Chapter Text
It wasn't supposed to work out like this, but beggars couldn't exactly be choosers, you supposed.
Kim Namjoon had been drowning from the weight of a two ton bull sinking him down, down, down into the lake for a full minute before the plan worked itself out in your mind. It would be a risk, but if the Kim Pack Alpha refused the deal, you could easily dispatch of him here in the desolate wilderness so far from the heart of his territory. The wolf he'd brought with him was already dead and probably sunk to the bottom of the lake by now, gored straight through the chest from the failed takedown, and even if Namjoon was known throughout the lands for being a big man and even bigger wolf, you knew killing him would be easy if he refused to cooperate. It always was for you, regardless of whether he was half-drowned and distracted.
But first, before any bargaining could take place, you would have to save the infamous Pack Alpha. You dove from the cliff without another moment's hesitation.
Winter was urging the last autumnal days along earlier than usual this year, so the water chilled your already hunger– and fatigue-weakened body with more bite than you'd expected. Ice struck straight to your heart and would've stolen your breath even if you hadn't been holding it. Pins and needles pricked at your muscles as you willed them to cooperate, swimming hard toward the large mass so far down it was a mere shadow.
Your chest started to tighten just as your hands gripped Namjoon's massive bicep – thank the Goddess you hadn't tried to go for both arms, your hands were wide but he was a solid unit – and you began pulling the unconscious man from the black depths, forgoing retrieval of the bull all together. Theoretically, you could've shifted and surfaced with the bull in your jaws if the key to a safe future wasn't taking up all of your attention, and you briefly lamented the loss of such a healthy animal. Jimin always loved a well prepared steak and it had been much too long since he'd eaten well, but he'd understand. He always did, of course.
The weight of surrounding water and freedom of swimming was foreign to you, bodies of water as large as Luna's Lake scarce near your former pack's mountain lands. You knew the mechanics of how to pump your arms and had experience holding your breath to avoid inhaling the all too frequent blood and bodily fumes of your profession, but nothing could've prepared you for the shiver of panic that trilled down your spine when your lungs said breathe but your brain said drown. The fast fading sunlight that bounced off the water's surface seemed leagues away, but you kept kicking your legs, not minding a bit when your foot connected with the lump of dead weight that was actively trying to sink you both. Just a bit more, a bit more, a bit more...
And then, just like every other time you thought death had finally come for you, a cloud of peppermint swam in your chest despite having not taken a breath in far too long. Peppermint is why you were doing this. You tightened your grip and kept swimming even when it felt like your chest and skull were moments from collapsing.
You breached the surface with a more desperate gasp for air than you'd ever admit, the burning in your lungs and nostrils overshadowed by thudding adrenaline and a racing mind. Namjoon did not come to when freed from the water's clutches, so you lugged him up over your back and treaded water long enough to stop frantically heaving. The only thing that finally got your legs kicking once more was the realization that the alpha over your shoulder needed to expel the water he'd inhaled soon or all this risk would be for naught.
The shoreline seemed impossibly far as you swam with the man pulled over your back. From this distance, you could see the exact forest from which you curiously observed wolf-Namjoon and his bull making their swandive and the cliff from which you dove after him. It looked like a much larger drop from down here, and you resolutely decided Jimin would not have to know all the details of the Pack Alpha's retrieval.
The feeling of sand and dirt sticking to your wet skin made you cringe, the omega in you never quite liking to feel unclean, but it was a genuine wonder that you'd made it back to dry land so any complaints swiftly left your mind. Your knees wobbled like a newborn fawn when you stood, Namjoon on his back with his body half still in the water. It was a miracle that wolves transformed back to humans upon certain physically traumatic experiences, because a man was much easier to handle than a wolf, and you were not about to shift and tear the only set of clothes you owned. That they were soaked was bad enough.
When you leveled your gaze on the reason for tonight's unexpected dip in the water, it became apparent that he was in very poor shape. A slightly blue hue had tinged his full lips, and his skin had taken an almost shockingly white pallor. He didn't so much as twitch as you impulsively slapped his cheek, but blood welled up pink and blessedly alive in the aftermath of your strike.
Resuscitation of an unconscious, half-drowned man was not something you'd ever attempted, but you had a faint idea of what to do. Pump the chest, hit the back, curse up a storm and will the bastard to breathe... a few moments of this and he'd be fine, right? Not exactly.
What felt like a concerning amount of time passed with you beating over the man's lungs and back before Namjoon finally came to with a great heave, choking up water and bile onto himself in a spectacularly disgusting show that was, however, a relief to witness. A dead alpha could not help you or Jimin, and you'd sacrificed your semi-clean, dry clothes saving the bastard. Him dying now would be a colossal waste of half an hour.
The man carried on like this for a long moment, expelling the water from his lungs and sucking up as much air as he could without passing out again from hyperventilation. It was with sick fascination that you observed the incredible amount of water he vomited out, more than enough to create a small pool of various liquids you did not care to investigate further.
He was understandably preoccupied, so the scent of an unfamiliar, non-pack wolf did not send him growling and gnashing into a transformation that would not end well for him. If he tried to rip into you, you'd have to take him out, and all your efforts would be worthless. You decided then that you'd have to strike the beginnings of a bargain while he was still half-dazed and drowned.
While his attention was elsewhere, you took the opportunity to really look at the man now that you weren't busy focusing on bringing him back to life. As the (former) offspring of a Pack Alpha yourself, you were loosely familiar with the leaders of all five packs that made up the Continent. Namjoon was just as tall and broad as everyone said, and even if he did look rather non threatening while recovering from near death, you could certainly see why he commanded a certain level of respect.
The Kim Pack was second to the Park Pack in their raw ferocity, but Namjoon himself looked like he could fall any wolf in a battle to the death if the Goddess ever willed it. All muscles from his broad shoulders to his thickly corded calves, he was undoubtedly the largest man you'd ever seen. Even if this wolf lacked the barbarity Parks were known for, his size alone could overpower most of your genetically smaller former pack's wolves in a heartbeat. But you knew it wasn't just his biological, physical power that drew respect from the other three packs. Even if it had been a long, long time since an interpack war split the lands, everyone knew the Jeon, Shin, and Liang Packs would side with the Kims this very moment if the need arose. While Parks didn't play well with others, Kims were known for their balanced moral compass. They were good wolves, and the Goddess rewarded them with strength. It was as simple as that.
Pack Alpha Kim Namjoon had bigger muscles than you'd seen on most men, but it was his brain and heart that made his pack the threat it was.
Had you not made a name for yourself already, you and Jimin might've tried joining the Kim Pack upon your exile. Only the Kims could protect you both if it was decided death was a better punishment than excommunication and Park warriors set out for your heads. That wasn't an option, however, as no Pack Alpha would willingly take in a Park who had spilled enough blood to fill the lake at your back. It would take only a life debt to accept you into a Pack, and that was precisely what Namjoon owed you. His will was stripped from him the moment he'd decided to take down that beast of a bull.
