Chapter Text
Prologue
Since the mere ages of 1 and 2, Park Jimin and Jeon Jungkook had been inseparable. Their parents, close friends of one another, had the two one year apart. Park Jimin, born in October, was born as the eldest son of Park Doyun and Park Jieun, a noble family, filled with kin born of strong healing skills. His family were an important part of the pack, and had become leaders alongside the Jeons, to ensure that the Jeon rule and their pack continued to prosper. Their close friends, the Jeons, had their own child less than a year later, Jungkook, born to the most prestigious family, the leaders of the pack, Jeon Seojoon and Jeon Mihee. His birth was celebrated as the first male heir to the young family. Upon their first meeting, Jimin was everything an almost 1 year old was, a cry baby. When Jungkook was laid next to him on one of their sheets, he simply stopped and stared, fascinated. Rolling on to his tummy and crawling towards the younger, until he was right next to him, holding himself up on shaky arms. Jungkook just looked at him slightly above him, and he let out the biggest giggles and smallest coos. Jimin had let out his own at the repeated noises from Jungkook. Jimin eventually fell down next to the other, falling asleep beside each other. From then on they were undeniably close. Both so young, so fragile but their bond continued to grow almost every day and become more fond of each other, even as two babies, into toddlers, and as teenagers. At the beginning they remained in their own little world of warm thick pelted blankets, and relied on each other. It was a beautiful relationship, one that each child's parents thought of as nothing but a sincere bond. And as the two continued to grow and learn their duties, their friendship stayed strong.
Jimin and his family's close relationship to the Jeons, had caused them to live near each other, the Jeon family in their exceptionally large family home, and the Park’s home next to them, only yards away. Truly noting how valuable the Park family is. As Jimin continued to grow, so did his fascination and intelligence. At 8 Jimin would wander everywhere in the village outside with his mother who would walk him around, letting his little eyes explore all of the fascinating world he was seeing. But it wasn’t until they would go back to their own healing hut alongside the home that housed some working and training physicians, that Jimin felt full of these curiosities. So, Jimin would learn as much as he could from his mother and the people he watched get treated. His eyes would widen as he peered over his mother, his face filling with admiration as his mother would apply ointments and healing techniques to those who were injured or ill.
Sometimes, whenever they would leave, Jimin's mother would take him to the very edge of the forest and show him as much as she could of the plants and herbs used for certain medicines or ointments. He had enjoyed these moments, when they had one or two certain herbs they needed to use, but did not have. It meant more time with his mother. But it wasn’t until they would go back to their home that Jimin learned the most. Inside of his fathers study that contained plenty of writings of herbal medicines, medicinal techniques, what flowers and plants should be used and what they couldn’t use. Even the looks of them all placed in scrolls bound together, collected by early ancestors, and now collected for them by some of the learning healers. All of it passed down from generation to generation was how they had come so far. Jimin was soon to be a part of this, and he too would begin his own writings once his mother passed their heritage on to him.
Jungkook from the day he was born was put to the task of leading. Constantly, he had to learn how to work, whether that meant he was outside with his father hunting, or taking care of their pack matters. He followed his father around aimlessly, wanting to play with his friends, with Jimin, but his father wanted to educate him about the pack and what it means to lead one as a ruler. The minute he would wake every day, maids quickly prepared him for his day. His life never stopped moving, but he understood that this was his family duty. In order to lead their pack to great lengths, he could not be weak, he had to be strong, smart, and tactile if he truly wanted to lead. So his father dealt him with harsh didactic teachings that pushed him to his limits every day. His life did not start easy, constantly bruised and sore from training and hunting. Although as he grew he became much more adapted to the daunting schedule, and even made enough time for what he wanted to do.
