin’s chest to leave scorching marks.

“You… You w-want to?”

“I want it so fucking bad. You have no idea. It haunts my dreams.” Jungkook emphasizes his point by sucking Jimin’s nipple into his mouth.

“I, uh… I d-don’t know. M-Maybe. We’ll see.”

“Bet you’ll taste so good.”

“The m-milk is for our pup, not y-you. You’re a fully grown alpha. I’m not sure if that’s allowed.” Jimin tosses his head back in a high-pitched moan, his cock twitching wildly in response to the pleasure rushing from his chest, a red flush washing from his face to his neck.

“Anything is allowed, baby. We can do whatever the hell we want. Who’s going to stop us?”

“Well…”

Despite the incessant need that consumes Jimin in perpetuity, unable to function without thoughts of his alpha plaguing his mind, he still craves an undeniable tenderness in his affections from Jungkook. He wants loving touches, gentle whispers, and overwhelming softness in each of their intimate interactions. Though he possesses no formal knowledge about the musings of a pregnant omega, he thinks that maybe his inner wolf needs the display of closeness to assure him of his alpha’s care for him in his most vulnerable moments.

Luckily for him, Jungkook more than fulfills any desires that linger in Jimin’s heart. He hardly needs a single word at this point, so accustomed to his mate’s needs that he satisfies him without explicit directions. Jungkook, like always, merely knows Jimin and what he wants, connected in a primal way.

“Alpha—“

“Yes, baby?”

“T-Tell me how much you love me.” Jimin requests softly, lethargically raising himself up and down on Jungkook’s cock where he sits in his lap, squeezing his eyes closed as a rush of sensations course through his veins.

“I love you.” Jungkook says with nothing except absolute confidence. “I love you so fucking much. More than anything in the world.”

“E-Even like this?”

“Like what?”

“Just… Just different. I’m r-rounder and bigger and heavier. Swollen.” Jimin forces oxygen into his lungs with a shaky breath as he steadies himself, mostly content as long as Jungkook fills him like this.

“Especially like this.”

“Oh.”

“You’re full with my pup, gaining weight while you work hard to grow them, and so soft beneath my fingers that I’m scared of breaking you. I don’t even need to see you to know that you’re the most gorgeous omega on the face of the earth. You make me so proud.” Jungkook gently rocks Jimin back and forth by a grip on his hips. “I love you and the pup in your belly so much that it hurts.”

“A-Always?”

“Of course, omega. Always. Forever and ever.” Jungkook juts his hips up to meet Jimin’s downward motions, receiving just enough stimulation to keep him going, never complaining about Jimin’s slowness.

“I-It makes me a little sad that I can’t lean down and press our chests together anymore. That… That was one of my favorite things.”

“I’m sorry, baby.”

“Will you sit up a little more?” Jimin requests in a meek voice. “I want to feel you against me.”

“Sure.”

Jimin finds himself unable to picture how he might function when his pregnancy reaches it peak point, already big enough that it hinders his regular routine. He needs new clothes every time he blinks, his feet ache something fierce, and the heaviness of his chest throws off his balance.

It helps that Jungkook permanently hovers around him to assist with anything and everything he could ever need.

Adoring.

The alpha straightens up against the headboard so that Jimin receives a trustworthy structure to rest his weight against, the pressure of their bellies pressing together enough to satisfy the longing in his heart. Their bodies connect with Jungkook’s cock stuffed deep inside of him while their torsos mash together for additional comfort.

Toward the end, when Jimin’s grows too tired to lift himself anything longer, he allows Jungkook to command full control, offering his body for his alpha’s taking while he rests his head on the headboard next to Jungkook’s.

“How many?”

“H-Huh?”

“How many times do you want to come before I knot you?” Jungkook releases heavy breaths as he works his cock into Jimin at a leisurely pace.

“Maybe… Maybe t-three.”

“Not so greedy today, hm? Too tired?”

“I just want to f-feel you, alpha. Don’t really care about anything else right now. Want you. That’s all.” Jimin whispers with sincerity, voice featherlight and breathy, pleasure building inside of him until he verges on bursting.

“You have me, sweetheart. You have me all you want. I’ll sit here and make you feel good until my arm falls off. I’m yours for the taking.”

“I l-love you.”

“I love you more.”

As a man of his word who never lets his mate down if he possesses any feasible way of keeping his promises, Jungkook sneaks his hand between their flush bodies to wrap a couple of fingers around Jimin’s tiny cock to jerk him to release. He lets the omega bury his face in his neck to breathe in the intoxicating aroma of amber while he reaches his peak again and again without cease.

Jungkook works him until he struggles to keep his eyes open, lulled in a place of blissful serenity while his cock spirts out pitiful puddles of cum, receiving more than three orgasms despite his initial request.

