Chapter Text
A temporary tent was quickly set up for Namjoon and Seokjin to dress in their ceremonial robes and wash off the dust and grime of the road. Jungkook set down the official gifts and changed into a clean pair of black pants and jeogori behind a tree. They were loose enough that he could easily shift into his wolf form if he needed to and if they ripped, he could replace them easily.
Where Jungkook’s clothing was meant to make him a part of the background, Namjoon and Seokjin emerged from the tent bearing the marks of the Dongak Mountain pack’s old splendor. Their long red and navy blue hanboks were covered with thick embroidery of scenes from their history and tied with a golden belt. Namjoon wore a tall antler crown with complex patterns in the stamped gold. Seokjin’s smaller crown was covered in colourful stones and jade tears.
“Let’s hurry this up,” Seokjin grumbled as he accepted Namjoon’s help to step on the road. “This crown is so heavy my neck is going to snap any minute now.”
Namjoon complied and as they walked down the road flanked by Jungkook on one side and Hoseok on the other, Namjoon massaged Seokjin’s neck.
“Why couldn’t our ancestors just have ceremonial necklaces? Bracelets? Scepters? Why crowns? I can barely turn my head.” Seokjin complained, filling the tense air around them with his distracting nonsense.
Jungkook, practiced at ignoring Seokjin, scanned the road around them for any hint of threat. He could see the lanterns hanging by the tent where they would meet the Head Alpha of the Southern Island pack. Beyond that, he could see people rushing from tent to tent, the smoke from several campfires, and the ocean.
It was… big.
Jungkook understood that the sea was big enough to hold great boats and fish and whales but it was startling seeing how it stretched everywhere he looked, melting into the sky. How had the Southern Island pack been brave enough to get into a boat made of wood and nails and push out into it? How did they not get lost?
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Hoseok said, noticing his awe. The beta had described it to them when he'd returned with the response from the Southern Island pack. But his words had failed to describe the vastness of it, how alive it seemed.
Jungkook jerked his head in agreement. He had gone his entire life without seeing such a thing. Even if the negotiations failed, he would remember this day as a one of the most wonderful of his life.
But he couldn’t be distracted by anything. He needed to keep his leaders safe – he owed them this.
The tent loomed larger and larger as they approached. It was a massive, solid thing with pendants and banners with the blooming lotus symbol of the Southern Island pack fluttering in the breeze from the ocean wind.
It would seem that the Southern Island pack had kept their promise. Jungkook couldn’t see any guards or soldiers hoovering in the distance. The meeting tent was equidistant between the two groups but it was clear from the curious crowd gathering at a distance that the mountain wolves were greatly outnumbered by the curious southerners.
But among their number, Jungkook could see children. Pups and lanky newly presented wolves. This helped a little hope trickle through the dam of anxiety in his brain – they would hardly bring their families to watch a slaughter.
Or maybe they had. The old Head Alpha would have.
Namjoon and Seokjin stopped a few steps from the tent entrance.
Seokjin appeared perfectly calm as they stood in the shadow of the massive structure where they would decide the fate of their pack. He raised his nose and sniffed. Jungkook could pick out meat and spices and salt.
“Smells good.”
Namjoon, hands shaking underneath the long cuff of his robes, buried his nose in Seokjin’s neck and breathed deeply. “Smells good.”
Which was why the Head Alpha of the Southern Island pack’s first view of the Dongak Mountain leaders after 15 years was their Head Omega slapping the Head Alpha’s chest repeatedly like a drum.
Jungkook wanted to sink into the sand.
So much for dignity.
The Head Alpha of the Southern Island was younger than Jungkook had assumed from the stories that were told about him. Jimin had been sent away to an old man, austere and terrifying. This man, dressed in black ceremonial robes, layered and gauzy so that he looked like a strange sort of ghost with his pale skin had a soft and young face. He could be anywhere from his 20s to 30s but his eyes seemed much, much older.
He was shorter than Jungkook but held himself with a secure dignity. There was power inherent in the way that he took up space, his scent woodsy and clear. He raised a single eyebrow as Namjoon and Seokjin sprang apart guilty.
