Chapter Text
Jeongguk has always liked the smell of burning firewood. It’s always been a source of comfort for him, bringing fond memories with it. He remembers the bonfires his pack would have every full moon. Everyone would dress up and dance the night away while singing cheerful songs. It was often during these celebrations that wolves would find their mates. Perhaps when the traditional exchanging of flower crowns happened, or maybe when a packmate managed to muster up the courage to ask another for a slow waltz. In his later years, Jeongguk could often be caught lingering on the sidelines, snacking on delicious treats and staring at couples forlornly or chatting with friends while they took a temporary break from dancing. As a pup, he and the other wolves his age would run around the fire excitedly and play games in the woods, thrilled to be staying up late like adults.
It was never the smell that Jeongguk liked, he learns, but rather the nostalgia that came with it. Because the smell of fire alone doesn’t necessarily bring good news.
. . .
Smoke and the strong scent of something burning filled Jeongguk’s nostrils and brought tears to his eyes, startling him awake. It’s thick and suffocating, causing him to desperately gasp for air while writhing in the bedsheets entangling his limbs. Helpless screams and vicious snarls can be heard coming from outside his house and Jeongguk gradually realizes the gravity of the situation as his hazy mind gains clarity. His body rolls off the bed and hits the ground with a hard thud.
Those fire evacuation lessons his younger self thought were boring finally get to serve a purpose. Scrunching his thinnest sheets into a ball, he covers his nose and mouth to hopefully reduce the amount of smoke he’s inhaling. Taking his comforter, he clumsily crawls across the floor and shoves it against the sliver of space between the floorboards and his bedroom door. The fire might not actually be in his house but he wasn’t ready to risk grabbing the doorknob and potentially burning himself.
Jeongguk stumbles over to the window in the corner of his room, sliding it open and shoving half his body through it. Quickly surveying his surroundings, he’s thankful to see no one nearby that could potentially be a threat. He hauls the rest of himself out the window and lands in a heap on the ground, scrambling to his feet and immediately pressing himself to the side of his house, sidling along it. Once he reaches the corner, he tentatively peeks around it.
From his position, he’s able to see people running amok in the clearing surrounded by all of the huts in this region of the village. Some of them are part of his pack and the ones chasing them must be enemies. Several of the nearby homes are aflame and Jeongguk notices a few individuals walking around with lit torches. Evidently, the fires are the result of a deliberate attack, not of a natural cause or accident.
Now that he’s processed his village is being invaded, his first instinct is to find his parents. He needs to make sure they’re okay and safe. They live in another part of the village but as long as Jeongguk travels in the shadows, he should (hopefully) be able to make it to them without being caught.
Just as he’s about to step out of his hiding spot, he catches a whiff of another wolf’s scent. An alpha, and one he’s not familiar with. It’s coming from behind him but before he can turn—
“Oh, what’s a pretty little thing like you doing over here in the dark?“
A body invades his personal space from behind and hands grab Jeongguk’s shoulders, spinning him around. The stranger pins Jeongguk to the wall of his house, lodging a knee between Jeongguk’s legs as his smirking face enters Jeongguk’s vision.
Although no name comes to mind, Jeongguk recognizes the man in front of him. That’s when he realizes this wolf is part of the wandering pack that requested to stay at the local inn for the night. They came to the village late in the afternoon yesterday and begged to speak to Jeongguk’s pack leader. The travellers explained how they had been chased out of their dens and were trying to find new land to claim. All they asked for was a warm place to sleep where they’d have a roof over their heads, tired of relying on caves or uprooted tree trunks. The pack leader, never one to refuse helping those in need, had granted the outsiders permission to stay.
They should’ve known how risky it would be to allow the unknown wolves to stay. That’s what Jeongguk wants to believe, at least. But how could they? The pack had looked weak, helpless and vulnerable. They had all knelt before the pack leader, baring their necks in submission as they begged for mercy. No one suspected them of being aggressive, no one would’ve thought them capable of overturning a village.
Jeongguk has a feeling they lied about losing their land.
The alpha sniffs a few times, eyes darkening as he leans in closer so his head is next to Jeongguk’s, mouth hovering near his ear. “Mm, omega. Are you unmated, pretty bitch?”
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Jeongguk raises his hands to push at the man’s chest, breath hitching in fear as he feels hot puffs of air against his neck. The hands grasping his shoulders drag down the sides of his body, stopping at his waist to grab it firmly.
“Doesn’t matter, actually. I think I’ll take you for myself,” the man snickers, rubbing his nose over Jeongguk’s scent gland and forcefully scenting him.
“Guh-Get away from me!” Jeongguk demands in a shaky voice, shoving at the man more frantically now. The hands on him are strong, though, and when he tries to move his legs to kick, the man lifts his knee to push it into Jeongguk’s crotch harshly as if he’s trying to squash it.
Jeongguk yelps in pain and digs his fingers into the alpha’s chest, eyes filling with tears. No matter how hard he tries to tilt his head away, he can’t escape the man’s domineering actions. His scent — an overbearing rosemary — floods Jeongguk’s senses, makes him feel cornered and trapped from every angle. Petrifying terror paralyzes Jeongguk and he can feel his omega urging him to flee, howling in despair.
“You smell so fucking good, even when your scent is tainted with fright,” the man groans, nosing down to Jeongguk’s shoulder and giving the spot a sloppy lick. “How would you like to be claimed, hm?”
“No!” Jeongguk screams, using all his strength to push back from the man even though he knows there’s a wall behind him, trapping him. The frenzied twisting of his body and wild punches he delivers only earn him another painful jab from the man’s knee.
“Yes, scream for me, bitch!” he cackles, grabbing Jeongguk by the chin roughly as his other hand rips open the white blouse covering the omega’s upper body. He shoves the ruined fabric aside so Jeongguk’s shoulders and most of his chest are exposed before catching one of Jeongguk’s flailing hands, squeezing it so tightly Jeongguk thinks his fingers might break. The man raises it to his face, wrist presented despite Jeongguk’s pleas, and scents Jeongguk there, too. “I wonder what you’ll sound like when you’re taking my knot. Will you continue to cry for help? Or will you enjoy it? Sluts like you are made for breeding, after all.”
Tears stream down Jeongguk’s cheeks, his bottom lip quivering and his body trembling. Even with adrenaline pumping through him, he can’t seem to find the energy to escape from this alpha. It’s disheartening. If only he were as fierce as his omega. His distraught omega, that’s thrashing around and refusing to submit to the other wolf’s dominating presence.
The man’s lips curl back over his teeth, mouth opening to display his sharp canines dripping with saliva. Shock momentarily freezes Jeongguk as he realizes what the man is about to do and the moment he lunges forward, Jeongguk gathers all his strength to leap sideways. Instead of his neck, the man’s teeth sink into the tip of Jeongguk’s shoulder, drawing blood and a shrill cry of agony.
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With the man close and unaware, Jeongguk clamps down on his ear hard, grinding his teeth until he feels flesh splitting and blood wets his mouth. The alpha roars in pain and throws Jeongguk to the ground, cupping a hand over the side of his head where blood is spurting. Jeongguk spits out the piece of ear he had ripped off.
“I’m gonna fucking kill you, you worthless bitch!” the man bellows.
He dives for Jeongguk only to receive a deathly kick to the face. The man falls to the ground in a daze, surely seeing stars, and Jeongguk uses his disorientation to his advantage, kicking him in the side of his head as hard as he can. The man collapses, out cold, and Jeongguk crawls over to turn the man onto his back and straddles him. His fists pound into the man’s face over and over as he sobs.
It isn’t until his hands are covered in blood and the man’s nose has been shattered beyond repair that Jeongguk stops, gulping in air through hiccuped breaths. The alpha isn’t dead, evident by the slow rising and falling of his chest. As much as Jeongguk would love to end him for what he did, escaping before anyone else can find him is more important. He has already wasted enough precious time beating the unconscious man up.
Rising on unsteady, shaky legs, Jeongguk staggers away from the village towards the forest that encircles it. A glance over his shoulder allows him to see the lifeless bodies of his packmates while the wolves from the travelling pack roam freely, most likely searching for their next victims.
As much as it pains him to leave his family, he doesn’t want to risk being killed. And as he tries to call out to his pack through the bonds they share, he doesn’t receive any response. Nothing from the pack leader, nothing from his friends, nothing from his parents. It makes his heart ache with grief. Never has he felt so alone and scared.