The man seemed to be calming down just a bit, his impressive body no longer racking with violent heaving fits. Before he could fully gather his bearings, you flicked the fingers of your left hand and watched the nails sharpen into wolves' claws. Razor sharp and long as a dagger, the Pack Alpha froze when they gripped his throat, gentle, gentle, gentle, but deadly as they come. Should you clench your fist, they'd slice through his skin like a hot knife in butter and he'd pour blood like a faucet. He knew it, too. That much you could see in the red-tinged eyes of the furious Pack Alpha that met yours for the first time. Such a heavy glare from a wolf as powerful as Namjoon would cow anyone else, but you'd grown up staring down eyes that screamed for your death.
"You are in my debt, Alpha Kim, and I know how I'd like to be repaid," you said softly, watching as he worked through the sight before him: claws of a shifted wolf at his throat but a person kneeling at his side.
Perhaps the threat of imminent death was why he didn't look impressed. You tried not to let it irk you.
It was a trick few wolves had mastered, partially shifting taking incredible force of will and focus. You learned from your grandmother, the former Alpha of the Park Pack, how to elongate your human teeth into fangs and fingernails into claws without morphing completely into a wolf. It was a transformation that took less time than a full shift, and it had saved your life more times than you cared to think about. Successfully adding the ability to your arsenal made you the most dangerous omega on the Continent and one of the most lethal wolves in existence. You knew this well, but the knowledge did not bring with it the pride you felt as a pup. Bloodletting lost its shine when your Jiminie became the only sparkle in your eye, but you would do so without hesitation if the moment called for it.
Like now, for example.
Namjoon had to see the assurance in your eye as he gritted out, "Name your price, lone wolf."
The insult didn't bother you as you knew it seemed true, your scent betraying no pack affiliation and your appearance wild from living in the forest for a month. You were no rogue, however. The only pack you needed was your mate, the alleged family intrinsic to the pack bond something you'd never experienced. Love and safety were synonymous with Jimin alone, something you knew would never change. The healing, complete bite on your throat meant as much.
"My mate and I are in search of a pack. Yours will do just fine. We will work for our keep like every other member and respect your customs. Acceptance and safety are all we want. Publicly accept us as Kims, and you'll never see any trouble from either of us," you said calmly.
Namjoon clenched his jaw. You spoke as though it was a minor favor you were asking, even though its simplicity did not equate to any less gravity. His ignorance of your identity made blindly accepting you a gamble, one he would undoubtedly consider having lost when he realizes you are the spawn of the Park Pack Alpha. There was nothing else he could do, however, so you urged him forward with one more stipulation to the price.
"To the Goddess above, swear on your mates' lives that my mate and I are now members of the Kim Pack."
Kim Namjoon was known for two things: his pack's superiority and the four wolves he mated. It was remarkably rare, especially for all participants to be willing, that polyamorous couplings thrived as Namjoon's was reported to have done. Little was known about the relationship outside of the Kim pack other than the astounding number of partners, but he loved them just like you loved Jimin. That was clear as day as he reacted to your words. For a moment, you worried that he'd rather die than put his mates' lives over the pack he'd devoted himself to, but he didn't quite have a choice.
"Where is my hunting partner?" Namjoon asked abruptly, his low timbre a loud boom as he finally asked after his lost pack mate.
You hadn't expected it to take him this long, but alphas could be selfish creatures. Pack didn't mean what it used to for the wolves you knew, and it was looking like this Pack Alpha didn't care for his members with the same tenacity you didn't realize you were hoping for. The reason for his asking now was obvious, the life debt he owed negated if you murdered a member of his pack. He had to know it was a fruitless line of inquiry, not a hint of blood tainting your scent.
"The bull gored him straight through the chest. He fell from the cliff just before you did. It would've been impossible for me to recover his body and pull you to the surface," you explained measuredly. "The Goddess knows there was nothing I could do. You are still in my debt."
He listened closely, obviously trying to hear any irregularities with your heartbeat or pulse. You were a master liar, only Jimin ever being able to tell when you were speaking an untruth, but Namjoon didn't know that. It didn't even matter, because you weren't lying about this. He knew it, too.
When Namjoon finally swore to meet your conditions, heavy and disgusted, you breathed easy for the first time since, well, you could remember. You and Jimin had a pack, and it was Pack Alpha Kim's at that. If your father came for you both, the musk of Kim on your scents would be the best protection available. It was surprisingly easy to retract your claws and allow the man to rise up on his haunches now that he'd sworn on his precious mates' lives.
"Let me guess: you were exiled?" Namjoon asked, suspicion coating his words. Exiles occurred for the most heinous of crimes, death a kinder punishment for wolves. But you and Jimin were hated with a fervor that was somewhat unbelievable, so this was your sentence.
From the way you'd just threatened this Pack Alpha's life with clear intent to act, it was obvious Namjoon assumed you were a violent animal. It was partially true, even if it wasn't why you were exiled from your previous pack. In fact, your ferocity was celebrated before they'd stripped your association. It left something satisfied in your chest to know the Park Pack was slightly crippled at your loss.
You wouldn't mind leaving him with this impression, but the truth would be revealed soon on one matter and regarding the other, it was better if Namjoon knew your parentage. An ignorant alpha wouldn't help you or Jimin.
"My mate is an omega," you said, knowing he would smell the same designation in your own sweet natural aroma. That was enough to warrant harsh punishment on its own, but you weren't finished. "And I am the only child of Pack Alpha Park."
There it was. Namjoon understood immediately, even if the combination of supposed sins were so grave that it was almost hard to fathom. What are the odds that a rare omega-omega pairing is fated, but that one of the omegas is the sole heir to the pack's leadership? But when a wolf knows their mate, they know their mate. There was no mistaking the feeling Jimin's presence set off in your very bones, and nothing was to be done other than ask for his bite. In every recorded case of a sole omega child being born to the Pack Alpha, they are mated to another alpha and they fill the position, but not only were you bound in an unproductive pairing, but in accepting it, you effectively turned your back on your rightful place at the head of the Park Pack.
If Namjoon wasn't a little unnerved by your intense gaze and air of danger, he would've pitied the hand you'd been dealt. But as he thought harder, that massive brain working at light speed, he realized that you would not want pity. If you were here making this deal for the safety of your mate and yourself, it meant you still had something to fight for and you were actively clawing tooth and nail for it. Such was the beauty of mating. Namjoon thought that the only thing that might soften the impenetrable armor of yours might be this nameless, faceless mate.
"So you were exiled after the mating was revealed," he mused.
"Something like that," you said evenly, unable to stop the faint quiver of suppressed emotion from creeping into your voice. The wound was still too fresh to speak about with your comfortable deadpan tone, and a hot lick of shame nipped at your nerves.
It had been too long already since you saw Jimin.
