Chapter Text
The war had started long before Jimin was even born.
His first memories did consist of happy times, of times where a truce was upon them, of times where he played with his friends, when they rolled around as pups and had a lively childhood, one that any child should have. Even if his father was Head Alpha, his life had been normal, for the most part.
There were definitely benefits — because while the war did extend to his pack, the Head Alpha, their family, and close allies were protected, to a fault. There was a sacrifice to make, but it was minuscule in the grand scheme of things. Jimin always believed in the cause of the greater good, so to him, the decision wasn’t hard.
That’s what he’d thought, but maybe he’d never even considered the possibility that the war could be lost, that there were far crueler rulers than the ones who had called the truce all those years ago.
The flames of war had easily lit themselves again, when Jimin was barely eighteen. They were wholly unprepared, maybe because his father was getting older, or because the Jeon Pack had a new, virile, powerful Head Alpha, who would stop at nothing in his quest to conquer territory. He was cruel, that’s all Jimin had come to know about him, the stories people told vicious and terrifying.
And while he had been prepared for this because he was an omega and his father’s first and only pup, the feeling was much more gruesome than anyone could imagine.
It’s not an arranged mating, nothing of the sort. If anything, Jimin is the spoils of war. He’s the reward for the alpha that wins over the war, to do with him what he will. It’s just the way things are, had Jeon Jungkook lost, he’d suffer the same fate. Though, he doesn’t have any children that Jimin knows of, and his own father is mated, so Jimin isn’t quite sure how the logistics would work there.
There’s no point over delving what could have been. This is his reality, and he’ll deal with it. His father will respect the treaty or kill them all in the process of avoiding it.
You’re saving your friends and family, is what he continuously chants in his head, the whole time he’s being hauled to the South, to the Jeon Pack. He doesn’t believe he’s saving anything, though, because the friends he has are far and few, and in the case that they are alphas, the chances of them being displaced in war are high. The little family he does have — his mother, as his father had succumbed to illness in the past years and required care — was thousands of kilometers away.
And even now, as he’s in a carriage, surrounded by judgemental and mild betas who stare at him with such disdain in their eyes it’s palpable, Jimin tries so hard to believe everything will be fine.
He hasn’t spoken in days, doesn’t reply to their questions unless he’s explicitly asked. They call him ‘omega’ and never refer to him by name. It… It feels so dehumanizing.
If they treat him like this, the omega that might be their Head Alpha’s mate, then Jimin is unsure just how Jeon Jungkook will treat him.
The omega can’t help but sigh. It’s hard to hide the fact that he’s scared from them, hard to keep his scent in check even with the herbs he’d been given. He knows he smells vaguely of omega to them, enough to keep them satisfied, but not particularly of anything else. It’s good. Jimin hopes it stays that way, he doesn’t want to show weakness in front of these people, as that would be a death sentence in itself.
Jimin curls into himself as much as he possibly can, sitting on the far right of the carriage, the harsh winter weather obvious even now. He’s wholly unused to it, the temperature highs and lows much more stark in this part of the world than his own pack. The cold bites at his fingernails, has his teeth chattering all the same. He’s freezing, but he supposes they could have been crueler. They could have made him walk the whole way, could have tried to do things to him, yet no one has spared him as much as a look.
They much rather talk in between themselves. They don’t spare Jimin any mind beyond what’s necessary and what they’ve been instructed to do. It’s almost as if they regard him as someone not even worth talking to, conversing amongst themselves like he’s not present in the carriage right with them. Maybe it’s better that way. He doesn’t have anything to say anyway.
“He’s beautiful,” one of the alphas sitting opposite him says. Jimin flinches at the mention, knowing they’re talking about him, but he closes his eyes again quickly enough, not wanting to alert them of his awakened state. “Head Alpha Jeon is quite lucky.”
“He’s feisty,” one of the betas tsks. It’s the same one that has been giving him dirty looks every time Jimin even tries to meet his eyes. “but I’m sure he’ll be broken down in no time.”
The nice beta, as Jimin calls him, the one who sometimes asks him if he’s alright, thirsty or hungry, frowns at the both of them. “He’s barely twenty-five winters, and he hasn’t even been deflowered yet. Even Head Alpha Jeon isn’t so cruel. He’ll be gentle, I’m sure.”
Jimin shivers. He doesn’t even know how old the alpha is, he’s just realized that. Goddess, he hopes he isn’t an old man. The experience is excruciating enough, being talked about like he’s some prized hen, his virginity being a topic of conversation like it isn’t something so very personal.
The conversation carries on in a leisurely pace but the omega just zones them out. Whether they’re talking about him or not, it doesn’t really matter, not when he knows how close they are to Jeon Pack mainlands. They’ve been traveling for almost a full week, and Jimin just so badly wishes he could get out of this damn carriage. Most of all, he wishes for his mother.
He’s twenty-five, not a baby anymore, but… Most omegas go through this whole process with their parents by their side, or at least with relatives, friends.
Jimin has no one.
He’s all alone, and he’s sure nobody will take kindly to a stranger from the enemy pack being their Head Omega. He’s not even sure how all of it works here, of what will be his duty, how much will be expected of him. He knows Jeon Jungkook is a fierce warrior, an absolute brute of a man, strict, mature. He’s older than Jimin is, that much he’s sure of. But everything else… It’s a complete mystery.
Truthfully, he wishes he had the courage to run. He knows he has nowhere to go, but as of now anywhere seems better than here.
The carriage comes to a stop a few hours later, and Jimin stops feigning his sleep, only to see what is happening. The mean alpha and beta leave for a moment, shutting the door behind them. Jimin desperately looks behind the curtained window, and to his surprise, sees the tented territory of the Jeon pack.
They’re nomads, the Jeon Pack. They aren’t anything like Jimin’s own pack, whose settlement had been wholly made out of wooden cabins and such buildings. Then again, their pack grounds were burnt to ashes, so perhaps it’s smart to be like this, not let your guard down.
It’s only him and the nice beta now, and while Jimin doesn’t want to speak to them more than necessary, he needs to know what exactly is going on. He turns back to the other man in the carriage before speaking. “What’s going on? Did we arrive? Do I need to— Do I need to get out?”
The beta looks mildly surprised that he’s speaking to him at all, and the omega can’t blame him. He just feels so out of place and he doesn’t know what to do, where to turn to, and at this moment he’s just thankful his scent is hidden away by the herbs he’s been taking.
“We did arrive, yes,” the beta confirms, tone cool and not showing much emotion. “They are getting an omega for you, one that will help you settle in and prepare. For today.”
“Ah,” Jimin nods in understanding. At least they’re mindful enough not to have alphas helping him bathe and prepare for the inevitable. Though he’s not quite sure how even an omega will help him feel more comfortable. The only thing that would make him feel comfortable is being back home. “Right. Does— Does that mean he’ll mate me? Today?”
“No,” the beta hums. Jimin exhales a sigh of relief, inwardly. He had assumed it would happen today, considering the pace things have been going at. They won the war a mere month ago and he was requested immediately thereafter, as soon as the relations between their packs were nullified. As soon as they cleaned up the mess they left there. “Jungkook is a good man,” he claims. It feels weird to hear somebody address him by name. “He requires things a certain way, but he won’t be cruel. Especially not to an omega.”
Jimin finds it hard to believe, but at least it gives him hope. At least it gives him something to hold onto. He’ll take what he can get, and he’ll believe this man, if only to calm his nerves.
So, he manages a nod despite what he might think, sitting there like a damn doll as he waits, staring at the door before it opens, trying to scent out any unfamiliar scents, anything that gives him the indication that someone is coming. The betas don’t smell like much — the nice one smells a bit like sage, and the others just smell like dirt. Jimin has a sensitive nose, and he doesn’t like most scents, so maybe he’s being a little overly critical.
The silence drags on, and it feels even more uncomfortable. Jimin hates it, forced to blurt out a question because he can’t stand the wait. “How come you refer to him by name?”
“He is my cousin,” the beta offers up as an explanation. The omega is endlessly grateful that he’s at the very least entertaining his curiosity. “He’s also quite close with my mate. I suppose that’s why I was sent along for this trip. Those two… Minseok and Sungho, they’re not the wisest. Nor does Jungkook trust them, but they were available. He didn’t want to send out alphas.”
“Why not alphas?” Jimin wonders outloud. Another thought comes to mind: what if Head Alpha Jeon doesn’t want to mate him? He’d sort of assumed that he would be getting mated to this man, yes, but it’s not unusual for even mated alphas to take younger omegas to carry their offspring or to simply satiate their needs. He’d heard that Jungkook wasn’t mated, so he’d assumed, yes, and he doesn’t know which fate is scarier.