Once he’s safely within the cover the trees provide, Jeongguk lowers himself into a kneel and finally checks the damage that’s been done to his shoulder. The bite is fairly deep and would likely leave a scar. Blood is smeared around the wound and drips down his body in thin streaks.
Biting his lip as he furiously blinks away his tears, he removes his torn shirt and presses it against the injury to clean it as best as he can. The fabric quickly stains red and Jeongguk winces as it touches the tender flesh. Rather than throwing it away, he tries to securely tie it around his arm as a makeshift bandage. He’s planning on shifting to his wolf form and it likely won’t stay intact, but he doesn’t want to just leave it behind as it is in case the enemy wolves find it and try to track him.
After making a knot over a knot, Jeongguk drops to his hands and knees and shifts. Just as he expected, the shirt is ripped even further and falls from his front leg. With a sad huff through his nose, he picks the scrap up in his mouth and pads away as quietly as he can. He’ll dispose of it when he’s far from his village.
It’s late, or at least that’s what Jeongguk guesses based on the position of the moon. He’ll probably be able to walk for a couple of hours while he’s still wide awake and alert. Then he should consider sleeping for a bit when the effects of his adrenaline wear off and his body is hit with fatigue. Or would it be smarter for him to continue moving until he’s beyond exhausted? If he chooses to stop for rest in the morning or perhaps even closer to noon, he’ll sleep throughout the afternoon and into the evening a bit. It might be easier for him to travel at night. Plus, he’ll be able to put more distance between himself and his village before having to stop. On the other hand, more people travel in daylight so the chances of someone coming across his sleeping, defenceless form are higher.
It might be easier to make his decision based on what his body is capable of. He’ll wait until he’s tired before stopping. Though it’s important for him to get away from the hostile pack that attacked his village, he doesn’t want to push himself past his limits and put himself at a disadvantage where he won’t be able to assess his surroundings properly.
It's not until this moment that Jeongguk remembers he’s still carrying the unknown alpha’s scent. He wishes he could’ve tried to rub it off before shifting. Instead, he’ll have to wait until he finds a pond or lake that he can jump into to wash away the revolting smell of rosemary marking him.
Jeongguk has never ventured far out of his pack’s territory. Sure, he’s had to do mandatory patrols around the borders but he’s never crossed them. The only knowledge he has of what happens outside his home comes from stories or gossip he hears from his packmates. Had he taken the time to learn about other villages and packs nearby, his journey would be a lot easier. But because he had foolishly chosen to live in ignorance, he’s basically running through the forest blind. For all he knows, he could be heading towards another savage pack that’ll gang up on him and tear him apart.
I shouldn’t dwell on such negative thoughts, Jeongguk thinks to himself. Not only because it’ll distract him but also because he has just managed to escape death. Rather than jinxing his luck, he should be thanking the Moon Goddess for sparing him. For now, focusing on the present takes priority — it could determine the trajectory of his life, after all. One wrong step could have him encountering a bear or worse.
So he runs. Far from the village he’s lived in since he was born and past the borders marking the last bit of terrain that’s familiar.
Stepping onto unknown land is nerve-wracking. Already, Jeongguk feels more vulnerable. He’s expecting to have a group of wolves chasing him back into his territory at any moment. But it’s quiet. Nothing smells off, just new.
By the time his paws start to feel heavy and sore, the first rays of sunlight are peeking over the horizon. It’s been hours since he shifted and fled from his home. Only the two hours of sleep he got before the smell of smoke and fire roused him are keeping him moving.
A few hundred more metres of walking later, Jeongguk finally comes across a hollow tree sufficient enough for providing shelter. It has a large, thick trunk and a crack creates a split in the middle wide enough for him to fit through. Inside, the ground is cold and damp. There isn’t a whole lot of space so Jeongguk has to curl into a tight “c” to fit.
He’s lying on his good shoulder and tries to catch a glimpse of the injured one. It had been bleeding for a while so his fur around the area is rather matted. He doesn’t want to risk getting it dirty or having bugs crawl over and in it so he spreads the shirt he had still been carrying over the wound for protection.
Resting his maw over the tip of his tail, Jeongguk allows himself to finally relax — as much as he can, that is. During his trek, he had been able to disregard the absence of his pack but now his loneliness is quite apparent. Had they been with him, he’d have other warm bodies to cuddle with, to seek comfort and reassurance from. His dam would be there to lick his ears and face as he drifted to sleep, always keen on treating him like a pup despite the fact he’s full-grown at twenty-two years old. His sire would join a couple of the other alphas at some point in the night to keep watch for trouble. He had always been one of the pack’s strongest and most experienced fighters. Jeongguk admired him so much and as a child, he strived to be like him.
There’s no one with him, though. His mother and father are gone, as are his friends and the rest of his pack. All he has is himself to depend on, both for company and survival.
A whimper escapes him before he can suppress it, a sad whistling sound that, at home, would garner the attention of his family and have a handful of wolves rushing to console him. With a heavy heart, Jeongguk eventually surrenders to his exhaustion.
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Somehow Jeongguk has managed to survive two weeks in the wild without his pack. It certainly hasn’t been easy and every night he goes to sleep, he longs to be back in his home in the comfort of his bed.
Jeongguk doesn’t think he’s ever been in worse condition. Finding food is difficult so for part of the day, he’s walking around with a grumbling stomach. He has mostly been living off of fish, rabbits and squirrels. If he had the motivation to try harder, he’d be more successful in catching bigger meals. But the grief from losing his pack is draining him of his energy. It feels like he’s wandering around with a lead weight in his chest and he’s constantly resisting the urge to collapse in a sobbing heap.
The nightmares haven’t been helping his situation whatsoever, either. After crying himself to sleep, he’s been plagued by them almost every night. They start with him trapped in his house that’s burning. He escapes the same way he did during the actual attack and is forced to watch his packmates be set aflame, stabbed, or mauled by barbaric wolves. Then the alpha finds him. He always finds him. Sometimes Jeongguk is caught right away while other times he gets chased around the village. The result is always the same, though — the alpha traps him somewhere, scents him against his will, touches him, and claims him. Yes, in the nightmares the man succeeds in biting Jeongguk’s scent gland and that’s when he wakes up.
The horrific dreams keep Jeongguk from getting the rest he needs. As well, he usually wakes to his shoulder throbbing where the alpha bit him, despite it having already healed. It makes it harder for him to fall back asleep (not that he’s eager to face the nightmares again). The only thing he can do to soothe the burning feeling is lick the scar, but that only does so much. For some reason, he just knows he needs someone else to do it for him. If it were his mother or father licking him, the pain would be eased right away. Even if it was someone else from his pack helping him, it would surely be more effective. But Jeongguk has no one.
The highlight of his journey happened on the second day of travelling when Jeongguk was able to rid himself of the alpha’s scent. He came across a creek and immediately dove into the shallow water, drenching himself and washing away the awful smell of rosemary. With time, it would’ve faded anyways but it felt so good to bathe. He had felt so gross and itchy, like he could feel the man’s fingerprints etched into his skin everywhere they had touched, like his potent scent was covering Jeongguk in a dirty film.
He’s also been fortunate enough to avoid other wolves. There have definitely been signs of them — Jeongguk has come across carcasses of animals smelling of all types of wolves and has found many trees that have been marked with scents. He thinks he might’ve even walked just outside a pack’s territory sometime during his first week of travel.
Whenever there’s evidence of others, Jeongguk steers clear of the area and changes the direction he’s moving in. Not all wolves are dangerous, of course, but it’s best for him to avoid contact with anyone to minimize the chance of encountering the ones who will do him serious harm.
It’s early in the afternoon now and Jeongguk is hungry. He hasn’t eaten since dusk so he’s feeling a bit weak and shaky on his paws. Although he’ll likely end up searching for rabbits, he really wants to try hunting for something that’ll offer sustenance. A deer would be great, or a wild turkey. The thought of eating such a filling meal has him salivating profusely, stomach grumbling pitifully.
So far, he hasn’t had any luck. But then, just as he’s ready to accept failure, he smells it. Deer.
He swings his head over in the direction it’s coming from and creeps through the forest shrubbery. Almost instantly, he spots his target. It appears to be a young doe. Not young enough to still require guidance from its mother but definitely not as old as Jeongguk was hoping for. It’s better than nothing, though. Besides, younger animals tend to be a bit slower which will make it possible for him to catch his prey, even given his current state.