Eventually, he welcomes in a knot.

“Do you think everyone knows that this is why I stop working every afternoon when school finishes?” Jungkook lets out a hearty chuckle as he strokes the clammy skin down Jimin’s spine. “Are they aware of what the fuck I’m doing that’s so urgent that I have to hurry home with you? Does anyone have a clue?”

“I hope not.”

“What’s wrong with them knowing that I have to knot you like clockwork or you cry your eyes out?”

“T-That’s embarrassing! And… And awkward! I don’t want to them to even think about that. This is for us to know and no one else.” Jimin whimpers as his body involuntarily squeezes around the knot inside of him, highly sensitive after a full day of round the clock intimacy to satiate him.

“It’s perfectly normal. Yoongi said so himself. Don’t be embarrassed about what your body needs, especially not now.” Jungkook playfully pinches his ass cheek to get a rise out of him.

“Easy for you to say.”

“I won’t pretend like I don’t enjoy it, baby.”

While falling asleep on Jungkook’s knot sounds like paradise, Jimin letting himself slip away to dreamland in his alpha’s embrace rather normal at this point, he greatly craves a bath to wash away the grime of the day that tacks to his skin.

He never sleeps better than when he possesses freshly cleaned and moisturized skin, even if it kind of proves pointless since he sometimes ends up craving a knot in the middle of the night.

Steaming water.

Candles lining the bathroom.

An adoring alpha to enact all of the burdensome tasks himself.

Jimin holds no qualms with asking Jungkook to assist him to the bathroom, effortlessly lifted into strong arms that carry him in a tight grip, waiting patiently as the hot water piles up, eventually lowering into the tub to soak in the delight goodness that surrounds him. He wants to remain inside of the bathroom for the rest of his days to feel such undeniable comfort.

“Maybe we should just climb in here every night to save us from having to deal with the intensive cleanup.”

“It’s too slippery.”

“Really?” Jungkook blinks as he faces Jimin from an inch or two away. “That’s your only gripe against it? It’s too slippery for you? Aren’t our cum-soaked sheets slippery as well?”

“Nuh-uh, not the same.”

“Right, right.”

“It’s dangerous to do too much physical exercise in here. All it takes is one fall and I’m doomed. I could accidentally hit my belly on the side of the tub or slip on the wet floor or bang my head on the shelf. No reason to take such a risk.” Jimin shudders as he imagines any number of horrific fates befalling him if he lets his guard down.

“Whoa, how do you even think of that shit? You’re worse than I am.” Jungkook grumbles at the mere mention of Jimin getting hurt, kissing him on the cheek to soothe his own anxieties.

“That’s almost all I think of these days. Keeping the pup safe and your knot. Not in that order.”

“Fair enough.”

Jungkook devotes himself to scrubbing each inch of Jimin’s body, washing his hair with a lightly scented shampoo after he throughly takes care of his skin, inserting his fingers inside of the omega to fully clean him despite any whines of protest.

Though Jimin’s eyes threaten to clamp closed and his body aches with exhaustion, he offers to clean Jungkook in return.

He refuses it.

From lifting him out of the tub, drying his body with a towel, applying moisturizer to his skin, brushing his hair, dressing him in sleep clothes, and carrying him to the bed, Jungkook goes above and beyond the call of duty to care for his pregnant mate despite the challenges that arise along the way.

Jimin struggles to imagine why anyone would doubt his alpha’s capabilities, strongly confident that a visual impairment will never affect his ability to protect, provide, and care for their family.

He loves him enough to make up for all of the hardship Jungkook faces at the behest of nonbelievers.

“Would you like my personal opinion on things?” Jungkook’s mom asks quietly, her eyes gazing around the nursery after she comes over to check on Jimin one random weekend. “I have a bit of experience when it comes to pups and raising them and that sort of stuff. No pressure, of course. Feel free to go about things your own way.”

“Go right ahead. I’ll take any help I can get right now. Nothing feels right in here.” Jimin sighs, adjusting the sheet on the mattress, his instincts perturbed by the way everything feels off.

“Personally, I wouldn’t put the crib by the window.”

“Oh.”

“I would move it to the corner where it’s kind of secluded on its own. It’s safer that way. The added protection of the blank walls will help any worries you might have about letting your pup sleep away from you. No rain leaking through or wild animals bursting the glass.” Jungkook’s mom holds her hand to her chin while she slowly spins in a circle to take in the full arrangement of the furniture.

“Okay, yeah. You’re right. That makes a lot of sense. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that myself. My brain is a bit scrambled right now.”

“You’re doing great, Jimin.”

