Chapter Text
My lovely son,
They say that every parents’ dream is to marry off their omega babies to the best wolf they know. In my dreams though, you were mated to some alpha down the frozen river.
In my dreams, I visited your couple hut every single day. I squinted my eyes at your alpha, threatening him at the slightest crease on your forehead. I brought you fresh berries every evening and whenever your mother would make the mushroom soup you like so much, I would run off to your hut and feed it to you myself, ignoring the annoyed gaze of your alpha.
Alas, dreams don’t always come true.
You will be so far off from us. The berries don’t usually survive in warmer areas, and you will not get the same mushrooms you loved here. I hope these insignificant things do not dull your charm in your new home. I hope you remain the brightest, kindest and the most beautiful omega you have always been in our care.
Jungkook is the strongest alpha of Jeon Pack - next in line to become the head alpha. He will have hundreds of responsibilities other than you. I hope you are considerate of him and his position. I know I raised my baby well but I have to remind you to be respectful to his father, his friends and family. A mating does not end with an alpha and omega or any two wolves, so to say. A mating brings two packs together. So, make sure you are liked by your new pack. This is not to say that you should unconditionally withstand everything that may come your way- fight the injustice with your alpha, make sure nobody disrespects you when it’s uncalled for.
There were so many things I wanted you to know before bidding you farewell. I wanted your mother to explain the mating process to you, what your alpha would expect of you during the bite and after the bite settles. If only we had known the Jeon pack would leave immediately after finishing the farewell ceremony, your mother would have taught you the ways of mated life beforehand. Now, all I can say is that you must listen to your alpha- specially during the mating. Do as he says, even if it is very new to you. Let him lead everything for the next few days and then you will learn it by experience.
I hope you always remember that a family here in the north loves and cares for you; the snow here smells of your hair, calendulas are dull in front of your blinding smile and our dreams survive inside you.
Your mother will be crying for the next few days, Yoongi will be extra grumpy for not having his dongsaeng around but don’t worry; your father will take care of everything for you.
Be happy my lovely son and always remember the secret that only two of us share.
Love and Blessings
Appa
Jungkook finishes reading the letter hastily so as to not wake up the omega sleeping beside him.
It’s been almost half a day that they have been travelling after performing the omega farewell in the north pack. Looking at the omega that is to be his mate as soon as they reach the Jeon pack, Jungkook feels nothing but anger. In the small palanquin they are inside, he feels like he needs to breathe away from this curse of a mate from a pack he incessantly hates. He gestures to the alphas handling the palanquin, asking them to stop for a while as he jumps outside, putting the letter back into the palm of that sleeping omega.
They resume their walk. It would not be until sunrise that they will finally see their own land and the alpha doesn’t feel any of it worth it anymore.
As soon as he develops his own pace, treading through the snow, the past plays in his mind. He remembers everything so vividly that it feels like he is watching it in front of his eyes right now. The desperate cries of his mother and elder brother. He remembers how his cousin sacrificed himself while trying to save his mother and hyung. He cannot forget the state his father was in after the three tragic deaths in his family.
All because of that one pack and like a fucking idiot, he was being sacrificed to mate one of them.
After the people guilty for his loss were imprisoned, the north pack made a treaty with the Jeon pack to marry off one omega from their pack to one alpha of the Jeon pack every five years. It ensured peace between them.
The last time, one of Jungkook’s friends’ elder brother was supposed to mate their omega but due to heavy snowfall and blizzard that lasted two winters in the north pack, the first round of mating was cancelled and their plans were postponed.
So technically, Jimin is the first omega sent by the north pack to fulfill the terms of the treaty.
And hell Jungkook hates it.
When they began their walk, moon was just starting to show in the sky, Jimin had kept crying until the moon was on the way to sleep. He had his father’s letter clutched in his hands and when Jungkook sneaked it out of his sleeping figure, it was damp with tears.
He would feel for the omega, sure! However, as soon as he realized that the letter talks about a secret that only Jimin and his father know, his mind starts playing tricks with him.
Just as he sees the sun rising, making their land visible, his first thought upon stepping into the Jeon territory is a vow-
In no situation, under no circumstances ever, is he going to love this omega.
-----
Their welcome was grand. The entire pack had made a sort of parade, gathering on the either side of path that connects entrance of Jeon Lands to the temple of Moon Goddess. Even though in this land winter is not harsh, at this time flowers still haven’t bloomed in abundance. Hence, along with little buds, Jungkook’s pack mates have made use of leaves. Red, yellow, green, all kinds of leaves are cut minutely, gathered in the basket to shower on the couple who will mate tonight.
Right when Jungkook spots the crowd waiting for them on the next turn, he orders the palanquin holders to settle it down and to call out the omega inside.