On one hand, as something of a concubine, he’ll be free to do as he wishes. He’ll have commitments, maybe have to carry a pup or two for this man, but not more than that. It’s not like the omega is heavily interested in sex, and even if it was merely transactional, only good for the alpha, fine, whatever. At least his heats wouldn’t be so excruciating, and he’d be protected.
On the other hand, he’ll be incredibly lonely. He won’t be able to take on a partner of his own, ever, though he could do so in secret. But then again, what kind of life is that? He’d raise their children all alone, and even have to look at the father of those same children with another omega. One that he isn’t ashamed of, that he parades around. Somehow he thinks he’d rather be mated and done with it. At least, then, they’ll have somewhat of a connection between them. Something binding them to have emotions for one another.
There’s no telling what will happen, he could just be an outlet for fun. For his anger, maybe. For the adrenaline rush after a big battle. Really, Jeon Jungkook can do whatever he wants with him and he’ll have to take it with a smile.
“Like I said, Jungkook isn’t cruel,” he reiterates, gesticulating with his hands as he speaks. “He is aware of the intentions his kind has. He is aware that you are… young. He’s traditional in that sense, I suppose. He’ll take you as a mate, solely because of the arrangement. It’s not his arrangement to uphold, but he has a sense of responsibility nonetheless.”
The comment about his age doesn’t go unnoticed, so he can’t help but add onto his question.
“A-and how old is he?” Jimin asks, meek, and the beta chuckles at him. It startles the omega, has him flinching, not expecting the sound. He quickly apologizes. “Sorry. Ah, I know I ask too many questions—”
“It’s natural for you to be curious,” the beta shakes his head. “He’ll be your mate. I’ll answer any questions you might have, as will everyone else.” He reassures, before continuing on. “Jungkook is thirty-six winters old. And I can see the cogs in your head turning even now, so — no, he won’t take any other mate than you. He already has the world’s experience, and he doesn’t like to share. You’ll be his only omega.”
Well, that answers that. He doesn’t know if it’s comforting to hear or exactly the opposite. The alpha isn’t old, though he’s definitely older. It might be better that he is, might be good that he has some more experience. Jimin is like a baby pup in that regard, his parents had him sheltered beyond belief. He’s had one crush, passing and child-like, during the truce. Even then, he’d barely been presented, and he’d never acted on it.
This beta refers to him as the Head Alpha’s mate, but he still can’t bring himself to entirely believe it. It just doesn’t make much sense, why would he choose to be mated to a Park omega of all things?
Jimin merely nods in reply, biting his lip, thankful that this man is entertaining him. There’s one question still prodding at his mind, though he’s sure it’s inappropriate to ask. It must be obvious on his face because the beta speaks again.
“Go on,” he encourages. “Ask whatever you want to ask.”
“You’re sure he’ll be g-gentle? He won’t—”
“Goddess, no,” the beta denies, looking repulsed at the thought. “He won’t take you against your will. Jungkook may be a warrior before anything else, and he may not be aware of his strength at times, but if you say no, he’ll listen.”
“Okay.” Jimin sighs in relief.
“Try not to let everyone else get into your head,” the beta frowns. “Jungkook upholds an image because it’s important to him, because he’s the leader. His personal life doesn’t interfere with the way he leads the pack or the way he fights.”
It makes sense, what the beta is saying, because the general view of everyone is that Jungkook is exactly that, a brute, an absolute ruffian of a man. It absolutely conflicts with the information he’s being fed right now and it almost seems too good to be true. Regardless of it, he can’t help his fear, even still. The images of war are fresh in his mind, and he’s not sure he can forgive what was done to his people.
It’s not entirely this alpha’s fault, not really, because the war has been going on for centuries. It’s only the fact that the burden falls on his shoulders because he was the only one smart enough, strong enough, to end it.
He’ll believe it when he sees it. For now, he’ll protect both his dignity and his mind by remaining as detached as he can, because goddess forbid he comes eye to eye with Head Alpha Jeon, and is left speechless, is left terrified. He’d rather expect the worst and be prepared for it.
The carriage door opens before he can further entangle himself in the mess of his thoughts. He’s expecting to see the two betas, but instead, he’s greeted by the sight of two omegas, one male, one female. They both smell nice, comforting, but Jimin has always had a weakness to omega scents. He’d always preferred them, the softness and lightness of them. They never felt suffocating.
Both of them are dressed a little bit strangely. The male one, the one with the pretty eyes, has a fur draped over his shoulders, white and flashy, almost as if it’s the fur of a polar bear or something, scented heavily by an alpha ever-so-obviously. In his own pack, this kind of show of affection wasn’t unusual, but Jimin can’t help but feel a little overwhelmed by it. The female one doesn’t wear a fur, only a cotton sweater and some pants, both dark in color, in contrast to her friend.
They’re both beautiful, one of them with short-cut blonde hair, and the other with dark, luscious locks draping over her shoulders to her waist. Her skin is pale, while her friend is entirely covered in a honey-like glaze, skin tanned from the sun.
They look entirely too different to be from the same pack, and yet, here they are.
“Oh, you really are beautiful! Hello!” One of them says, overly enthusiastic, a boxy smile on his face as he looks up at Jimin, his voice booming and deep. His scent is one of flowers, of a dewy morning meadow. It calms the omega in him down significantly. “We’re here to show you around. I’m Taehyung, and this is Soojin,” he introduces.
“Hello,” the other omega says, significantly more meek. Taehyung overshadows her in every way possible, his presence loud and boisterous whereas the other omega doesn’t look all that pleased to be here, but maybe she’s just apprehensive. Jimin knows he would be, if he were in their place. “I’m Soojin. It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Jimin returns the sentiment, getting up from his seat and bowing. He looks between the beta and the two omegas, unsure what he’s supposed to do next.
“Ah, Jeongmin, help him down, don’t be rude.” Soojin scorns, and Jimin blushes at being put on the spot like that. Nevertheless, the beta, Jeongmin, rolls his eyes, sighing before offering him a hand, helping him down the carriage.
The ground feels muddy beneath his feet, and the cool air immediately bites at his pudgy cheeks. The same ones his mother would lovingly pinch at, the baby fat that would never go away. He feels cold, wholly unused to this type of weather, but the furs he has on him help with that, and even if they didn’t, Jimin wouldn’t take them off. They smell like his parents, like pack. It offers a great comfort that nothing else provides.
The three delve into conversation around him, but Jimin… He can’t focus on anything, really.
He feels eyes on him immediately after he’s in the vicinity of the pack, feels them burning holes into each and every bit of his body, his clothing, his face, all but every detail they can gather from where he’s standing. It has him biting his lip in worry, especially when the kind beta leaves him with these people that he doesn’t even know. While they might seem kind, albeit a bit closed off, it’s still scary. He doesn’t know anything about them.
“Soojin, will you go get him a coat?” Taehyung says, frowning, no doubt noticing the way Jimin is shaking. He stands closer to him now, and a hand awkwardly hovers at his shoulder, like he isn’t sure if the touch is welcome. Regardless, he drops the hand, and Soojin grunts but nods all the same, her long legs guiding her towards somewhere. Jimin isn’t all that sure where, but as he takes in his surroundings, he is surprised.
The pack grounds are fit for a nomadic pack, yes, but it’s not all that bad.
The tents they use for their needs are large and seem to be complicated, like heavy machinery, held up by metal bars and such, and he’s never seen constructions like it before. They seem warm, and more importantly, they don’t look small. In fact, some of them stretch wide and far, one of them as big as the dining hall in his own pack. Some are smaller, however, decorated with little intricacies like wind chimes, pretty fabrics in the entryways and even fenced-off garden areas.
Taehyung doesn’t interrupt him in his people-watching, only standing next to him while the other omega takes it all in, though he is broken out of his stupor by the whispering suddenly enveloping him, even more people coming to simply stare at him, maybe because he’s an unfamiliar face, maybe because he’s standing next to Taehyung, or perhaps the most glaringly obvious reason, because they know.
“Please ignore them,” Taehyung says, awkwardly smiling as he crosses his arms over his chest. He towers over Jimin just the slightest bit, though it doesn’t make him feel scared, turning his head towards the omega as he speaks. “They are just… curious. Some of them might be a little bit jealous, but it doesn’t go beyond that. They’ll be too intimidated to talk to you regardless.”