“Do you have any other suggestions? I really want to get this fixed because the pup will be here before we know it.” Jimin seizes the opportunity to plop down on the wooden glider in the corner, hoping not to come across as rude instead of exhaustingly pregnant.

“I’ve got a whole list of them.”

“Really?”

“Mhm.”

“Well… Lay them on me, please!” Jimin leans forward to still the chair while he eagerly awaits the rest of her opinion on the room.

Jungkook’s mom actually takes her time to offer personal touches, subtle changes, and useful alternatives for everything she thinks could serve their family in a better way. She provides helpful details and allows Jimin to ask as many questions as his heart desires. They spend nearly an hour in the nursery, just the two of them, while they discuss the most important things that the pup will need in their room.

Idly, with only a touch of sadness, Jimin wonders what life would look like if his own mom was around to assist him with such a life-changing event, missing Taehyung’s mom more than ever before. He appreciates that Jungkook’s mom treats him like one of her own and clearly cares for him in this way. It helps ease the hurt.

“Let me know if you need anything at all. I’m just a shout away no matter what it is. I understand how stressful and uncomfortable the last bit of pregnancy gets, so I’ll do everything in my power to make it easier for you.”

“Thank you so much. I’m so grateful to have you.” Jimin whispers softly, accepting the hug that she offers by extending her arms.

“My pleasure, honey.”

Despite Jimin’s original insistence that nesting—the pregnancy kind that involves endlessly obsessing over the tiniest details in the home to make it perfect for the pup’s arrival—exists only as a concept in theory, he learns firsthand toward the end of his own gestation period that it actually happens.

It hits him hard.

The need to clean every inch of their cabin from top to bottom plagues him like a disease.

Unrelenting.

Whether regarding the baseboards on the walls, every crack in the floor, or each spot of the ceiling in the nursery, Jimin finds himself unable to comfortably rest when he knows that pesky dirt and grime linger in his vicinity.

Rather than a fully conscious effort to expel all harmful aspects from his home before his pup pops into the world, he sometimes fails to realize what his instincts crave until he ends up on his hands and knees with a wash rag before the sun even rises. He stresses over places he never even realized existed, scrubbing underneath the dining table and inside the closets without hesitation.

Everyone understands his consuming need to ensure nothing except perfection awaits his precious pup’s life, more worried for him than teasing.

“How much longer does Yoongi think you have before it comes?”

“Don’t call my pup ‘it’, please.” Jimin huffs petulantly, reminding his best friend for the tenth time, more playful than anything else. “They’re deserving of respect, you know.”

“When are they coming out?”

“Hmm… A month.”

“Holy shit! You’ve only got a month left? This whole thing has really flown by. It feels like just yesterday that you were crying because you couldn’t stop throwing up. Now you’re as big as your house.” Taehyung shakes his head in disbelief, reaching over to pat Jimin’s rounded belly.

“Hey! That’s not nice! Just for that, you’re going to help me organize all of the linens in the closet and put them in color order.”

“I was already going to do that!”

“Oh, right.”

Constantly pouring his attention into the state of their home provides Jimin with an avenue of escape for his surmounting anxiety regarding his impending birth, channeling all of his worries into the condition that he wants to greet their little babe. It helps him thrust away the fears that haunt his mind while completing mostly productive tasks.

A win-win situation.

Instead of lying around and wallowing in his racing thoughts, Jimin prepares this side of the Earth for the being he loves so much already.

As the days tick forward, the months of summer bleeding together into an amalgamation of puddles of sweat and bodily discomfort, Jimin works himself into the ground to ensure that no stone goes unturned for their pup. He cleans and organizes and arranges and shops and forages, unable to care about anything else with the arrival so near.

Unfortunately, Yoongi puts him on bedrest when pain starts gripping his lower belly, finding it important to properly rest as the big moment draws closer.

Too real.

“W-Wait!” Jimin calls out in a panic, gradually slipping out of a state of consciousness after an afternoon nap, his body uneasy as Jungkook scoops him into arms despite his hefty weight. “Where… Where are we g-going?”

“Just to the living room, baby. Don’t worry. We’re not going anywhere.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see.” Jungkook hums in response, only narrowing assuaging the host of concerns flashing through the omega’s mind.

“O-Okay.”

Jimin does, in fact, see the reason for exiting the bedroom without warning, his eyes wide with disbelief when he enters into the living room to discover all of their friends crowded around their home with excited smiles on their faces.

They give him a boisterous greeting.

A surprise party.

He never expects such a celebratory event to happen right on his doorstep, but he offers no complaints about the situation. All of them put forth effort to clear their schedules, make time to visit him, and prepare a small party to ring in the birth of their pup. It makes him want to burst into a ball of tears, eyes growing watery when he glances at all of their welcome faces, yet he manages to hold back for a little longer.