He doesn’t give him a hand, doesn’t look in his direction but in his peripheral vision he can see that the omega is finding it difficult to get out. It’s not the omega’s fault that the curtains are confusing even for him, or that he has been inside for more than a day and night, it is obvious his legs are giving up- having not been moved for so long.
Jungkook is not blind though. He can see that the omega that has finally managed to come out and stand beside him is ethereal. His hair is shining and his scent is heavy with excitement.
They stand there for a while, in silence. None of them have exchanged a word yet and Jungkook thinks his life is really a joke. He doesn’t know this omega, doesn’t like his name, doesn’t like his pack and knowing that he will forever have to live with someone who belongs to such monster of wolves infuriates him extensively.
When they begin to walk and come under the vision of the pack, they hear thunderous claps, whistles and murmuring. Suddenly there’s a thick rain of leaf confetti. He thinks it’s stupid, the omega besides him giggles.
He giggles.
And Jungkook has to remind himself of the oath he took not so long ago.
They are adorned with garlands of seashells and pearls by the head alpha. Senior healer comes in the front to bless them with a pot of herbs that will soon be useful for the mating bite. Senior council members present them with fruits, shawls and wraps, gesturing them to enter the temple.
The omega has still not taken a closer look at his alpha. As soon as they had sat in the palanquin after the farewell ceremony, he had taken out his father’s letter, incapable of waiting anymore. After that he had continuously cried and passed out soon. Whatever, he thinks, he is going to be close to him soon anyway.
They offer their prayers and then it’s time to embark on their mating journey.
“The bite will hurt you for a while, little omega. Not to worry though, the pot in your hands has the most powerful herbs to suppress the pain. I am sure you will not need it though, your alpha is very virile.”
A string of laughter that comes mostly from omegas annoys Jungkook. He just wants to get over with it already.
Senior healer continues her instructions.
“I will now dismiss everyone to their own huts but before that, I will assign an omega who will show you your hut, bath, and the important buildings around okay? You will not have to visit them all today but she will escort you to your couple hut now and your alpha will follow you. Is that okay?”
The omega only nods.
The girl is Heiran, probably the prettiest omega Jimin has ever seen. Her scent of jasmine and lily is calming and Jimin has no problem understanding her directions.
“You have nothing to worry new bride. Alpha Jungkook is great with omegas.” She whispers and when Jimin looks at her, she winks.
Then her voice turns up enough to reach Jungkook as well.
“This is your couple hut, new bride. It’s small but Alpha Jungkook is adamant on living like a common wolf until he joins the council as the head. There is enough space to put all of your dowry items but I think we should do it tomorrow. The sun is just about to settle and you will have to have to mating bite before moon appears.”
Jimin nods and smiles at her in gratitude. Taking a side when she begins to exit their hut.
She throws an annoyed look at Jungkook but Jimin thinks nothing of it.
-----
“I am so tired alpha.”
Jungkook hears his omega’s voice as soon as Heiran leaves the hut, shutting the door behind her.
His voice is a little whiny, like he is complaining about being exhausted to Jungkook. His jaw clenches, annoyed that this omega is acting like he is his friend or something.
“Lay down on the mat. Let’s get this done with.” His voice is unemotional and devoid of any consideration.
“The bite?” The omega’s voice is full of anticipation.
Jungkook hums.
He knows what he is about to do is the most insensitive and cruel thing he can think of. He looks at the pot of herbs and wonders if moon goddess is ever going to forgive him for this act. Hell, if his mother is looking down on them right now, Jungkook imagines that she is shaking her head in disagreement. Jungkook can’t help it though. He fucking hates this omega.
Mating is the most important, vulnerable, sensitive and painful experience for wolves. When two wolves mate under the blessing of Goddess, they are tied for life. Under no circumstances are they supposed to separate and even if they do, the separation almost always ends up in either death or severe health damage. When one of the mated wolves die, the other one has to be in intense care of the healer and pack to regain their strength but even in such cases; a lot of them don’t survive.
When such extraordinary event happens, the senses of the wolves in mating are heightened. It’s a scary experience for both of them but specially for an omega, it’s terrifying. Not only because an omega is the one who is bitten in the process but also because the omega’s gland when invaded by a much powerful scent of the alpha, burns for quite a while. Which is why, mating never happens without an intercourse. The extreme intensity and awareness of the senses is diluted with physical pleasure when an alpha’s knot fills the omega, thinning out the pain and making it easier for the omega wolf to take the bite.
So when Jungkook decides he is going to mark this omega without an intercourse, he forgets that the Moon Goddess is watching.
He has an entire speech ready when he hears some shuffling in the background, fully expecting the omega to be naked and laying, waiting for his cock. However, when he turns, he sees Jimin laid on the mat, clothed from shoulders to knees, in the same dress his family had bid him farewell. He thinks it to be better, it will end quickly.
