Archive of Our Own

Jimin runs through the forest, tongue lolling out of his mouth and lungs hurting from exertion. His stomach is empty, legs tremble with the effort it takes just to keep on moving and not just fall down. Around him everything is starting to get darker and colder with the setting night. It will not be his first night spent alone and with no shelter.

The beta stumbles and whines when his legs buckle. He has to lean against the closest tree just to barely stay upright.

Now that he has stopped there is no way Jimin will be able to start running again. It’s been a bit too long since the beta’s last proper meal and rest. Despite the exhaustion that is slowly taking-over, the wolf manages to pick up the vague and far-away scent of other wolfs, maybe a nearby pack border markings.

Jimin knows it’s a bad idea to pass out so close to a possibly taken territory. But he has no more strength, will to get up and get away from a pack that might be hostile to him. It doesn’t matter anymore anyway. So Jimin slides down the tree and slumps on the ground, eyes closed and with another weak whine rising from his throat.

…

Consciousness comes slowly, but when it finally settles in Jimin feels warm. He is sleeping on something soft and comfortable; under blankets of some sort that smell of something comforting and calming.

Slowly Jimin opens his eyes and takes in the homely browns and bright yellows of the room that he is in right now. There are crumpled clothes on the floor, flowers on the windowsills, paintings on the walls and half-finished drawings strewn around. On the nightstand by the bed Jimin is sleeping in, is a glass of water and some pills.

He nuzzles into the pillow despite the confusion, taken in by the comfort and the foreign alpha scent the whole room is soaked in. Only now the beta notices that he is still wolf, so that’s why the soft sounds coming from him sound more like quiet growls and whines. From somewhere, maybe outside, Jimin can hear voices and laughter and is able to pick of the scents of cooked food and fresh laundry.

But he’s still tired and falls right back asleep soon enough, despite the hunger and confusion.

…

When Jimin comes to next he feels gentle fingers running through the soft fur between his ears. It’s been so long since the last time he has been touched so friendly that the beta lets a pleased little grumble of a sound loose. Above him the person, an alpha by the scent that is so pungent to the beta’s sensitive nose, chuckles deeply, sounding almost like a wolf’s growl.

“Morning, sleepyhead. It’s been a few days and you need to get up at eat, Hwasa said that it’s no good to put it off any longer. And you don’t wanna anger Hwasa, let me tell you! She once put me in my place so good because of---” The alpha trails off, his voice deep and carefree as it keeps on pulling Jimin out of his sleep.

Under the blankets Jimin’s tail wags weekly. He soon whines again though, this time high and a little pained as he finally tries to shift back into his human form.

With the shift done Jimin remains sleeping on his side, chest heaving from the energy that it took to do even this much. He doesn’t dare to open his eyes just yet, worried that this fever dream he is in might just end and he’ll be back on the cold forest floor with nothing to eat.

Instead of the expected coldness the alpha combs Jimin’s sweaty and dirty hair from his face and coos. “Ohhh! Look at that, good job! Ah damn, you are really pretty. A little skinny and very dirty, but pretty.” The alpha giggles and pokes Jimin’s cheek. “Come on, come on, wake up! I have food and you need to eat everything.”

It takes a bit of effort, but Jimin manages to open his eyes. The alpha’s face is very close and kind of fuzzy, but the concern wrinkling in the corners of his eyes is clear anyway. Jimin has also never seen anyone this beautiful before, not even his omega cousin Seokjin had been this good-looking in the beta’s eyes.

He blinks a couple of times and opens his mouth. “Uhm…?”

The alpha winces at the hoarseness of Jimin’s voice, of the way it cracks from disuse. “Oh man, that sounds bad.” He reaches out and helps Jimin sit up in the bed, uncaring of the beta’s nakedness and hands over a warm bowl of soup. “For now, eat that. Ah! Almost forgot, my name is Taehyung! Pleased to meet you, pretty beta!”

Jimin stares wide-eyed at the soup and feels himself heating up quickly with a surprise blush. The alpha – Taehyung – is so unlike any other alpha that Jimin has interacted with before, especially in the way the other compliments him so easily and for things that Jimin has never received compliments for. It’s confusing and just a little weird.

Still, Jimin clears his throat a little, in hopes of his voice becoming better and less raspy. “Th-thank you? I’m, uh, my name is Jimin.” He doesn’t dare to look up and as soon as the words have left his mouth, the beta raises the bowl in his hands and sips his soup.

It’s heavenly good and he moans quietly.

“Pleased to meet you!” Taehyung laughs, still kneeling by the bed.

…

Taehyung had been the one to find Jimin during his night patrol. The alpha had also been the one who carried Jimin to his pack and took responsibility for anything that would happen due to Jimin’s stay.

“So, anyway, don’t mind all that and just take care of yourself. Eat a lot.” Those last words feel almost like an order with the way Taehyung narrows his eyes when he speaks. He pokes Jimin’s cheek multiple times. “Yeap, you gotta eat a lot.”

Jimin can only nod, still overwhelmed with just about everything that has happened so rapidly in such a short amount of time. He’s already had two bowls of chicken soup and, at some point, he even got some of Taehyung’s clothes to put on. They smell like strawberries and mint and Jimin is starting to get a little lightheaded.

“Thank you for not leaving me there.” Jimin fiddles with the soft and well-worn shirt he wears now. “And, uh, for feeding me and letting me stay here. I’m ah--, I don’t know how to repay you?”

In Jimin’s old pack, the one that he had left behind, he would have offered to do hard work. Maybe hunt small game, help around the alphas or omegas house – fix things, get and bring in firewood, or maybe take care of their gardens. Whatever had to and needed to be done. It was all the betas were good for, the pack alpha said during the meetings, since they were neither fast enough to take down big game, nor strong enough to keep territory lines secure and unknown wolfs away, nor were fit to raise any pups other than those born to be fellow betas.