The ragged, poorly-healing bite on your neck throbbed as Namjoon settled his gaze on it, and you knew exactly what he would see even if it had been weeks since you set eyes on a mirror. It was a colorful, brutal looking thing just inches from your scent gland and the other, fully completed, beautiful bite you'd been honored to receive from Jimin's mouth that overlapped the vulnerable point. Had you not struggled so frantically, the other bite would have landed properly and you would be in a very different situation indeed.
"There was an attempted forceful mating," Namjoon concluded, not really a question. "They didn't just exile you after learning you were bonded with an omega; they tried to forcefully doubly mate you with an alpha."
Even if Namjoon's voice kept an even, deep tenor, the scent of uncontainable disgust permeated the lake-tinged air and the scent of alpha run hurt alpha pain alpha threatened to choke you more violently than the water had. All you did was subtly lean back, the omega in you howling in fear at the proximity of the designation that had done nothing but bring horror all your life, and Namjoon's scent suddenly left the air like it was never there. He was perceptive and could easily control his scent. Useful to note.
"My father handpicked him. I tore his throat open before he could properly complete the bite. No one else wanted to try," you said quickly, seeking to remind the wolf that you were not some helpless thing. "We were exiled after that."
He had all the pieces now, and the puzzle was looking grim. Accepting the exiled of another pack was seen as a deep offense, and given the particularities of this situation, the Park Pack would see their acceptance into the Kim Pack as a blatant insult, perhaps even a declaration of war. But what could he do? His pack would have to accept it. If not for you, their alpha would be dead at the bottom of this freezing lake, crushed under the damned bull whose meat was most definitely not worth the trouble it caused. Nothing to be done, not at all.
"This is less than ideal," he finally said. "If the Parks find out we've accepted you..."
He paused there, apparently still lost in thought. You saw in action what made such an imposing wolf the danger that he was, and he hadn't moved a muscle to do it. You've only ever known power through physical domination. Fascinating.
"But there's nothing to be done now. Let's collect your mate and return to the settlement. Night comes fast this time of year," Namjoon said, lips pursed.
There it was. The Kim Pack would be where you found refuge rather than in the Shin Pack, where you and Jimin were headed. The latter were the largest and most vehement enemies of the Park Pack as their modus operandi was peace and non-violence. Alpha Kim and his brethren were just as powerful as your father and his, but Kim territory lacked the kind of casual cruelty that was commonplace in the mountains. Better protection would be afforded to you and, more importantly, Jimin with the Kim Pack, even if they made their home further from the mountains than you'd ever gone. Braving the heat was worth it.
It was a better situation than you could've hoped for when your eyes opened this morning, so you took it for what it was.
The sun had begun to set moments ago but the chill it left was already uncomfortable as you shed your only pair of clothes and shifted. Namjoon did the same, and you were satisfied to note that he didn't seem to contemplate the possibility of attacking to avoid paying the debt he now owed. Gingerly, you took the bundle of clothes between your teeth that had delivered violent death to so many and led the way back to the other half of your soul, this unfamiliar Pack Alpha right behind you.
Perhaps those days were behind you, you thought idly as you ran. The Kim Pack welcomed more travelers through its borders in a week than the Parks did all year, so it was unlikely you'd be asked to defend their territory. Even if you were given that job, Namjoon was known to resolve conflicts and offenses with a warning rather than a hard-earned lesson or instant death. Blood was spilled much less frequently below the mountains, that much you knew about other packs' customs. How you'd fit in was yet to be seen, the only gifts the Goddess had ever blessed you with being Jimin and your ability to leave carnage wherever you walked. Only one of these treasures would be prized with the Kims.
At least, until it reaches your father's ears that the Kim Pack had taken in his exiles.
It had been two generations since the Kims had engaged in sustained battled with the Parks, and many wolves were lost in the bloodshed from all five of the Continent's packs. Since then, your people had become more shut off from the rest of civilization and grew more brutal because of it. Namjoon's father and grandfather pulled the Kims from the destruction and strengthened the pack more than it had ever been before, securing loose alliances with the Shins, Jeons, and Liangs and expanding their lands through trades and negotiations rather than brute force. They were well equipped for any threat, but no one could fully prepare for the near-feral bite of a Park. If your father sent warriors to dispose of you and Jimin for good, the Kims would take a deadly blow.
You'd just have to make sure no one spread rumors on the wind. Namjoon knew your history, so he had to anticipate retribution for your unavoidable acceptance into the pack. If he was half as smart as you suspected, the Pack Alpha would spin some tale to placate his members and handle any infrequent contact with the Parks himself. You could pitch in where possible as well, ensuring Kim warriors knew Park strategies and weaknesses, though the latter was admittedly few. But you would try. That was all you could do.
Maybe once the Kims got to know Jimin, they'd love him enough to want to keep him and, by necessity, you. You were a master at identifying the flaws of man, but your mate was quite simply perfect. Even if they saw him as an outsider initially, he had none of the Park's characteristic personality traits. He never fit in there, and although he might still be a little too sharp for Kim tastes, he was so intelligent and good and all the things they prioritized in their society. To know Jimin is to love him, even if he is a blood member of the nastiest pack of dogs on the Continent — even if he is mated to the nastiest dog of them all.
When a gentle waft of peppermint caressed your tongue, you briefly wondered whether you had thought too hard about your mate and conjured a phantom taste of his scent through sheer force of will alone. But then you looked closer at your surroundings and realized you had traveled further than you thought, your racing mind keeping you company as you ran. A quick look at Namjoon revealed he was just as lost in his own brain.
The abandoned hunting shack you and Jimin had found five days into your exile was a gift from the Goddess despite its location on the outskirts of Kim territory. Shelter was the hardest thing to find in no man's land, so you and Jimin had to make do with the only option out there to find. It was a one room situation with no furniture, though there was a chimney to cook meat underneath and the floorboards had grown soft with age and weather. It beat sleeping on earth or up a tree even if uncomfortable, but you knew you'd be able to sleep anywhere as long as your mate was entwined against you.
Said mate emerged from the shack when you cleared the trees surrounding it, and even though it had only been a few hours since you'd left to hunt, seeing him was like... well, it was like nothing else. Not one other thing in the world made you feel the same comforting warmth and all encompassing affection you did when looking at him. Nothing, no one else ever would.
There was grime smudged on his skin and his shock of white hair was unkempt and unwashed, but the man was more beautiful in this moment than anyone you'd ever seen as he glowered menacingly, or, at least, as menacing as he was capable of. Those pouty lips were pursed and his dark eyes narrowed as he regarded the massive wolf at your side who emitted an the undeniable musk of an alpha. Jimin worked as an instructor for pups in your previous pack and did not receive the training and education of warriors, so he wouldn't recognize the jet black fur, single tawny ear, and unmatched size for what it was: identifiers of Pack Alpha Kim Namjoon. He eyed the unfamiliar beast as an enemy nonetheless, just like you knew he would even if the wolf's still beating heart meant you trusted him just a tiny bit.