He crouches down near the omega’s knees, looking him in the eyes for any sign of expectations. All he gets are the shiniest anticipating eyes looking back at him in the most innocent manner and he reminds himself of how all of this might just be a trick.
He tilts the omega’s head to the left side with his large hand that almost covers Jimin’s entire face.
“This will hurt.”
Jungkook says but doesn’t give his omega a chance to respond because his huge palm settles on Jimin’s lips, forcing any sound to die in the omega’s throat.
When he lowers his head to the spot where bite will go, a breeze passes between his mouth and the neck. He wonders if it’s the goddess reminding him that this is unfair and cruel but he reminds himself that what happened with his family was utterly cruel too.
And then he is piercing the neck with his sharp teeth. The smell of the omega feels heavenly for a few seconds before the taste of metal permeates his mouth. It’s not bitter though, just unpleasant- like this entire situation.
He knows Jimin is screaming. With the way his palm over the omega’s lips is vibrating, he figures out that this scream is the deadliest he will ever experience. When he comes up from the marking and finally takes a look on the omega’s face, he feels guilty for a fraction of second.
Jimin’s face is splotched with tears. His eyes are blown wide and eyebrows are scrunched to their limit. His nose is the size of a little blueberry and it is expanding and contracting with every tear that travels down to his ears sideways. Jungkook still has his hand over the omega’s mouth because he knows the minute he lifts it, his violent sobs will be heard by everyone.
But also because he knows he is guilty of the worst crime of mating, but he doesn’t regard it important.
He only lifts his hand when the omega is either passed out or fallen asleep, he doesn’t really know. And then he goes to the other corner of his room, sleeping away from the omega that is suffering even in his slumber.
The pot of herb is long forgotten.
-----
He wouldn’t have woken up this soon if it wasn’t his father’s voice that reaches his ear from outside the hut.
When Jungkook goes outside, he sees the entire council standing there, just waiting to inquire about the happenings. He watches the sky, moon is on the right side of the pillar and yet none of the elders have slept. Probably wondering if the future head alpha and omega have mated properly.
“Son! I am sorry if we disturbed you but senior healer here was terrified. Her instincts made her-”
His father was interrupted by healer grandmother.
“Oh Jungkook! I have no idea why I am shaking but I heard a very loud shriek in my sleep and I have been sweating and panicking since then. Please tell me you and Jimin are all right otherwise I might really get sick.”
The concern in her voice is as real as it can get. Jungkook knows some wolves have been blessed with great power in their instincts but he never thought he will ever get to experience it like this. He quickly offers an apology to the goddess.
For lying to healer, not for whatever he did to the omega that bears his mark now.
“Everything is fine grandma. He just had a hard time with- with the... um with-”
The council laughs. Some of them with a hand over their mouth so as to not defend the head alpha.
“Okay okay my rowdy virile alpha. Let him rest now and bring him to the infirmary in a few days. No funny business before that!” She throws a mischievous towards the alpha.
The council leaves soon after and even though it’s past midnight, Jungkook decides he wants to bathe. He is irritated with the smell of citrus on his body and wonders how he will survive his entire life now that he is finally bitten the omega.
When he enters the hut to grab fresh clothes, he is shocked to see the omega awake and active. His back is turned towards the door and he seems to be searching for something in Jungkook’s bundle of clothes. His mind shoots several arrows before he entertains the possibility of this omega planning something to hurt him and his family.
“Just what the fuck do you think you are doing?”
The omega whimpers as he turns to see Jungkook launching at him. He doesn’t feel the threat though; it’s his mate after all.
“Alpha!” The omega whines. “That pillow, it’s hurting my cheeks. Do you know where my dowry clothes are? I can’t sleep with my sheet and pillow cover.”
The request is innocent and sweet. He isn’t asking Jungkook to give him the luxury of a palace, he is asking for his own items that Alpha Park had sent for his baby. Somehow, even this is a conspiracy for the upcoming pack leader.
“You will take what this pack fucking gives you. I do not want a single complaint from you or else you are going back home. Do you understand?”
Jimin doesn’t argue or cry; he just looks at the rough burlap sack pillow with a pout and then agrees.
His nodding head makes Jungkook question everything that has happened today. First of all, this omega probably does not understand when someone is being rude to him? He has no knowledge of the mating process or whatsoever because Jungkook knows that if this was any other omega, they would be crying, slapping and running out of the hut right now, in fear, anger and pain.
He looks at the mating bite and it surprises him that it shows no signs of infection or bleeding, in fact it is already settling. He thinks it to be fucking unreal. What are the chances that he randomly mates an omega from an enemy pack and the omega is sweet, innocent, beautiful and obedient? There has to be some trick in play. There is no way this omega will demand nothing from him.