Taehyung leans very close to Jimin’s face very quickly, making the beta flinch back at the sudden closeness between the two of them. The alpha has his eyes narrowed just a little bit and there are pale gold veins shining through the warm brown of his irises. They stay still like this, Jimin a little intimidated and Taehyung in the middle of searching for something hidden on Jimin’s face.

“Hmmmm.” The alpha licks his lips and leans even closer, making Jimin go cross-eyed. “Get healthy and help me keep the house clean, I am shit at doing laundry and always get my white and colored stuff mixed up somehow.”

Before Jimin can even protest, Taehyung has already pulled away and stood up. The alpha grins wide and sunny as he leaves. “Doooooon’t worry about a thing, Jimin!”

…

It takes another day for Jimin to wander out of the bedroom and finally take a shower. The hot water feels amazing, shampoo and soap even more so. Taehyung is also kind enough to lend some more clothes for Jimin to wear, even if they are too big on the beta’s frame.

Taehyung still feeds him mostly soups and porridges. The alpha has yet to ask how Jimin got all the way out here and what exactly had happened to the beta. Instead of asking questions, Taehyung chatters about the pack and how everything works here. There are also complaints about night shifts and how someone named Minho keeps pulling pranks on everyone, Taehyung included.

When Jimin gets out of his shower there is a pretty alpha girl waiting for him in the messy living room area. When she notices Jimin though, she smiles and pats the sofa seat next to her.

“Hi, I’m Hwasa, one of the healers around here.” She pushes a strand of her black hair behind her ear and then looks over Jimin with a critical eye. “I checked you over when Tae here found you, but you were out then. Now that you’re awake I can ask some questions and make sure nothing hurts.”

“Thank you for that.” Jimin smiles a little, bows his head.

Hwasa waves off the gratitude and examines the biggest bruises she can see. “So, is there anything else I should know about, besides the bruises?” The alpha purses her lips when she lightly touches Jimin’s swollen knee.

Jimin winces quietly at the touch. “My knee hurts and, uh, I have a bit of a headache.”

“Yeah, that’s expected. You slept for a long time with no food. It should be fine now. Just keep Jimin here fed, Tae, and no strenuous activities for the time being. When his energy gets back the knee will heal on its own.” Hwasa pats Jimin’s shoulder, slaps Taehyung’s chest lightly and leaves with a cheery bye.

“See, everything will be all good! Now, I have some more soup and you have orders to eat, so why don’t we do that. Afterwards, I will give you a proper tour of the house and then a bit of the pack grounds, if it’s still light out.” Taeyung pushes a bundle of bunched up blankets to the side and pouts towards the couple of unwashed dishes on the kitchen counters. “Or maybe I need to get the house in order first. Hmmm.”

Jimin slides his palms over his own thighs and looks around as well. “Can I ask you something beforehand, though?” He doesn’t look at the alpha while he speaks, instead taking in the small and comfortable room.

“Sure, what’s up, Jimin?” Taehyung grins. There is something very calming about the alpha’s cheerfulness.

“Are you sure I can just stay with you like this? I mean, I am thankful, but I don’t want to cause any trouble with the, with the pack or your mate.” Jimin curls his toes and avoids Taehyung’s gaze. Maybe it’s just his imagination, but the alpha’s scent seems to grow stronger.

The alpha crouches before Jimin, face open and pulled into a thoughtful expression. “Of course it’s okay. I found you so it’s my responsibility to take care of you and I live alone here anyway, so no problems. Don’t worry; I’m glad to have you here! And you smell so nice, so that’s like a bonus for me.”

“Uhm, what?” Jimin furrows his forehead and eyebrows in confusion. Betas didn’t possess any kind of strong individual scent apart from the usual beta identifier, or at least nothing that could be picked up on that easily.

Taehyung sniffs the air and nods once. “Mmmyeap. Nice scent. Anyway, first we eat lunch and then we will think of what to do next. I think we’ll also need to get you better clothes; Yoongi should be the closest in sizes to you. I’ll ask him tomorrow.”

After the late lunch Jimin ends up offering to wash the dishes and it ends up with the two of them spending the rest of the day slowly getting at least the kitchen and the living room in some sort of order. Jimin slowly talks about himself, still staying away from why he is no longer with his pack and alone.

Jimin is starting to get used to the alpha’s constant presence and scent, to the weird calmness that takes over when Taehyung is close by. Their chatter brings out both small smiles and still careful laughs from the beta, something that his new friend seems to enjoy quite a lot. In return, Taehyung seems to grow even brighter every time he sees Jimin giggling to himself.

…

Yoongi is an aloof beta with an alpha’s attitude. He waves away Jimin’s gratitude and simply pushes a whole bag of clothes into his arms. The pleased glint in Yoongi’s eyes is warm, his smile gummy and adorable.

“Half of the stuff I have I don’t wear anyway, so it’s no problem. Everything is dark colors though.” The beta yawns as he speaks and stretches out long enough for his back to pop. The pleased grunt that follows soon after is downright dirty, as it makes him look like a handsome bad boy.

Jimin clutches onto the bag and feels himself blush yet again. “It’s really okay! I’m just glad I will have something that fits me.” He smiles though, already so grateful that pack he has been found by is so accepting and nice.

Yoongi chuckles. His fingers are a little bit rough when he ruffles Jimin’s hair. “Don’t you worry, kid. We betas stick together in this pack, and take care of each other.”

The surprise is most probably very visible on Jimin’s face, because Yoongi pats his shoulder and everything about the beta’s expression and body language seems to channel understanding and acceptance.