Everyone moves to make space for him on the couch, Jungkook gently placing him down before patting along his mate’s body to ensure that all feels right.

“Hi!” Taehyung exclaims happily, nuzzling into Jimin’s shoulder.

“Hi!”

“Did you really think we would let you give birth to a pup without throwing at least a little party first?” Seokjin questions with a raised eyebrow, flashing his teeth in a smile that he directs Jimin’s way, the amount of smells and sounds overwhelming.

“I… I guess I didn’t think about it. It certainly wasn’t expected, though. Not at all.”

“It’s customary! How could we not?”

“Thank you.” Jimin says with a heartfelt smile that stretches across his chubby cheeks. “I also smell some delicious food in the kitchen, so thank you even more. Did you know I would be hungry?”

“You’re always hungry.” Jungkook comments from where he stands in front of him.

“True.”

“Very, very true.”

“Just wait until he starts feeding the pup. This is nothing compared to how hungry he’ll be later. He’s going to eat you out of house and home.” Yoongi chimes in from beside Jimin on the couch.

“The joys of being an omega.”

No one in their right mind would purposely make a heavily pregnant omega wait to eat when perfectly cooked food resides only a few feet away, so they all rush to their feet to commence with the meal they dutifully prepared.

Jimin stays seated.

The hard surface of the wooden dining chairs makes him too uncomfortable these days.

A few of them join him in the living room since they only possess four chairs at the dining table, spreading around the room with plates full of wonderful goodies, Jimin receiving the honors of enjoying the first bite after Jungkook delivers him a heaping amount of all of his favorite things. It tastes even better than he imagines, hitting the spot just right.

From juicy hog to fluffy bread to sugary fudge to mixed rice, they carefully select his current preferences to feed him what he craves most.

He nearly cries again.

“Is this your way of telling me that the pup will be here soon? Are we having one last gathering before my world flips upside down? Do you know something that we don’t?” Jimin asks when he turns to Yoongi, both joking and serious simultaneously.

“Yes and no.”

“Explain yourself.” Jimin requests in earnest.

“This is probably the last time that we’ll all get together before you have the pup, but I have no idea when it’ll actually be here. There’s no way for me to predict that.” Yoongi shrugs his shoulders in a noncommittal display.

“Jungkook thinks he knows.”

“Wait, what?”

“He’s the one who said we should hurry up and do this because he feels like you’ll be giving birth soon.” Hoseok explains with raised eyebrows.

“Oh my god!”

“They’re being fucking dramatic, omega. I just think it’ll be here within the next couple of weeks. Maybe I’m wrong, though.” Jungkook shuffles from his spot on the floor, reaching out to squeeze Jimin’s calf in a show of affection and reassurance.

“You’re never wrong.”

“Well…”

In true surprise party fashion, all of their friends bring Jimin a gift to open to celebrate the arrival of his pup, focusing mostly on him in particular since he will soon deal with the grueling process of birthing an entire being from his body. All sorts of presents from them reside in the nursery, already spoiling the little babe before it even makes its way onto the Earth. The gifts in the living room are for Jimin and Jimin alone.

The waterworks inevitably flow as Jimin feels such intense consideration from the people he holds dearest to his heart, each offering harboring an abundance of love, care, and consideration.

Personal touches.

Seokjin gives Jimin hand sewn outfits to wear after birth, Yoongi fills a basket with medicinal supplies for recovery, Hoseok cooks and bakes all kinds of delicious treats, Namjoon brings him a memory journal to document the process of raising his pup, and Taehyung curates a whole box full of pampering items to help him feel better.

Every offering touches him deep in the depths of his being, beyond thankful for such caring friends that drown him in love.

It saddens him to say goodbye when he knows that he might not see them again for a while, beckoning them to stop by for individual visits instead of leaving him lonely, all of them gripping him in a tight hug with promises to carve time out of their days to check on him along the way. They pat his back, rub his shoulders, and shoot him beautiful smiles.

Nothing but happiness.

On a tortuously sweltering day at the beginning of August, with a raging storm wreaking havoc outside the confines of their home, approximately two years after uprooting his life to move to the Jeon Pack, Jimin experiences the miracle of birthing a pup into the world.

He goes into labor shortly after the sun rises in the sky, suffering through excruciating contractions and agonizing pain for most of the day.

It takes hours upon hours.

The actual process of birthing the pup happens much later in the night with the reprieve of cool air billowing through the open windows, Jimin hunched up in their bed to receive comfort through the most trying time of his life, Jungkook stoic by his side from the moment that he experiences his first contraction to the moment he pushes their pup from within his body.