Your dear Jiminie was all soft curves around hard dancer muscle, the gentle roundness of his features lovely enough to leave you melting each time you saw him. He was posturing tough and intimidating with his body poised to shift, as if he would stand a chance against the Kim Pack Alpha. You knew he'd give it a valiant effort if it meant defending you, but Jimin had never shared the thirst for violence of your previous pack. As a precaution, you'd done your best to train him in the art of combat, and you were confident he could hold his own against hoi polloi from any pack. The sight of a Park on edge was enough to have most people turning tale and running the other way, but the wolf at your side was not just anyone.
Namjoon had the good sense to pause by the treeline some twenty feet from the shack, so you approached alone. Shifting was easy now that you were ninety-nine percent confident the Pack Alpha wouldn't attack, and the show of trust had your mate's scent souring with displeasure.
"Who," Jimin gritted out when you got close enough, "the fuck is this?"
He'd smell the alpha on you from where you'd lugged him to shore, a mated wolf's nose too sensitive to only pick up the lake water. You allowed him to knot one hand firmly through the back of your hair, ducking his face into your throat and scenting you furiously with almost rough passes of his cheek to your skin. Your back was to Namjoon, but you had no doubt Jimin was glaring him down as he proudly claimed what was his.
You didn't mind it one bit.
After your father arranged for his second's son to forcibly mate you, Jimin had been nearly obsessive about coating you in his scent. Most feel an aversion to thoroughly scented wolves on principle, but your attacker had one thing on his mind. It was not as if Jimin insufficiently scented you that day and you both knew it; this reaction brought him comfort, and you would never deny him anything, especially a scenting.
With his face still pushed into your throat, you told him what you'd rehearsed on the way here.
"This is our new Pack Alpha Kim Namjoon, if you want him to be. I saved his life, so in return, he swore we'd be welcomed into the Kim Pack. We can go now, if you want to. No more running, no more living out here like savages... We'd be given a home. Jobs. Security. Just say yes, Minnie, and we can go now," you explained with a little more emotion than you'd revealed to Namjoon earlier.
The promise of an actual dwelling with a mattress, water spigot, and food other than wild game appealed to you greatly. You longed to see Jimin clean and warm beneath a pile of blankets, belly full and body sated after a good day's work. It made something ache inside of you knowing that he was just as sore and tired as you, and it hurt further to know he was feeling the same way about you. He loved baking sweet treats and listening to music all day and wearing soft things that wrapped him up so pretty, but there was none of that out here in no man's land. The Park Pack had not been home, but you'd found something like it there in your little cabin with him. You could have that again, maybe even better, and he knew it. There really was no question. You smiled when he reached a decision, his scent returning to its usual spicy peppermint wonder as he considered having a real home with you once again.
"You're sure it isn't a trick?" he asked, ever the overanalyzing type. His eyes were still on the alpha at your back, but you knew his face had cleared.
There was promise in his voice that you hadn't heard in a long time, and it give you great pleasure to confirm it wasn't in vain. Jimin should know nothing but peace and contentment, never again having to worry about getting his hopes squandered.
"He swore on his mates' lives. It isn't a trick," you said, knowing it to be true. He'd made the most binding agreement a wolf could, swearing to the Goddess above, and even if he hadn't, he owed you a life debt. She would hold him accountable regardless of his willingness to swear.
Jimin pulled back from your throat, and you didn't try to hide your bright, eager smile. Something like excitement thrummed through your veins, the feeling foreign and pleasant. You could get drunk on it as your head swam with visions of Jimin comfy and safe.
"I guess we don't have time to pack, huh?" He asked softly, a giddy smile on those lips you loved so much.
All you owned were the clothes on your backs and that made the joke a little more sad than funny, but you couldn't help but laugh. It came out a choked and weak thing, but Jimin positively glowed at the sound. Maybe he would hear it more often from now on.
You waited for Jimin to shed his clothes and shift, taking the old fabrics into his mouth, before turning back to Namjoon and shifting yourself. The alpha's scent betrayed less wariness than you'd anticipated when faced with two Park wolves, but you supposed he had come to the reluctant understanding that he meant more to you alive than dead. As long as he remained useful and the Kim Pack served your needs, he had no reason to fear you.
Whether the rest of his pack would accept that remained to be seen.
The sun had long since set as you, Jimin, and Namjoon ran through the woods like a snow, the moon, and shadow made flesh. The combination of your furs streaking through the barren trees would've been pretty to anyone lucky and ignorant enough not to realize what they were seeing. These particular Parks with the Kim Pack Alpha did not bode well for the Continent's peace. It was a good thing you didn't care much for anyone's peace other than Jimin's.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* + *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ + ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* + *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
The jewel of Kim Pack territory was remarkably different than that from which you came, both in terms of the wolves that made it up and the layout itself. Where the Park Pack favored single huts scattered across the mountain, one's nearest neighbor a good minute's run away, a bird's eye view of the Kim settlement would show concentric circles of buildings centering on one large community heart with cobblestone paths cutting to it like spokes all the way from the surrounding forest. Each building was labeled, either with a purpose like 'apothecary' or 'butcher,' or a number, which you assumed denoted personal dwellings. Everything was made of dark brick and stone, all the buildings well kept and cared for.
The sun had set long ago, but a few members of the pack still milled about outside of their homes. You three had shifted before leaving the treeline, Namjoon collecting clothes he'd obviously stashed before leaving, so people felt compelled to speak to their Pack Alpha. Every single one of them greeted him with genuine warmth that was contradictory to everything you knew about the Pack Alpha-subject dynamic. Reverence was audible in their respectful address of their leader, and everyone bowed their head deeply upon catching sight of him. A few actually tried to strike up conversations, though Namjoon regretfully informed them he was entangled in official business. They would look to you and Jimin then with polite curiosity, and you couldn't help but stare back. That anyone would seek to interact with their Pack Alpha was a wonder to you.
When a young pup just barely familiar with the act of walking toddled up to the massive man without hesitation, shrieking in delight at the face she must see often around the settlement, your stomach lurched and Jimin tensed beside you. It was a relief, though remarkably odd that Namjoon lifted the child up and played along with her babbling, carrying her a few feet back to the mother she'd run away from at the sight of the Pack Alpha. The omega didn't ooze distressed scent at the sight of her babe in the arms of their Pack Alpha, and that alone was enough to make you wonder at what life might be like here. She beamed when Namjoon returned the child to her side, thanking the man with a sincerity that signaled deep devotion.
Your father and Namjoon were both strong Pack Alphas, but the latter seemed to rule out of love rather than fear. It occurred to you for the first time that this might perhaps be more effective.