Jimin tears up and allows Yoongi to pull him into a very warm and needed hug.

…

It has been a couple days, a little less than two weeks, and Jimin still gets shocked by how this pack functions from time to time.

Alphas are there to protect and set boundaries - they patrol the territories, keep the scent marks fresh and take care of any strangers that wander too close, they are also the ones that chop down and pull back the heavy tree trunks. Omegas take care of food preparation and pup watching during the day; most of them are also involved arts and crafts. Unlike in Jimin’s old pack, in this one the betas take care of hunting and healing, they are the ones who know best about herbs and plants. And even then there are people who choose to disregard their supposed main duties and simply do what they want and excel at.

Apart from that, betas and alphas both come together to take care of houses and maintenance, omegas and alphas work together on pelt preparations and sewing. Omegas oftentimes help betas to gather supplies – firewood, plants, berries and whatever they grow on their own. Betas oftentimes swap out with omegas to play with and watch the pups. It’s a mix of statuses and people, all pleased with their everyday life and relationships.

Taehyung holds Jimin’s hand as the both of them walk through the middle of the pack ground, past people, who peer at the beta curiously and some that give the alpha cheerful greetings. Since early that morning Taehyung has been excited to get Jimin to participate in everyday pack duties and get him to socialize with more people.

“Everyone is super nice, so don’t worry." Taehyung looks back and swings their hands around. “And Yoongi said he’d be happy to take you in for now and have you help around in the kitchens and with, like, picking up stuff. I hope that’s okay with you, Jimnie?”

The new nickname still makes butterflies flutter around in the pit of Jimin’s stomach. It’s a nice and giddy feeling that he starts to look forward to more and more. “I like cooking; it was one of the few things I was good at.”

These little, accidental drops of his previous life keep falling from his lips on their own, despite Jimin trying hard not to think about the before much. And when he does slip up he regrets it instantly, especially so when Taehyung purses lips in displeasure.

Jimin still hasn’t talked about the reasons how he came here.

“Excellent! I have to go out for patrol and then help with some repair work near the small school building, I showed you the place few days ago, remember? So I will come pick you up before dinner.” Taehyung pulls Jimin closer and let’s go of his hand, only to cup the beta’s face and lean in closer. “Let’s eat together, yeah?”

“Uhm!” Jimin blinks rapidly because of the sudden touchiness. “Sure?” He can feel Taehyung’s scent all around him, settling on his neck where the alpha brushes his hands against the beta’s scent glands on accident.

Taehyung giggles in mischief and runs off to where he needs to be. “It’s a date!”

…

The kitchens are busy and hot, humid from the many boiling pots and cooking foods. A couple of omegas and betas are busy peeling vegetables and preparing meat. They chatter along themselves, joke and throw the peels at each other when one of them isn’t looking.

In one of the corners, put to work on cutting up and dividing bigger chunks of meat, are two sleepy-looking alphas. They keep answering to questions with yawns and grunts instead of words, while one younger looking girl keeps trying to feed them more coffee.

Yoongi passes on peeled and washed potatoes to Jimin so that they can be cut into pieces.

“Just make them kind of alike and it’ll be ok. They will be eaten either way.” Yoongi keeps on chopping up dills and onions to add to both the sauces and salads later on. “Hey, stop throwing the damn peels! Brats.”

Jimin looks down on his pile of potatoes and tries to not make his silent laughter too visible. He looks around the spacious room and ducks his head in greeting to the few members of the pack that wave or greet him when they look his way. It’s still somewhat unusual, even if Jimin is slowly getting better at being less nervous around this many people.

“You’re pretty good.” Yoongi peeks over Jimin’s shoulder to check on the potatoes. “I might put you for the meat prep next time you come to help here.”

“Oh, sure! I don’t know that much about seasoning it apart from salt and pepper, but if someone shows me I will be okay.” Jimin averts his eyes despite the little buzz of happiness that the praise has brought on and stars chopping the rest of his potatoes.

Yoongi clicks his tongue and swats Jimin’s butt with a towel. “Stop worrying about the small shit. Anyway, what are you doing after this, gonna stay here for group dinner or eat at Tae’s and your place?”

Jimin is still unsure how the alpha’s home became his home as well so… easily. Every time the beta tries to bring up finally moving out and into one of the shared beta dorms, Taegyung starts to pout and whine about Jimin not liking him and his messy house anymore. It’s hard to refuse the alpha anything when he becomes like that, and Jimin doesn’t want to seem ungrateful to the man that had saved and taken him in so readily.

And yet, it’s bewildering how quickly Jimin has changed from the strange beta to Taehyung’s beta in the eyes of the pack.

“Taehyung said he will pick me up and we’ll eat together. I don’t know where.” Jimin pushes a lock of hair behind his ear and thanks the humidity of the kitchens that make his cheeks blush pink.

The older beta still gives Jimin a knowing little smirk and wiggles his eyebrows. “I see, I see.”

One of the omega girls the closest to them snorts rather unattractively into her elbow. Her short hair bobs as he shakes in laughter and her eyes water a little. Even so she throws a quick thumbs up Jimin’s way and wheezes. “You sound like his mom, Yoongi. Compensating for something?”

“Well someone has to mother this kid, just look at him. If I wasn’t there to nag his skinny ass he’d never get more meat on his bones.” Yoongi shakes his knife at her as if scolding the omega. “Speaking of, I should make you eat as well. You look like a twig!”

Jimin glances from Yoongi to the omega girl, wide-eyed and surprised. But the way the two of them keep up with the friendly bickering soon entices him to throw in a few comments of his own, earning a pleased little rumble of a growl from Yoongi and more sly comments from the omega girl.