The doe is still oblivious to the danger lurking nearby, looking away from Jeongguk’s hiding spot while munching on plants. Jeongguk waits until it bends down for another mouthful before propelling himself out of the bushes. The deer startles and takes off running with Jeongguk following close behind, jumping over logs and darting between trees.
Jeongguk isn’t able to run as fast as he normally can but his desperation for food keeps him going. His lungs burn and his legs feel like they’ll give out the moment the chase finishes but he doesn’t let his pace slow. The distance between him and the doe is getting smaller and smaller and finally, when they’re separated by a mere metre, the omega pounces on the prey, digging his claws into its flanks.
Jeongguk puts the animal out of its misery quickly and crumples to the ground next to it, panting hard enough for his throat to burn. He’s so proud and thankful he wants to cry. Carrying the body elsewhere will be nearly impossible for him right now in his exhausted state so he’s better off eating—
Deep, threatening growls come from his right and as Jeongguk whips around to search for the source, a wolf emerges from behind a tree. It’s big and, based on its commanding scent, he can tell it’s an alpha. A female one with red and beige markings.
She bares her teeth at Jeongguk and approaches with her hackles raised. Her gaze flits between him and his kill, her long tongue swiping across her lips and nose. Jeongguk knows she’s here for the deer but with the way she’s looking at him, he wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to eat him, too. It’s not like he’d be hard to catch, anyways. All his energy was spent running after the deer and even if he attempted to escape, her longer legs would give her a major advantage over him.
She’s standing near the tail end of the deer, looming over Jeongguk’s cowering form. And yet despite knowing the smart decision would be to leave the deer and walk away, Jeongguk doesn’t want to submit. He’s ravenous and this is his kill. At this point, he doesn’t think he has enough energy to hunt for a measly mouse so if he lets this alpha take his food, he’s basically making himself a walking target. Not just for other wolves, but bears or human hunters, too. That is if he doesn’t die of starvation first.
So when the alpha nudges one of the deer’s legs, Jeongguk snarls, ears flattened on his head and amber eyes burning with fury. The other wolf pauses for a moment before slamming her front paws into the ground with a pounce so she’s towering right above the omega, letting out a deafening roar that screams for him to submit, spit flying everywhere. A whimper lodges in Jeongguk’s throat that he forces down, refusing to show weakness (though the inevitable trembling of his body contradicts his faux confidence). He growls back and maintains eye contact with the alpha, defying his omega’s instincts to bare its neck and surrender.
This doesn’t please the larger wolf at all. She gives a low, warning growl—
Suddenly, she jumps on Jeongguk, mouth snapping near his ears and claws digging into his shoulders. Jeongguk wriggles underneath her to avoid being bitten and kicks at her underbelly. He succeeds in scratching her and the alpha jumps off him, slowly stalking around him in a circle while growling. Jeongguk scrambles to his feet and mimics her movements but in a much smaller circle, tail tucked between his legs. Luck was on his side this time, but she’ll hurt him eventually if she keeps charging at him.
For a brief second, Jeongguk notices the alpha shifting her weight back and he braces himself. Before she has the chance to jump, however, another wolf leaps out from the bushes behind her, knocking her to the ground and pinning her beneath them. This newcomer is bigger than her, if possible, and Jeongguk quickly realizes it’s a male alpha. He has light grey and white patterned fur and a striking bergamot and jasmine scent, one that’s permeated with irritation.
Both wolves roll across the ground with harsh snarls and snaps of teeth. The red one slips out from underneath the grey one and starts backing away with angry protests. The new alpha straightens up and gives her a challenging roar. Jeongguk doesn’t think he’s ever come across a larger wolf. If it were him in the other alpha’s place, he probably would drop to the ground and show this beast his belly.
Bowing her head meekly, the red alpha growls furiously one last time before spinning around and bolting from the area. Jeongguk hears her regretful whine a few moments later, probably mourning the loss of the deer she was trying to steal.
It’s just him and the grey alpha now. The other wolf finally acknowledges Jeongguk, turning his head to look at the omega with piercing silver eyes. His gaze is enough to have Jeongguk gulping and lowering his body into a crouch. He might’ve been willing to fight the other wolf for his prey but he doesn’t think he has the guts to fight this one.
However, this wolf doesn’t seem to be mad at Jeongguk, and he isn’t even adopting a threatening or aggressive stance. The alpha looks at him, glances at the deer, looks back at Jeongguk with a soft huff and starts padding away, going in the same direction as the female wolf.
Jeongguk is left stunned and confused. If the wolf wasn’t here to challenge him for food, why did he scare off the other alpha? Now it just looks like he was helping Jeongguk without hoping to gain anything. Not that his assistance wasn’t welcomed or appreciated, of course. Jeongguk is incredibly thankful he gets to keep his deer, but he kind of wants to let the grey wolf eat some, too. It’s the least he could do to show his gratitude.
With all of the threats removed and his body leaving fight-or-flight mode, Jeongguk’s stomach growls loudly and he wastes no time devouring his meal. Food has never tasted so good. He doesn’t even want to think about what would’ve happened if he had been forced to give the deer up and search for something else to hunt.
By the time he’s finished and his belly is full and happy, there’s hardly anything left on the animal carcass. Jeongguk repeatedly licks his lips and wets his paws so he can clean his face of any residue left from his feast. Once he’s content with his appearance, he sniffs around the area. Among other scents, he’s able to detect the grey alpha’s.
For some unexplainable reason, his omega urges him to track the wolf. Given how merciful his saviour was, Jeongguk isn’t opposed to the idea. Perhaps he belongs to a pack nearby. And if he was kind enough to help Jeongguk — altruistically, at that — then maybe his pack will be similar. Maybe they’d be willing to shelter Jeongguk temporarily while he tries to figure out what to do with his life. At the very least, they would be able to tell him where he is and hopefully direct him to a pack that’s willing to take in stray wolves (and if they’re one of those types, that’d be even better).
So Jeongguk begins following the alpha. Follows him for the rest of the day whilst making sure to maintain a suitable distance between them. It’s not that Jeongguk thinks the wolf will lash out at him if he realizes he’s being pursued. He is worried about being shooed away, though; rejection is his biggest fear. What if his saviour feels like he’s a burden? What if because he wasn’t able to defend himself, the alpha thinks he’s weak?
Maybe it’s bound to happen. Maybe the wolf’s pack will feel the same way and turn him away. But Jeongguk is optimistic right now and he doesn’t want to lose that feeling yet. Because if he does, he’ll just go back to being miserable and listless.
It isn’t until after midnight that the alpha finally stops to rest. True to his seemingly fearless personality, he claims a large rock off the side of a small cliff for his bed, out in the open in plain sight. Jeongguk stares up at him from within the trees below, admiring how ethereal he looks bathed in moonlight.
The omega wanders off a bit to look for a snack that’ll tide him over until the morning. After unearthing some rabbits in a burrow, Jeongguk returns to the cliff to find the grey wolf curled up, possibly already asleep. That’s his cue to find shelter for the night. He settles for digging a ditch under some tall, thick shrubbery.
He’s not really sure what’s going to happen come morning. The chances of them waking up at the same time are slim. Jeongguk will likely wake up after the alpha has left and he’ll have to rush up the cliff to locate the other wolf’s scent and figure out where he went. He silently prays to the Moon Goddess that his saviour won’t choose to pass through a body of water at any point during the journey. The thought hadn’t crossed Jeongguk’s mind until this moment and he’s realizing the catastrophe that would cause.
For once, Jeongguk doesn’t fall asleep to the sound of his own whimpers. Even more peculiar, nightmares don’t disrupt his slumber. As a result of getting a proper night’s rest, he wakes up just in time to watch as the grey alpha descends the cliff. Jeongguk doesn’t have to start his day in a panic and for that, he’s very grateful.
🐺⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅•∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅🐺
A new routine is established over the next few days. All of Jeongguk’s time awake is spent trailing after his saviour. To his delight, his travelling companion (who is unaware that he is one) takes about a half-hour break sometime after noon and another one when the sun begins to set in order to hunt. It saves Jeongguk a lot of trouble from trying to balance tracking the alpha and catching meals for himself.
He still can’t believe the other wolf can afford to just lie around leisurely for some time after eating. He truly is a daring and incredible being. It’s as if he knows no one would ever try to attack or confront him, not if they know what’s best for them.