Of course, this could all be an illusion. Every dungeon could be filled with dissidents and his mates could be chained up like concubines in some lavish palace, bellies round with more pups than they can care for. Punishments could be brutal and frequent, and the laws that govern this settlement could be barbaric. You would observe for much longer than one night before finalizing your impression of this pack that had won over three-fourths of the Continent's opposing packs. It wasn't like it mattered, really, whether the Pack Alpha was an upstanding man whose subjects enjoyed their place in his pack. You and Jimin were promised a safe existence here and that was the important thing, regardless of how the rest of the pack lived. As long as you kept Jimin's attention from any injustices, you could ignore them as well.
Namjoon led you through rows and rows of brick buildings until stopping before a home that was marginally larger than the others, just on the outer edge of the settlement's central courtyard. He didn't pause or pay you and Jimin any mind as the front door swung open to reveal a floppy-haired man who was grinning a wide, boxy-smile that exuded pure affection at his mate — because with the way he positively melted, Namjoon couldn't have been anything else.
"It's about time you got back!" The alpha teased, any lingering worry of his mate's absence overtaken by happiness at his reappearance. He was pretty, with tanned skin of a more Southern pack like the Liangs, but his voice was deeper than you'd expected from such a soft looking man.
Something about the moment had your brain scrambling to make sense of what was happening, the words 'not quite right' ringing in your ears. It wasn't until you slowed down your thoughts and considered them that it made sense.
This man, Namjoon's mate, was an alpha. There was no denying that woodsy musk, the innate desire to submit that the omega in your skin sent wriggling through your veins. The Pack Alpha was mated to an alpha. You'd never heard of such a thing, the pairing just as frowned upon as omega-omega matings. But it wasn't just this man and Namjoon, as you reminded yourself. There were three more mates unaccounted for, all of them surely omegas. The dynamic had to be odd and unnatural for the pack, but it clearly had to work what with the way Kims flourished.
Namjoon let himself be smothered in a tight hug as if he'd been gone for days, and you watched as the man jerked his head back with a wrinkled nose only seconds after ducking in to scent his mate in greeting.
"You smell disgusting, Joonie," he grumbled affectionately, reluctantly rubbing his cheek over Namjoon's throat even if he must smell like lake water.
The Pack Alpha didn't rush to explain his day, you noticed. Instead, he told "Tae" there was business that needed his attention and he'd come back home as soon as he could. From the pout Tae sported, it became quite obvious that Namjoon did not frequently stay out so late and his presence would indeed be missed.
"Tell Seokjinnie to keep the baby entertained, dear one. Don't miss me too much," Namjoon instructed with more warmth in his voice than you'd heard yet.
You surmised that the large brick building Tae had rushed out of was the Pack Alpha's manor and that you and Jimin were most certainly not going inside. Like you wanted to enter the den of an alpha of Namjoon's caliber anyway. Before you could further consider where he was taking you, the word "baby" snagged in your brain. So he did have an omega mate then, probably this Seokjin, and they'd produced an heir. It was doubtful that Namjoon would speak so lovingly about an omega pup, so the child had to have displayed the early signs of an alpha.
This was precisely the sort of information enemy packs desired, though only Parks would think to use a Kim pup for leverage. It wasn't your job to serve your birth pack any longer, so you pushed the thought of an heir from your mind. It didn't matter, the affairs of the Kim Pack. All that you cared for was the roof he'd put over your mate's head and the food he'd put in Jimin's stomach.
Tae looked curiously at you and Jimin both as Namjoon pulled away, his eyes flicking up to take a good look at your twin white messes of hair — clear markers of the Park Pack. Nothing in his earthy scent darkened, nor did his placid face sour. If anything, he merely looked intrigued at the strangers his mate had drug in.
"Should I send along dinner for three to your office?" Tae asked gently, having clearly seen the hunger in Jimin's bleak eyes and your sharpened cheekbones.
Namjoon caught Tae's cheek in his hand and you winced instinctively, Jimin pressing closer into your side in anticipation. But all the alpha did was run his thumb against his mate's face, a fond smile curving across his mouth.
"That's very thoughtful of you, lovely, thank you. We'd appreciate it if you would. Something warm, please," he said kindly as ever.
Tae trotted off happily back into the house then, the air around him seeming lighter from how brightly he beamed. Namjoon waited until the door closed behind him to walk across the courtyard and unlock a building that had to house his office. The sign on the front read 'pack management,' and you wondered at what that entailed. It also piqued your interest that there were two offices in the building, one of them obviously not Namjoon's from the oddly appetizing scent of a different alpha that wafted from its open door.
The Pack Alpha slid open a screen to reveal a barren room with one long, low table. He sat cross-legged on the floor at the head with a great huff, you and Jimin instinctively moving to sit on the side furthest from the door and closest to the window.
You watched as Namjoon rolled his neck and yawned for an annoying amount of time, not saying a word. When he actually leaned back to rest his back on the ground and stretched out long enough for his feet to brush yours underneath the table, you considered kicking him to alertness. There were important matters you had to discuss regarding details of your acceptance into the pack. Yes, he'd had a long day what with drowning and all that, but it was nearly disrespectful how casual he was being during this moment.
You looked at Jimin with wide eyes, silently asking if this was happening. He had the audacity to smirk at the death in your stare, so you pinched his thigh in retaliation.
But before your ire could raise to a threatening level, the smell of food hit your nose and all other thoughts left your head.
The front door opened with some difficulty and you heard soft curses, the scent of the alpha you just met trickling into along with your dinner. Tae walked into the room with a great basket hanging from one arm and a heavy pot of what smelled like soup clutched in one very large fist. Namjoon didn't move to help him and even if it occurred to you that you probably should, neither you nor Jimn moved. He didn't appear to struggle with the weight despite his slight build, and his pulse was steady when he placed both items on the table. As he unpacked bowls and spoons from the basket, Taehyung glanced up and caught Jimin's eye. He didn't look surprised to see how wolfishly you and Jimin had to be staring at him.
"There's a well just outside if you want to clean your hands," he offered.
You didn't have it in you to care about how dirty your skin was, but Jimin stood easily and bowed once. Of course you followed him outside. The well was a few feet from the door just like Tae had said, and as Jimin pulled up a bucket of fresh water, you couldn't help but quietly groan at him in the blessedly empty courtyard.
"Why are we doing this when there is a hot dinner waiting just feet away?" You asked, stomach painfully empty even though you could've downed a bowl of soup by now had he not insisted on cleanliness. The water did feel good on your hands, but sated hunger would've felt better.
"We just walked through the woods for an hour and you took a lake bath before that. You'd probably catch something if you ate off those hands right now," Jimin teased. You pouted and even if you were dirty, he still leaned in to kiss it away.
"I can't believe this, baby," he said quietly, a touch more serious than before as he rinsed his hands. "Hot dinner and a home of our own just within reach. I feel like I'm dreaming."