He is starting to finally fit in.

…

Taehyung gets Jimin to eat dinner at the main hall, together with the rest of the pack members that have been too lazy or busy to cook for themselves, or simply don’t want to bring the food back to their homes. The alpha slyly encourages Jimin to talk with his own group of friends and piles more food in the beta’s plate uncaught.

The same omega girl from the kitchen joins them at some point by draping herself all over Jimin and hugging him very tightly. She sticks her tongue out at Taehyung and laughs loudly at the way the rest of the friend group keeps teasing her of trying to steal Jimin away from the alpha.

“Psshhh, I’m obviously the better choice anyway.” The girl grins wide enough that all her teeth are on display and winks at Taehyung. “Work hard, Tae, someday you will get on my level.”

“You wish, Lisa.” Taehyung flashes his teeth and leans in to rub his cheek against Jimin’s, in an imitation of scenting someone. “Jiminie likes me best and the most, because I am lovable and cute. No one is cuter than me.”

Jimin blinks and scrunches up his nose a little bit from the alpha pheromones and the faint scent of strawberries that washes over him for just a second. He shakes himself out of it and bites his bottom lip. “I didn’t choose either of you, though.”

The two shocked gasps on either side of him are enough to get Jimin laughing loudly, body leaning towards Taehyung. The alpha joins in soon enough, the strawberry scent growing stronger with the deep sound.

…

It’s early evening and Jimin sits curled up in one corner of the sofa, with a book in his lap and a soft blanket thrown over his shoulders. The house is quiet with Taehyung out on border patrol again, together with other alphas.

The beta is a bit slow with getting through the book, but he doesn’t mind. It’s a novel that has been brought back from one of the trips outside of the forest and into the human town nearby, so some of the words and expressions, as well as place descriptions are hard to understand and word-out.

The front door of the house opens and closes, startling Jimin from his immersion into the story. The alpha yawns as he walks inside, then he stretches and falls on the sofa right next to Jimin. Taehyung seems to be tired and sleepy, reduced to quiet, pleased rumbles and grunts.

“Welcome back.” Jimin reaches out to smooth down Taehyung’s messed up hair.

Taehyung blinks tiredly and wiggles around until he sleeps with his head in Jimin’s lap, both arms wrapped around the Beta’s waist, nose pushed into the soft sweater. Jimin squeaks. However, with one displeased whine from Taehyung, he starts sliding his fingers through the alpha’s hair once again.

It’s easy to sink into this domestic mood. Jimin relaxes in the warmth now surrounding him from all sides and the grounding weight of Taehyungs body atop of him. While his fingers work on the few knots and tangles of the alpha’s hair, his eyes stray back to the novel and its weird big city drama.

The two of them stay cuddled together like this for a while. In his sleep Taehyung mumbles jumbled up words against Jimin’s tummy and makes little growls when the beta’s fingers still. Jimin feels like his insides are growing warmer the closer and tighter he is hugged, his heart flutters nervously in his chest whenever the alpha noses against his sweater and strawberry scent poofs up from the movements.

At one point Taehyung groans awake, his whole face is scrunched up in confusions and his fingers dip under Jimin’s sweater to settle against warm skin. The alpha leans away and looks up. His nose twitches and Jimin can see a beauty mark on the tip of the man’s nose. It’s cute.

“Apples.” Taehyung mumbles as his nails scratch along Jimin’s back. “I love apples.”

Jimin shivers, licks his lips. “Apples are nice, yeah.” He glances down, where his arm has settled across the curve of Taehyung’s waist, as if it belongs there naturally.

“Yep. I love that you smell like apples.” Taehyung grins wide enough for his eyes to fall shut.

Then the alpha yawns again and curls up even more on Jimin’s lap and around him. This time, though, he noses along the hem of the beta’s sweater and rumbles out a pleased growl when his nose finds warm tummy underneath the rough knit. He settles for sleep like this, all wrapped around Jimin, as if protecting the man from the world.

“So cute and nice, my Jiminie.”

Jimin knows he is bright red right now, left speechless by both Taehyung’s words and actions. And yet, despite all of this happening so soon and so suddenly, he feels at peace. He feels as if everything that happens now is how it should be, that he is safe in Taehyung’s arms.

…

Jimin falls asleep like that, slumped into the corner of the sofa and wrapped up in Taehyung and the man’s scent. Come morning the alpha is still lying in his lap, awake now though. He bops Jimin’s nose before going off to make quick breakfast.

The beta swallows loudly and hides in the blankets.

…

Taehyung’s wolf is a huge and fluffy thing, ash grey mixed with black and white.

The giant beast trots up to Jimin and noses along his legs. The beta hiccups on a small giggle before carefully reaching out and petting the wolf between the ears. Taehyung yips and bounces around Jimin, tail standing straight up and mouth parted. The sight is funny – the big bulk of an alpha acting like an overgrown pup on the first days of spring.

“You’re a goof.” Jimin cups the wolf’s big head in his hands and rubs the fluffy cheeks up and down. He grimaces at the slobber that now coats his palms. “Ew. Disgusting.”

Taehyung snorts and pushes his wet, cold snout into Jimin’s cheek. His tongue is warm and smooth when it licks a big stripe of drool on that side of the beat’s cheek soon after, leaving behind a sticky, moist spot with some bits of the wolf’s fur stuck to the skin.

Jimin shrieks and pushes away. “Oh my god, Taehyung! Eww, what the hell? Why would you do that?” The beta groans as he uses the sleeve of his borrowed shirt to wipe off all the slobber and fur from his face.