What’s even more bewildering is how the alpha keeps avoiding walking through water. There have been plenty of times when Jeongguk is sure crossing a stream or lake would save time but his companion chooses to take a more scenic route around the bodies of water. The only time he ever approaches water is to drink from creeks or ponds (giving Jeongguk the perfect opportunity to also hydrate himself without interfering with his pursuit).
That was until today.
Last night it had rained, leaving the air quite humid. The sun is out and there doesn’t appear to be a cloud in sight. Even with the trees offering some coverage, it’s sweltering.
How the grey alpha hasn’t collapsed from heat exhaustion yet, Jeongguk has no idea. From what he can tell, the other wolf has a beautiful, healthy coat. It might not be as thick as the one he bears during winter, but it’s still more fur than one would want on such a hot day. Even Jeongguk feels like he might pass out and his coat — one that he’s usually quite proud of — is quite mangy at the moment because of the poor diet he’s been on as of late.
No matter how hard and desperately he pants, Jeongguk is struggling to cool himself. At this rate, he won’t be surprised if he gets heatstroke. The constant walking is brutal and while he’d love to just find a dank cave to recover in, he doesn’t want to lose track of his travelling companion.
At first he thinks he’s just imagining it, but Jeongguk notices that the wolf’s scent is getting stronger. They had already stopped for lunch a while ago so Jeongguk isn’t sure why he’s taking another break. Unless it’s because the heat is finally becoming too much to handle. Jeongguk can only hope that’s the reason, not that the alpha has encountered some trouble.
The closer he gets to the source of the scent, the clearer the sound of splashing water becomes. Stopping next to running water would certainly be the smartest decision in this weather. It’s an easy way to cool off and it also offers the perfect opportunity for rehydration.
The thinning of trees and shrubbery indicates to Jeongguk that he’s almost at his destination (alongside the increased freshness of bergamot and jasmine). He creeps forward in a crouch, folding his ears back and quieting his breaths. As he crawls through some tall ferns, snout poking out, the view of a river enters his vision. The alpha is wading through it, looking extremely content with his fur soaked.
Jeongguk lies down with a soft sigh. He’s thankful to finally have a chance to catch his breath and rest, though he wishes he, too, could cool himself off in the refreshing water. He’ll have to wait until the alpha resumes his walk, then he’ll jump into the stream for a brief dip.
The omega watches the other dunk under the water, completely disappearing from sight. Seconds go by and he remains submerged. Jeongguk’s gaze darts back and forth, wondering if the wolf is swimming and will resurface in a new spot. Much to Jeongguk’s puzzlement, it’s not the familiar grey beast he’s expecting that comes up gasping for air. Instead, there’s a man.
It’s obviously the wolf. The fact that he and Jeongguk are the only two in the area is evidence enough but the grey mop of hair on the man’s head is also very telling. He has shorter strands at the front and longer ones stuck to his nape — a mullet that’s the exact same colour as his wolf form’s coat. Only his side profile is visible but Jeongguk can tell he’s absolutely stunning.
“I want you to shift back and step out of your hiding spot so I can see you,” the man suddenly calls out.
Time seems to pause for a moment as Jeongguk digests the words. Then his heart starts pounding when the man turns to look where the ferns are concealing him. Somehow he’s figured out he’s being watched. Did he realize Jeongguk was following him? Is that why he stopped in the river, so he could confront his stalker?
“I know you’re there. I’m not going to hurt you, I just want to talk,” the man says, facing Jeongguk’s hiding spot with his arms crossed over his chest.
Swallowing dryly, Jeongguk hesitantly shifts to his human form. He positions himself in a kneel so his head and chest are visible to the alpha, using the plants surrounding him to hide the rest of his body. He’s naked, after all, and while Jeongguk has frequently walked around nude with his pack, this man is a stranger and Jeongguk is shy. Besides, the other has water to shield his lower half so it’d be a bit weird for Jeongguk to be the only one making himself vulnerable.
“I-I’m sorry,” he croaks out, voice rough from its disuse. “I didn’t mean to be a bother and I promise I wasn’t planning on hurting you.”
“I didn’t think you were going to. Not only are you not fit for fighting at the moment, but I’m also pretty sure you would’ve done something during the past four days you’ve been following me,” the man replies.
Jeongguk blanches. “Yuh-You knew I was following you?”
“Yeah, I noticed you the first night. Saw you below in the forest from my vantage point. I know you’re the omega who captured the doe so I'm guessing you've been acting like my shadow since I left you with your kill, right?”
How embarrassing. Here he was, thinking he was being stealthy, and yet this man had been aware of him for basically the whole time.
“You didn’t give any indication that you knew you were being tracked,” Jeongguk mentions.
The man shrugs. “I was curious to know what your motives were. So now I’m asking: why are you following me?”
Jeongguk tugs at his long, dark brown locks anxiously. They feel tangled and brittle. “Um, I was hoping you’d lead me to your pack.”
“And why is that?”
“I’m not familiar with the layout of this region so, uh, I thought maybe they’d help me figure out what areas are safe to cross through and which ones should be avoided.”
Jeongguk’s eyes widen as he watches the man climb out of the river and approach him. He rises to his feet too, clasping his hands together in front of his crotch not so subtly. He has to fight the urge to let his gaze drop, ensuring it stays pinned to the alpha’s face.
“What about your pack?” the man inquires, standing a few feet away now. Jeongguk notices him glancing at his right shoulder where his scar is.
“I- um- I don’t have one anymore,” Jeongguk answers, voice dropping to a whisper. His throat tightens with emotion and he starts blinking furiously to hold back from tearing up.
The man’s eyebrows furrow, eyes flashing with a hint of concern. “How long have you been on your own?”
“Just over two weeks.”
The alpha hums to himself, shifting his weight to one leg. His eyes search over every square inch of Jeongguk’s body, eventually settling back on his right shoulder. Jeongguk wants to examine the man too, to watch the drops of water cascading down all the lines of his body, but he’s embarrassed at the thought of being caught. He knows where his gaze will continue to drift and with his luck, this man will catch him in the middle of his perverted act.
“Look…”
“Jeongguk,” he hastily supplies.
The man bobs his head politely. “I’m Jimin. Look, Jeongguk-ssi, I’m sorry to disappoint you but I don’t have a pack. I was exiled. So I’m probably not the type of wolf you want to associate with. If you want, I can point you in the direction of where some of the more civilized packs are located, but you’re better off going there alone.”
It should satisfy him, but it doesn’t. For some reason, the thought of finding one of those packs alone bothers him. No, it bothers his omega. His omega wants to stay with Jimin, even if it means adjusting to a permanent life living in the wild without a proper home.
This alpha is safe, it says. This alpha will protect us. We can trust him.
“But- but I don’t want to be alone,” Jeongguk says dejectedly, averting his gaze to focus on Jimin’s collarbones.
“Again, I’m not the kind of person you—”
“I trust you,” Jeongguk blurts out, earning a funny look from the other man.
“You…don’t even know me,” Jimin points out with a raised eyebrow.
“Okay, well, my wolf trusts you. I-I think it’s because you helped me when that alpha was trying to steal my deer,” Jeongguk mumbles, feeling embarrassed. It would be awfully weird to have a stranger tell you that they trust you.
Jimin sighs, looking conflicted. “Y’know, I’m not a very social person. And I don’t do all that pack-affection stuff. I need my space. I’m, like, the worst company.”
“I won’t force you into conversation if that’s what you’re worried about. I can mind my own business. You won’t even know I’m with you! And- and I’ll keep my distance if it makes you more comfortable!” Jeongguk insists. “I swear I’ll be an accommodating travelling companion. I’ll adjust to your needs as much as you need me to. I can be good, believe me.”
He tries to give the most convincing pleading eyes he can manage. His dam had always told him they were his strength and charm. No one could refuse him when he begged. He can only hope Jimin will succumb to Jeongguk’s puppy-dog eyes, too. And when the grey-haired man groans defeatedly, Jeongguk can’t help but perk up in hope.
“Fine, whatever. I suppose I could escort you. ‘S not like I’m busy, anyways,” Jimin relents, muttering the last part.
“Thank you, thank you so much,” Jeongguk says, relieved.
Jimin rubs at his neck bashfully, looking away and finding sudden interest in the ground. “Sure. Before we start on our hike, you should go in the river for a bit. Clean yourself, cool yourself off, drink- do whatever you need to do.”