Jimin can’t fathom why anyone would be jealous of him, especially in the situation he’s in, so he tells the other omega as much. “I don’t know why they would be,” he sighs, sheepishly smiling back, unsure how much he can say, unsure if he’ll be punished for not being exhilarated about being kidnapped as a prize for an alpha he doesn’t even know. “By all means, they can take my place.”
He’s sure he’s speaking out of order, he knows he is, especially because these aren’t his pack members, these people could have him killed and his pack wouldn’t even be aware of it. His parents wouldn’t know. So, he really should dial down on the sarcasm.
Except just as he’s about to apologize for being so rude, for disrespecting their Head Alpha, Taehyung laughs, deep and loud, his hand now slapping itself onto Jimin’s fur-clad shoulder. Jimin flinches, though a smile cracks onto his face at hearing the other omega laugh.
“Oh and they would, trust me,” Taehyung says, raising his eyebrows as he whistles. “Jungkook— I mean Head Alpha Jeon,” the omega corrects, rolling his eyes as he does. “They all like him. They’re terrified of him, but they slick up when he’s around as if it’s nobody’s business. It’s almost grotesque.”
“Oh goddess,” Jimin mutters out, surprised that Taehyung seems so relaxed in his presence, that he’s even joking with him. A giggle escapes him, unable to stop it even as more eyes zero in on them. “Grotesque, you say?”
“Very.” Taehyung nods, giving him a look. “Perhaps it’s because I know him on a more personal level, but I can’t imagine being attracted to that. No offense, I’m mated, so maybe it’s my own personal bias.”
“Ah, very encouraging, Taehyung-ssi, thank you,” Jimin mocks, shaking his head. “I don’t expect to like him. I can’t expect him to like me, either, so… I just hope for a peaceful life. That’s all.”
“He’ll like you. That much I’m sure of. As for you… if you like tattoos and muscles, you surely won’t find yourself disappointed.”
Jimin can’t lie and say it doesn’t sound appealing, tattoos weren’t common in the Park Pack, were seen as something lewd and disrespectful, though Jimin has always been attracted to those, even when he’d seen them for the first time on a rogue. And as for muscles, well, he can’t exactly say he would be opposed to being mated to a big, burly alpha. Maybe he likes feeling small or being manhandled, he’s not sure.
How would he know, anyway? He hasn’t even been courted, not once. All his heats were spent alone, assisted by fellow omegas who helped each other out with their cycles. He’s never known an alpha’s touch, and though he’s well-aware it wouldn’t be shameful even if he had, he’s not sure how Head Alpha Jeon would take to that.
Before he can further begin to unpack what Taehyung has uncovered for him, Soojin comes back, her leather boots stomping on the ground before she comes up behind him, laying the coat over his shoulders. He’s a little startled, flinching away as the heavy weight descends upon him, but he does feel significantly warmer, and the coat smells quite nice.
Not like anyone he’s met in particular here in this pack, certainly not the mud-scented betas, no, but something calm. Relaxing, but a little bitter. Not too intrusive, only in traces on the coat. He inhales the scent discreetly, his lungs filling up with that woodsy scent.
Soojin taps him on the shoulders as she gets him bundled up before suddenly standing on her tiptoes and pressing her nose against his nape, the omega flinching away from the coldness and the abruptness of the action.
“Soojin!” Taehyung exclaims, like he can’t believe it, swatting at her matte black hair. “Stop smelling him, you animal. Leave Jimin alone.”
Jimin merely laughs awkwardly as the other omega steps away from him, rolling her eyes at Taehyung before standing in front of him.
“I couldn’t smell him,” Soojin shrugs, and Jimin mentally thanks the herbs. He doesn’t want anyone to be able to smell him. “But now I do. You smell sweet, Buttercup. Like a cake. Even those herbs you’re using couldn’t mask that,” she winks.
Jimin bristles, cheeks flushing. And there goes any plan he had to be able to keep the herbs a secret, or at least to hide his scent for a few days longer, until he felt safer to let his emotions show. Great. As if things couldn’t get worse.
“Don’t call him Buttercup. What are you, twelve?” Taehyung scoffs, before offering a hand to Jimin, which he takes easily. “I’m sorry about her. She’s not from here.”
Soojin laughs, though it sounds utterly fake. “All the more reason he’ll like me more than you. You were raised here, so you don’t know how uncomfortable those fucking stares and gossiping can be,” the omega says, standing by Jimin’s other side. “Aren’t I right, Buttercup?”
She looks at him expectantly, and Jimin can’t help but exhale a sigh of relief that at least someone understands, in some way, at the very least.
“Yeah,” he agrees, a little shy, not wanting to hurt Taehyung, but also knowing exactly what Soojin is talking about. “I’m… I’m sure you’re all nice, but I’m unsure how to act. Or what to do. And it doesn’t really help that everybody keeps staring at me like I’m a prized cow. As if I don’t already know that.”
“Buttercup agrees with me, Taehyung. So I suggest you use the fact that your mate is Head Advisor to the Head Alpha to make them stop acting like idiots.”
Taehyung rolls his eyes at the omega, before turning to Jimin, honesty and remorse in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Jimin. They’ll stop, I swear. Especially when they see us with you.” He tries to reassure, before gesturing towards the entryway of the pack grounds. “How about we give you an actual tour now, huh? I’m sure you’re tired. You’ll get to rest soon after.”
Jimin smiles, feeling much more reassured as he feels the other omega’s hand envelop his, a safety net, something he can hold onto.
“I’d like that,” he replies before they start walking, and though he’s sure it’s partly because Soojin glares at everyone even trying to sneak a look at him, nobody gives him any trouble.
He keeps his head up high and tries to pretend everything is fine.
It’s all he can do at the moment.
♥️
The impromptu tour he’s taken on is long, much longer than he thought it would be, and it takes a whole lot longer for Jimin to even be able to place names to spots and learn where everything is.
He’s still not sure, even as they walk him by to another tent, where exactly the infirmary is, where the kitchens are, where the Head Alpha has his own headquarters. In his pack, it was all very obvious just by sparing a look to each building. You didn’t have to do much thinking, it was all very organized in a way that Jimin was able to understand. Though maybe that’s because he grew up there. Nonetheless, he tries with all his might to remember all of it, tries to store all the information in his brain.
It’s all made much nicer by Taehyung and Soojin’s endless commentary, where they try and introduce pack members to him by gossiping about them in front of him. He isn’t sure just how these two are able to be so casual, how they treat him as if this is all normal.
It’s definitely not normal as he’s essentially a war prize their alpha has won over, though it certainly doesn’t seem like it now as he talks to them. It’s miles different to how the betas treated him in the carriage, so he can’t help but think that maybe it’s the fact that these two are different from the rest of the pack, not that the pack is better than he’d imagined.
It makes sense, and he’s thankful that he doesn’t have to worry about being lonely and finding friends. At least he has them, even if he’s sure they’ve both got busy lives of their own. Hell, Taehyung is already mated. He’ll definitely be too busy to talk to Jimin every day, but at least he’ll have someone. At least that.
He wouldn’t have complained even if he was all alone. It’s nobody’s duty to make him feel at home here. He’s not even sure he could feel like that. Ever.
The only home he’s ever known has been torn to pieces.
There’s no point antagonizing over it. He’s long accepted his fate, and he won’t throw fits over what’s already happened. He is most likely going to be a mated omega soon enough, whether he likes it or not, to a man he does not know, who is much older than him, and who certainly doesn’t like his people.
Maybe it’s stupid to assume he could ever be happy. He’s away from family, from anything he’s ever known, and he feels all too much like a child. Like he’s a little pup venturing out into the wild for the first time.
Jimin grows quieter towards the end of their sight-seeing, barely even noticing when Soojin leaves to talk to an alpha standing near a fire pit, the flames lined with stones and twigs as she seemingly makes some food. The omega twirls her hair around her finger as she talks to her, and oh, that’s interesting.
He and Taehyung hurry along, however, leaving Soojin behind in a not-so leisurely pace as the taller omega all but runs from her. He has a feeling they’re not each other’s biggest fans, though it does seem awfully performative.
They make it up to a more isolated part of the grounds, the bustle of people not as loud from here as they climb up a flight of cobblestone steps.
Once they’re there, the sight greeting them is one of an extremely large, though mostly bare, tent. It seems sturdy, as they all do, but since it is so isolated, Jimin can only assume this must be the Head Alpha’s place of residence, and now, his own, too. Unless Jeon Jungkook makes him sleep outside. He wouldn’t mind, to be honest. Laying with an unknown alpha seems like a nightmare right now.