The alpha wolf barks and lies with his belly against the ground. Slowly he crawls over to Jimin and pushes his head onto the beta’s lap. Taehyung’s puppy-dog eyes are wide and sorrowful, or a perfect imitation of sorrow at least.

“Like I believe you. Stop trying to make me forgive you for this.” Still, despite his words Jimin scratches along Taehyung’s back. There are bits of dirt stuck in the fur, tufts of old and fallen out fur that stick to Jimin’s fingers and poof up the air once finally moved.

A gust of wind makes Jimin shiver a little, despite the long-sleeved shirt and jeans that he is wearing. Across the small clearing right outside of Taehyung’s house, shadows of various sizes slide by as the clouds go in front and away from the sun. Before them the forest is a gloomy, and yet still inviting and safe space.

The two of them sit on the ground for a while. Jimin pats the wolf’s side and stands up. He picks up a knitted cardigan, one that is too big for him and smells distinctively of Taehyung. The beta pulls it on and wraps himself up with its warmth and strawberry scent. Taehyung nudges the back of Jimin’s legs with his head and soon the two of them head into the forest.

…

Jimin walks slowly through the bushes and between the trees. He keeps getting his feet caught up in pesky roots and slippery clusters of leaves, left behind by the morning’s light rain. Taehyung runs up ahead and around him, all overflowing energy and excitement.

The beta laughs when Taehyung finds long branches and either starts digging them out, or carries them around like some sort of a prize. The alpha also chases small bugs and then carries them over to deposit his game into Jimin’s cupped palms. So far there are a couple of beetles, a spider that Jimin quickly threw away and a lot of cicadas.

“You’re such a good hunter.” Jimin laughs as yet another dead cicada is dropped into his palms. This one a little too chewed up. “Can I ask now? Why, uhm, why you wanted me to come out here with you?”

For a moment there is just the chirping of birds and creaking of trees heard. Taehyung licks his snout and then raises his head in a long howl, one that reverberates against the tree trunks and Jimin’s whole being. His own wolf, his beta whines in a need to join in, to finally be allowed to howl together with someone else, as a true member of a pack.

From inside of the forest other howls join in – some louder and some quieter. They all soon sound as one, a cacophony of voices that celebrate being one and being free.

Jimin’s mouth feels too dry and there is an insistent prickling behind his eyes. He thought that crying once in Yoongi’s arms would be enough, especially when the older beta’s words seemed to have been enough to quell the worry about being a part of something new and different now. But now he longs for something more, something that Taehyung seems to entice the beta into this very moment.

“I want to join too.” Jimin feels himself mouthing the words quietly.

From the way Taehyung’s ears swivel the beta’s way, it seems like the alpha heard everything loud and clear. He whines, a short and high-pitched sound, before leaning in and licking along Jimin’s cheeks again. This time the wolf’s tongue is slow and careful as it laps up the salty tears.

And yet, Taehyung’s tail wags in excitement, encouragement.

With trembling hands Jimin slowly takes off his cardigan, then his shirt and pants. His body shivers in the cold air, but soon he feels himself changing. The shift of his bones, the stretch of his skin and then strange exchange of senses and instinct feels so good. The last time Jimin had changed was when he ran from his original pack and was found by Taehyung. And then it had been a hurried thing, with no time to enjoy the feel of dirt under his paws, the orchestra of sounds and smells only available to the nose of a wolf.

But now Jimin can do just that.

As a beta Jimin is slightly smaller in size than Taehyung. His strengths lie less in force and agility and more in tracking, sneaking, being able to find and lead the group towards the intended game. So now he takes in the smells of a yet unfamiliar forest, the impossibly strong musk of the alpha in front of him, the strange mix of it and strawberries.

Taehyung barks in absolute joy, his tail a whirlwind of motion and body a constant movement now. The alpha leans in close and nuzzles his muzzle along the underside of Jimin’s jaw and his neck. It’s blatant scenting, one that allows their scents to mix and become one. Now it feels like they almost belong to each other.

Jimin with his black fur looks like Taehyung’s shadow, especially when they break into a run and Jimin follows the alpha’s lead naturally, with no complaints and exhilaration pumping through his blood. When the howls start up again Jimin tumbles to a stop, still clumsy and unfamiliar on his paws, and lets his own voice join the many echoes now filling up the forest.

Besides him Taehyung howls as well, pressed closely to Jimin’s side.

…

As a wolf Taehyung is even more tactile than when he is human. He keeps bumping into Jimin as they run, rubs his scent all over the black of Jimin’s coat and licks the beta’s muzzle whenever he can. The alpha tackles him when Jimin least expects it and then they both end up rolling around, covered in dirt, bugs and each other’s scents.

Jimin snaps his jaws close to Taehyung’s ear when the alpha nibbles on one of his legs, annoyed from being pinned down on the ground and then teased. The alpha barks and then takes off into the forest, kicking up both earth and clumps of moss as he goes.

They play tag for a while. They chase each other around the trees and bushes, through little patches of blueberries – Jimin’s claws now have purple splotches that will dye his fingers later on and Taehyung eats some sour cranberries that make him splutter and cough because of the sourness.

In the middle of them playing around Jimin picks up a faint scent of rabbit. He stops and pushes his nose close to the ground, trots around with ears piqued and attentive to sound. It’s been so long since he last hunted, since he last gave in into his instincts and chased after something because he wanted to, rather that was forced into it.

Taehyung catches onto the scent as well, only he swivels his head this way and that, eyes alert to catch any possible movements close by.

The rabbit is probably long gone, or at least not around anymore, with how much noise the two of them had made while they ran around and yipped at each other. But Jimin smoves forward, each step faster than the last, and Taehyung dutifully follows. They are silent now, careful of the way the wind moves through the trees and fallen branches that look frail enough to break when stepped on.