“May I formally present to the Head Alpha of the Southern Island pack, the Head Alpha and Head Omega of the Dongak Mountain Pack.” Hoseok looked like he wanted to strangle both of them as they bowed.
Jungkook bowed low from the waist, eyes trained on the foreign alpha. His face betrayed no emotion as he bowed. He seemed to be alone – there was no omega beside him and no guard behind him. They could all be waiting in the tent for an ambush, but it was bold for the Head Alpha to appear in front of his enemies seemingly unarmed.
Though, his frame was slight. He wouldn’t put up much for a fight, Jungkook considered. From what Jungkook had seen from afar, most of the wolves on the beach watching them were tan and golden. This man’s skin was almost pearl white against his dark hair – maybe he was sickly? He clearly wasn’t a fighter but maybe he was canny, like Seokjin. Jungkook now understood that there were many ways to be a leader.
“We are honoured by your presence.” The Southern Island leader’s voice was low, with a slight drawl.
Trying to regain some self-respect, Namjoon clasped his hands together respectfully. “We are honoured that you agreed to meet with us.”
“Didn’t want to,” the Southern Island alpha said bluntly. His face didn’t change as he dashed Namjoon’s hopes against the rocks.
This was going well.
Namjoon seemed at a loss for words but thankfully, he was not alone. His omega, his fated mate, looked at the stone-faced alpha leader across from him and started to laugh. Hysterically.
This time, Hoseok did bury his head in his hands, out of view of the Southern Island leader who seemed fascinated by Seokjin’s squeaky peals of laughter. He blinked repeatedly, long eyelashes fluttering.
“You don’t mince words,” Seokjin managed to say between peals of laughter that had his ridiculous crowd wobbling precariously.
Namjoon attempted a queasy, appeasing smile. “We are thankful that you met us despite your misgivings.”
The Head Alpha shrugged. “Didn’t really have a choice.”
Jungkook was confused: was the man in front of him not the leader of the Southern Island pack? Was this some sort of decoy? Was the real leader hiding in ambush?
“It was not our intention to force you into a meeting.” Namjoon carefully raised his palms in a gesture of appeasement. “We have no intentions of repeating the mistakes of the past. We are here in a bid for friendship. Our people are here to build a relationship of trust and trade with our cousins across the water.”
“Sure.” The Southern Island alpha huffed, brow wrinkling as he looked up the road path to the rest of the Dongak Mountain wolves waiting and watching. He squinted, mouth moving as he counted. Once the number was too high, he sighed, the golden hoops in his ears catching the sun and he dropped his head. “How many prisoners have you brought us?”
“Prisoners?” Namjoon whipped around to look up at where the Southern Island leader had been looking. There were only his own people looking back. Jungkook could see some of the pups sitting on their parents shoulders, watching. “Prisoners? I’m afraid there’s been some sort of misunderstanding.”
The mountain wolves exchanged a look. Jungkook had read the letter himself – it made no mention of prisoners.
“How many terrified omega slaves are you here to foist on us?” The Southern Island leader’s eyes were dark and angry. Despite being smaller, he seemed to loom up taller as his lip curled with disgust. “That is Dongak Mountain diplomacy.”
The anger crackling off the Southern Island alpha made it almost impossible to breathe. Jungkook staggered back, surprised at how dominant the smaller alpha was despite his unassuming figure. Unconsciously, Namjoon was starting to respond in kind; his scent thickened in confusion as his inner wolf considered the man in front of him as a threat.
This Southern Island wolf was challenging him, and Namjoon wasn’t someone who backed down from a challenge.
Jungkook subtly put his weight on his back foot and prepared himself to shift.
“There will be no prisoners.” Seokjin snapped his jaw at both of them. He ripped the ridiculous crown of his head and shook it at the Southern Island Head Alpha. “No omegas sent anywhere. Ever again.”
The Southern Island leader tilted his head up to take in Seokjin, who was glorious in his anger.