And his thoughts are manifested into reality when he hears the omega calling for him. He has only taken ten steps outside of his hut to go the river when he realizes the omega is shouting at him from behind. When he looks back, Jimin is poking his head out of the door, gesturing for him to come close.
Jungkook sighs; of course it will go south. He already plans to turn him down if it is a request from the omega to not leave him or to have an intercourse with him or if the omega thinks Jungkook will stay behind for his puppy eyes to embrace him till he is asleep, he cannot be further from the reality.
The alpha comes close but omega gestures him to come even closer until his head is at the same level with him.
“So alpha…” Jimin thinks if he should even say it or not. “You know how my old pack is almost always covered in snow, right? My friends had said that I will see so many new things when I come here because the Jeon pack is warm enough to grow all kinds of fruits and flowers.”
Jungkook raises his eyebrows at the omega. He is still calculating the possibilities- is the north pack targeting their crops? Fertile land? Forest produces? Because if they are, it is a subject of great worry.
Jungkook follows Jimin’s finger that is pointing at something inside their hut. Its dark and the hut is lit only by a small fire in the dining area so he has to narrow his eyes to make sense of what the omega is actually pointing at.
It’s a bunch of bananas, probably a mating gift from the elders, wrapped in a lacey cloth.
“I can eat them right?” The omega looks back at his mate.
Jungkook is fucking annoyed.
He is totally not endeared.
When he doesn’t respond for a while, Jimin starts to worry if he irritated the alpha on the same day he arrived in his pack.
“It’s just that I have never seen them before and I thought since it is in our hut I can eat it. Right… alpha?”
“Do whatever you want.”
Jungkook hasn’t even turned to restart his journey to the river and he watches as the omega giggles and runs towards the fruit basked, immediately picking a green banana and Jungkook wants to tell him that he should go with the ripe one on the top but he realizes it’s insignificant.
As he walks towards the river, past the green fields where his mother and cousin are laid to rest, his nose flares and he can’t believe he considered the omega worthy, even for a second.
That night, after his long bath in the cold river, Jungkook goes back to the storehouse behind the council room and watches as he burns the cashmere, fleece and silk clothes that Jimin’s father had so lovingly packed for his son.
-----
The burlap sack hadn’t seemed troubling enough when Jimin slept on it after eating the sixth and very last banana in the basket. However, he is now fully awake and wants another one of them. Too bad he had finished them in a fit of hunger and now has to wait until his alpha comes home to eat them again.
He is poking his head out of the door again. It’s been a while now- he has awakened, freshened up, bathed and readied himself in new mating clothes but Jungkook is still not here. As he looks for his alpha, another alpha comes into his sight and he watches him bow completely while greeting him.
“Good morning, new bride. I hope you had a good night’s sleep in our pack.”
The alpha has curly hair with cheeks that rise up when he smiles. His scent is a very soothing cinnamon in it but he also smells like a lot of different omegas and Jimin is unsure if he should speak to him.
“Ah- oh I am sorry how rude of me to not introduce myself. I am Kim Taehyung, an alpha from the Kim family that lives right down the green fields. I hope I didn’t scare you.”
Jimin is still unsure but believes him to be harmless so he bows down to the alpha as well.
“No, new bride! You are alpha Jeon’s mate and you shouldn’t bow to anyone except the elders.”
“I see.” Jimin desperately wants the fruit and he wants this alpha to leave before he actually cries.
“I just came to ask if you needed anything. I saw your head poking outside your window and then the door so I wondered if I could be of any service.”
Jimin’s face lights up.
“I am hungry. No breakfast yet?”
Taehyung finds it adorable how the omega’s belly rumbles at the exact moment he finishes speaking so he smiles at him.
“I am sorry new bride. Alpha Jeon might have been swarmed with work if he hasn’t taken you to the dining hall yet. I will ask someone to bring you meat and bread right away.”
In that moment Jimin startles Taehyung with how loud he rejects it.
“No!” He says as he attempts to come out of his hut. Taehyung watches as Jimin gets on his tiptoes, too close to him and he wonders if Jungkook will imprison or kill him when he sees the proximity of his new bride with another alpha.
“Taehyung…” Jimin says in a sing song. “Last night I ate this big fruit of the color of grass and lemon mixed together. The last one was the ripest and had some black spots. I want it again.”
The alpha watches as Jimin is back flat on his heels and by the look on his face he can tell that the omega is wishing with the goddess to help him explain this fruit to the stranger he is for Jimin.
“Perhaps you mean bananas, new bride?”
Jimin isn’t sure so he doesn’t nod or shake his head. At this moment he is only hoping the alpha gets it right.
“I will ask Alpha Jeon to bring you some bananas then. Take care, new bride.”
Jimin face lights up and he retreats back into his hut with bouncy steps, closing the door.