“Of course. Thank you.”
Jeongguk hears Jimin mumbling “you don’t need to keep thanking me” under his breath as the former cautiously approaches the river, slipping in with burning cheeks. It’s so awkward having to be naked around a stranger. That’s the main reason he’s so eager to be back in his wolf form, even if it means he won’t be able to effectively communicate with Jimin anymore.
The water is just what he needed to feel refreshed. Once he has dunked his head and no longer feels like his skin is on fire, Jeongguk turns around to look at Jimin, who is now sitting on the ground near the stream with his legs crossed and knees pulled into his chest.
“How old are you, Jeongguk-ssi?” he asks.
“Twenty-two.”
Jimin appears mildly surprised. “Only two years younger than me. I assumed you were a newly-turned twenty-year-old upon first glance. It must be your eyes that make you look like a pup.” He looks away and pokes around at some stones near his feet. “I’m gonna take you to a pack that’s four days north of here. From what I remember about them, they accept abandoned wolves. Even if you don’t want to stay with them for too long, I’m sure they’d be able to help you out a lot.”
“Okay, thank you,” Jeongguk nods.
Jimin’s lips twitch and he stands up, prompting the brunet to waddle out of the water. Jimin walks away a few steps before spinning around, finger pointed out in front of him.
“By the way, before we shift and get a move on, I wanted to ask if the times we’ve been stopping for breaks work for you. Obviously there wasn’t any way for me to tell if they were too spaced apart or happened later than you’re used to. What times do you usually start getting hungry at?”
Jeongguk halts, blinking in surprise. “Wait…you were stopping for my sake?”
“I didn’t want you to sacrifice your meals in order to stay on my trail, so yeah. Especially right now; you look like you could use all the food you can get,” Jimin explains, making Jeongguk’s heart flutter. “So, are noon and sunset good times to stop?”
“Um, yeah, thank you. It isn’t inconvenient for you, right?” Jeongguk responds, nibbling on his lip.
It sounds like Jimin doesn’t normally take such long breaks. He probably hunts and eats before immediately continuing on his way, like what Jeongguk had been doing on his own. What if Jimin feels like he’s just wasting precious time? Combining the two stops, that’s an hour that could be spent walking and making progress. Jeongguk doesn’t want to be a nuisance and make Jimin’s life more difficult.
Jimin eyes him carefully, somewhat skeptically. “Alright, change of plans. We’ll hunt a little while after waking up, sometime during the afternoon and then once more at dusk.”
“No, no! The previous times are fine! I don’t want you to feel like you need to change your regular routine for my sake—”
“Jeongguk-ssi.” Jimin holds out a hand, palm facing the omega. “Something tells me you’re hiding your true feelings. I’m not gonna harass you for a confession or anything, don’t worry. Just accept that these are the times we’re eating at. I don’t want you to be hungry and suffering in silence at any part of our journey.”
Jeongguk would never admit to it, but Jimin is right about him not being entirely truthful. There weren’t any problems during the period from noon to sunset, but it was a bit harder to last the night. The alpha probably managed fine because he’s able to catch hearty meals. In comparison, Jeongguk was basically surviving on scraps. By the time he would wake up, he was already hungry and by noon it was much worse.
“Oh. Th—”
“I swear to the Moon Goddess, you better not thank me again,” Jimin warns with an amused chuckle.
“Sorry,” Jeongguk squeaks. “I’m just really, really grateful and I- I want to express that to you. I don’t wanna seem rude by not saying anything.”
“I understand, but all you really have to do is give me a smile and the sentiment will be well-received. I’m…not used to having someone thank me so much so I feel a bit awkward,” Jimin says, scratching at the tip of his nose.
“Oh! Then I’ll try not to say it as much. But…it might slip out sometimes so I apologize in advance.”
Jimin waves his hand with a reassuring flick of his wrist. “I get it, it’s cool. Now that everything’s settled, we should probably start moving. Let me know if you need to stop at any point and I’ll do the same.”
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True to his word, Jimin is not particularly social. Then again, Jeongguk has only spent just over half a day with him so it’s not like he has loads of evidence to support this observation.
They had walked with little to no interactions. Obviously as wolves, they can’t exactly communicate a lot but Jimin had barely even looked at Jeongguk. He is also adamant about maintaining a certain distance between them, a space big enough to fit another full-grown wolf or more. When they stopped to hunt in the evening, Jimin had laid alone curled up under a tree after eating. And then when they found a spot to stay for the night, Jimin had settled outside the uprooted tree Jeongguk claimed with his back to the omega.
Regardless of the lack of acknowledgement, Jeongguk’s wolf is just happy to be around the alpha. Travelling with him makes Jeongguk feel safe and it’s nice to at least have another presence with him. Though he does hope they’ll be able to talk again at some point. Jimin is very mysterious and intriguing, and Jeongguk would love to learn a little about him.
This morning had played out similarly to their trek yesterday, with Jimin being rather closed-off and Jeongguk following behind obediently. Part of him wants to interact with the grey wolf in some way, craving for a reaction, but his determination to prove that he can be a good, respectful companion is stronger.
Coming to an abrupt stop, Jimin glances at Jeongguk over his shoulder and points with his nose off to the side towards a small clearing. The sun is high in the sky and it’s been a while since they had breakfast, so now would be a good time to have their late lunch break.
Jeongguk snorts in agreement and the two wolves veer off in opposite directions. The unspoken plan is for them to hunt separately and return to the clearing to eat and rest briefly.
While scouring the area for prey, Jeongguk finds some wild berries to snack on. There are a few birds he comes across but whenever he’s about to go in for the kill, they escape. In the end, he gets lucky and finds a beaver which he brings with him back to his and Jimin’s designated spot.
As he’s taking his first bite, feeling rather proud of himself, Jimin arrives dragging the body of a buck. He had eaten large meals last night and this morning, too, so Jeongguk isn’t particularly startled by the scene. Nonetheless, it’s still incredible to see what the alpha is capable of. One day, after becoming a more experienced hunter, Jeongguk hopes to catch large prey like that with ease. If he wasn’t worried about annoying Jimin, he’d ask the elder for advice or maybe even mentoring.
As the two make eye contact, Jimin begins heaving the deer closer. Jeongguk watches warily but with interest as the other wolf approaches, leaving the carcass between them at their feet. Nothing happens until Jeongguk lifts his curious gaze from the body up to Jimin. The latter nods at the buck with an encouraging growl, staring with neutral eyes. Without waiting for a response, Jimin bends down to start eating.
Jeongguk’s heart warms at the kind gesture. He never would’ve expected Jimin to share with him. It’s not like he needs to, anyways — they’re strangers and Jeongguk would completely understand if Jimin wanted them to remain independent. But here he is, bringing food over so they can eat together. This is quite a pleasant surprise (especially because this seems like the “pack-affection stuff” Jimin claimed to not like). Eagerly accepting the offer, Jeongguk abandons his beaver in favour of eating from the buck.
With only the skeleton remaining, the two wolves lie back satiated and content. It feels like they might’ve shared a moment of sorts so Jeongguk, deciding to take advantage of the cordial atmosphere, shifts to his human form. Jimin seems to understand his intentions and chooses to shift, as well.
“I have a question, if you don’t mind me asking,” Jeongguk begins, leaning with his back to a tree and his legs outstretched. Jimin gets comfortable in a cross-legged position and motions for the brunet to continue. “Why did you decide to help me? When that red wolf was bothering me for my deer, I mean. Did you know her? I noticed that she gave up on fighting you pretty quickly.”
“Ah, right. I guess I should’ve expected this question to come eventually,” Jimin chuckles, ruffling his hair. “Well, I saw you make the kill. The deer was yours. I didn’t like how she tried to steal it from you, especially not when it was obvious she was attempting to force you to submit by using intimidation tactics. I wasn’t going to let her get away with taking your hard-earned food.”
“Oh, I see. I was- well, am glad you were nearby. Without you, the fight would’ve ended badly for me.” Jeongguk pouts then, wrapping his arms around his middle and glancing at the other man through his peripheral vision. “Why didn’t you step in sooner? You must’ve seen me struggling.”