Taehyung confirms his suspicions as they enter, and Jimin is almost left flabbergasted that the omega just makes himself comfortable like that, that he doesn’t even knock or ask for permission before entering and perching himself down onto an all too comfortable-looking blanketed chair.
He burrows his nose into his furs, inhaling the scent of his mate, Jimin presumes, before inviting him closer, further into the tented-space.
It still doesn’t feel right, especially because it smells so heavy of alpha, although the change of scenery has his senses dulled to no end. He can’t really think, or perhaps it’s that he’s thinking too much. His omega is terrified, even though it’s slowly coming around with the scent of alpha around them. It doesn’t smell bad, Jimin can’t lie and say that. He’s smelled a lot of putrid alpha scents before, but this one… something like sandalwood and some kind of liquor. Maybe whiskey?
It has a woodsy note present to it, the alcohol only a bitter reminder, making it seem that much more delicious. It dulls Jimin’s overactive thoughts, makes him feel a little less on edge.
Jimin does walk in, though, and it’s not awful. To be fair, the omega wasn’t expecting much to begin with, but it’s nicely decorated, a bath on one side of the room, large and porcelain white, a dark oak table opposite it. It has lots of documents on it, scattered around, a map that’s messy with ink stains. It must be important pack things, Jimin assumes.
The center of the tent holds the bed, large and full of pillows and blankets and the only thing his omega thinks of is how they should nest. Jimin blushes at the mere thought, not sure how appropriate that would be considering he’s not home, but it’s something omegas do for comfort, to feel safer, to feel protected. The night before his leaving, he’d nested with his mother in their cabin or what was left of it. He misses her already, tears pricking his eyes before he can stop them.
Goddess, he’s a mess.
Taehyung must smell how bitter his scent gets, those herbs obviously doing nothing to help now that he’s in the company of omegas and alphas and not beta whose sense of smell is significantly dulled. He should have known they’d never be enough to fool the people here.
He wipes his eyes discreetly as Taehyung furrows his eyebrows, frowning. Jimin shakes his head. “Ah, no, I’m fine, sorry. I’m just—” The omega starts, unsure how he should continue, how honest to be. A choked up laugh makes its way to his lips. “I miss my mom, I suppose. The bed just reminded me of how we’d nest together when I was upset.”
“Oh,” Taehyung says, compassion obvious as he speaks, and it has Jimin thinking he might relate. It feels embarrassing to cry over something so miniscule, but at least he’s sort of good at concealing it. The few tears that did escape dry on his cheeks, leaving a heavy burden, but the rest he manages to contain. “Head Alpha Jeon is a big fan of decorative pillows, yes.”
It’s meant to be a joke, but Jimin doesn’t differentiate it as that fast enough, his tongue moving faster than his mind. “Really?”
He almost sounds hopeful, and Taehyung giggles a little at him, the mood significantly lighter now.
“I’m joking,” Taehyung clarifies, grinning, before he gets up from his spot on the chair and takes Jimin’s hand, pulling him to the bed. The omega is reluctant, unsure what it is that he’s trying to do and he resists with all his might. “C’mon,” he convinces. “I know I’m certainly not your mother, but. I’m an omega. It must count for something, right?”
“I don’t know…” Jimin replies even when Taehyung all but flops on the bed. He just sits on the edge, awkward, fiddling with the white sheets.
“He won’t mind,” Taehyung says, looking at him while leaning on an elbow. “Besides, you’re supposed to sleep here. How will you do that if you’re uncomfortable? He wouldn’t be that cruel.”
Jimin snorts. He definitely could be.
“I’m serious,” the other omega gives him a look at the noise. He taps the spot next to him with his hand before pointing to a chest that seems to currently serve the purpose of a bedside table. “There’s more blankets and pillows in there if you need them. We can replace the ones that smell like him.”
Jimin shakes his head, still unsure, but not wanting to mess up the alpha’s bedroom even more than he already has, his omega perking up at the mere prospect. It’s not that he even feels comfortable doing this with Taehyung next to him, he doesn’t even feel comfortable doing this in a bed that isn’t his own.
He doesn’t like it. It feels strange that his omega is onboard when they’re both riddled with anxiety, but he supposes it thinks nesting will resolve that nervousness.
It seems Taehyung has mastered the art of reading people as he easily detects that Jimin is still feeling uneasy.
“I’ll sit on the chair if you want to do it alone. That’s fine. I can even leave if you want me to.”
“No,” Jimin easily shakes his head. He’d rather not be left alone when he barely knows his way around and is stuck in this tent that is full of alpha pheromones, that same alpha’s return imminent. “I’m just… I don’t know… I don’t know this alpha. It doesn’t feel right to do this in his bed.”
“That’s your bed now, too,” Taehyung says, scooting over to the edge of the mattress before settling back down on the chair, draping his fur over himself again. He shrugs. “By all means, you don’t have to. If you want to, you can. I just thought you might feel better after.”
And to his omega, the idea sounds splendid. Nesting to both comfort himself and offer a snug place to sleep in doesn’t sound bad at all, but this isn’t his bedroom. These aren’t his sheets, this isn’t his bed. It’s someone else’s.
Moreover, it’s an alpha’s bed, the same bed he’ll probably be mated in.
Then again, perhaps just sitting here for a bit and letting his pheromones flow out, letting his scent seep into the covers wouldn’t be so bad. Even if Head Alpha Jeon doesn’t let him sleep in the bed, he can just take the sheets and change them.
Taehyung must notice what he’s doing despite the herbs still somewhat masking his scent, but the omega’s goal isn’t to embarrass him, so he only smiles when Jimin scoots a little further to the center of the bed, sitting with his legs criss-crossed. It feels incredibly awkward, even still, but his frayed nerves remain thankful that he’s doing this. For just a mere moment, his thoughts stop being so grim and he focuses on his breathing.
He’s safe, for now. His parents and what’s left of his pack mates are safe. He’ll be able to, hopefully, mail his mother a letter to let her know he’s doing alright once he’s settled in, if the Head Alpha allows him to. It doesn’t matter how scared or out of place he feels in the end, because he’s doing this for his pack. For his family. Besides, it’s not like he can even object at this point. He’s already here, there’s no turning back from that.
“How come you’re being so nice to me?” Jimin can’t help but ask, biting his lip as he breaks the silence. Taehyung looks a little stunned at the question, already getting used to the comfortable silence between them, mouth open the slightest bit as he hears the other omega’s question. “I mean, I know nobody here particularly likes me. I understand that, the whole ride here wasn’t exceptionally pleasant. But you’re treating me like I’m your friend.”
Taehyung hums, a tentative smile taking over his face as he holds eye contact with Jimin who is discreetly digging his hands against the warm sheets, pressing them until they’re the right amount of soft. “Well, you’re right that not everybody here likes you. It’s… I don’t understand it, because the war had been rough on both our packs, and we both had many casualties, so there’s no point in dwelling on it.”
“I’m a little biased, though. My dad is from your pack,” Taehyung reveals, and it has Jimin furrowing his eyebrows. He’s not sure just how the omega ended up here then, but he assumes he’ll get to find out. “My mom was from here. In the midst of it all, she’d gotten pregnant with me, and she gave birth in your pack with my father by her side. They were planning to run away together then, because tensions were high, but…”
“You don’t have to tell me if it’s too personal—” Jimin reassures, sensing that Taehyung seems a little hesitant, like he doesn’t like telling the story. He doesn’t owe Jimin anything, really, so even the fact that he’s willing to share is enough for the omega.
“No,” the omega shakes his head. “I’m fine, everyone here knows the story already. Basically… while they were nearing the border, my father was holding me in a sling to his chest, and they’d been spotted. Your pack guards obviously knew my father, but my mother, they didn’t. They stabbed her with my dad right next to her.”
“I don’t remember her at all, I was just a pup. And my dad had been so enraged that he couldn’t come back to your pack with a clear conscience. So… Head Alpha Jeon, Jungkook’s father, had let him in. He’d gotten those same stares you got on his first day here, and I suppose I didn’t want you to feel like he did.”
Jimin is left stunned at the confession. Of course, he’d known that there were victims of the war on both sides, innocent people that had gotten caught up in the conflict, the wrong place at the wrong time. This is the first time he’s hearing about it from the other side, though. It’s such a peculiar situation that Jimin can’t believe how unfortunate it is.
He can’t imagine being pregnant at the time when the war was at its peak, can’t imagine how brave you’d have to be to even try to fight for your family in such a way that Taehyung’s father did. To have it explode in your face in such an agonizing way, too, is something that’s beyond his realm of understanding.