Yoongi resides in the room while the chaos unfolds, but chooses to default to a much more seasoned healer from their pack for the actual delivery.

Agony.

Jimin truthfully doubts himself when it finally comes down to it, unsure if his body can handle the onslaught of pain that seems to never end. He wails and screams and pants like his life depends on it. Squeezing Jungkook’s hand helps him to squander away some of his hurt, though nothing truly alleviates his misery for the duration of the process, effectively losing his mind by the time they reach any substantial progress. The birthing portion of the situation feels like it lasts for an eternity.

Hearing shrill cries echoing off the walls provides him the necessary amount of relief to collapse onto the bed without a single care in the world, utterly exhausted to the point that he struggles to keep his eyes open as sweat pours down his temples.

Perfect.

They repeat it again and again.

A little boy with a whole head of hair, all ten fingers and toes, fully capable lungs, just enough weight on his bones, and a surprisingly lengthy stature.

Jungkook protectively hovers near the pup with a degree of uncertainty to his movements, the omega watching from the corner of his tired eyes as his mate attempts to keep guard as they clean up, undoubtedly struggling with the wealth of emotions and flurry of stimulation barraging him from every angle.

They eventually place him on Jimin’s bare chest for skin to skin contact, something that they briefed him on before the event kicked into action.

Devastating.

It serves as Jimin’s first true interaction with the life he tirelessly grew inside of him for months. He weeps tears of joy as he holds the precious pup with his hands, unable to process how much he loves him. All feels right with the world when he leans his head forward to suck in deep breaths of the essence of his newborn. A sense of completeness washes over him as Jungkook strokes his head while he clutches their little one as close as humanly possible.

The first few days pass in a haze since Jimin mostly remains unconscious unless he needs to tend to the pup in some capacity.

Thankfully, it gets easier.

As hours morph into days that turn into weeks, he develops a routine that works for him, everything gradually falling into place as his body recovers from the hell that occurred. Jimin learns the best way to soothe a crying pup, what each type of whimper means, how to ensure that he properly latches, when to change him, and a whole host of things revolving around his new life.

All in all, he adores the time he spends adjusting to his new role as a parent to his precious pup.

“Hi.”

No reply, of course.

“Hello, Minsoo.” Jimin whispers in a soothing, gentle voice that floats through the air like a graceful dove. He stares down at the pup in his lap with awestruck wonder, still in disbelief that he somehow created such a beautiful thing inside of him. It never grows less shocking. “You’re so alert today. You just want to see everything, don’t you? Curious thing. There’s so much to look at, right?”

Although Jungkook loathes to miss a single moment of special family time, Jimin finds it wholly unnecessary for both of them to wake in the middle of the night when their pup needs to feed.

Tonight, as the cool breeze flows through the living room window, Jimin and Minsoo lounge on the couch on their own.

Lovely.

“You know, I find it kind of disrespectful that you’re a carbon copy of Jungkook. I’m the one who spent nine months growing you in my belly and puking my guts out every morning. Not to mention that I also let you rip out of me to get here. You don’t look like me at all.”

Minsoo, as always, merely blinks at Jimin without any sort of acknowledgement or response, far too young to understand a single word he utters.

“Are you hungry, sweetie?”

As if on cue, Minsoo starts to whimper again. He opens and closes his mouth, reflexively sucking on nothing while he flails his head from side to side. Only an hour passes since his last feeding, but Jimin notices how his belly seems to bother him sometimes, resulting in shorter and more frequent eating times. Perhaps he should mention it to Yoongi.

Even in the most mundane moments where he sits awake while the rest of the world sleeps peacefully, Jimin feels nothing except gratitude for the amazing blessing that encompasses his life.

He puts his pup to his chest and allows him to eat once more, happy to provide.

“You’re the prettiest thing in the world. Yes, you certainly are. I don’t think a pup has ever been born with eyes as big as yours. They’re so sparkly and shiny. You get that from your other dad, for sure. His little twin.” Jimin lovingly strokes Minsoo’s cheek while he talks to him, still over the moon despite the tough moments, adoring his position as a dad.

Jungkook, of course, snatches every chance to spend time with their pup and care for him while Jimin receives the chance to rest, naturally settling his role as a caretaker for the first time in his life.

Dedicated.

It takes some getting used to.

His nervousness surrounding the fragility of a tiny being like their son inhibits his confidence for the initial few days after his birth, but he swiftly adjusts to the changes in their life and learns how to tend to Minsoo without ever seeing him, never worrying Jimin for a single second throughout the entire process.

Sometimes Jimin merely observes their interactions while his heart melts in a puddle in his chest.