Up ahead a bush moves and Jimin crouches close to the ground, muscles strained and ready to spring into action when needed. Taehyung stays back, allows the beta to pursue the poor rabbit by himself.

Jimin moves his paws a little and then runs. He’s fast, now more wolf than human inside of his mindscape as the animal side and instincts take over. The rabbit hears him and runs, but still Jimin is faster and catches the animal easily enough.

His heart beats fast – both adrenalin and excitement of a successful hunt, however short it may have been, make him bark in pride. Taehyung barks back, just as pleased.

Evening dusk starts to settle in and they finally turn around to go back home. This time Taehyung leads, the pace easy and not too fast. Once they reach the pile of Jimin’s clothes that they had left behind, the beta drops his game on a patch of moss and changes back. The shift is still a little slow, a little painful, but he feels good in his own skin anyway.

“Thank you.” Jimin turns to look at the alpha and smiles at him, lips parted and cheeks bunched up, eyes scrunching up into two half-moons. “Thank you for finding me and taking me in.”

The alpha wolf rumbles in a satisfied purr and steps forward to lick the corners of Jimin’s mouth in an imitation of a kiss. It’s sweet, if it wasn’t for the sticky slobber that’s left behind now. Still, Jimin giggles and scratches behind Taehyung’s ear before he gets dressed.

…

Jimin slowly makes his way back home with Yoongi, after a day helping the older beta with this and that. Mostly Jimin had played around with the younger kids, whose parents were busy or had gone to venture to the nearby town for necessary items, while Yoongi napped and woke up to scold the pups that attempted to draw mustaches on his face.

“...—yway, there will be the solstice celebrations soon, next month, and some of the people that left for other packs, or cities, will probably come back to join the drinking. Some with families and some alone, who knows. And some of ours will disappear for a few days.” Yoongi yawns wide enough that his jaw pops. “Either way, be ready for a lot of hugging and yelling.”

“You talk as if it will be just drinking.” Jimin doesn’t hide his laughter anymore. He leans heavily against Yoongi’s side as the two make their way towards the cabins and houses.

Yoongi just sighs. “Because it will be. It always is. I mean sure, there will be rituals and, like, thanking the spirits and all that usual spiritual part of it. But afterwards it all just goes to hell. Drunk—Is that Tae?”

Jimin pats under his eyes to get rid of the tears that had gathered there and follows Yoongi’s squinted look. Indeed, Taehyung is bounding towards the two of them down the path, shifted in his wolf form. The older beta rolls his eyes and clicks his tongue in put-upon annoyance.

Once close enough, the alpha doesn’t slow down the slightest. Instead he crashes into Jimin’s legs and runs the beta over with little to no effort. The happy barks that Taehgyung makes overpower Jimin’s pained groans.

“Fuck’s sake, get off of him, you overgrown dork.” Yoongi pokes Taehyung a couple of times with his foot, not every trying to help Jimin out. The beta looks incredibly amused, as if Jimin’s discomfort is the funniest thing in the world.

“Tae! Get off! No, stop! Eugh, stop licking me!” Jimin pushes Taehyung’s head away from his face and lies on the ground, panting. “Why do you always do this?”

The wolf just yips and walks up to Yoongi to lean against the beta’s legs. Jimin watches the loving way Yoongi pats Taehyung’s scruff, only to then wobble and yelp in alarm when the wolf decides to try and crawl between Yoongi’s legs for some reason.

Now it’s Jimin’s turn to laugh, curled up in a ball and ignoring Yoongi’s loud swearing.

In the end the beta sits up, legs spread open before him and body hunched forward just a little bit. Taehyung looks pleased with himself, as much as he can while shifted into the wolf, but the bared teeth and the wagging tail are signs enough. Yoongi kicks out when the alpha hops away and hides behind Jimin.

“I will get my revenge, you shitty brat. Just wait for it.” Yoongi bares his own teeth in return, a low growl stuck in his throat. It makes his words even more slurred than usual, a little raspy.

Jimin leans back and falls onto Taehyung. “Weren’t you supposed to help with repairs or something? Why are you wolf?”

Jimin can feel the wolf rumble a growl from underneath him, but has no idea what it means. Doesn’t matter anyway, he supposes, not when Taehyung is both soft and warm – a perfect pillow for a long-due nap.

Too bad Yoongi ruins it. “Yah, you dorks, this is no place to be sleeping. Get back at your own home and cuddle there. Honestly. The young generation has no damn sense of location and shame.” The older beta grumbles and stomps away with a roll of his eyes.

…

Lisa’s giggles are muffled from where she has her face pressed against Jimin’s shoulder. Jimin shakes with her, his eyes tightly shut and body swaying together with the laughter that he can’t seem to make stop.

Around the campfire a bunch of pack members are busy dancing and singing. None of them try to get the tone or even the words correctly, but none of that matters. The closeness and just doing are good enough to raise the mood and make the rest of the pack sing along. Around both the people that are sitting and the ones that have stood up to join the dance, kids screech as they chase each other between the seats and tables laden with foods and drinks.

Jimin covers his mouth with both hands and takes a wheezing breath. A couple of guys and girls closest to where he and Lisa are sitting have started a weird dance battle. They wiggle around and flail their hands, kick out with stiff legs and make funny faces. The beta can’t take it anymore and slumps into Lisa’s lap from how hard he laughs.

“Don’t die, Min! If you die Tae will hang me from the kitchen roof.” Lisa hits Jimin’s hip repeatedly. Her face is bright and open, body warm and comfy. “Oh man, these bonding meetings are always the best.”

“Do they happen often?” Jimin feels content and sleepy like this, surrounded by the omega’s calming chamomile scent.