He’ll never be able to understand how some people can be so cruel. How can you see a couple with a newborn baby and have your first instinct be to shoot the mother of the pup dead, merely because she’d been on the rivaling side, though he finds it doubtful that she’d ever participated in any of the war-like activities.
It’s absolutely devastating, cruel beyond belief. He knows such things have happened on their side too, but to hear it from a person who is so closely affected by it, who knows the people involved, it feels agonizing to hear, knowing there’s nothing he can do about it now.
It’s times like these that Jimin feels grateful that the war is over, even if they’d lost. If this was the sacrifice he had to make for peace, to live a life of dread and loneliness, then so be it. He’d gladly do so if it meant saving lives.
The omega has no words left, scent turning rotten in the air as he can still see the sadness in Taehyung’s eyes as he retells the story, but he tries his hardest to speak up. “I— I’m so terribly sorry. I know it does nothing now, I know it’s of no use to you, but I just—”
“It’s alright,” Taehyung smiles, waving him off. “I’m alright. I promise. My father has taught me to forgive. I have nothing to long for, I never knew my mother. Perhaps it’s better that way. I don’t blame you for it, by the way,” he adds on easily. “War is terrible for all sides involved. My father doesn’t hate his pack, he’s told me many lovely stories about where you come from.”
“I feel awful. I don’t know what I can say.”
“No! No, goddess, please don’t blame yourself.” Taehyung quickly shakes his head, timidly offering the other omega a smile. “It’s the past. We can’t change it. I’m glad you’re here, and I’ll make the most of your time. I’d love to learn your customs as well, in exchange for me teaching you how things work around here.”
“You’ve got a deal,” Jimin nods. It feels too awkward to say anything now, especially after the way the other had opened up to him. Luckily, he doesn’t have to think much as Taehyung starts chatting once again.
“I do have to warn you that not everybody is going to be pleasant. But you have me! And Soojin. And of course my mate as well, and our friends. It’s just best to prepare to tune out most of what the others say.”
“That’s fine.” Jimin hums, he’d never expected anybody to be particularly fond of him, so even Taehyung is a breath of fresh air. The omega doesn’t have plans to see the pack much. Like he’d already said, he doesn’t know what his obligations will be, but he hopes they won’t require much out of him. He’ll do what is asked and won’t complain, but not more than that.
They stay silent for a minute thereafter, both considering the weight of each other’s words and processing all of what’s happened today, sitting down and basking in the warmth of the heated tent after a long day of walking.
Only then does Taehyung speak up about a different topic entirely, shocking Jimin to the very core.
“Is your pack particularly open about sex?” Taehyung blurts out, tone normal like he hasn’t just asked such a private thing of the other. It’s completely off topic, but the other tends to just like talking about anything and everything, Jimin has noticed.
Jimin almost does a spit take, eyebrows raising up high on his forehead before he’s able to calm down, become more composed so he can reply.
Just by the expression on his face, he’s sure Taehyung can figure out the answer himself.
“N-Not really,” he stutters, fiddling with his fingers as he tries to look anywhere but the other omega’s face. He’s wholly unused to talking about such topics, not only because his pack wasn’t very forthcoming with talking about relationships between mates, but also because he’d barely even had omega friends he could discuss these things with.
“Oh. Well. That’ll be different for you.” Taehyung offers, not saying much more, and it has Jimin curious to no end.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, we’re all very open about it. It’s not shameful to talk about it, nor do I feel shame for the way my alpha makes me feel, and no one will bat an eye if I mention something surrounding that topic in public.”
Jimin isn’t sure if Taehyung has him figured out already, if he knows the other omega has all but zero experience with alphas or anyone for that matter. He’s never even touched himself. It was shameful to do so, in his pack, to taint your body with your own hands before your intended alpha was to touch you, so Jimin never did. He’d never had a particular need for it, anyway, as his heats were spent cuddling with other omegas and nesting.
“S-So then how does mating work in your pack?” The omega asks, almost afraid of the answer. It’s not that he’s ashamed of things of sexual nature, but he’s just unused to it. His mother and father never spoke of that much. There was always too much going on to indulge in such pleasures and even now Jimin isn’t sure if he could ever even try to touch himself, let alone have another person do it.
Taehyung shrugs. “It’s a little different for you, if the Head Alpha mates you. There’s rituals both of you go through before the day of, and when it comes down to it, he bites you at the ceremony. And then,” the other omega trails off before smirking, and Jimin is definitely afraid of what he’ll say. “He takes you home, you present for him, he goes all feral alpha wolf on you, and you get knotted. Absolute bliss.” He sighs in mock-delight.
Jimin blushes much like a red rose in the spring, and while fear steadily builds up inside of him at the prospect of seeing an alpha naked, of even having to indulge in such actions with a man he doesn’t know, it also has him curious beyond belief, has him itching to know if it really deserves the praise Taehyung is so graciously giving.
He won’t embarrass himself further by letting Taehyung know he’s never been with an alpha or that he’s terrified to even try.
Jimin is well-aware Head Alpha Jeon has each and every right to lay a claim on him tonight. He’s also well-aware his virtue might get taken away today, and the thought of that is terrifying. He’s prepared himself for it, but really, how much can one prepare for such a thing?
He hides his fear well enough, so much so that he’s sure Taehyung can barely detect the change in his scent. He’s not left to stew in his misery for long, however, because the flap to the tent is opened, and it’s like a cruel reminder of his situation.
In comes an alpha, one that looks disgusted at Jimin’s mere existence, not meeting his eyes and instead only looking at Taehyung. Jimin feels like he’s dirt under his shoes with the way he contrasts the other omega’s bubbly, cheery, friendly behavior towards him.
He’s used to it, the betas in the carriage made sure of that. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. He’s human, even if he is from the Park Pack. He’s not quite sure they’re aware of that.
“Taehyung-ssi,” he says, lip curling in distaste as he walks in further, stopping between the two of them. Taehyung looks as if he wants to roll his eyes, but he stops himself. “You were supposed to bring the omega to dinner.”
There it is. Again.
‘Omega’. Like he doesn’t even have a name.
“We lost track of time, Dohyun,” Taehyung shrugs, scowling. “He has a name, you know. Jimin. You should try saying it. Won’t kill you.”
Jimin smiles. It truly feels like the other omega is able to read his mind.
The alpha looks between them for a mere second before scoffing. “I’d rather not,” he grunts, turning towards the entrance of the tent and away from the omega pair. “Bring the omega to the dining hall. If not, you’ll both go hungry.”
There’s finality in the way he says it and even though Taehyung mouths something that definitely looks like ‘fuck you’ to him, he doesn’t do much more than that.
“Asshole,” Taehyung lowly mutters, shaking his head before getting up from his spot and throwing his furs over his shoulders like he’s preparing for the chill of the night. Jimin probably can’t fathom how cold it’ll be outside right now. “Do you want to come? I’ll still bring you food even if you don’t—”
Given the way the alpha had stormed inside just now, he wouldn’t put it past him to actually make good on his promise, and he doesn’t want to even think about Taehyung getting punished because of him. So, he’ll go. No matter how much he doesn’t want to.
Jimin stumbles to his feet, getting off of the thickly-warm sheets before tugging his coat more snug on his shoulders. He nods at Taehyung. “I’ll go. It’ll be fine.”
Even Taehyung looks unsure, but he nods to reassure his newfound friend nonetheless. “Right.”
♥️
The trek to the dining hall is long and treacherous for the omega’s exhausted body. The air is cold, even to Taehyung who is used to it, and it sends chills down both of their spines, the thick pieces of fur covering most of their body not doing much to help. Jimin doesn’t complain, even when his teeth begin to chatter, instead focusing on reaching the tented area as fast as he can.
They get there, somehow and Jimin can feel about a thousand eyes staring at him, unyielding even though they all know Jimin is well-aware of their attention directed on him.
It’s significantly more uncomfortable than being with just Taehyung, and the omega can already feel his heart start to thump quicker with anxiety. He wants to crawl back home even if that means death. He wants to leave. What was he thinking? He doesn’t belong here. Death would be far less cruel than this.
The crowd starts whispering amongst themselves as the other omega pulls him towards a table, sits him down and asks him what he likes to eat, so he can go get it for him. Jimin isn’t sure what he replies, barely aware of himself as even the people right next to him stare him down. It’s a situation he’d never wish upon anyone because he feels so unwelcome, utterly unwanted in their space.
And when Taehyung leaves, it only gets worse. It’s like he suddenly has the world’s best hearing as he begins to gather bits and pieces of what everyone is saying.