“We have to be quiet so we don’t disturb your dad. You might not want to sleep anymore, but he does. It’s called having manners. That’s one of the most important things you have to learn in life. We always have to be kind and courteous to others, especially to someone like your dad.” Jungkook’s low voice filters into Jimin’s ear to gently rouse him from his sleep, unbelievably soothing.

A beat of silence passes.

Minsoo releases the littlest, most adorable baby sound in all of history, bubbly and breathy despite his inability to truly communicate, making Jimin want to audibly coo at his cuteness.

“I won’t ever be able to see you, but I’ll do my best to protect you and take care of you and make you happy. I love you so much. I’m really good at sensing things, so you don’t need to worry. I feel you even if my eyes don’t see you.”

Jimin lets his eyes slip open, unhurried as he blinks away the heaviness of sleep that hangs over his head, nearly moved to tears by such a simple few statements from Jungkook. He wants to watch them together, not moving an inch in hopes that they continue without knowledge that he awakens. If Jungkook knows, like he usually does, he refrains from showing it.

The alpha holds Minsoo in the cradle of his arm while he rests against the headboard, using his free hand to trace his fingers along the features of the pup’s face.

Heartwarming.

Jimin loves them so much that it hurts.

Every move of Jungkook’s body possesses the utmost amount of precision possible. He never allows his practiced confidence to cloud his judgment, uncharacteristically slow and careful when he holds their pup in his arms. Whether carrying him across the pack grounds or merely changing his clothing, Jungkook exudes gentle consideration without fail.

“Remember those manners I was talking about? Not everyone has them. Sometimes not even your own parents. I can feel your dad eavesdropping on us from his side of the bed.” Jungkook whispers in a scandalized tone, turning to smirk in Jimin’s direction.

“It’s n-not eavesdropping if it’s happening in my own bed.” Jimin retorts in retaliation.

“Sure, whatever you say.”

The best days transpire with all three of them remaining together from the time the sun rises to long after it sets, possessing no other obligations or duties besides caring for their family. Waking bright and early, lounging in the living room, eating meals at the dining table, going on walks, and napping in the bed. They spend every moment by each other’s sides as they live a perfect day in their new lives.

Jimin gently sways back and forth in the living room as he stares out the window, a gentle breeze washing over him that already contains too much heat, the sound of sizzling food echoing off the walls to provide background noise for their morning.

“How long until Taehyung’s mom comes for a visit?”

“Mm… Two days.” Jimin answers as peppers kisses to Minsoo’s chubby cheeks, clutching him tightly in his arms. “She’ll be here on Monday if everything works out.”

“And she’s staying with Taehyung?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“I’ll go ahead and tidy up the spare bedroom in case we end up needing it. You never know. She might be here until late one night and just want to sleep over or some shit.” Jungkook stands in front of the stove while he finishes their breakfast.

“That’ll be great, alpha. Thank you.” Jimin smiles to himself before kissing Minsoo some more.

“Watch out for this hot pan.”

“We’re next to the couch.”

The majority of their first month or two as parents harbors nothing interesting, something that they immensely appreciate. Jimin cares for Minsoo on his own when Jungkook needs to work around the pack for a few hours, the three of them usually together otherwise. Separation from their pup causes Jimin such emotional distress that he brings him everywhere he goes without hesitation.

“Why the hell are we putting him in the creek? You still haven’t explained that part to me.” Jungkook asks with a raised eyebrow, crouching next to the water while his hands hover in front of him in a protective gesture toward Minsoo.

“It’s good for his skin to get some natural water and minerals, especially because it’s been so dry lately.”

“Says who?”

“Me!” Jimin exclaims with a huff, attempting to balance their pup in one hand while keeping him secure, his legs a bit wobbly in this position. “And… And Yoongi! It’s a well known thing!”

“Just let me hold him while you do the washing.” Jungkook sighs, lowering his arms.

“Okay.”

It takes way too long for them to manage their fussy pup while successfully washing him in the creek, the stress of hurrying without upsetting him further only causing more stress to everyone, Jimin falling back in a show of exhaustion once they finish.

Not everything goes according to plan, something that they learn together along this journey of parenting their first pup.

Everything works out in the end.

“Wake up, alpha.” Jimin whispers in a featherlight voice that flutters through the air on its way to Jungkook’s ears. He raises a hand to gently card it through his mate’s hair, everything drowning in warmth despite the biting cold just out the confines of their home. The glow of the fireplace drowns their bedroom in an effervescent sheen. “It’s time to get the day started. You’ve got to get up now.”

“Hmm… No. Don’t want to.”

“Have to.”

“That’s where you’re mistaken, baby. I don’t have to do anything. Is someone going to come beat down our door and drag me out by my hair if I don’t show up for work?” Jungkook’s eyes remain closed while he reaches up to wrap his arms around Jimin to pull him in closer to his chest.