When Taehyung looks back at the couple’s hut, Jimin is waving at him from the tiny window until he takes a turn and is screened by the trees.
-----
When Jungkook comes back from the council room that night, he smells an alpha in his hut. Nose flared he busts open the door only to see Jimin sitting on the rough bur lack sap he calls bed and eating what seems to be the third banana out of several sitting beside him in a basked he doesn’t recognize.
“Oh alpha! Good evening!” Jimin cheers. “Taehyungie said you were too busy so he brought me some fruits himself!”
Jungkook can’t seem to bear this omega at all.
“So what you are telling me is that you invited an alpha into my hut a day after mating behind your own alpha’s back?”
He looks intimidating and he notices the faint smell of citrus souring when Jimin stands up.
“N- No alpha I didn’t invite him in. He just stood at the door and said that you were busy with elders and then he gave me the bananas and then I waved him goodbye. He went in the direction of his home.”
His over explanatory behavior irks Jungkook terribly.
“Oh and now you know where he lives?”
Jimin says something to respond but Jungkook is already out of his hut striding towards the green fields and he doesn’t stop before he is standing right in front of Taehyung’s hut.
His family is big. Alpha Kim and his omega had wanted several pups and as a result, they have four omegas and two alphas in the house. Jungkook knows just Minho and Seokjin though- Minho because he is an alpha in the hunting team and Seokjin because he is the eldest.
Having a big family means having a big hut. Hence, he waits a few minutes before he sees Taehyung coming out of the hut, his face screams confusion, probably because it’s not every day that the future head wolf would knock someone’s door just to talk.
“Follow me.” It’s all Jungkook says before he walks back towards the green fields knowing Taehyung wont disobey him.
When they reach the spot, Taehyung notices it’s not far off from where Jungkook’s mother and cousin are sleeping forever. He gulps, afraid of what is to come.
Jungkook turns towards him, jaws clenched, eyebrows furrowed, obviously angry.
“So you wanna court you future head alpha’s bride?” he scoffs.
“Alpha Jeon- what I- I don’t understand”
Out of all unimaginable things Taehyung had expected, this was nowhere near them.
“Entering my hut without my permission when my omega is alone and new to the surroundings, huh? Bringing him gift for no reason, making sure to leave your scent behind for me to realize my omega had been in a company?”
He comes close to the confused alpha, looking at him dead in the eye.
“Take this as a command Taehyung, that omega is not to be messed with. You look at him funny, I will bite your face off, understood?”
Leaving without listening to the other person’s response might just be Jungkook’s hobby because even before the other alpha can process his statement, he is walking away in a flash.
“Alpha Jeon!” Taehyung’s loud voice stops him. When he turns, they are eye to eye.
“I respect you, Alpha Jeon. I don’t want to court your omega and neither did I willingly leave my scent behind. New bride wanted bananas and hadn’t had breakfast when I was passing by your couple hut. I just delivered food to a fellow wolf, nothing more.”
Jungkook starts walking back towards the path that leads to his hut when the earth beneath him slips.
“I know what you did with his dowry clothes.”
Jungkook doesn’t turn but doesn’t walk away either. He feels like a kid caught in a lie. Taehyung doesn’t try to face him either and decides that it’s better that he talks to the Head alpha’s son’s back.
“I saw you burning them by the river yesterday. I didn’t say anything because I was really confused but then I realized that you didn’t even take the new bride to pack diner for breakfast. You didn’t smell like him this morning either. It wasn’t hard to decipher the situation.”
Jungkook can’t seem to move. He stands like a statue, listening to everything in a daze.
“He asked me if I could also bring him his bed sheet and pillow cover so I lied to him. I said that there is a poor family living on the edge of pack territory that needed some assistance with clothes and since there was nothing in the store house except your dowry clothes, you, alpha Jeon had given them away. Which is why my scent was in your hut, I had to linger around to explain your doings to the new bride.”
Jungkook doesn’t move but he sees as Taehyung brushes past him and leaves the field before him.
-----
“But where are we going, Alpha? I haven’t even had breakfast yet.” Jimin complains while he walks beside his alpha, grabbing on to his tunic like a little pup.
Jungkook doesn’t answer. If he thought mating was going to be a hassle, this was even more troublesome. Right now, he is on the way to the pack infirmary as per the instructions of senior healer. It’s been a little over a fortnight since they had mated and in a meeting yesterday, grandmother healer had scolded Jungkook for not yet bringing Jimin in for a checkup of his bite. He had apologized, blaming his tardiness on his omega’s refusal to go out of the house.
“Oh my little omega, you are here!”
Jungkook wondered if senior healer was always like this. He remembers his mother telling him all about the grandmother being the best teacher of herbs and medicine and how she was always kind and understanding but he doesn’t remember her being as cheery as this.
“Sit here, sparrow! I will get some water and fruits for you.”