“If you are expecting us to hand over omegas to you as if they were bundles of firewood, you are mistaken. The evils of the past, of the former Head Alpha end here, with us. You will get no prisoners from us. Ever again.”
The atmosphere shifted as the Southern Island alpha seemed shocked at Seokjin’s outburst.
Seokjin bowed, stiff and perfunctory. “If that is what you are here for, our discussion is over. You will excuse us.”
Grabbing Namjoon’s arm, he turned them both around and started to march back towards their people waiting in the forest. Namjoon obediently followed him, breathing through his nose, face pale.
Jungkook was the last to leave, keeping his eyes on the Southern Island leader’s face in case he gave chase or ordered his guards to attack. This was why he saw a person rush out of the tent towards them first.
He smelled the stranger first which was why he froze in place and let the figure run past him towards his leaders.
“Namjoon! Namjoon! I thought that it was you!”
A figure of white and gold launched itself at Namjoon’s back and wrapped their arms around him. Not strangling him but hugging him. Jungkook’s knees buckled and he dropped into the sand as the air was filled with a familiar, happy scent.
“Jimin?” Namjoon spun around but the omega had wrapped his legs around Namjoon’s waist as Seokjin gave an affronted, overjoyed squawk.
“Jimin? Jimin! Get off of him! You’re crushing his kidneys!” Seokjin pulled at Jimin half-heartedly before giving up and hugging the omega from behind. The ecstatic omega was sandwiched between the two Dongak Mountain leaders.
“I can’t believe it’s you.” Jimin eventually detached himself from Namjoon, sliding down his back and then gathering up Seokjin for an joyful hug, lifting him off the ground.
“Stop that. I have old bones and you’re crushing them.” Seokjin was hiccuping as he cried, great sobs wracking his chest as he smoothed down Jimin’s hair.
“Pah, you haven’t changed at all.” Jimin rested his forehead against Seokjin, tears streaming down his face despite his wide smile. “I thought I would never see that handsome face ever again.”
“We couldn’t let that happen,” Seokjin snorted.
“And”- Jimin sniffed the air again – “you brought… Jungkook!”
Jungkook barely had time to react before he was wrestled to the ground, his old friend scenting him and scrabbling his fingers into his chest and whining as rubbed Jungkook’s neck.
“Jungkook! Jungkook! Jungkook!” Jimin chanted.
Jungkook couldn’t believe what he was seeing. If he couldn’t feel the weight crushing his lungs, he would have believed that it was a dream. Never in his wildest dream did he believe that he would ever seen his friend again. It had been almost 15 years since he’d watched his closest companion being dragged out screaming from the great hall. It had been 15 years of nightmares, remembering his friend’s panic, pleading face as he was pulled away to a horrible unknown future.
Jungkook’s whole body was shaking at he scented his friend, his friend who was alive and well, nose buried in his neck.
Jimin still smelled the same – earthy and sweet. His face had changed – he was older of course, but his youthful roundness had faded into a sharp face with delicate features. His eyes still squeezed shut when he laughed but when he opened his eyes to look at Jungkook again, the melancholy and fear that had haunted them since he’d presented was gone.
“Jungkook! I thought… I hoped.” Jimin collapsed onto Jungkook’s chest again, head over his heart. “You’re here. You're alive. You’re here.”
This Jimin was glowing with happiness.
He looked full of love.
Jungkook was not ashamed to say that he sobbed as he held his own friend, who had survived despite Jungkook’s failure to protect him. Jimin had been Jungkook’s first and worst failure to protect the people around him. Seeing him alive and well and crushing Jungkook’s intestines under his knee felt like fate giving him another chance.
“What are you doing here?” Jungkook said when he could finally speak again. The joy was almost exploding out of his chest.
Hoseok was shrieking as he lifted Jimin off Jungkook and was spinning him around while peppering small kisses all over his face.
“The letter!” Jimin squealed as Hoseok squeezed his cheeks. “I thought it smelled like all of you – all of your but especially Hoseok. So, I told Yoongi that we had to meet you to be sure.”
“Yoongi?” Jungkook sat up and tried to dust himself off. The sand covered his black clothing.
“Ahem.”