“Goddess, he’s small. Head Alpha Jeon is going to have him bruised beyond recognition tomorrow morning.” One voice says, omega, her voice one filled with bewilderment as she almost seems delighted at the prospect. Jimin wouldn’t wish that upon his worst enemy, but he supposes it’s all the same for them.
“I wonder if he’s ever taken an alpha before. He looks too proud, but Head Alpha Jeon will surely remedy that.” An alpha, young, barely presented, snickering with his friends.
“Looks too smug for my taste. What I’d give to knock a Park omega down a peg.”
The last hurts the most, because — he can’t change the fact that he was brought here. It wasn’t because he wanted to, it’s because their Head Alpha was adamant on it, because he insisted to uphold the arrangement that was made decades ago. He also can’t change what pack he comes from, and if it was up to him to decide, he’d be back at home right now.
Not here, miserable, as he awaits his fate.
Goddess, what if they are right? What if— What if Jeon Jungkook wanted him here for that sole reason? To break him apart? To get him so broken and beaten down until he accepts his own tragic fate? Until he stops fighting?
Maybe the only reason people have told him otherwise is to soften the blow. Perhaps they feel bad for him, and don’t want him to know what awaits him. What if Taehyung had lied, too? And he’d laid in that man’s bed. He’d— he’d basically scented his sheets. What kind of punishment would follow that? Surely a large one, seeing how these people see him as nothing short of an animal.
He feels as if his legs will give out under him, as if he’ll fall backwards and faint with the direction his thoughts are going in.
“…Jimin?”
A voice interrupts him, and Jimin shakes out of his blurry daze, plastering on a smile that is nothing short of fake as he identifies the voice to be Taehyung’s, the omega obviously able to notice something is wrong, but even then, what’s the point?
It’s not like there’s anything that can be done. What is meant to happen will happen. He doesn’t have hope that he’ll be able to get out of whatever tonight will entail, and he’d foolishly made himself believe that it would all be alright, that Jeon Jungkook could accept a Park wolf into his pack.
Taehyung sits down next to him, and Jimin barely notices the figure he’s dragging along with him, tall and alpha-like, smelling somewhat of rain and the aforementioned omega. “I was worried for a second there,” he chuckles nervously, placing a plate in front of Jimin. It’s filled to the brim with food and it looks delicious, but all he feels at the moment is nauseous. “There you go. Are you hungry?”
“Yes,” is all Jimin manages to mutter out, nodding along mindlessly before picking up his fork and knife as a means to try and cut up the meat on his plate, though bile collects in his throat all the while. The other omega doesn’t seem to pick up on it, humming at his reply and engaging in conversation with the alpha who sits right next to him.
“Why is he eating with us?” A beta whispers to the omega seated next to him, lip curled up in distaste as he watches Jimin with no shame, and the bite of food he’d almost wanted to put into his mouth clacks onto his plate without much thinking.
Fine. He won’t eat.
“Are you not going to eat?” Taehyung frowns, certainly not clueless as to what everyone around them is saying and the judging looks they’re throwing even in his way, but sweeping it under the rug, if only to bring a sense of normalcy to the other omega.
“Ah… I’m just— My appetite hasn’t been the best these past few days. Maybe it’s because of the trip. It was long.” Jimin explains, nodding along like he’s also trying to convince himself all the while. It’s a half-truth. He really hasn’t got any appetite anymore.
“But you just said you wanted to eat,” the alpha next to Taehyung pipes up, his voice startling Jimin. He didn’t expect to be spoken to.
“Seokjin, be quiet and eat your food,” Taehyung grumbles, turning around and facing him for a moment only to lightly tug at his cheek, which has the alpha grunting in annoyance but he doesn’t do anything to stop his omega from doing so. Taehyung turns back to Jimin with a reassuring smile. “Sorry for my alpha. He’s old and his memory’s gone awry.”
Jimin looks between them, shocked at the way Taehyung is talking back to his alpha, almost expecting a punishment of some kind to follow, even if it is in public. He’s been made to expect that Jeon alphas are nothing if not barbaric, but Seokjin seems used to it, not reacting to the teasing and instead piling a nice chunk of meat from his plate to Taehyung’s.
“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to, you know.” Taehyung says, leaning on one of his hands as the other rubs at Jimin’s back soothingly. Somehow, it actually does feel a little comforting. “You can go back to the tent. I’ll take you.”
He feels bad to ask that of him, feels bad to take more time from his day when the omega’s been with Jimin the whole day, and he surely hasn’t eaten, either. Plus, he might want to spend some time with his mate as well. His alpha might want some time alone. Jimin doesn’t blame them for that, in fact, he’s sure it’ll be more fun than walking him back to the tent again.
He can find his way around. He’s not a pup.
“No, no,” the omega immediately shakes his head. “I’d feel bad. You should eat and go home with your alpha. I’m sure I remember the way.”
“Baby, go take him,” Seokjin suggests instead, furrowing his eyebrows at Jimin’s little act of bravery. The pet name doesn’t go unnoticed and wow, Taehyung surely is lucky. “Who knows when Jungkook’s going to get home? All these salivating bastards are just dying to get a peek at him, he shouldn’t go alone.”
“If he says he wants to go alone I can’t do anything about that,” Taehyung hums, trying to respect the other omega’s wishes, before taking a bite of his dinner and chewing thoroughly. “It’s not a problem whatsoever, but if you want some alone time I get that.”
It’s not that Jimin wants to be alone, he doesn’t feel safe in this environment whatsoever, but… it would do him so good to just have some rest, to be able to quietly deal with his own thoughts and feelings, something he can’t do while putting up a front in front of Taehyung or anyone else.
“Then I’ll go with you, Jimin,” Seokjin says, wiping his lips on a napkin as he finishes up with his plate. Alphas eat so damn fast. Jimin isn’t sure just how they’re able to do that. “If that’s alright.” He adds.
The usage of his name makes him want to cry out in relief. Thank goddess for the few people he’s encountered that treat him like an actual human being in this pack. He can stick close to them when need be, and hopefully he’ll be spared of most pack duties, knowing the probability of others accepting his existence to be slim. Even Head Alpha Jeon, as cruel as he might be, surely knows that his pack doesn’t particularly enjoy the fact that Jimin is here.
“Okay,” Jimin smiles at the alpha, and both of them rise up from the table to head out into the night. Pairs of eyes follow them but considering he’s with an alpha and that same alpha seems to be quite close to their Head Alpha, nobody says a word. Jimin pats Taehyung’s back in a thankful motion before saying goodbye. “Thank you for today.”
Taehyung smiles at him, boxy with his teeth on show. “Of course. Get some sleep, Jiminie. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The omega smiles at the nickname, his heart warming at the surge of happy pheromones surrounding him. Seokjin stands up tall and proud before stepping behind Taehyung and placing a deep peck on his lips.
“I’ll see you at home.” The alpha says as they separate.
“Mm, yeah. Keep Jimin safe.”
Seokjin nods before turning to Jimin and motioning towards the entryway of the dining hall tent. They make it through the hordes of people easily with the alpha navigating their way around, most not wanting to stand in his way. He doesn’t speak much as they make their way outside, but his scent really puts Jimin at ease, though he’s unsure why. Maybe it’s because he’s mated. Maybe because he smells protective, even if he’s only taking a Park omega home.
They walk side by side, the omega trying his hardest to keep up with Seokjin’s long strides.
At some point, the alpha starts talking. “I hope Taehyung didn’t give you too much trouble.”
“Not at all,” Jimin shakes his head, smiling as he reminisces that Taehyung had genuinely made him laugh today. He didn’t think that would be possible, but the other omega just seems to have a gift, he’s great with people. It makes sense as to why they’d have him be the first person Jimin interacted with. “He’s great. You’re very lucky.”
“I know,” Seokjin says, and he does look utterly enamored. It’s nice to see. Jimin might have been a little prejudiced, but it’s only what he’s been taught, he can’t help it. Obviously there are exceptions to the pattern, so with all his might he tries to still keep hope that Jeon Jungkook might be somewhat as nice as his friends are. “You must be exhausted.”
“I am.” The omega sighs, the chuckle escaping him a pure sign of how tired he is. His eyes begin to droop down as the cold air bites at his fingers. “I just want to sleep when I get in the tent. I don’t know if that’ll actually happen, but…”
“Jungkook isn’t going to mate you today,” Seokjin says, and even though Jimin sort of already assumed that, sort of already knew, but it still feels good to hear from a reliable source. “You can relax. I know you don’t like it here, and I don’t understand just why he brought you here either, but nobody wants you to be miserable.”