Jimin smiles and flicks his gaze down, looking at his lap in a somewhat sheepish manner. “Honestly, I don’t really have a good reason. I just…was mostly interested in seeing your reaction and how you were planning to handle the situation. Regardless of the outcome, I was going to help eventually. I could tell you were at a disadvantage, and not just because of the size difference or power imbalance between dynamics. You smelt a bit malnourished and weak. That alpha didn’t need the food like you did.” He places his hands behind him on the ground and leans his weight back onto them. “If you had decided to give up the deer, I planned to confront her and return it to you. But because you stood your ground, I didn't need to. By the way—” Jimin glances over at Jeongguk with a look of approval, “—that was impressive. I’m glad you didn’t fold under her pressure. But anyways. After that, she was getting more and more aggressive and when she jumped on you, I realized you might not make it out of the fight in one piece.”
“Yeah, I don’t think she would’ve let me live,” Jeongguk mumbles.
“I thought that was a possibility too, which is why I intervened then. I know you’re not exactly grateful I waited before making an appearance, but I do think facing that alpha was good experience for you to have. You’ve lived in a pack your whole life and while you’re most likely going to be joining another very soon, I think it’s important for everyone- not just you- to not depend too heavily on others for help. Because someday, you could be on your own and you might need to fight for your life. Or maybe you’ll realize the people you’re surrounded with, the ones that are supposed to keep you safe, aren’t actually that reliable. So you need to have confidence in yourself, you need to be able to feel that you’re capable of facing a threat or enemy alone, whether you’ve got packmates for backup or not.”
Jeongguk gets the sense that Jimin is speaking from experience. Obviously he’s had to learn to be independent given that he’s living alone, but his speech has Jeongguk wondering if his old pack had betrayed him in some way. Then again, he was exiled. Chances are, the pack turned on him for a stupid reason. Jimin doesn’t seem like someone who has done anything despicable that would warrant banishment.
Unlike Jimin, the younger one had never doubted his pack in all his life — they had never done anything to make him feel that way in the first place. And he had always assumed all packs were as dependable and loyal to each other as his, but that was naive to think.
“I don’t know her, to answer your other question,” Jimin adds after a moment of silence. “I’m glad I don’t. She made an awful first impression.”
“Hm, guess you made quite the impression, too. She seemed to forget about the deer pretty quickly after one scary growl from you,” Jeongguk remarks.
Jimin laughs. “You could say I have a bit of a reputation. Not many wolves, rogue or abandoned alike, want to cross paths with me. Maybe she’s heard about me through rumours and realized who she was dealing with.”
“What, so you’re like the big, bad wolf of this forest?”
“Pretty much.”
Jeongguk eyes Jimin suspiciously. “Should I be more wary of sleeping next to you?”
“I’d never do you any harm. You have my word,” Jimin grins.
“I don’t really know you well enough to know if that’s actually meaningful,” Jeongguk replies.
“True. Guess I’ll just have to prove you can trust me.”
“If you start acknowledging me more, that’d be a good and easy way to convince me faster.”
“Acknowledging you more,” Jimin echoes with a short laugh of disbelief.
“You don’t even look at me when you’re walking,” Jeongguk complains, brows pinching together. “It makes me feel like I’m a prisoner being led to my death, or some pest that’s not worth an ounce of your time.”
“I did warn you I’m not very social,” the alpha reminds.
“Yeah, well, looking at me is, like, the bare minimum and doesn’t even involve speaking.”
“Ah, I sincerely apologize for not giving you the attention you deserve and crave,” Jimin teases.
Jeongguk blushes, feeling embarrassed. “You make it sound like I’m making strange demands. I just…think it would be normal for you to look back at me every once in a while. I mean, what if something happened to me and I fell behind? You should be checking to make sure I’m still following you, at the very least.”
“Hm…” the grey-haired man hums, smiling at Jeongguk in a way that seems to carry some fondness. “Cute.”
That just makes him blush harder. Meanwhile, his omega wags its tail happily.
“I can check on you if it makes you feel better. I don’t need to see you to know whether you’re still there, though. I just need to pay attention to your scent.”
Right. That fact may have slipped Jeongguk’s mind, much to his humiliation. His dam and sire had always mentioned how fragrant his scent is. Freesia and raspberries. Fresh and sweet. It must be very easy for Jimin to keep track of him.
“You know what? You can just forget this conversation. Do what makes you feel happy,” Jeongguk says with a huff. Goddess, he shouldn’t have opened his mouth. He’s making the situation worse.
“Mm, I’ll be sure to follow your advice. Who knows, you might find yourself feeling happy, too,” Jimin comments, raising his eyebrows with a grin.
“Shuh-Sure.” Jeongguk clears his throat and searches his mind for something to talk about, something that’ll take the focus off him and the spectacle he made of himself. “Anyways, thank you for sharing your deer with me.”
The words flow out naturally and it takes a second for Jeongguk to realize what he’s just said. Thanked Jimin, once again. He winces, praying his forgetfulness won’t irritate the other man.
However, Jimin merely smiles with a hint of amusement as he’s faced with what Jeongguk hopes is his most apologetic expression. “No problem.”
From then on, their relationship changes, if only slightly. That night, Jimin shared his food again. The same happened for all their meals the next day and the following one. Jimin also looks at him more when they’re travelling. It’s usually just a glance over his shoulder but that split second of eye contact is enough to have Jeongguk’s omega preening (and maybe he does a bit, too. Internally, of course).
But some things have remained the same. The alpha still doesn’t do much communicating, whether it’s when they’re walking or taking a break. Considering they’ve only been in wolf form since the conversation that led to these changes, it’s not like the lack of speaking is the issue. It’s the fact Jimin won’t make sounds to convey himself, and he barely even gestures. When they’re eating, for example, he brings the food over to Jeongguk and dives in, letting the younger join at his leisure.
He also tends to wander off from Jeongguk once they’ve found a spot to camp for the night. The omega is left on his own to make a “bed” and settle down.
Today, however, Jeongguk doesn’t mind Jimin’s absence.
It’s late, sometime after midnight. After three full days of travelling, there isn’t much longer to go before they reach the pack that will hopefully help Jeongguk. He suspects they’ll reach their destination mid-afternoon, given that Jimin had said it would take four days.
Since their involvement, Jeongguk’s mind has been completely occupied by Jimin and the excitement that came with having a travelling partner. The novelty of the situation has started to wear off, though. All day, Jeongguk has been plagued with thoughts of his pack, and it’s only been getting worse.
Right now, curled up in his wolf form on a patch of moss with his maw resting on his paws, the grief is back in full force. He only has his tail hugging his side for comfort. Were he in human form, tears would be burning his eyes.
Memories from that tragic night flash through his mind. The thick smell of smoke, the fire, seeing his packmates running in terror, hearing their screams for help. Then, of course, there’s that alpha; his rough and forceful touch, his grating voice, the threats, rosemary. Why didn’t Jeongguk kill him? Why did he show him mercy? Because of his stupid decision, that man has the opportunity to roam freely. Other people could suffer at his hands, all thanks to Jeongguk letting him live.
As the guilt is piling up, Jimin suddenly enters the camp area. Instead of being in wolf form like when he had left, the elder is in human form. He walks over to a tree several feet away from Jeongguk and sits with his back to it. Confused, the omega looks at him from the corner of his eyes, scrutinizing him.
“Are you okay?” Jimin asks, his voice gentler than Jeongguk has ever heard. “You just…smell terribly sad and distraught. You’ve smelt off the entire day but it’s so much worse now.”
Jeongguk shifts to his human form so he’ll be able to respond appropriately, sitting with his knees hugged to his chest. The position is rather representative of how he feels at the moment — small. Not to mention, the cool air feels much colder against his bare skin with no fur to protect him, so curling up is a good way to preserve body heat.
“I’m sorry, I must smell awful. It’s nothing you should have to worry about,” the brunet mumbles.
“Whatever it is that’s bothering you must be serious,” Jimin notes. “You smell heartbroken. Devastated beyond comprehension. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me.”
Jeongguk sighs. “No, there’s nothing you can do, unfortunately. I really appreciate you trying to help, though. I’m just…missing my pack dearly.”
It’s mostly true, but Jeongguk decides it’s better to keep the details to himself. He doesn’t want to unload his baggage onto the alpha. They’re not much more than acquaintances. Given how new and limited their relationship is, it wouldn’t be fair to burden Jimin with his trauma.
“I’m sorry,” Jimin says regretfully.