The Head Alpha of the Southern Island pack stepped forward, looking much less composed than he had moments ago. He was crying, face pink as he looked at Jimin with a wide smile that softened his imposing features.
“Ah!” Jimin slithered out of Hoseok’s grasp and ran over to the Head Alpha. Jungkook stifled a gasp as his old friend grabbed the stately alpha’s elbow and dragged him forward. “This is Yoongi.”
The leader of the Southern Island frowned slightly as he carefully smoothed out Jimin’s hair that was out of place from his enthusiastic greetings. His touch was gentle as he pushed the stray hair off Jimin’s forehead.
“I thought…” Namjoon took a deep breath as took in the affection in the gesture. Seokjin’s gaze darted quickly between them. “We didn’t know what happened to you. When the old Head Alpha sent you… We thought…”
“He sent a child,” Yoongi snapped, the old fire in his voice back. He clutched Jimin’s against his chest protectively. “The Head Alpha of the Mountain Pack sent a child as a sacrifice, a slave. He offered Jimin as a plaything, something that my father could enjoy. As if my father enjoyed deflowering children.”
No wonder the Southern Island Pack had immediate cut all ties with the Mountain Pack. What was meant as a gift from one corrupt, lecherous old man to another, was seen as the insult that it was. The old Head Alpha had assumed that Jimin had displeased the Southern Island pack leader so profoundly that he had cause an unspeakable afront. The omegas in his own pack had suffered as a result.
Jimin hummed, rubbing the alpha’s chest in comfort, quelling the growl that crawl into his words. “Everyone knows that your father is a good man,” Jimin soothed. “A kind man and a good leader. Like his son. And it turned out for the best,” Jimin added with a warm, smug smile. “Because I met you, my fated mate.”
The alpha rolled his eyes. “Stop trying to distract me.”
Jimin turned to his audience who were stunned by Jimin’s revelation. Yoongi was his fated mate?
“Destiny,” Jimin said, confident and sure. “When I heard his voice, I knew that he was mine. It was the same for him, even if he denies it.”
Jungkook frowned. Why would the Southern Island wolf deny that Jimin was his fated mate?
“You were so small and helpless. Of course, everyone there wanted to help you.” Yoongi shook his head sternly but reached down to wrap his arm around Jimin’s waist.
“But you were the one that took care of me.” Jimin turned to his old packmates and proudly showed off his alpha. “And now I take care of him.”
How it would have infuriated the old Head Alpha of the Mountain Pack to hear Jimin speak: pleased, poised, and self-assured. The scared, demure child was a ghost of the past. The omega before them glowed with health and happiness; his alpha clearly hung on his every word.
“The Southern Island pack doesn’t believe in fated mates?” Namjoon asked, curiously but carefully. It was such a tightly held belief that it seemed improbably that there were wolves that didn’t accept it.
“They believe in fated mates. But not in the same way. We believe that we recognize them when we hear their voice. They believe in dreams.” Jimin wrinkled his nose. “You have dreams about your fated mate before you meet them. So, you might not know them immediately when you hear them. Sometimes you need to… interpret the dreams. Is that right?”
Yoongi nodded doggedly. “It is not that we don’t believe in fated mates, but we don’t believe that we can recognize them from their voice alone.”
“How interesting.” Namjoon was polite but Jungkook could see the wheels in his head turning as he considered the societal implications. As he was about to launch into a million questions, Seokjin put his hand on Namjoon’s arm.
“We are glad that you agreed to meet us,” Seokjin said with a smooth bow, “even after the insults of the past.”
Yoongi shuffled his feet in the sand. “Jimin wanted to see what had become of his old pack. He wanted to hear about what happened to… the people he remembered and cared about.”
Jimin curled into his alpha and the unasked question hung in the air. If Namjoon was here, it meant that Jimin’s father was not.
“I killed him,” Seokjin said, calmly and blandly as if he was talking about the weather. Jimin gasped and paled; his mate simply nodded in acceptance. “He was going to take my fated mate away from me and force me to mate him instead. There was a rebellion. I killed him.”