Jimin and Jungkook would play as often as they could between the learning schedules and the small mediocre breaks. They played for hours until it was time to rest, but as the years went on they no longer could do as much together. They had to learn how to be themselves, how to be who they needed to be. At 15 & 14 both had their own tasks to learn and uphold for their futures. Jimin was in line to be his family's next head healer after his mother. Often after doing his chores, he found himself stuck in their medicinal quarters learning how to help and treat wounds. It was difficult to learn and stick with, but Jimin had fortunately found to truly love what he was learning when he was young, even if it had taken some time, it had become one of his main focuses.
For Jungkook, his life only continued to get harder, the pressure of his duty only rose. Although he was accustomed to most of his everyday schedules, his father would like to add things at times. On the roughest of days, Jungkook who had struggled tremendously, would find Jimin and drop into the comfort of his friend. Jimin, who had opened his arms with nothing but a smile, would hold him as he complained of his tired body, and his overwhelming amount of responsibilities. Wounds and bruises across his body, Jimin held and caressed, offering Jungkook treatment, but every time he denied. They never wanted to argue, so Jimin never insisted, even if they were really bad, he denied any help from Jimin. For Jungkook, Jimin had already become the sole thing he could confide in, from when they were merely 7 & 8, Jungkook would turn to Jimin's warmth and rest. From each moment he spent with Jimin, the patter in his chest would calm, but the flutter in his stomach would only continue to grow as he grew as well. Each small touch or brush of his skin against Jimin made his whole body flush and burn, healing any of the pain he felt. It was then he realized that he felt something for Jimin that he did not understand.
He found himself watching the way Jimin's cheeks would redden in the cold of the winter, noticing the way Jimin would constantly brush his hair or fiddle with it when he was bored. Or even the way Jimin would smile so big, his eyes closing tightly when he truly laughed. Every moment with Jimin, he could feel all of these emotions grow that he should have never felt before at the age of 15. But he could feel them, and just being with Jimin was something he had grown to truly enjoy. Jimin had become something he wanted, someone he wanted to feel warmth from all the time, and it was not something that was forced upon him. It was his own choice and feeling, it was entirely different to him, but he had never felt so happy. And Jimin was someone he wasn’t willing to give up on ever, even if he didn’t understand the protectiveness he had over him.
It wasn’t until Jimin had presented that this want Jungkook had developed that it had become much more of a challenge. Only a few months after Jimin had turned 16 that he noticed his body starting to change, an early presentation. Beginning to present at the young of 16 wasn’t heard of often as most would present at 18, the youngest being 17 when they would present. Presenting itself was already extremely harsh, being older and more mature helped with the experience. But having an earlier presentation was much more ruthless on the body, and Jimin was having to experience it himself. Over a couple of weeks Jimin had started to notice the way his hips widened slightly, how his once prominent features and strength had softened. His presentation arrived slowly. It wasn’t until late August that he had officially felt the symptoms. Weeks of change had finally switched, his skin had started to heat slightly causing sweat to bud at his temples, the subtle pain in his abdomen, the slightly muted sweetness of peach was all tell-tale signs of pre-heat.
He had gone to his mother, whining of the symptoms taking over his body. It had only taken Jimin’s mother a mere glance at him and the slight fragrance coming from Jimin to know of his presentation. She had gone to her son, a soft smile on her face, and embraced him. Jimin was tearing up, uncomfortable with the feeling of his abdomen in pain.
Although Jimin had grown up well, his mothers maternal instinct to protect and soothe her child stuck with her. So with her mate they carried him to his room and laid him down in his pelts. His mother understood his pain having gone through many herself, she wanted to help him and be there with him. She had grabbed a bucket of cool water and some blankets to stay beside her child, to help ease the heat and pain his body was producing. It wasn’t until that night that the full extent of heat had hit Jimin. It was harsh, he cried in pain, his mother holding him, wiping the sweat off him, whispering sweet words. It was only every couple hours that she would leave to prepare and cook a meal, so that they could eat.
Finally after 4 days of the agonizing pain, the heat in his body broke, and the pain in his stomach had receded. It was over. His body was exhausted having never experienced such strong labor over repeated days. Jimin's mother drew a bath for him and helped him bathe, his limbs weak and tired. She then replaced his clothes, sheets and blankets filled with sweat and tears, and brought him back to rest.
