Chapter Text
"I hate those banquets," Jimin sighed, watching as more and more people trickled into the hall.
"Why?" Taehyung piped up, excitedly watching all the diverse gowns and garments.
Jimin smiled politely at the people who passed, "Because this is all so pretentious. Honesty is rare at those events."
"Yet you are still standing here," Taehyung analyzed, his grin only widening when his brother rolled his eyes.
"Because I have to. Though this year should be a little more thrilling," the older admitted, attentively watching the massive wooden doors.
"Why is that?" Taehyung inquired, unable to tear his eyes away from all of the colorful robes.
"Because-" Jimin started but abruptly stopped as the doors opened again, signaling the arrival of new guests.
And Taehyung understood.
Four men and a woman stepped inside, their dark robes accentuated by various furs, their skin looking pale even in the warm sunlight that trickled through the massive windows.
Their fair skin stood out, even more so because of their dark hair colors.
"Will you two accompany me to greet our guests?" Namjoon suddenly asked from behind them, and both followed suit without asking further questions.
Taehyung knew why Jimin and the King of the South wanted him to accompany them.
Those four people were not just any higher-ranked wolves or nobles. Those people ruled over the Northern Territory.
The unfamiliar wolves finally came to a halt, and Taehyung caught a whiff of their scents. Albeit weak under the many layers of clothes, it did not fail to fascinate him.
All mingled together, they smelled like recently fallen snow, like the needles of the pine trees on the colossal mountains, and the fragrant scent of the thick forests throughout their territory.
"It is an honor to have you here," Namjoon spoke up, the entire ballroom falling silent.
For a few seconds, nobody answered, and Taehyung was not able to make out their King.
"It is a privilege to be invited," one of the alphas spoke up, taking a step forward.
"I hope your journey was not too intractable?" Namjoon politely asked, withstanding the challenging gaze of his northern counterpart.
"It was nothing compared to the winters of the North," the unknown alpha answered, his gaze wandering from Namjoon to Jimin and finally halting on Taehyung.
The latter just wanted to hide behind his brothers; the alpha's eyes felt as if they were staking him, not with wood but with ice.
"Those are my brothers. Jimin, the second in command," Namjoon gestured to the beta, and Jimin bowed.
"It is an honor to meet you finally."
"And this is my youngest brother, Taehyung."
Taehyung bowed rather hastily, and if he had the choice, he would rather keep looking at his polished shoes instead of those ice-cold eyes.
He gulped, "I-It is an honor to meet you."
He cursed himself for the slight stutter, and a she stood straight again, his blood rushing to his cheeks from the pleased smirk the alpha wore.
"Taehyung, Jimin, this is Min Yoongi. King of the North, Guardian of the Forests, and Raiser of Mountains," Namjoon introduced, and Taehyung couldn't help a little awed gasp at the many titles.
"You may now enjoy yourselves," Namjoon dismissed his brothers, who nodded and left with a curt bow.
Taehyung tried to calm his rapidly beating heart, and he couldn't help but be daunted by the wolves from the North. Jimin led them over to a few people of their age, presumably children of merchants or other noble families, here to socialize with people of the same status.
While Jimin started chatting idly, Taehyung subconsciously examined the crowd for dark and rather plain coats. It surely was not that cold; it was the middle of spring. He supposed that it was always cold in the North, so they had to be used to wearing them.
He was so lost in his thoughts; that he didn't see a person in said attire approaching him.
"Excuse me?"
His head whipped around at the sound of the unfamiliar voice, and in front of him stood the woman who accompanied the King of the North.
She wore a black gown, a pin in the form of a snowflake holding her coat at the front. Her long black hair flowed over her shoulders like a river at midnight, and her eyes were just as mysterious.
Taehyung gulped, "Yes?"
"You are Kim Taehyung, right?" she asked, a faint smile on her glossy lips.
He nodded, and she continued, "I am Irene, Alpha Min's sister. You are just as cute as my friends said you were!"