You agreed, just as quiet. It hadn't occurred to you when bargaining with Namjoon that it could truly work, so many things lately going against you. Even your dreams hadn't been this sweet lately, and you knew from the shadows beneath Jimin's eyes that he could say the same.
Not another word needed to be said before you two were rushing back into the building. In your absence, Tae had distributed full bowls of soup to your and Jimin's place and unwrapped piles of sweet and savory bread rolls. Namjoon was already nose-deep in his bowl, having discarded his spoon entirely. Taehyung waved off the polite nods you sent his way, looking on happily as you finally tucked in. You barely knew the man, but his behavior reminded you more of traditional omegas than of an alpha. That would be an insult where you came from, so you decided to never let that thought leave your brain.
The bowl appeared hand made, smooth clay with an uneven rim. You would have admired its carefully carved outside had the contents of its inside not interested you infinitely more. It was a beef and vegetable soup that smelled of spices and intentional care. This was not a meal that was slopped together for stragglers the Pack Alpha drug in. It was a meal that someone had made because they wanted it to taste good. You wondered if it was the same food Namjoon would have eaten at home with his mates and whether that was how it arrived so quickly, but then that begged the question of why they would have sent it to you and Jimin to eat.
"The baby's getting antsy waiting for you. Jin can barely keep him entertained," Tae informed his mate as he watched him tuck in with an affectionate, wildly soft grin. "Don't be too long."
Namjoon merely hummed a promise, his mouth bulging with half a bread roll stuffed inside as he craned his face up for Tae to kiss him. The alpha who was much more laughed once, a melodic, pleasant sound before obliging, brushing crumbs from his Pack Alpha's chin after.
Had you not been too preoccupied with this impossibly delicious soup, you might have gagged at how they were behaving despite the audience. Any lingering thoughts you had about Namjoon not acting like the Pack Alpha you'd expected were dissolved in that moment. How he managed to keep up this reputation for power when allowing his alpha mate to coo after him like a pup made no sense to you, but you supposed it didn't have to.
All the mattered right now was slurping up as much of this soup as possible and ensuring Jimin didn't choke on sticky sweet buns.
"What sort of work did you do with the Park Pack?" Namjoon asked just after Tae was out the door, remembering that he had information to gather before he could go home.
You had just inhaled too much soup, so Jimin answered for the both of you.
"We were both instructors, though for extreme opposite subjects. I made sure the young pups could read and write, and she taught combat techniques to the warriors," he explained succinctly.
The alpha swallowed four mouthfuls of food before he spoke again, obviously putting a great deal of thought into what you assumed would be easy assignments. Did he think Jimin would corrupt the children and you would hurt the warriors? Or were these positions already filled? Goddess, you hoped he didn't relegate you to menial tasks anyone could do. Jimin had a real gift of working with and connecting to children, and you didn't have the patience for keeping your body still.
Finally, Namjoon came to a decision.
"We have an open position in the primary school for teacher of basic anatomy and introductory designation sciences. These are our youngest pups so they're a few years from presenting, but we believe it's good to educate them early on such an important part of being a shifter. Jimin, you can take over for Taehyung who has been filling in while the original teacher is on paternity leave. As for you, though our warriors already have beyond satisfactory instructors, you can add your unique perspective to their training. These jobs should appropriately utilize both of your skill sets and benefit our pack. I'll take you to your stations tomorrow."
That Jimin would be working with Tae — Taehyung, you corrected, finally learning his full name — was better than you could've hoped for. He seemed harmless enough, and unless you had made a grave miscalculation, Jimin could take him easily. The assignment would be perfect for Jimin, your love always preferring this sort of job to anything else. He had so much light just waiting to be let out, and what better source to receive it than young pups?
As for you, whatever wolves led the warriors would predictably be rough sons of bitches, but they were still Kims. You'd had worse all your life.
Namjoon went on without pausing to hear your thoughts, only occasionally hesitating to shovel in more food. His word was final around here, and even if that bothered you on principle, you'd take anything he gave you. Whatever waited for you and Jimin in the Kim Pack was better than you could've hoped for.
He explained that you and Jimin would be given one of the available, furnished homes they kept prepared for newly mated pairs, along with a small stipend to cover costs until gold started coming in from your jobs. This was to be paid back a little bit every month to the pack management office. There would be infrequent meetings for sectors of the settlement to come air grievances to him and seek resolutions, and you and Jimin were expected to participate. They had order here, Namjoon stressed, and everything functioned like it should. If you were to be members of the pack, you were to follow their customs and try to assimilate.
You'd agreed to that already when having proposed your terms to Namjoon, but he no doubt wanted to make sure it stuck in your heads. Nothing he described was too outrageous, so you had no reason to protest. Jimin nodded along beside you, eating his food at a more even pace than you or Namjoon even if he did swallow a bite of sweet bun after every sip of soup. You couldn't wait until he could start baking again, nestled in the safety of your own little house. He loved sweets and you loved him happy, so ingredients would be one of the first things you bought.
You were very nearly finished with your fourth bowl of soup when too much happened in a short period of time.
The screen to the makeshift dining room slid open with a loud whoosh and bang as it hit the wall, a figure flying across the floor so quick and dainty you wondered if it was a fairy. You would've jumped to defend yourself and Jimin had not a sudden burst of sickly sweetness filled your lungs, telling you this was no fairy, however small the boy was, but a young omega.
Neither you nor Jimin would have looked twice at the omega after his noisy arrival had Namjoon not reacted so poorly to his appearance.
"I thought you were with Seokjin, my dove," he stuttered, the first sign of uncertainty overtaking him as the omega climbed on his lap, plastering himself to Namjoon's front.
His eyes flicked so frequently between what was obviously his omega and you and Jimin in such a quick manner that you thought it might be dizzying. He wasn't on guard, per se, not exactly steeling himself for a battle but deeply disconcerted all the same. Something about his pup (the boy appeared as old as you, but his doe eyes said pup like nothing else) was making him so nervous you could smell his anxiety, and that had you paying attention. Something was afoot.
"Your Jungkookie dove missed his alpha Joonie too much," the omega pouted like a lispy child, quiet enough that you barely caught it.
It all made sense at the childish name the omega referred to himself as, and you felt Jimin's surprise as he caught it too. It took all your willpower to keep the shock from your face and a derisive laugh from escaping your throat.
Jeon fucking Jungkook. No wonder Namjoon was so antsy at his arrival. It looked like the Kims weren't all high and mighty after all, and their Pack Alpha had an even more impossible to believe five mates rather than four. Who would've thought? The Continent would have a fit if this got out.
You couldn't help but smirk into your cup, reveling in the understanding that it was the Kims who were hoarding the Jeon Pack's lost jewel. It wasn't your business, of course, his disappearance not having been your business since Pack Alpha Jeon sent legions of warriors to your father's borders, assuming the worst devils in the land had his missing son in their claws. You did your duty and fell a good number of the encroaching wolves at the insult, the Pack Alpha obviously having gone mad if he thought Parks coveted a weakling like his omega third son. There was nothing to be gained by stealing or killing the pup.