Over those 4 days Jungkook had continuously visited, curious as to where Jimin was, and wanting to know if he was sick, as he had missed Jungkook's birthday. And on the fifth Jimin's mother had advised Jungkook to go home, and that he would be better tomorrow to be with Jungkook. It disappointed Jungkook that he couldn’t yet see Jimin, but he was still excited to finally know when he would see the other after many days.
When Jimin had woken up the next morning, there was Jungkook gleaming, a smile so wide it practically reached his ears. Jimin couldn’t help his own smile that overtook his face. He was glad to see him. Jimin didn’t tell Jungkook of his presentation, but he knew that Jungkook would figure it out soon. His scent has blossomed into a creamy peach scent that although was subtle to Jungkook it was still there. Fortunately, neither of them spoke of it, just basked in each other's presence as Jungkook finally went on about his birthday, what his father had gifted him, what his mother got him, and so much more. Jimin just listened intently, nodding along.
When Jimin had left his home, instantly he was praised for his looks and maturity. Many people their age had started to come around Jimin, and Jungkook noticed immediately. How all of these people unbeknownst to Jimin were eyeing him like something new for them. It made Jungkook seeth, he hated the attention Jimin received. He wanted it to go back to just being him and Jimin and their few other friends.
From Jimin's presentation he knew he had to mature quickly if he wanted to continue his life as free as he wanted to still. And he did, he had become very intelligent over the months that passed, strong in that he would never let anyone try to use or manipulate him. Many of the things that mattered in their lives that many struggled with, Jimin had successfully grasped and made him truly brilliant. He was extremely disciplined, studying constantly with his mother, and resilient when he failed. He never let anything or anyone set him back for long, his confidence was truly admirable.
It wasn’t until a couple of years later that Jungkook had finally presented at 18. An entire week he spent in his chambers, sweating heavily, feeling the full extent of the change his body had. He had grown significantly in the few weeks before his presentation, his stature and the already pronounced muscles he had only grew, making him much broader than he already was. The scent he developed had sprouted only 2 days before the beginning of his rut, and everyone knew exactly what he was. He had developed a strong scent of cedar sandalwood that displayed the sheer rank that he held. Everyone knew the unmistakable rank he had, Jungkook would present as an alpha, and he was the perfect fit for the future leader of their kingdom as an alpha.
Not long after Jungkook had finished his rut did his father declare that his son would now be an official leader of the Jeon pack alongside him. His pride in his son was present in the way he presented himself and Jungkook. All of the omegas and betas capable of being around Jungkook took as many chances as they could to be next to him to hopefully gain his interest. He had become extremely popular, Jungkook didn’t despise the looks he received, but they kept him surrounded. The one person he did want to be close at his side, stood outside the crowd, watching him get swarmed. Jimin who stood there giggling with his mother over the new infatuation that Jungkook had over the young omegas and betas, and that smile he held on his face did wonders for Jungkook. He was completely and utterly lovesick for his childhood best friend, although he still believed it to be the long lasting friendship that they’ve had for so long.
The weeks after Jungkook's presentation, the looks and popularity of Jungkook did not dwindle, but he had begun to carry it well. He would give everyone a smile, or even a subtle grace of his hand, he had become flirty to appease them. Jimin would come around and tease Jungkook for his followers that he had, but he would brush it off with a smug grin. Everyone around them who had seen their interactions understood that they truly could only see each other. Even the followers that Jungkook and Jimin had chasing them around for the possibility of a chance at a relationship with them knew it was inevitable. Jimin and Jungkook were to be the perfect mates, both strong leaders in their own separate ways, but still the perfect fit for each other. No one denied it, except the two. They’ve been friends for so long, a romance between them, they did not believe could ever occur. It was a possibility of losing their friendship that neither wanted to risk, even if neither of them realized their feelings.