Taehyung didn't know how to respond, his brain short-circuiting and his mouth hanging slightly open.
"Oh, uh, thanks?" he replied, clutching his hands behind his back.
She giggled and played with a streak of her hair, "I have never been out of the territory. This is my first time. The West is beautiful!"
Taehyung smiled, "It is. However, the South is even more marvelous."
"Is it? I have heard stories, but I have never been there," she sighed, looking down at the satin fabric of her dress.
"After one passes the desert, there are countless little oases and palm trees everywhere! It is also unbelievably hot at daytime," Taehyung recounted, the initial shock of Irene's straightforwardness gone.
"That does not sound like an environment I would be comfortable in," Irene joked, her eyes lighting up.
Taehyung had a feeling that she did not get to mingle with other people often since she has never even been out of the Northern Territory. Nevertheless, he was glad that she chose him to talk to, as she seemed to be the least intimidating out of all her company.
"You never know until you try," Taehyung answered, watching the people converse cheerfully, although they seemed to keep their distance from the King of the North.
"I do not know if I will ever be able to travel that far," Irene murmured, her tone dropping an octave, seemingly sorrowful.
"Why is that?" Taehyung asked, genuine curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
Irene sighed, her fingers subconsciously touching the pin. "My brothers are very fastidious regarding family members in foreign territories. Ever since the War of Kings, they have refused to rely on anyone. I was elated that they allowed me to accompany them to the annual royal banquet."
Taehyung kept silent for a few heartbeats, not knowing how to respond. He decided that Irene was an upright person and that he didn't have to keep the truth from her.
"To be honest, I am quite surprised. You are the first wolf of the Northern Territory I am talking to," he admitted, giving her a small smile, which she returned.
"It took a while to convince my brother to let me attend," she responded, eyeing the crowd. "But in the end, we will not survive another winter on our own. Prey is rare, and as the Great Luna wants it, your brother seems to need our help."
Taehyung furrowed his brows; Namjoon had not informed him about such a thing. Indeed he would have told him, no?
He chose to avoid the topic, knowing to keep out of political affairs for the time being.
"How long will you be staying in Ylando?" he asked instead, his inquisitive gaze meeting Irene's.
"Sehun and Jackson told me that they intend to stay for a week," Irene admitted, smiling at Taehyung. "While they are busy with politics, I will need someone to show me around the capital."
"It would be a pleasure," Taehyung replied, returning the smile.
XOXO
The evening dragged on, the sky was glimmering like obsidian, and the wind was growing cold.
Taehyung was currently standing on the balcony, overlooking the city which he called his home.
The lights flickered in the harsh breeze, and the light of the ballroom caused the golden details of the railing to shimmer.
Eventually, he felt a presence right beside him, and by the vital aura, he recognized his oldest brother.
"I saw you talking to the girl from the Northern Pack."
Taehyung looked to his right, while Namjoon was still focused on the city.
"She is very polite. Good company if you ask me," he replied, also averting his gaze forward again.
"Good," Namjoon stated, and Taehyung could feel his heavy gaze on him. "I expect nothing but your best behavior towards them."
"I know," Taehyung muttered, looking at the marbled railing. He knew about the history of the two packs, and it was a bloody one, full of treachery and wars.
"I am trying to form some sort of alliance," Namjoon continued, and Taehyung just listened.
"If we do not expunge the threat from the East, we might as well dine lavishly as long as we can. I need more men, and I know that the King of the South is less than willing to help us. He is only persecuting his own interests."
"But why the King of the North?" Taehyung asked, turning towards his brother. "Our families have history, and it is not an exceptional one."
Namjoon sighed, smiling at his youngest brother. "I know Yoongi is not like his father. Northern wolves are as cold as the endless winter they are living in, but I believe that there is a small flame of hope."
Moreover, with that, the alpha turned around and walked back inside. The loud chatter and music were flooding out for a moment before Taehyung was engulfed in silence again.
His heavy sigh got carried away by the breeze, leaving the omega to ponder over the political affairs and their consequences alone.