Seokjin had always done what Jungkook could not. He had always been stronger, braver.
The idea of the old Head Alpha breaking the bond between fated mates to take Seokjin for himself had been enough to spur the majority of the Dongak Mountain wolves against him.
“The omega is clearly now ready to mate,” the old Head Alpha had said in the council meeting. Namjoon was locked in the stocks outside, shivering and delirious in the cold, as they discussed him fate. His disobedience had landed him locked and starving in front of the great hall, but his fate was ultimately up to the council. “He refused for years but was ready to accept this pup. The alpha is unworthy.’
“The omega in question has a fated mate. They have both sworn to it!” one of the elders had shouted – something that few dared to do but the atmosphere in the meeting was so tense that all rules seemed fragile.
“They are young. Mistaken. Namjoon is too inexperienced and this omega is too valuable to be wasted on someone who still has yet to prove his worthiness to the pack.”
“So only you can decide which bonds are true and which are not?” Another elder stood and growled at the Head Alpha. “And if that omega happens to be one that you have designs on, then it cannot be true.”
“Know you place, alpha.” Jimin’s father had stood, pushing back his throne that groaned against the wood. Jungkook, a guard at the time, stood as well at the back of the chamber. He was too scared to do anything. Too scared to help Namjoon, to frightened to help Seokjin escape the prison he was being kept in.
He’d just stood there.
Weak. Pathetic.
“Know yours!” the alpha retorted. “You think that your will can supersede destiny?”
“I am the head of this pack!” The Head Alpha roared.
But not for long.
It had been an ugly rebellion. Many of the pack had risen against him but it was Seokjin that finally killed him. His wolf form was larger than most omegas: a midnight-black creature that was quick and wiry. After the old Head Alpha had attacked Namjoon, already weakened by being kept in the stocks, and brought him down, Seokjin had snapped the old Head Alpha’s neck in his jaws.
Seokjin had thrown the old Head Alpha’s body on the ground, growling at the stunned circle of wolves around him.
Then, seeing no challengers, he’d gone over to Namjoon’s broken body and transformed. “Get all the healers here to serve the new Head Alpha.”
No one had argued.
Jimin’s body was limp as he took in Seokjin’s announcement. Jungkook wavered, unsure what the Southern Island Head Alpha’s reaction would be.
“I am sorry that it had to come to that,” Seokjin said steadily. He stood tall and straight, with Namjoon primed and ready beside him in the case of any danger. “I am sorry that your father is dead Jimin, but I am not sorry that the old Head Alpha is dead.”
Chin raised, Jimin looked Seokjin in the eye. “I am thankful that there are new leaders of the Dongak Mountain pack.”
Yoongi bowed deeply from the waist at Seokjin. Jungkook was shocked to see another wolf pay him so much respect, especially one of such as high standing as the Southern Island Head Alpha.
“I thank you. I welcome the new leaders of the Dongak Mountain pack.”
The wording wasn’t lost on Jungkook. Namjoon was the Head Alpha but Seokjin was beside him, weighing in on all matters. The old rules had been cast aside as soon as Seokjin’s teeth had bit into the old man’s neck.
“I would be happy to discuss a treaty with the new leaders of the Mountain Pack.”
Namjoon’s face broke out into a smile while Seokjin’s face was carefully blank. “We are very happy to hear that.”
“You can set up on the western end of the beach. There’s lot of space and it’s far enough from the beach that the little ones won’t wonder into the water unattended.” Jimin pointed to an open space by a grove of fruit trees. “If they need help setting up their tents on the sand, let us know. It’s tricky. We’ll have a great feast tonight, to welcome you. Many people have come with you.” Jimin looked up at the people watching them from the cliff. "And there are people that I want you to meet."
“Many people will be happy to see you,” Namjoon told Jimin earnestly. And it was true – Jimin had been popular and well-loved. The loss of him and the memory of that loss had spurred many to rise against the old Head Alpha.
“I never thought that I would see my friends again.” Jimin was staring straight at Jungkook. “I can’t wait for them to meet my new friends as we grow our packs closer together."