“Well, I hope not, but I would be very sad if you became a recluse and just stayed at home instead of taking us to work.”

“It’s your last day.”

“Yeah, it’s the last day until Winter ends. You won’t have to walk with us for a couple more months.” Jimin softly hums, puckering his lips for a kiss that Jungkook anticipates.

“I’ll get up in a minute.”

“Alright.”

“Happy two year anniversary, my love.” Jungkook angles himself to reach Jimin’s neck, placing a wet kiss to his mating bite, stealing the breath from the omega’s lungs without even trying. “These have been the best years of my life and I can’t wait to see what the rest of them have in store for us.”

“Happy anniversary, alpha. You make me happier than I ever thought was possible. I still can’t believe that this is really my life.”

“Two down, a hundred to go.”

“Ambitious.”

With roughly six months of raising a pup under their belt, they effortlessly balance their responsibilities between them to help their morning flow smoothly, Jimin typically devoting himself to dressing Minsoo for the day while Jungkook prepares them a hearty breakfast full of delicious and nutritious foods.

Their pup eats with them at the table, Jimin feeding him from his breast before he offers him a couple of bites of solid food like fruit.

Minsoo’s steady growth blows his mind.

“Do you want to carry him since you won’t be seeing him again for the rest of the day? He still needs his coat and stuff.” Jimin glances to the rug on the living room floor where Minsoo gleefully entertains himself with a plush toy, his parents focusing on gearing themselves up to brave the cold.

“Yeah, I’d like to carry him. I need a little motivation to start my day before I spend the next eight hours chopping down fucking trees.”

“I’m sorry, alpha.”

“It’s not your fault, sweetheart.” Jungkook leans over to steal another kiss, accidentally missing his lips and landing on his chin instead, ultimately correcting it after a couple of tries. “I shouldn’t complain because I know this hard work will keep a lot of our pack members warm when the weather gets bad.”

“You’re such a strong, capable alpha. It still gets me even after all this time. I love it so much.” Jimin practically swoons as he stares at his mate with heart eyes.

“How lucky am I?”

Jimin possesses the luxury of fulfilling a job around the pack that allows him to bring his pup with him. Instead of sacrificing his position as a teacher to care for his son or offhanding Minsoo onto someone else for hours a day, he receives the privilege of multitasking both his parenting and his teaching. He can carry his pup on his hip while helping students finish their essays. It causes far less problems than he originally imagined.

Of course, on the fussier days or when his students need more from him, he possesses a wealth of options of care for his son. From the childcare center to their friends to Jungkook himself, a host of support systems surround their little family.

Minsoo stays with his grandma today.

“I fed him some peas and potatoes, but that doesn’t seem like it was enough for him. We tried to hold out as long as we could so that you could finish the day.” Jungkook’s mom shoots him an apologetic look as they stand near his desk in the classroom.

“It’s really no problem at all. Thank you for bringing him over. He’s still pretty picky and prefers milk to any of the solids we’ve introduced.”

“I’m sure he’ll grow out of it.”

“Do you mind hanging out until I finish feeding him? School might last a little longer today since it’s our final day of the year. It would be a really big help if you could watch him after he eats.” Jimin never wants to assume anyone’s availability or force them into a position they don’t want.

“Of course, honey. I was planning on doing that anyway. He just needs to eat and then we’ll be out of your hair.”

“Thank you so much.” Jimin swiftly plops down in his chair to start feeding him.

Although the last day of the school year always tugs on Jimin’s heartstrings since he officially bids most of his students goodbye, sending them up into the next grade level once they return in the Spring, he always feels a sense of pride in all they accomplish and the knowledge instilled in them throughout their time together.

This remains one of his greatest sources of personal fulfillment even after all these years, never growing tired of instilling important information in the next generation among the pack.

They laugh.

They share memories.

They review important details about next year.

It never fails to bring a tear to his eye when he wraps each of his students in an encompassing hug before sending them out the door, praising them one by one to ensure that they know how much he cares for them. Seeing them on occasion in the hallway or when they stop by for a visit never hits the same as teaching their smiling faces each day.

He makes it through the day in one piece, something that he expresses endless gratitude for.

Another year in the books.

“Give that precious pup to me right now!” Seokjin all but demands, rushing over to Jimin as soon as he steps past the threshold of Hoseok’s door, excitedly scooping him up in his arms to steal him away in an instant. “I’ve been so busy with all my orders that I haven’t seen him in forever!”

“Well, fuck me, I guess.” Jungkook grumbles under his breath, shaking his head.

“You see him every day!”

“He’s my damn pup.” Jungkook replies.