Jimin snorts. That’s not true. “Some definitely do.”
“Then that’s on them. And Jungkook will surely deal with them accordingly, if you’re to be his mate.”
Jimin doesn’t reply. He’s not sure what he can say.
The cobblestone steps reappear in front of them, and they both begin to climb up. It’s dark, but the space around the tent is illuminated nicely by some lanterns, so they’re both able to see where they’re going.
He knows that Head Alpha Jeon isn’t going to care that much. Yes, if he mates him, they’re going to have a bond, one that is going to significantly amplify their emotions for one another. Even then, the bond can’t make them feel love for one another. He knows the alpha won’t love him, and that’s perfectly fine, but nobody likes being lonely. Ultimately, that’s what he’ll be. Alone.
They stop in front of the entryway to the tent, and Seokjin lifts the flap up so Jimin can come inside. The warmth from the space spreads to the outside, and the omega can’t wait to let his tired legs rest and put his mind to sleep.
“Good night, Jimin.” The alpha merely says, and directs a tentative smile his way.
“Good night.” The omega replies back before stepping inside, his body already warming up as the fire lit up in the fireplace crackles. Seokjin turns back around, leaving in the direction they came from.
Now he really is all alone. A deep sigh leaves his chest and his scent fills the room, beyond his control at this point, his omega just trying to get both of them relaxed enough in this space because they’re certainly not coming home anytime soon. It would do them both good to get used to it.
He almost wants to pass out on the floor, but he knows the bed will be a much, much better solution. So, he notices his bag, the only one he’d been able to pack some things into before being hauled onto the carriage, and opens it in favor of finding some clothes to sleep in. He’d only brought the necessities, the comb his mother had wielded him when he was a pup, some clothing, undergarments and such, and lastly the herbs he takes as a means of both hiding his scent and birth control.
Jimin isn’t sure how omegas regulate their cycles here, but he’d rather be prepared just in case. He crushes the dosage of herbs before swirling them in his mouth, washing them down with a jug of water right after, the earthy taste sticking to his tastebuds.
The pajamas he’d brought are satin, but lined with fur on the inside as a means to keep him warm. Pulling them on feels like a warm hug, and he sighs in relief as he folds up his day-old clothes back into the bag. He’d love to wash them, and he’d also love to wash himself, but the omega doesn’t know if he’s allowed, or even how they do so here.
For now, Jimin is sure of one thing, and that is that he’s tired. He’s utterly exhausted by the day’s events, and he can’t even be bothered to think anymore. His mind has been in overdrive for literal weeks, much before he’d even been aware of his impending journey, and now that most of it is over, he just wants to rest, close his eyes if only for a mere moment.
With that in mind, the omega stops thinking about any consequences, refusing to deal with all of that right now, and instead easily pads over to the comfortable, warm bed. The one that smells so heavily of that sandalwood-whiskey combo, but also somewhat of him from this afternoon.
It’s so cozy, and it feels so snug as he slips in, the sheets perfectly melding against his body, and even the pillow that the alpha so obviously sleeps on doesn’t put him off at this moment. He’s exhausted. His mind isn’t working properly anymore, and he’s barely able to keep his eyes open.
As he’s rubbing his nose against the smooth sheets, he hears the flap open.
He freezes.
It takes real courage to lift his head from the pillows as he realizes he’s basically just been caught in the act, in the alpha’s bed, cuddling against it when for all he knows he might not even sleep here. Why would he be sleeping in the Head Alpha’s bed, anyway? Unless he wants him for sex, then that would make sense. That’s what everybody else had said, anyway, and they knew Jeon Jungkook far better than he did.
The sight that follows is nothing short of impressive, even though it’s mildly terrifying.
The man standing before him stands tall, shoulders rippling with strength as he breathes, chest dipping. He’s muscular, so obviously strong, tanned from working in the sun, with tattoos lining each of his arms, from shoulder to hand. His presence demands attention, dominance oozing from him like thick nectar, filling the air with his pheromones and scent. Sandalwood and whiskey so potent in the room the omega almost feels as if he’ll choke.
Jimin doesn’t know if he’s more curious about the scars lining his torso or even more terrified at the sight of them. Some of them look more decent, some more faded like they’ve been there for a while, and one specifically interesting scar sits on his cheek, tiny, like a mere cut.
Head Alpha Jeon, he… he’s strong. Not in the way barely eighteen year old pups show off their strength, but in the way that he’s bulky and big and imposing, soft contours of his body and easily highlighted by muscles. He’s got abs and defined pecs, but he’s also got a soft belly with wispy dark and the odd gray hair littering the space under his navel.
He’s strong, not because he tries too hard to be, but because he’s a man. An alpha. He’s got maturity to him that shows in the way he’s shaped, a hulking piece of alpha.
He stares at the omega with something akin to bewilderment, dark brown eyes taking the scene in, his thin lips in a line with his thick eyebrows the slightest bit furrowed, like he’s unsure who is in his bed and why.
It’s obvious Jungkook is older. It’s glaringly obvious. His face seems sculpted in a way that amazes Jimin to no end, age taking its toll, nothing like any alpha the omega has ever seen before. Nothing like any alpha he’s ever taken an interest in before.
His dark hair hides a bit of his forehead, and as Jimin’s line of sight descends downwards, the unbuttoned shirt he has on is thin and barely hiding anything, not his tattoos, not the trail of wispy hair descending into his black linen pants, and certainly not helping with making the omega any less scared, especially when he notices the necklace lined with teeth around his neck.
Jimin doesn’t wish to know about the history of those. He doesn’t.
He’s terrified. He’s sure he’s shaking like never before, and there are excuses and apologies ready to spill from his lips the moment the alpha starts taking long strides forward, taking his shirt off in the process. All Jimin can think about is the fact that he isn’t ready. He doesn’t know what to do, he’s scared, and he feels like a pup in this alpha’s presence. He’s never even interacted with many alphas, let alone spent the night in one’s bed—
The alpha comes close, and he sits on his knees before Jimin, still alarmingly huge in stature, so much so that even like this he reaches the omega, even with him on the elevated space of the bed. He’s left confused, unsure of what to do, of what exactly the alpha is doing, of what he’s supposed to do all the same. The only thing he can do is sit there dumbly, scent souring in the air as he awaits further instruction.
“Scent me,” Jungkook commands, baring the side of his neck. Jimin doesn’t know if that action is a test. It certainly can’t be real, because that is pure submission. For an alpha from his pack at least, it’s almost humiliating. No alpha would ever do that, in front of an omega who is so far beneath them no less.
But… Jungkook doesn’t seem like he really needs to demand dominance, like most alphas desperately try to do so, always trying to prove themselves. He seems to naturally ooze that, considering his status and his impressive war prowess.
Scenting is still private, though, a matter of mates, something that is intimate and wholly the most sensual part of a relationship between two wolves, the only thing more meaningful being the actual act of mating, of sealing their bond with a bite. It’s certainly unusual that Jungkook is asking that of him, yes, though Jimin doesn’t know if scenting is as highly regarded in this pack.
The alpha might not care about things like that at all, but he has no room to judge. He isn’t here to do that.
So, Jimin plays the part of a good omega, and he listens. “Yes, Head Alpha.”
“Ah…” Jungkook grunts, shaking his head in disapproval, eyes closed and his eyebrows furrowing further until he’s properly frowning.
Jimin isn’t sure what he’s done wrong, and he stops in his mission of moving forward towards the alpha, willing to listen to whatever the alpha says, just desperate to get this over and done with.
“Fuck, don’t call me that. Please.” Jungkook begs as he beckons Jimin forward. The omega is still terrified he’s going to get punished, but even so, he still has to obey to each of the older’s whims. He can’t find the strength not to as he sits right in front of the alpha, eyes zeroed in on his scent gland, right in front of his nose. “Jungkook. I’m Jungkook to you. You’re going to be my mate and I want nothing more than for us to be on equal footing.”
“You’ll be my omega, and I’ll be your alpha,” he continues, eyes never leaving Jimin’s own as he makes his intentions abundantly clear, his dark brown eyes almost expectant. “There’ll be things I require of you, naturally, but I expect that there will be things you want from me all the same. I’ll do my best to keep you satisfied as an alpha.”
Jimin barely has any time to think before he’s being pulled close by the neck, a firm, strong hand directing him to his scent gland. He’s never scented anyone besides his family and friends, and it definitely shows in the clumsy way his nose bumps against the alpha’s scent gland, but he still tries his best. He doesn’t dare to let his tongue venture out, not wanting to make the experience even more intimate than it is.