“A natural diplomat,” Yoongi said with a poke at Jimin’s side.
“See? Fated.” Jimin pointed between them. “I’m the diplomat and you just stand there, being grumpy.”
Jungkook mind spun as he looked at the two of them, happily bickering as they urged Namjoon and Seokjin to come and examine where the mountain wolves could set up camp. Jimin had found his fated mate all the way across the ocean. He was alive and happy.
Jungkook’s felt like a terrible weight had been lifted from his soul. He looked out at the ocean, the constant shimmer of the water moving with untold mysteries underneath. The ocean had brought him back Jimin, had washed away the burden of failure that covered him like a dark rain. Maybe this was why he had dreamed about the ocean? Maybe the dreams had been telling him that his fate wasn’t exactly what he’d thought it would be.
*
“I hear there’s going to be a feast.” Shiwoo clapped her hands in anticipation and gave the tent peg another half-hearted tap.
Jungkook had done most of the work of setting up the tents of his fellow guards. Most of them were too excited by the idea of meeting new wolves to properly ground their tents in the endless ocean wind. He didn’t blame them: the news that Jimin had survived and even found his own mate had spread through the camp like wildfire.
“Our Jimin, Head Omega of the Southern Island pack.” Shiwoo, a young beta guard, shook her head. “The fated mate of the leader of the Southern Island pack.”
“It’s like something out of a story,” Haerin sighed dreamily.
All of these guards were too young to remember the beginning of that story: Jimin’s terror as he was ripped away from his home, screaming and pleading for his father to change his mind.
“Jungkook’s no good for gossip,” Seokjin chided, suddenly behind Jungkook.
The two guards nodded in agreement.
“I’ll take him. Need that nose of yours to find the kitchen.” Seokjin raised Jungkook to his feet and nudged him forward. He was carrying several jars of spices that he immediately thrust into Jungkook’s arms.
“Is the Southern Island Head Alpha very handsome?” Shiwoo asked impertinently. “All of the Southern Island wolves are very handsome.”
They were different: golden skin and curly hair and easy, content smiles.
“Ein. He’s small, pale, and has eyes. I’m much more handsome,” Seokjin said as he maneuvered Jungkook out of their camp. “Now, where’s the kitchen?”
Jungkook did have a good nose, better than most. He’d been training as a hunter since he was young and had been chosen because of his instincts to join the elite guard. Bears and strangers were easily identified from far distances thanks to his senses that were heightened even when he was in human form.
Jungkook lifted his head. He was a little disoriented by the scent of all new wolves, strangers. The ocean also invaded every part of him; he could taste the salt and hear the waves crashing insistently. He tried to focus and sure enough, there was the smell of roasting meat.
“There.”
“Excellent. Carefully with the gochujang jars.”
Seokjin lifted a huge jar of kimchi, not waiting for Jungkook to hoist his, and stomped his way into the Southern Island pack’s camp.
It was hard not to get nervous as every face turned to stare openly at Seokjin. The Southern wolves seemed fascinated by the strangers, but it made sense – it had been 15 years since they’d made contact with the Dongak Mountain pack.
“Yes. It is me, Head Omega Seokjin. Yes, I really am this handsome,” Seokjin narrated breezily as he walked towards the makeshift kitchen tent. There were no guards and so Jungkook opened the tent flap for the omega who walked in with a few deep, very low bow.
“May I present my humble gifts to the Head Cook?”
A smaller grey-haired woman, an alpha from the musky smell of her, stepped forward with a toothy smile. “Aish. We don’t use such fancy titles here. I am Hwayong. And I will gladly accept your gift. May I ask what it is?”
“It is a small offering from our pack to yours.” Seokjin set down the jar and Jungkook, gratefully, did the same. “Kimchi and gochujang. Made in our kitchens. I hope that it will be to your taste.”
Hwayong took a pair of chopstick from the table and dipped it in the sauce to taste. Her eyes widened. “Mountain wolves enjoy their spice.”
Seokjin smiled. “They do.”