The singing turns from something fast to a slower rhythm and Lisa scratches along Jimin’s clothed hip with her neatly trimmed nails. “Every other month or so, whenever the leaders think that we need to let loose and bond.  Didn’t your park have something like this?”

Jimin yawns. “Only for omegas and alphas. Betas were only there to set up and clean up.” He’s sleepy and relaxed enough to share more that he usually would.

“Aaaah, so yours was one of those packs, huh.”Lisa doesn’t push any further than that, though. Her hand moves from Jimin’s hip to his scalp, where she scratches lightly back and forth.

Just as the beta starts to slowly fall asleep in Lisa’s lap, someone from the group around the campfire breaks off and jogs towards the two of them. Even covered in dancing campfire light and shadows Taehyung is easily recognizable, even if he wasn’t laughing so loudly.

The alpha stops and crouches down, so that he is closer to Jimin’s current eye-level. His grin is big and wide, warm around the edges. “Hey there, sleepyhead. Wanna go back home?” He pokes Jimin’s cheek and giggles when the beta whines in return.

“Go be sappy and adorable somewhere else.” Lisa bounces her legs up and down, startling both Jimin and Taehyung. “Now get out, the both of you. I have a date to get to anyway.” She cackles and prances away the second Jimin sits up.

Jimin slumps against Taehyung, still sleepy despite the earlier jostling. Without thinking he wraps his arms around the alpha’s shoulders and yawns again, followed by a full-body shiver. The beta can tell that Taehyung is saying something, but the words blend together and he doesn’t even try to pay attention.

…

There is something warm and light going up and down along Jimin’s neck that wakes the beta up. He is warm, comfortable and wrapped up in the homely strawberry scent that he has gotten used to, that he now recognizes as something belonging Taehyung.

A quiet moan falls from Jimin’s lips when the same light touch goes over his small and almost unnoticeable scent glands. Maybe it’s because of his moan, but the touch gets replaced by what is clearly a pair of lips and teeth biting the skin around the gland. Jimin shudders and lets out another soft gasp.

When Jimin blinks awake all he can see is the slope of Taehyung’s shoulder. He’s confused, still far too sleepy to understand what is going on, even if his fingers clutch onto the alpha’s shirt. He whines low in his throat when his neck is bit again, this time stronger than before.

“Ahhh… Sorry.” Taehyung kisses where he just bit. His voice is just a low rumble, both because of the early morning and the alpha-like growly rasp. His breath is hot against Jimin’s skin. “I just, uhm, woke up and you were so adorable.”

“Wha’?” Jimin tries to curl up against Taehyung, still too sleepy to try and care about what’s going on.

The alpha breathes out murmured comments, nothing understandable, and wraps himself around the beta as much as he can. Taehyung’s fingers trail along Jimin’s spine, a low rumble, almost a purr, vibrates along the alpha’s chest in satisfaction. It makes Jimin giggle.

A few minutes go by and Jimin yawns. “D’you r’lly mean all that scentin’?” The beta pulls himself closer to Taehyung’s front, face pressed into the alpha’s chest. “”m just a beta, I can’t give you kids and I don’ have heats. I don’ even kno’ if I can’ help you with ruts.”

Jimin knows that half of his worries stem from the way he was raised, from how his old pack treated betas and the rules that were put into place for him. Even the reason why Jimin had been forced to leave the pack was because of him stepping out of line, being too daring and hoping too much. H had been crazy and careless back then. He had trusted that omega girl, believed in her promises of keeping quiet of their relationship and the two of them working out despite the pack rules.

“I don’t care about that, silly Jiminie. All I want is you and to see you smile that squishy smile of yours. My perfect baby, the cutest and prettiest, the most wonderful.” Taehyung squeezes Jimin tightly and rolls the both of them around the bed.

“But that’s all yo—aaah! Tae! Tae wait!” Jimin squeaks when the blankets tangle around them and Taehyung’s whole weight lands on top of him when the alpha finally stops still.

The sun falls across the both of them, it illuminates Taehyung’s face just right and Jimin’s breath hitches. The alpha is beautiful. With mussed up hair and half-lidded eyes, crease lines all over his cheek and a lazy grin – the beta still can’t believe that someone so effortlessly beautiful wants him. Scented him.

“You seem too good to be true.” Jimin blurts and flushes the second the words leave his mouth.

Taehyung purses his lips and his whole face scrunches up from the action. The alpha looks funny with his eyes squinted and hair sticking up straight and revealing his forehead. His beauty marks stand out even more than usual, now.

The alpha slumps his weight on top of Jimin even more and bites the beta’s nose. “Well so do you. It’s on now, Jiminie.”

…

“So you’re together now?” Yoongi asks around a bite of apple. The beta is laying on the grass, in the shade of an apple tree. He is half-sleep, but has one eye open to keep watch on the little kids playing around in the small clearing before them.

“Yeah. I think so, at least. We haven’t, uh, done the biting thing. Do betas even do the biting thing?” Jimin’s fingers falter a little bit and he curses under his breath when a few flowers fall from his half-made flower crown.

Yoongi snorts. “If they want to, of course.” He sits quiet for a moment, then smirks. “You could start a chase. That would start things off pretty damn good.”

Jimin blinks at the still smirking beta and then blushes from the implications. The flower-crown is now forgotten, as he tears off pieces of grass and throws them at Yoongi. The two soon start their own small slapping fight, only made worse when the kids pile onto them and join in on the fun.

…

It’s early morning and the air is crisp and still cool from the night. The pack grounds are quiet, with only a couple of alphas and betas that had the night patrol duties up and about. Jimin breathes in and out in hopes of calming down his nerves. It doesn’t help much, but the beta does manage to catch the fait scent of his alpha from inside of their home.