Jungkook looks at Jimin watching grandmother’s retreating figure. The omega’s hands are on his knees and Jungkook just knows he is wishing the fruit to be bananas desperately. He watches as the omega busies himself looking at the other omega assistants of sitting in the corner of the infirmary, whispering among themselves.
When the healer comes back, he sees the fading excitement on Jimin’s face. The fruits aren’t bananas and he doesn’t seem to want to eat them.
“So let me ask this. How was the mating? Did you feel any pain? What about now?”
Jungkook can’t let this annoying omega speak so he decides to take the lead.
“Everything was okay grandmother. Just give him some herbs and let us go. I have a meeting soon.”
Grandmother doesn’t take it.
“Shut up you rude alpha. How would you know about the pain when you aren’t the one who was bitten? Let your omega speak.” She then turns to Jimin and takes his hand in her own.
“You can tell me everything fearlessly Jimin, okay? Grandmother is here to help you. Tell me about the condition of your bite now.”
“O-okay senior healer. I was really really afraid when alpha bend down to bite me you know because his eyes are so scary sometimes but then I prayed to the moon goddess to let this go nicely and then I ate bananas after.”
Grandmother chuckles and so do the assistant omegas.
“Okay Jimin, you are the cutest omega! Tell me about the pain too. Does the bite hurt?”
“It did when alpha was mating me but then I think I fainted because alpha was being so rough.”
Jungkook wasn’t present in the conversation before but now he suddenly makes an eye contact with the healer and just knows what grandmother and her assistants are thinking about and it would be a lie if he denies the blush forming on his cheeks.
He realizes one thing though- Jimin doesn’t understand the difference between mating and biting because they definitely didn’t mate that night.
The assistant behind the healers are blushing too. Their infatuation with Jungkook is evident and to think that now they probably assume he fucked this omega till he passed out troubles Jungkook.
“I told you to not worry didn’t I? Your alpha is so vigorous Jimin I am sure you would have no issues in giving us so many heirs either, hmm?”
Jungkook can’t take it anymore.
“Grandmother, please could you hurry a bit?”
“Yes senior healer, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet.” Jimin chimes in.
“Oh goddess, what the hell is wrong with you Jungkook? Not feeding your omega properly is a sin!”
She urges Jimin to take some fruits and he does. When he is done, there aren’t many strawberries left and figs are almost gone.
“So Jimin! I wanted to ask how old you are?” She asks gently.
“I am turning ten and nine summers soon Grandmother.”
Everyone except Jimin look at each other in confusion where healer explained the age system to them. Since Jeon pack experiences summer the entire year round and winter only once, they calculate their age in accordance with winter. However, since Jimin’s old pack has winter season almost always, they figure out their ages with respect to the summer that comes and goes quickly in the north pack.
“Now let me inspect your bite.”
Jungkook didn’t want to be like this- at all. But as soon as grandmother’s palm reaches Jimin’s neck and brushes over the bite, he lets out a suppressed but throaty growl. All the omegas in the back as well as grandmother turned to look at him, a little grin on her face.
“Its okay, rowdy alpha. I am not a threat.”
But he does it again the second time and then the third time. He doesn’t understand it himself but the thought of someone else’s hands near the mark he left is making him angry.
“That’s it Jungkook! Get out of my infirmary. I can’t have you threatening to kill me just because I have to touch your omega for a checkup. Get out and leave.”
When Jimin comes out of the infirmary with another pot of herbs, he has his bite cleaned and bandaged. Jungkook doesn’t take a direct look at it, guilty of sabotaging his own mating night but he does side eyes the neck of his omega and it does something to him, he doesn’t know what yet.
“Uhm” he clears his throat, looking the other way. “What did she say?”
“She said that she will send some figs for me to eat at home but I told her that I woul-”
Jungkook finally looks at him. He refuses to believe someone is so untainted by the evils of this world to remain so indifferent to all the ill treatment thrown at him till now. The alpha knows he is not a good mate but at least he will be a good son and brother.
“About the bite, omega.”
Jimin bites his lips, embarrassed.
“Oh. She said that the bite is healing good and something about fated mates but I don’t remember the exact words alpha your language is so different.”
Jungkook listens to whiney complaints the entire way home.
-----
“You have to take care of him Jungkook. Senior healer told me that we have to suppress Jimin’s heat for the new few full moons because he has never been in such harsh summer. You need to make sure he is okay at all times, understood?”
“Understood father.”
Jungkook hates his life.
-----
The summer is indeed harsh for Jimin. He has never seen such a bright sun in his life ever. In their pack, for every eleven moons of frosty weather, there was only one full moon of little sunlight. He has never been exposed to such hot and humid weather ever. The cold lemonades and water from earthen pots are his only relief. He has no wish to go outside in such a state either, the sun burns his pale skin and none of the herbs given by healer works fast enough to make the outings worth it.