"He is here by his own choice," Namjoon protested at the snide glee you weren't trying to hide, his hackles raised even if he was the least threatening you'd seen him yet with the little Jeon melted in his lap. He must not like being accused of thievery.
Rumors of bandits stealing the pup in the dead of night floated throughout the lands, as did tales of an elopement with his father's notoriously young second and one particularly nasty piece of gossip that suggested he'd fallen pregnant and been exiled. You'd heard all of the stories, but the idea of him choosing to be with the Kims — choosing to be anywhere at all — was the most ludicrous of all because it didn't make a bit of sense.
The choice wasn't his, that much you knew well. Children of Pack Alphas belonged more to their parents than themselves, and ones as pretty as this omega were powerful bargaining chips; it's not like omega heirs had any other use. If you hadn't displayed such skill for bloodshed it would've been your fate, too. Pack Alpha Jeon had a first born Alpha heir who would inherit the pack when his old man keeled over, and that was that. Jungkook and his second oldest, equally unimportant omega brother were merely useless pawns to be traded away in fruitful marriage pacts.
How Jungkook originally came to be in the Kim Pack's possession was a story you'd like to hear, but such a question would only lead to trouble and you'd sworn to bring none of that. You turned your attention back to the nearly empty cup before you, swallowing the last drops of broth. Filling your stomach was more important than anything about the Jeon pup.
The unfamiliar alpha who burst into the room like his head was on fire did not know that.
This alpha was handsome — there was no other word for it. His lips were so naturally pouty you wondered at whether he and Jimin were not distantly related, and something about his eyes caught your interest. It took a lot to manage that since you spent every day of your life looking at the most beautiful wolf in all the Continent. This man had to be second only to your dear Jiminie in looks.
You supposed be would be prettier if he didn't look so appalled, having frozen in his tracks, as he looked frantically between the boy and your and Jimin's white hair like he was being deceived. Four times did his eyes flick between the three of you, and that plump mouth fell further open with each pass. You knew what he was thinking from the panicked spike in his oddly appetizing scent: outsiders had seen the Kim's secret, and he was surely shriveling up inside at the knowledge. Either that or planning your death, you considered idly. Had Namjoon not accepted you into the Kim Pack already, the impending threat would've had you shifted and attacking on the spot. But you were a Kim now, if by affiliation alone, and Namjoon could not let anything happen to you or your mate.
Jimin didn't seem to realize this fully as he grew unnervingly still at the tension. You slipped one greasy hand under the table to twist his fingers through your own. He relaxed marginally before another damned alpha — were their omegas locked up somewhere indeed? You'd have to investigate soon, because this was ridiculous — rushed into the room, undoubtedly recognizing you from the guttural snarl he let out the moment he clocked you. You'd never seen the man before, but you supposed your reputation preceded you.
The pheromones that flooded the room made your stomach drop with the weight of an anvil. Angry alpha danger danger danger. Compared to the other alpha's reaction, this one was the clear threat.
You blinked at him, unimpressed, holding on tighter to Jimin when he shifted a little closer to you. A note of uncertainty but not quite fear crept into your other half's warm peppermint scent. If Jimin was truly afraid, you would not be so forgiving of this alpha's posturing. You promised no trouble, but it went without saying that provocation would result in bloodshed, especially if it involved your Jiminie. If he frightened your mate, you'd show him that the terror surrounding your name was warranted.
The posturing did undoubtedly disturb the third omega in the room if the swell of sickeningly sweet, distressed vanilla was anything to go by. You almost wrinkled your nose, disliking any scent other than your mate's.
The man who'd appeared just before the snarling alpha was taller and broader than him by a few inches, though visually softer despite his scent betraying him as an alpha. Once he'd gotten over the shock, he'd barely spared you and Jimin a glance after taking in the scene of Namjoon peacefully breaking bread with you, even if your telltale white hair signaled that you were the enemy. He swatted the snarling man once, hard, and he instantly straightened up, even if his cold eyes stayed drilling a hole into your forehead.
"You scared the baby, Hoseok," he scolded before turning to the omega with kind eyes and a suddenly smiling face, cooing, "No need to be so afraid, bun, it's just your alphas here. Hoseokie was being a meanie because he wants his Koo safe."
You noted that Jungkook was the aforementioned baby, not an heir to the Pack Alpha title as you'd thought, but this revelation came a distant second to the knowledge of who was staring you and Jimin down like he was moments from tearing you to shreds. Hoseok. You knew that name. The commander of the Kim Pack's fleet of warriors, General Hoseok was a wolf known throughout the lands for his lithe lethality even if you'd never seen him in action. The man certainly fit the description of a hard fighter who was nearly hypnotic with his graceful moves, the body hid beneath layers of cold-weather clothes lean and strong as he barely contained his straining muscles.
From the pretty man's words, General Hoseok and this mystery alpha were the Jeon's mates — and therefore Namjoon's, too. This is intel your father would love, but that wasn't your problem anymore. Fascinating that the Pack Alpha took three alphas and a mystery mate before claiming the runaway Jeon pup, but you were rapidly tiring now that your stomach was full and didn't quite care that much. The thought of curling up next to a full, warm Jimin was more pleasing than anything else in the world.
You glanced over at your mate, meeting his eyes and sending gushes of sappy mushy love through the bond for the sheer reason that you could. The corners of his full mouth curled up ever so slightly, a poker face still masking his full emotions. You didn't need to see Jimin's love, though. You felt it in the rush of overwhelming affection and devotion that he returned through your mating bond. He smelled like too many sticky buns and you thought about crying at the knowledge.
Then General Hoseok broke you from your momentary lapse of attention, much to your annoyance. Bastard.
"I didn't believe Taehyung when he said you'd brought white hairs onto pack lands. She's the Parks' rabid dog, Namjoon, and her mate is clearly a Park, too," he spat as if his Pack Alpha was dumb enough not to know this by now. He appeared to be struggling with his temper for the Jeon's sake but wasn't wholly successful. "Why the fuck are they around Jungkook? How could you bring them here?"
If the taller alpha hadn't confirmed Hoseok was Namjoon's mate, his blatant challenging of authority confirmed it. You couldn't remember anyone speaking to your father like this, though, least of all your mother. You weren't an advocate of the casual violence that colored every relationship in the Park Pack, but it was successful for keeping order and respect high at all times. Perhaps it was true that Namjoon was too soft on his mates. With so many of them, that had to be a sure weakness.
"They're members of the pack now, Hobi. Stand down," Namjoon said, sounding as tired as you felt. You suddenly remembered he'd nearly died and lost a packmate earlier today, so he was probably even more tired than you.