Jimin takes off the robe he had been wearing and shakes out his muscles. The shift from man to wolf is fluid now, all thanks to the many times Jimin has joined the hunting trips and just carefree playing around with the rest of the pack members.

He shakes out his fur once the change is done. The beta barks once, loud enough to get Taehyung’s attention but not to wake anyone up. Hopefully.

It doesn’t take long for the sleepy alpha to show up, confused and rumpled up from the night’s sleep. “Jimin? Wha’s going on? It’s coooooooold and why are you fluffy?”

The beta doesn’t wait for Taehyung to catch up. He quickly bows, growls and then turns around and runs straight into the forest. He hears the confused shout, but it doesn’t stop Jimin from darting thought he undergrowth and between the trees, letting the excitement take over the worry from before.

…

Jimin doesn’t pay attention to where he is running to - he just weaves through the forest’s denser parts and rubs himself across trees to leave a better scent trail behind. There is no destination, just the exhilarating feeling of running. The wind, the nature around him, the want to be caught – it’s all a mix of familiar and new sensations and feelings. Jimin loves them.

Soon his hearing picks up another wolf gaining in on him.

It’s Taehyung.

Jimin raises his head and howls, his speed picks up and he feels the earth and vegetation bend and get stuck between his claws. He doesn’t try to leave marks of his scent behind anymore. Jimin breathes heavily, pants as he runs as fast as he can.  The beta takes sudden turns and jumps over fallen logs; he makes the chase exciting both for himself and the alpha that is hot on his heels.

Taehyung’s answering howl is louder than his, a short thing that is meant to accept the offer and the challenge, rather than anything else. Jimin can hear the alpha stumbling over slippery leaves or tripping over high roots, but that doesn’t slow the other down. It’s very Taehyung to be a little bit clumsy even now, but not let it stop him from the goal.

The tiredness comes sooner than Jimin expected it to, but he still tries to push himself as much as he can. An yet, Taehyung catches up and slams into him and makes them both tumble and roll on the ground from the impact.

The growl that rumbles from the alpha’s chest asks for obedience and surrender, but Jimin doesn’t feel like it. Instead, the beta growls right back and wiggles out from underneath the other wolf. The beta hops onto his feet and swivels his ears forward, tail straight out and challenges Taehyung for a mock play-fight.

The alpha mimics Jimin’s pose and they start to circle each other. Soon it turns into light biting and head butts, into jumping away from snapping jaws and trying to roll the other down onto the ground and leave playful little licks across the muzzle.

Jimin can’t compete against Taehyung’s energy and strength for too long. He doesn’t mind, though.

The shift back to human form is just as easy and smooth as it had been to shift into his wolf. Jimin is naked on the forest floor, panting and flushed from both the run and messing around. Above him Taehyung is panting just as hard, his hair a mess and eyes bright and blown wide.

“My Jimnie, you rascal.” Taehyung croons. His fingers flex where they are wrapped around Jimin’s wrists. “I didn’t think you’d initiate a chase, holy shit.”

The beta giggles and the sound is high-pitched, adorable. “I thought you might like it.” Despite how pliant and right he feels at the moment, Jimin still lets the shyness show through.

“I would have loved whatever you’d decide to do.” Taehyung is quick to reply as he leans down and noses along the column of Jimin’s neck, lips soft and careful as he presses quick kisses to the sweaty skin. “Because you are so adorable and cute.”

“Oh my god, shut up! You look like one of those city models I see pictures of in the magazines.” Jimin tilts his head to the side. Something warm settles and coils at the bottom of his stomach just as a shiver of excitement runs through him. “You’re so hot.”

Taehyung spends some time leaving hickeys and mock-bites along Jimin’s neck and then stops, finally having found the right place to leave his bite. “Someone has been reading more novels, huh?” His voice is muffled against the beta’s skin, but the low range and growly echo is clear enough to hear.

Jimin keens in reply and tenses when teeth break his skin. It hurts, of course it does, but he also feels warm, almost too much. Only when Taehyung’s teeth pull out does Jimin breathe in. He’s a little teary-eyed, emotional for some reason, but Taehyung just laughs and wipes away the few tears that slide down Jimin’s cheeks with his thumbs.

The beta scrunches up his nose when Taehyung rolls the both of them over and he ends up sitting on top of the alpha’s chest. Jimin sticks out his tongue when the other laughs even more and hits the man’s naked chest in retaliation. They mock fight for a while, exchanging pinches and slaps, as well as amused laughter and offended yelps.

Unlike Taehyung, though, Jimin doesn’t take long to find the spot on the alpha’s neck that he wants to bite. He has been eyeing it for a while now, secretly from behind his novels and while the other is busy enough to not notice the obvious peeking. The beta leans in, kisses the spot and sucks on it to leave behind a hickey of his own. He bites slowly, carefully.

Once Jimin is done and he can feel the flood of pride and content coming from Taehyung through the bond they now share, he leans down and surprises the alpha by kissing him. At first it’s nothing more than a gentle press of lips against lips, but then Taehyung’s arms wrap around him and pull Jimin closer. The kiss deepens as well, with more tongue and pleased little noises mixed into it.

When they separate, Taehyung licks his red lips and pinches Jimin’s sides again. “Damn am I a lucky guy.”

“I’m the one who’s lucky and I am willing to fight you on this, don’t test me Taehyung.” Jimin flinches and pokes the alpha’s side in retaliation. He ignores how naked and close they both are.

“Oooooh, full name! You’re serious, huh?” Taehyung shamelessly smacks Jimin’s butt and then leans up to swallow the beta’s yell into another heated kiss.