Thankfully, the bananas ripe faster after being plucked from the trees and Jimin have eaten them enough to hold any grudges towards the summer.
Jimin has another thing to be thankful for in this summer- the honey skin of his alpha.
He always knew the kind of work his alpha does for the pack. Including the administration work in the council, his alpha had taken under the work of hunting, building and defense in the territory of Jeon pack. His work does not only keep him busy but also very fit- his abdomen forms a v shape going down to his groin, his arms are veiny and big and even though Jimin does not know the exact words but he loves watching his alpha flex his abs in the sunlight. It is the most beautiful sight to him.
“Will you show me your abdomen?” Jimin asks innocently.
Taehyung spits out the water he was drinking in shock.
They have been chatting and meeting in the company of Jungkook but also when he wasn’t present. The news of their friendship had made a round in the council after Jimin had thrown a string of praises about how Taehyung has been such a good company for him in the new pack, always helping him with everything. Jungkook’s father had approved of this friendship, albeit hesitatingly at first considering they were of the opposite sub genders but he didn’t mind. Jimin’s innocence had convinced him soon enough.
“Do you know what Jungkook will do to me if I show my body to you?”
Jimin looks at him grinning.
“What will he do?”
“He will either imprison me in the dungeon with no air to breathe or he will cut off my head and display it on the banyan tree for the entire pack to see what happens when you go closer to his omega.”
“I just wanted to see your stomach and compare it to his. He looks so good Taehyung, do you think he will let me touch his arms and belly?”
“Of course Jimin-ah, he is your alpha.” Taehyung laughs.
He wants to ask Jimin if he and his alpha don’t touch each other. It has been five full moons since they had mated and something must have happened between them. By pack’s standard Jimin should already be carrying a pup but the council probably hasn’t thought much about it because everyone knew the healer had to suppress his heat for a the time being, stating concern for his health. Besides, he didn’t want to offend Jimin or god forgives Jungkook might actually make his head a showpiece.
“But I can’t show you my own abs.” Taehyung tries to close the topic.
“Oh so they are abs? Don’t worry even if you don’t have abs I won’t make fun of you just show me.”
Taehyung bites down a laugh and responds with a refusal once again.
“Your alpha will kill me Jimin-ah, you don’t understand.”
“He will do no such thing Tae, you all are so unnecessarily afraid of my alpha, Goddess knows why!”
Taehyung is almost offended.
“Unnecessarily? Jimin, do you even know what he did to Jae wo-”
Taehyung’s potential long monologue ends abruptly by a faint coughing right outside their hut and as they stand, Jungkook enters through the door, with only a drape around his hips and Taehyung has to close Jimin’s mouth before he drools.
“Beautiful alpha.” Jimin smiles and strides towards Jungkook, standing right in front of him. Jungkook doesn’t do anything except stare into Jimin’s eyes for a few second before Taehyung clears his throat, a hint to excuse himself.
“What are you doing in my hut?” Jungkook asks, breaking the eye contact with Jimin to turn towards Taehyung.
“Good evening, alpha Jeon. Head alpha had asked me to keep Jimin company as he can’t go out and you would be late because of the hunting today. We also practiced some new words of our pack.”
“Yes! I learnt three new words today, alpha!” Jimin says with a little jump in his feet and Jungkook watches Taehyung softly smiling at him.
“Thanks for your service Taehyung but please get out now.”
Taehyung winces at the tone, bidding goodbye to Jimin and promising to meet tomorrow.
Jungkook doesn’t wear a shirt or tunic for the next entire fortnight.
-----
The omegas in the pack have nothing to complain when a sweaty Jungkook with bare torso walks among them towards his hut in the final hours of the afternoon. They have hunted enough for the next week and were dismissed early as a reward. He really wants to go down the river and have a long bath but the sun is still up and as much as he want to wash away the sweat and dirt, he knows the water would be too warm for his liking.
He decides to rest a while in his hut and then bathe when the moon comes up. In his subconscious, he wonders why does he not want to wear tunics or shirts or really anything to cover his torso but he decides it’s simply because of the heat and totally not because of how he has been eavesdropping on every conversation his omega has with Taehyung.
Since he is earlier than expected at home, he slowly opens the door so as to see what Jimin has been doing. Jungkook watches and his omega is crouching down near the kitchen, reading something in his hand before he abruptly shoves it inside his cloth upon noticing Jungkook standing.
His mind keeps playing tricks on him and no matter how much he tries to push it out, the doubt somehow finds its way back.
“Oh you’re home early alpha?” Jimin says as he makes his way out of the kitchen and inside the sleeping area where Jungkook is drying out his sweat.
“Why? Were you expecting someone else?”