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. It isn’t your fault,” Jeongguk replies with a weak smile. He stands up from the moss patch, rubbing the side of his head. It aches a bit, probably due to his overwhelming emotions paired with fatigue. “I’m just gonna go to sleep. Goodnight, Jimin-ssi.”
Jimin murmurs back a “goodnight” as Jeongguk shifts and proceeds to dig a hole at the trunk of a nearby tree. Once satisfied, he curls up inside and squirms until he’s comfortable.
His tiredness hits him fairly quickly. As his eyes droop, consciousness fading, he watches the grey-haired alpha shift and reluctantly walk away, disappearing into the forest.
The nightmares come as no surprise. Jeongguk is faced with his village burning, the deaths of his packmates, the alpha, and the claiming bite before startling awake. As his eyes adjust to the darkness and his surroundings materialize, Jeongguk frantically looks around, searching for any signs of danger. The burning in his right shoulder becomes more apparent and he gives it a few futile licks.
His gaze happens to lift and that’s when he notices Jimin’s sleeping form close by, much closer than Jeongguk would’ve ever expected. Instead of lying by the tree that’s at least a couple of metres away, Jimin is lying in the space between that tree and the one Jeongguk is under. Meaning he’s only a few feet away.
So Jimin must have come over sometime after Jeongguk fell asleep. It warms his heart and he can’t help wondering if Jimin did it out of concern. His omega relaxes too, feeling safe knowing that the alpha is so close.
The pain in his shoulder has reduced to nothing more than a faint pulse. That means Jeongguk just has to wait until he’s tired enough to fall back asleep. In the meantime, he busies himself with soaking in the sounds and sights around him. The forest is very quiet, only the soft rustling of leaves heard. Dim moonlight bathes everything that isn’t shielded by trees, which admittedly isn’t much. Out here where there aren’t lights from villages, the stars blanket the sky like glitter. It’s so beautiful and Jeongguk will never get tired of seeing it.
While watching the twinkling stars and listening to nature’s noises, he breathes in Jimin’s comforting scent. With its calming effect, Jeongguk is gradually lulled to sleep. This time, he dreams of basking in the sun on a hill with the addicting smell of bergamot and jasmine enveloping him.
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It was a long journey but Jimin and Jeongguk are finally right outside the pack’s territory.
The former swings his head in the direction of the border but makes no move to go forward, indicating for the younger wolf to pass into the land alone. If he could, Jeongguk would be frowning while accusing Jimin of sending him to his death. How is he expected to just go in there without any kind of backup? The pack might welcome strays but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re okay with other wolves intruding on their territory. They might chase Jeongguk out initially. Or worse, attack him.
Jeongguk growls in disagreement and rams his head into Jimin’s hip, shoving him forward a few steps. The alpha snorts and would surely roll his eyes if he were in human form. To Jeongguk’s satisfaction, he doesn’t argue or put up much of a fight — the two wolves cross the pack’s border side by side.
Even though they’re still in the same forest, Jeongguk suddenly feels less safe. He’s expecting wolves from the pack to appear at any moment, growling and snarling for the two trespassers to leave. Jimin doesn’t seem to be worried, though. He’s standing tall, walking with confident steps. At least if something goes wrong, he’ll be here. Jeongguk certainly wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of Jimin’s bite or claws.
It’s not long before Jeongguk starts to feel gazes on him. His hairs stand on end and his hackles raise a bit, sensing that those who are watching must be wary and displeased by the strangers walking through their land. Jimin stops so Jeongguk follows suit, examining their surroundings to get an idea of where the other wolves could be hiding. There’s movement in some bushes that initially alarms him but then he realizes he can’t detect any scents except that of a squirrel.
They remain in place for a few moments, then their observers finally decide to make themselves known. Whiffs of alpha and beta scents pass in the breeze and Jeongguk hears the crackling of leaves. Three wolves emerge from the trees — all alphas — and one man — a beta — is walking amongst them. He’s naked, indicating that he had recently shifted, probably to greet the two newcomers more effectively.
“Hello. What’s your business here?” the man questions authoritatively.
Jimin shifts, followed by Jeongguk. The alphas are all staring at the latter with piercing gazes, noses moving rapidly as they sniff the air. It makes Jeongguk uncomfortable and his omega bristles. Particularly because he’s in a vulnerable form now. He nervously moves behind Jimin, seeking protection and coverage to shield his naked body.
“I have someone who needs shelter and a pack to join,” Jimin answers, pointing to Jeongguk with his thumb.
The beta turns his attention to the omega. “You don’t belong to a pack?”
“I used to, but…they’re gone now,” Jeongguk says quietly, heart clenching painfully.
“My condolences,” the beta says with a bow of his head. He looks back to Jimin. “What about you?”
“I’m just his guide.”
“You have a pack?”
“No, I’m on my own.”
The beta furrows his brows. “Did something unfortunate happen to them? Do you need a new place to call home, too?”
“I don’t think I’d be welcomed,” Jimin replies, making Jeongguk stare at the back of his head in confusion. “I was exiled.”
Immediately, the alphas all stand a bit straighter with widened, defensive stances. The beta also narrows his eyes, suddenly more aloof than he had been seconds prior. Their auras have all become ever so slightly more aggressive and it bothers Jeongguk’s omega.
“From which pack?” the beta demands.
The grey-haired alpha glances over his shoulder at Jeongguk with a resigned expression. There’s a speck of something else in his eyes, though. An apology.
Just as Jeongguk registers it, Jimin turns around and, in a dull tone, tells the other man, “Bloodmoon.”
The response is instantaneous, much faster than Jeongguk would’ve ever predicted. All three alphas jump in front of the beta protectively with aggressive snarls, glaring at Jimin with intense rage. Even the beta’s eyes flash golden, canines on display. Hostile pheromones taint the air, commanding Jeongguk’s attention and making it hard for him to focus on anything else. He feels unsafe and instinctively steps closer to Jimin, peering at the threats from around the elder’s head. In contrast, his omega growls warningly, displeased with the treatment their saviour is subjected to.
“Omega, come to us. You’re permitted to stay with the pack. We will protect you,” the beta says with an outstretched hand.
Jeongguk hesitates with furrowed brows. Given how these wolves are acting, he’s not sure he wants to approach them. But Jimin steps aside and looks at him, nodding encouragingly and gesturing to the strangers in a sweeping motion. With a gulp, Jeongguk slowly walks forward, watching the alphas for any suspicious movements.
The beta takes him by the arm once he’s close enough and pulls Jeongguk behind him, acting like a shield for him. Two of the alphas move closer to cage him in at the sides while the final alpha paces back and forth in front of them all, never taking his eyes off of Jimin.
“I’ve heard rumours about an exiled alpha from Bloodmoon. So it’s you, huh? You need to get out of here. Immediately. And if you ever return, we’ll make sure that this is the last pack you ever terrorize,” the beta snaps, addressing Jimin.
Jeongguk stiffens, stomach dropping like a boulder in the sea. The alphas on either side of him press closer and he suddenly feels trapped. This isn’t what he wanted.
“Wuh-Wait—”
“I understand,” Jimin says calmly. He makes eye contact with Jeongguk for what feels like the last time, offering a small smile. “Good luck, Jeongguk-ssi.”
“Byungho will follow you to make sure you don’t extend your stay in our territory,” the beta decides while pointing to the pacing alpha.
“Of course.”
The brunet watches Jimin walk away with his escort. Panic seizes him when he can no longer see the latter. What if that Byungho does more than follow him to the border? What if he tries to hurt Jimin? What if he kills him? It doesn’t seem like any of these other wolves would reprimand their packmate or deliver any punishment if he were to do that.
His omega is extremely distressed, howling in despair at the thought of being separated from their saviour and protector. Jimin is safe, Jimin understands and cares about them. This pack won’t be able to care for them the way Jimin can and did.
A whimper gets lodged in Jeongguk’s throat and he struggles to back out of the compact, suffocating space he’s confined in. To his dismay, the alphas angle their backsides together so there’s no way for Jeongguk to escape, causing him to become even more agitated. He lets out a scared yelp and flails, chest heaving with fast, panicked breaths.
“Jeongguk-ssi, it’s okay. You’re safe, just calm down,” the beta soothes, holding his hands out in front of him like he wants to touch the hysterical man but doesn’t want to overstep.
A plethora of calming pheromones are released by the wolves but they don’t do much to ease Jeongguk. He whimpers and hugs himself for comfort, scratching at his arms for a distracting stimulus. His omega cries out for Jimin and Jeongguk feels like doing the same.