His eyes are closed as he tries to not be an utter failure at this, but his omega turns so fuzzy and pliant once the action goes on for longer, considering he’s never been surrounded by so many pheromones, and there’s not much he can do about that. Pheromones, especially alpha ones, ones that settle so deeply into your core and make home inside of your very being, are something that makes any omega act like a little bit of a fool.
Jungkook smells indescribable, something Jimin has no comparison for. It’s sandalwood and whiskey, but it’s sweet and bitter at the same time, earthy and spicy, overwhelming and just right.
Somehow, the alpha’s intimidating presence doesn’t make him feel unsafe or scared. Not yet, anyway, and it might be due to the onslaught of alpha alpha alpha all around him making his brain go all weird, but right now, all he feels is safe.
Perhaps it’s because Jungkook lets him be as gentle as he wants, as slow as he wants. He doesn’t push him to do much more than he’s comfortable with, and even when Jimin’s nose makes its way to his collarbone, the only reaction he gets is a flinch. The sandalwood and whiskey in the air is so pungent it almost has him wondering what it would be like if their scents mixed together.
If he had no herbs on, surely that would already be happening. Their scents would be one sweetly-liquor-bitterness combo as Jimin’s scent is soft, even for an omega, something like fresh cream and vanilla, so to have it mix with such a glaringly obvious alpha scent…
It’s scary, maybe a little, because Jimin doesn’t know him. But then again, he’ll take any and every piece of comfort he can get from anyone that doesn’t obviously want to hurt him right now. And Jungkook, he only smells a little sad, a little melancholic, but most of all, he’s comforting, and his omega recognizes that, recognizes that this alpha has no intention to hurt them.
Jimin will just take what he can get.
Maybe it’s sad that the moment the alpha begins to pull away, Jimin’s hand flies out before he can stop it, nails digging into his broad back. It’s pathetic, he knows that, but he hasn’t been touched for weeks. It’s been weeks of being referred to as ‘omega’, of being treated as less than, of sleeping in the carriage, cold, curled up and alone.
He should be embarrassed for the pathetic way he’s acting, but he can’t. He misses his family and he misses his mother and he doesn’t want to be alone. Wolves aren’t meant to be alone. There’s a reason why they need packs.
Luckily or unluckily, Jungkook doesn’t make him move away. He merely unclips the omega’s nails from where they’re no doubt leaving imprints on his back, but he doesn’t do more than that, doesn’t remove his hands or make him loosen his grip.
Instead, Jungkook scents Jimin back, and most alphas don’t do that, they’d never do something so romantic, not alphas in his pack at least. Not to a mere omega, an omega from an enemy pack no less, and certainly not Jeon Jungkook. It’s something that requires commitment. Most alphas weren’t fans of monogamy at all, to be frank. It’s all he’s known for his life, and while there were exceptions, he didn’t expect to find them here.
Jeon alphas were definitely the same, if not worse. They didn’t take omegas until they were older, and Jungkook is a prime example of that, as the age difference between them can’t be denied. It’s not unusual, no, but it just shows how little alphas care for omegas. How mating can be something they just do.
Jimin is thoroughly inexperienced, but the way Jungkook scents him, it’s almost sweet. It feels nice, feels like featherlight kissed against his scent gland. It’s not imposing, and it’s mostly for the omega’s own comfort because he knows the alpha definitely can’t smell his scent fully, courtesy of the herbs.
It’s too much. It’s not like anything he’d expected, he’d been terrified, sure that his clothes would be ripped from his body the moment the alpha came in, and that he’d be, well, mated, or at the very least that they’d have sex. He didn’t expect this softness, this kind of gentle kindness from an alpha who has the reputation of a cruel barbarian.
Yet here Jungkook is, talking about mates and all these sweet things, when he’d already been prepared to be used as a means for pent-up release for most of his life, not much more than that, a side-piece for the alpha and whatever omega he’d actually mate.
That doesn’t seem to be the case, though.
Jimin might faint.
“I could never ask of you to do more than provide me a safe place to return to, Head Al— Jungkook,” Jimin corrects himself, shy, as they separate. It’s true, and he means it, all he wishes from their arrangement is to be kept safe and to have no one bother him. To just live a peaceful, normal life.
It feels even more embarrassing to pull away from their hug because what the hell is he doing. It’s improper, first of all, and second of all, why is he acting like a needy little pup, not letting go of the alpha and holding onto him like he needs his comfort?
He does not. The omega doesn’t need this man’s anything, first of all. Right now, though, he’s tired, and he’s been hated and judged all day for simply existing, so maybe excuse him for wanting to indulge in the slightest bit of affection he’s offered.
Jungkook chuckles. “You’re going to learn,” he says, ominous, before he simply moves past Jimin, climbing onto the bed and laying down on the heavily blanketed tent space, tucking himself under the covers. Jimin’s eyes follow him watchfully. “I’ll spoil you rotten.”
Jimin isn’t sure what he means. This isn’t how he was raised. He’s not sure what to do in this situation.
“Aren’t we going to—” He asks, just to be sure. He needs to know it won’t happen, that he’ll be safe to sleep tonight.
“No,” Jungkook says, quick, looking almost offended at the question. He cracks an eye open before he sits back up and pulls Jimin down with him and into his arms, head on Jungkook’s rhythmically-beating heart in his chest. “We’re going to sleep, Jimin.”
Jimin’s own heart starts beating faster at the sudden action, and then more-so at the fact that he’s in an alpha’s arms, his thickly-muscled biceps wrapped around him and not letting go.
He knows his name. Goddess. He doesn’t know— What or how— This isn’t what he expected to happen tonight.
All his fellow omegas were so sure he’d be walking out of that tent bruised beyond belief in the morning.
It should feel like a cage, like prison, the embrace. He’s not supposed to feel relaxed. But the only thing that he can safely say is Jungkook’s hands haven’t touched him in any other way other than to provide comfort, safety.
“Stop thinking,” the alpha shakes his head. “Sleep. I’ll keep us safe.”
His hands stroke through Jimin’s brown hair, and the touch feels like it’s making him even more sleepy.
“…You won’t knot me?” Jimin says, peering up at the alpha through his lashes. It’s not like he wants that to happen. He was scared, terrified even, at the prospect, but he knew it would have to happen. That’s what he’d been made to expect. Everything everyone but a select few people had told him.
Jungkook grunts. “Absolutely not. You’re shaking like a leaf,” the alpha replies, not leaving much room for discussion. “We’re going to sleep. And you’re going to stop worrying or I’ll leave.”
And he doesn’t want Jungkook to leave, certainly. He’s the only person in this pack he’s got right now, the only one that can keep him safe, ultimately, because if he is to be his alpha — nobody would dare to touch the omega. Without him, Jimin is surely fair game.
“I’ll stop.” He sighs, giving up as the exhaustion starts to catch up with him.
“Good,” Jungkook replies, the omega’s cheek smushed against his chest. He’s soft, even with all the scarring on his torso. The muscles around him feel protective. “Do not believe what anyone says about me. With you... With you, it’ll be different.”
“…What does that mean?”
“It means war is war, and battle is battle, but it ends at that.” The alpha says. His arms wind tighter around Jimin and he’s honestly really getting sleepy now. It’s been a long day. Entirely too long, considering the last few weeks have been filled with barely any sleep.
“After all of it, I’ll come home to you. And you won’t be scared of me. I’ll make sure of it.”
Jimin’s barely listening, thoughts already in dreamland. It’s just so very hard to focus on anything when he finally feels comfortable and warm, and he feels safe, trusting this alpha blindly that he truly won’t let anyone hurt him. There’s a reason Jeon Jungkook wanted him here, and though those same reasons could be sinister, for the moment, he’s safe. Jimin allows himself to let go of his apprehensive behavior in favor of getting the rest he deserves.
“You’ll crave my touch before I lay my hands on you, and I promise you those same hands will never touch you with anything but love.”
He feels a kiss on his sweaty forehead before his eyes close shut. The words are whispered into the quiet air of the night, so the omega barely registers them. Instead, beyond his control, he curls up further into the alpha’s chest, head on a firm pec as his mouth opens in order to release soft puffs of air.
It doesn’t feel wrong, and that’s even scarier, but he’s so sleepy that he really can’t think. He’ll take what what he is offered for now and won’t question it further.
“Good boy. You need your rest,” the alpha praises when he sees his breathing even out. “I’ve waited long enough for you, prayed long enough for you, and I’m certainly not letting you go now.”
“My sweet, lovely omega. You’ll be so loved, I promise.”