Jimin makes a confusing sound that Jungkook has gotten used to. Over the last six full moons, he has realized that Jimin absolutely doesn’t understand the idea of someone being irritated or annoyed with him. If one is angry with him, they will have to spell it out or else the omega dismisses any rudeness with indifference.
Jungkook sees the omega eyeing his body and no matter what his situation is with him, it feeds the ego of his inner alpha. His wolf alerts himself, noticing that their omega is watching their body and probably thinking it looks good. It makes his alpha feel proud and happy, even if Jungkook denies it.
“You look gorkus alpha!” He hears Jimin say and he turns back to look at him with one eyebrow raised.
When there is no response and Jungkook walks towards the kitchen to get a glass of cold water Jimin prepares every day, he hears the pitter patter of his omega’s feet behind him. Jimin follows him and stands there until the glass is completely empty in his alpha’s hand before repeating what he said before.
“Alpha, I said that you look gorkus.” He says smiling.
Jungkook decides to stay in the character.
“What the hell does that even mean?”
As soon as Jungkook spits the words cruelly, he watches as Jimin’s face falls and he feels guilty for a second. He watches as the omega opens his palm and shows something written on it. He recognizes the ink, it’s from the council room- made up of wild berries when boiled and concentrated. He wants to ask the omega about it but decides it’s better to just read and shut this day down.
He watches the small pale palm opening up in front of his face and on it is dark blue ink making a word of his pack-
G O R G E O U S
He has to bite down a smile before he walks past the omega to sleep on the rough bed.
-----
Jimin gets it right on his second try.
The alpha is just back from the morning bath to get his supplies before going to the council room for today’s work. It’s the day of an administrative meeting and he has to dress accordingly.
He stands bare, with only a drape around his abdomen, looking for an appropriate uniform before Jimin makes his way to him with the brightest smile ever.
“Alpha!”
He hums in response, too concentrated on his wardrobe for now.
“You look gorgeous.” Jimin giggles before he goes back into the other room.
Jungkook finally smiles.
He doesn’t know he is smiling before he physically brings his hand towards his mouth to cover it in embarrassment. After his mother’s death, there hasn’t been a single day where he was not burdened with the responsibility of this pack. He is two and twenty winters old now and in the age where he should have enjoyed with his friends and gone out to explore the world with his family, he was collared down to fulfill the needs of his pack.
As he finally chooses a formal tunic and wears it carefully as to not crease it, he realizes just how measured and limited his actions have been since he had lost his mother. There is no way out though and he has accepted it long ago.
Jimin comes out with a paper just as he is about to leave.
“Alpha, you know I can’t go out because of the sun right? I had such bad sunburn last time I went out to get breakfast in the morning and oh Goddess, healer grandmother scolded me from sunset to midnight. Anyway, so can you please post this letter to my Appa? I have written everything neatly and secured it with a little thread Heiran had given me. Don’t forget to post it okay?”
The alpha leaves without a word.
-----
Jungkook has long ago threatened the wolf who looks after the postal in their pack to never let any letter from his omega go out to his old pack before he himself has approved it. Every letter that has come for Jimin from the north pack in the last several full moons have been first opened and read by Jungkook after which the letter carrier carefully secures it back to fake the seal and then deliver it to Jimin.
The same happens to every letter that Jimin has written to the north pack.
My beloved Appa,
Your son is happy here and there is no need to worry. I have been eating so many new fruits here that I am already so much bigger than before in the belly. You said that I need to respect the ways of my new pack and accept it in my life so I have been learning a new language too- well it’s not entirely new but I have to learn so many words and my friend Taehyung has been helping me. Taehyung is an alpha but he is really soft and gentle with me and he has many omega siblings so he knows how to be around me as well. Thanks to him, I have learnt so much and enjoy being here.
Appa, do you know there are so many different ways to say ‘beautiful’ here. Not so long ago I called my alpha ‘gorgeous’ which means beautiful but I don’t think he understood that. I am sure nobody compliments him because he is so grumpy and fussy all the time.
Anyway, you are so silly Appa. Why did you send only a few fleece and silks? My alpha had to give it away to someone who needed assistance with bedding but make sure you send more, okay? I am now adjusting fine with the bedding my alpha sleeps in but just in case someone else needs it you need to send some more. It is so hot and here no thick fabric is made so make sure you don’t forget it.
How is Yoongi hyung? Has he selected an omega for himself yet? And what about Eomma’s plants? I hope they are all blooming despite the snow there. I wish winter comes here soon too, it’s so sunny and nobody lets me out in the open because my skin suffers so much.
Don’t worry about me Appa, I have an alpha to take care of me now, okay?
Also, I will always remember our secret and won’t tell it to anyone, not even my alpha!
Love you
Jiminie.
Everything was going good in the letter until the last line and now Jungkook is back to square one.