“I know it’s frightening to be in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people, but I promise you no one will hurt you.” The beta’s gaze flicks to Jeongguk’s right shoulder, a frown briefly flashing across his face before he softens his expression again and looks into frightened, amber eyes. “We will protect you. You don’t have to worry about that alpha harming you anymore.”
At first, Jeongguk assumes the beta is referring to the alpha that attacked him and is confused as to how he knows. But then he realizes this man thinks Jimin is the one who bit him. That enrages his omega. How dare this irrelevant waste of space insult Jimin like that. He knows nothing about the alpha and yet has the audacity to accuse him of such a heinous thing? The way he’s jumping to conclusions without knowing anything bothers Jeongguk, too. It isn’t fair for Jimin to be treated and thought of so poorly.
“No,” Jeongguk says.
“No?”
“I don’t want you to protect me. I don’t want to be part of this pack. Let me go.”
“Jeongguk-ssi, it’s dangerous for you to be out there on your own when a wolf from Bloodmoon—”
“I don’t care about what you think. Jimin-ssi is kind and he saved me. I’d rather be with him,” Jeongguk asserts.
“I don’t think you realize what kind of—”
“You know nothing about him, so don’t speak as if you do!” Jeongguk snaps.
He shoves the beta aside and shifts mid-jump, landing heavily on his paws, and pelts away. Thankfully no one tries chasing him. He doesn’t think he’d be able to stop himself from lashing out if they did.
Jeongguk skids to a stop outside the border and sniffs the ground furiously, rushing to locate Jimin’s scent. A wave of relief rushes through him when he picks up on it and he bolts in the direction the source is coming from. It smells very fresh and the further he runs, the stronger it becomes.
Jeongguk doesn’t care how loud he’s being, doesn’t care if he sounds like a herd of elephants storming through the woods. He wants Jimin to know he’s coming back to him. And it’s obvious Jimin must’ve heard him approaching because when Jeongguk finally sees him, the alpha is standing in place already turned to face the younger wolf.
They both shift at the same time and Jeongguk sprints over while Jimin meets him halfway, taking long strides.
“What’s wrong? You smell—”
“Don’t leave me. Don’t make me stay with them,” Jeongguk pleads, breathing heavily, eyes prickling with tears.
Jimin’s eyebrows pinch together in concern, jaw a bit tight. “What did they do? Or was it something they said?”
“I-It’s nothing like that. I just didn’t feel as safe with them as I do with you.” Jeongguk sucks his bottom lip into his mouth, sniffing. “My omega feels uneasy when we’re separated. It sees you as our protector. No one else is good enough.”
“I see,” Jimin comments softly. “I hadn’t realized your omega had grown so attached. I’m sorry that you felt unsafe with that pack, or that you felt like I was abandoning you.”
“All that matters is you’re here now.” Jeongguk sighs and looks at Jimin sadly, mouth turning down at the corners. “I don’t want to join a pack if you’re not there- I don’t think I can.”
The grey-haired man smiles, placing a hand on Jeongguk’s head and petting him gently. “Okay, you don’t have to join any pack you don’t want to. No one is going to force you. It’s okay- ah, please don’t cry.”
Saying that just fuels the urge to cry even more and Jeongguk furiously wipes at the tears spilling from his eyes. What’s worse is the hand smoothing down his hair. It feels so good, so comforting and warm. So much that it’s a bit overwhelming. But at the same time, Jeongguk never wants Jimin to stop touching him.
Eventually the tears subside, and Jimin (much to Jeongguk’s disappointment) pulls his hand away. Jeongguk can tell he’s releasing calming pheromones and it’s making any remnants of tension he was experiencing earlier fade away. His omega is immensely satisfied, rolling over to expose its belly and submit to their alpha.
Wait, theirs?
“I think…” Jeongguk stares at Jimin expectantly, waiting for him to finish his thought. “Well, I have a theory that could explain why your omega feels the way it does.”
“What is it?”
“It’s possible that you imprinted on me- or at least your omega did,” Jimin replies.
“Really? You think so?” It does sound plausible. It could explain why he became hysterical after Jimin left.
Jimin shrugs. “Given how your omega sees me as your protector, it seems like a logical explanation.” He scratches at the side of his neck with an awkward laugh. “Though I’m not really sure why it would choose me. I haven’t exactly been very good to you.”
Jeongguk physically recoils, beyond bewildered. “Huh? You’ve been fine. Why do you think otherwise?”
“I could’ve been more pleasant, more friendly. There were a lot of times when I left you on your own for no good reason. I basically ignored you for the first twenty-four hours we were together. I’m not the type of wolf- or person- people would want to imprint on.”
“Sure, maybe you were distant and didn’t pay a lot of attention to me. But just because you’re a private person doesn’t make you a bad one. That’s how you would’ve behaved with anyone else, right? I don’t expect you to change your ways just for me and suddenly force yourself to be more open. You’re not some detestable alpha, despite what you seem to believe. There are people who have done far worse in this world.”
Jimin smiles gratefully, eyes shining with appreciation and admiration. “Thank you. You’re very sweet.”
The younger man sputters dumbly, cheeks flushing. “I-I’m just speaking the truth.”
“Right.” The alpha’s amused grin switches to a hesitant one. “Are you sure you want to stay by my side? It’s not always easy living without a home. Obviously I’ll do everything I can to keep you out of danger, but I can only do so much.”
“I’m not leaving you on your own. I’m only going to join a pack that will accept both of us,” Jeongguk insists.
“First of all, packs aren’t really my thing anymore. I’ve been on my own for many years so I don’t know when or if I’ll ever convince myself to rely on others again. Second of all, a pack like that doesn’t exist. Wolves are always going to be unaccepting of me.”
“It has something to do with your old pack, right?” Jeongguk asks. “All it took was you saying its name for those wolves we just encountered to freak out, so I think it’s safe to assume the pack isn’t well-liked.”
“Yup. The Bloodmoon pack. I’m surprised you’ve never heard of it before. It’s notorious for its vicious and immoral practices.” Jimin meanders through the trees and Jeongguk sticks to his side, listening closely to the other’s words while also watching where he’s stepping. “Aside from their rudeness and eagerness to get into fights with strangers, the main reason everyone has such negative attitudes towards them is because they often hunt other wolves. Sometimes for food but most of the time…for sport.”
That garners Jeongguk’s attention. Cannibalism is bad enough, but killing others for entertainment? Hearing such things makes him think of the group of wolves who attacked his village. Could they be part of the Bloodmoon pack? Or maybe inspired by them? Or are the similarities coincidental?
“When people learn that I was part of them, their perceptions of me drastically change. It doesn’t matter that I'm not an official member anymore — I was one of them at one point so I can’t be trusted. I don’t get the chance to explain that I never agreed with their ways and that’s why I was banished. There's no way I would ever do the things that ruthless pack does. Because of my differing opinions, everyone I knew turned on me. I was too weak in their eyes and would always be a liability,” Jimin explains. He lets out a short, tired huff of air. “It sucks that the actions of my old pack define who I am, even when I don’t condone the things they do. But I’ve long since come to terms with what to expect from others. There’s no use arguing or trying to defend myself; nothing I say will be convincing.”
“I hate that you have to deal with that,” Jeongguk frowns. “I’ve only known you for a few days but I can tell you’re nothing like your old pack. The fact that I’m still alive should be enough proof to other people that you’re not who they think you are. Hell, you saved me from another wolf. That sounds like the opposite of what a Bloodmoon wolf would do.”
“There are a lot of stubborn people in the world, unfortunately. But like I said, after being exiled and facing this treatment for seven years, I’ve learned to accept my fate.”
Seven years. So Jimin has been on his own since he was seventeen. He was so young, too young. Him standing here alive is a testament to how strong and resilient he really is. It makes Jeongguk’s omega puff its chest with pride.
The brunet turns to look at the elder with determination. “I’ll never leave you. I’ll support and defend you. Always.”
Jimin’s entire face lights up with fondness, eyes dripping with honey. His adoring gaze causes Jeongguk’s heartbeat to quicken and something warm to wrap around his heart. Seeing Jimin's reaction makes him feel so pleased with himself for saying that. He can only hope his joy doesn’t make his scent sweeten too noticeably.
“Then I’ll do the same for you. You have my word.”