She nodded at some attendants who stepped forward and took the jars. The kitchen tent was smoky from the meat roasting outside and full of the sound of chopping and slicing. “Some Southern Island wolves enjoy spice. Some, like my son, do not. But those of us that enjoy it are very thankful for your gift.”
Seokjin looked around the kitchen tent with a professional eye. “What do Southern Island wolves enjoy?”
“Meat,” Hwayong said bluntly.
“That is something that we have in common.”
Jungkook’s belly rumbled at the possibility of fresh meat. Seokjin noticed and swiftly looked around the kitchen.
“We’ve brought a large delegation from the mountain. May I offer our services in acquiring more meat for the meal tonight?”
Hwayong looked over Jungkook appraisingly. “Are all mountain wolves so strong? Good hunters?”
“Most. But I hear that Southern Island wolves don’t mind getting caught.” Seokjin and Hwayong laughed conspiratorially together. Jungkook wasn’t sure what they were talking about, but it seemed that all cooks shared a sense of humour. “I would be happy to offer my services in the kitchen.”
Hwayong handed him an apron without batting an eyelid. “We are always happy for another set of hands.”
As Seokjin tied the apron, he turned to Jungkook. “Are you all right to hunt by yourself?”
Jungkook could already smell a few wild boars snuffling around the perimeter. It wouldn’t take him long to bring them down. And he remembered that Jimin had always been partial to pork. A hunt could also drain some of the strange, jittery energy that he’d felt for the past few weeks. He’d thought that after the initial meeting was over, the spark of anxiety would fate. Somehow, it had gotten worse.
The meeting between the leaders of the two packs could not have gone better. Jimin was alive and happy and mated. Everything was fine. But Jungkook was still unsettled.
A hunt would help.
“I’ll be back soon.” Jungkook craned his neck to tell Seokjin he was leaving when he ran into something solid and unexpected. Jungkook staggered backwards and landed with his ass on the sand. “Oof.”
He looked up to see what he’d run into.
Who he’d run into.
It was a man, around Jungkook’s age, who was rubbing his arm and looking down at Jungkook with large, warm brown eyes. A strange warmth passed through Jungkook, like a ray of sunshine, as the stranger stared at him.
“Sorry, sorry.” Jungkook ducked his head in a bow. “I didn’t see you.”
The man furrowed his eyebrows but didn’t reply. He just stared.
Involuntarily, Jungkook started to blush. It was odd that he’d missed the man – he was tall and solidly built and frankly, unmissable.
He had nice eyes. That was the first thing Jungkook noticed – they seemed sleepy and calm despite the fact that Jungkook had just bounced off him. His dark hair, wavy and tousled, fell over his golden skin. He was golden all over. The Southern Island wolves didn’t all wear as many layers as their leader: his chest was bare and Jungkook gulped at all the space there barely covered by the open, gauzy short-sleeved shirt he was wearing. Muscular, trim, and… perfect.
“I didn’t s-s-see you,” Jungkook stuttered as he got himself to his feet. The omega continued to just stare at his face, unspeaking. Maybe all the Southern Island wolves were taciturn like their leader “I’m sorry.”
Silence was all he was met with.
Jungkook’s alpha was annoyed. It was a mistake, an accident.
“I hope that you’re all right,” Jungkook said politely even though the omega’s body was like a cliff face.
The omega didn’t inquire about his health (Jungkook’s butt was already starting to ache). He just cocked his head to the side and looked at Jungkook with an intensity that was bordering on uncomfortable.
“No need to be rude,” Jungkook huffed, finally letting his annoyance bleed into his tone. “It was an accident.”
The omega just blinked and then brushed past him into the kitchen tent.
Don’t cause a diplomatic incident, don’t cause a diplomatic incident. Jungkook grit his teeth as he stomped through the Southern Island camp towards to forest to get the boar to feed the ungrateful Southern Island snobs. He would get them the best boars, the juiciest and tenderest ones and then maybe they would get off their high horses and spare him a word.
Yeah. Jungkook would show them. He would show the aloof, taciturn, handsome omegas of the Southern Island pack just what a Dongak Mountain wolf could do.