His explanation was not at all satisfactory to the general as he snarled again, agitation rising further at the suggestion that Namjoon would accept outsiders, Parks at that, into the pack and risk their secret being revealed to the rest of the Continent. Jeon cowered a little further into Namjoon's chest and you tried to scrape the taste of clotting sweetness from your tongue with your teeth. You saw Jimin's nose twitch from the corner of your eye, always more sensitive to smells. Before the other alpha could hit his mate again, General Hoseok spoke for a second time.
"They're Parks, Namjoon, and they aren't even scented yet," the general snarled in contradiction, "so damn whatever deal you made and dispose of them. This cannot be negotiated."
You and Jimin turned your head to Namjoon after this, thoroughly engrossed as if watching the best playacting ever written. You assumed Hoseok would want to do the disposing of, if the red shade his eyes had gradually taken was any indication. You hadn't seen him on the battlefield as it had been quite some time since Kims had gone at it even mildly with the Parks, but you felt confident enough in your abilities to know that you could fall him without much trouble.
When Namjoon spoke next, you remembered that you wouldn't need to. As long as he behaved, that is.
You still mapped out how to easily vault over the table and reach his vital organs in case a back up plan was needed. The others would attack then, surely, so you'd go for Namjoon next. Jimin could possibly take the taller alpha (the aforementioned Seokjin?), something in his demeanor looking too utterly dainty to be a real threat. Jimin might not have a thirst for blood, but he'd be able to draw it if necessary.
"I would be dead at the bottom of Luna's Lake right now if she hadn't saved me, Hoseok," Namjoon said firmly, something in his voice that was all Pack Alpha signaling that this was final. You fought the urge to shudder. Jimin twitched. "I owed a life debt. They are Kims now."
That shut the man up instantly, and multiple scents stunk up the room before the baby Jeon fisted a hand in his mate's short hair as if to ensure he really was there even though he was still firmly planted on the Pack Alpha's thick thighs. The stolen pup keened, and your eye twitched at the sound of wood breaking, the broad alpha having snapped the chair's back under his grip at the news. Hm. Maybe he wasn't so dainty after all. Hoseok's previously narrowed eyes widened dramatically in question over what the hell happened out in the woods today and all the fight left him.
Before Namjoon could give the explanation his mates were clearly in desperate need of, you cut in. You were there. You didn't need a replay of the day. You also didn't need Jimin hearing specifics, as it would just make him nervous. What you needed was to curl up underneath a blanket with your mate and kiss him senseless in the comfort of your new home.
"I think we're finished with dinner, Alpha Kim. You'll have to relay our compliments to the cook. Would it be possible to show us to our lodging?" You asked as kindly as you knew how to, the petty part of your brain wanting to embarrass Hoseok further. You'd saved his mate and displayed perfect manners. What had he done? Snarled like a rabid beast and scared his omega. You: one. Hoseok: zero.
"Of course," Namjoon hurried to say, apparently eager to have time alone with his mates for the explanation of his near death. You assumed it would include a lot of behavior that was not fit to be viewed by his subjects.
The Pack Alpha stood easily despite the body attached to him like a growth. You chalked it up to his blood-right strength and the omega's scrawniness. You'd never let your mate get that thin,even in exile, you thought with some disapproval, and it was surprising that the alphas had. Perhaps they withheld food as a way to exercise control here, you thought idly. Some families did that in the Park Pack and you knew Jeons and Liangs did as well. Everything about the Kim Pack signaled the opposite, but you couldn't be too careful. Omega treatment different vastly from pack to pack, and what you'd seen so far was not boding well for the Kims.
You'd be concerned if Namjoon hadn't sworn on your and Jimin's wellbeing. Jimin, on the other hand, would be appalled if he learned he received better treatment than other omegas were systematically subjected to. This was definitely something to look into. An upset Jimin would simply not do. This was a turning point, a time for absolute contentedness. Sooner rather than later, you'd find out. Right now, though, the only thing truly calling to you was a hot bath with your mate pressed up against every inch of you.
"I can take them to the house we'd prepared for Jisoo and her mate. They won't be back from the Liangs for another four nights, at least. I'll have somewhere else ready by then," the broad-shouldered alpha said, his voice more hoarse after hearing of Namjoon's near death today.
Namjoon nodded, expression suddenly somber as he tried to urge his clingy omega into Hoseok's arms.
"I'll go with you. We have to stop by Seulgi's home and tell her Kyu isn't coming back. We were taking down a bull that was too big and wild for two wolves to attempt, and one of its horns got him in the chest. He was lost in the lake," Namjoon explained quietly to his increasingly horrified mates. "I should've known better."
You rolled your eyes as comforting pheromones stunk up the room, the four Kims all wrapped up in each other and sharing a moment that you didn't care to witness. Why the Pack Alpha was admitting to a mistake in front of anyone was strange enough, but you also were not meant to see the odd look crossing his face as his alpha mates scented him. Namjoon was unlike any Pack Alpha you'd met before, that was for certain.
While they were sufficiently distracted, Jimin leaned into your side fully and nuzzled his nose into your neck, pressing a single kiss to your skin with his warm, soft lips. For the first time tonight, you allowed a fond grin to curve its way to your mouth, looking down over at your reason for living.
You could see it in his eyes that he wanted to lavish you in affection, but he would just have to wait a few minutes longer until you were in the privacy of your new home. Whatever dwelling they relegated you to, it would be perfect because it would be yours to share. His agitation must have been noticeable because the alphas broke apart then, Hoseok now holding a standing Jungkook against his chest while the omega looked on morosely at Namjoon.
"It's too late for pups to be out," Namjoon said in a low, soothing voice. "Take your potions and get snuggled into bed with Seokie, Yoon, and Tae-Tae. Seokjinnie and I will be back before you know it, honey. Be good for us, hm?"
Yoon. That must be his fifth mate, the one you'd yet to meet. The faceless wolf of uncertain designation piqued what little interest you were still capable of having, but the curiosity was dismissed as soon as it popped up.
The general pulled away his boy without any further goodbye, not even bothering to send you a warning glare as they left. Hopefully he felt properly embarrassed by reacting so poorly to the wolf who saved his mate, but you knew it was more likely that he was not too eager to stoke his Pack Alpha's ire any further after such a stressful day. Jungkook went easily, Namjoon having apparently uttered the magic words; the way his eyes lit up at the opportunity to be good was somewhat sickening. Well-behaved omegas always gave the impression of forceful subservience, and it made your nose wrinkle.
When Namjoon and Seokjin followed out into the darkness a few minutes after Hoseok and Jungkook left, you were slightly alarmed to feel the cold moisture of snowflakes land on your skin. From what lamplight illuminated the courtyard, you could see gray clouds of winter gently spitting snow low in the sky. You and Jimin would be spending the first snow of the season in a home of your own on Kim Pack lands. If some of the moisture on your cheeks came from tears rather than snowflakes, the alphas were none the wiser, even if Jimin held your hand a little tighter.
The night kept coming, biting cold and wet, but for the first time, you didn't mind one bit.