“How are you doing? Hm? How’s my baby doing? Are you happy? Yeah? I tell from your smile that you are! Such a happy, happy little pup. I just want to squeeze your chubby cheeks off.”

“When’s dinner?” Jimin asks with a lethargic sigh, glancing over at the kitchen while he removes his coat and scarf.

“Five minutes!”

“Thank god! I’m so hungry.”

Jimin finds his way to Jungkook’s lap on the couch with skilled quickness, plopping down to make himself comfortable without a care in the world, craving his alpha’s amber scent and his captivating presence after a lifetime apart. Jungkook wastes no time with gripping him around the waist, Minsoo’s adorable squeals and giggles echoing off the walls around them as he plays with Seokjin.

“Are you going to let Minsoo skate on the ice this year?” Taehyung asks from across the dining table.

“Oh! I forgot about that!”

“Have you lost your damn mind? Of course not! He’s way too young for that!” Jimin exclaims with disbelief wracking his features, scandalized that his best friend would even ask such a thing.

“Come on! It’s harmless! Nothing bad ever happens when we’re ice skating!”

“Someone from our old pack literally drowned when we were kids because they went ice skating and fell through the ice.” Jimin glares at Taehyung with murderous eyes that sincerely wish to throttle him back and forth to knock some sense into him.

“Why did you never tell us about that before we went?” Namjoon questions as his jaw drops.

“Slipped the mind.”

“How about we pick a less dangerous activity like sledding or something? There’s a perfectly nice hill on the Eastern border that we can use for it.” Yoongi gently offers his suggestion.

“Good idea!”

“Yeah!”

“I’m not against it.” Jungkook answers, shrugging his shoulders.

These days when all of their friends find the opportunity to crowd into a singular space, their many obligations allowing them a brief reprieve, no longer burdened by the responsibility placed on their shoulders, they talk about absolutely nothing of importance while they pass Minsoo around from person to person to receive quality time with the adorable pup.

Jimin greedily stuffs his face full of all of the delicious foods that Hoseok cooks, unable to hold himself back when the huge spread tempts him so much. Breastfeeding sucks the life out of him and leaves him ravenous for sustenance every chance he gets.

All too quickly, the night grows later and they need to return home for proper rest.

The cycle repeats.

It will never get easier to deal with the swift passage of life, utterly cruel with how quickly it flies by. Every time Jimin blinks he finds the most important moments of his existence skirting past him without warning. If only it could slow down for a little while.

“We’ve got pretty much the whole Winter to ourselves now. Just me and you and Minsoo. There’s nowhere we need to go or anything we have to do. It’s just us now.” Jimin whispers softly in Jungkook’s ear, leaning his weight on the alpha’s chest while he straddles his hips in bed.

“No, I think you’re wrong. There’s definitely something that I need to do.” Jungkook corrects him with a slow shake of his head.

“What?”

“You.” Jungkook’s smile drips with pride when Jimin releases a huff of breath, his hands sneaking down on the omega’s hips until they drift dangerously close to his most intimate parts. “I can think of about a million fucking ways I want to do it, as well.”

“We’ve got nothing but time, alpha. You can have me all you want.”

“We’re lucky that Minsoo is sleeping through the night a lot better now. That gives me the chance to take my time with you. There’s no rush anymore.” Jungkook turns his head to catch his lips on Jimin’s neck, sucking his mating bite into his scorching mouth without warning, sending a shockwave of desire down his spine.

“A-Are you going to give me another pup? I think we’ve got enough time to make it happen now. It’s the perfect chance to put our skills to use.” Jimin releases a shaky breath when Jungkook licks and nips at his sensitive neck while grinding their hips together.

“Trust me, baby. We’re not leaving this house until you’re well and truly pupped.”

“Yeah?”

“Hell yeah.”

“I like the sound of that, alpha. Maybe if we try hard enough, we can have two this time.” Jungkook giggles at Jungkook’s scoff, struggling to focus when his mate jerks their clothes out of the way for full skin on skin contact.

“Why stop at two? Let’s try for three.”

“Okay.” Jimin nods enthusiastically, truthfully abhorred by the idea of carrying so many pups inside of him at once, but he plays along. “I want us to have a big house full of pups and love and happiness. That’s my dream.”

“Let’s make it happen, omega. I’ll make all of your dreams come true just like you did with mine. We’ll do everything you want.”

“Come on, then. Get to it. We need to start with a knot right here and now.”

“I love you, baby.” Jungkook says with a pleased grin, kissing Jimin again and again without letting him break away to breathe, all but devouring him with intensity of his passion. “I love you so fucking much.”

“I love you more, alpha. Thank you for loving me well and making me so happy. Thank you for truly, sincerely seeing me.”