Chapter Text
Namjoon was looking at the wood and metal barricade, the one of many which guards their territory. Recently, it has become his habit of sorts, to keep watch over the barricade from his hut. It’s quite far but straight in line of his sight. It’s useless to keep gazing on that corner because he is pack’s luna. Anything happening near the borders will reach to him first anyway. But he still keeps hoping..
...hoping to see his mate again.
He remembers it vividly, the night before his mate went missing. The pack alpha was agitated, which was unusual. Seokjin was a born leader. He needed no grooming. He was naturally a good alpha who doesn’t stand injustice and believes in equality. It was one of the few reasons why Namjoon fell head over heels for him. The role of pack alpha was so fitting for him that he won by unanimous votes. The old pack alpha retired in peace, knowing that his legacy was in good hands.
But that night, he shared his worries with Namjoon, about how this annual pack meeting is being threatened by a new pack of travelling wolves. They didn’t have enough information about them. All they knew about was that they came here from the north and have a big number of wolves with them. They asked the council for some land and the council invited them in the annual meet for discussion.
“ That doesn’t sound so bad. Maybe they are relocating. North doesn’t really have a fair climate.”, Namjoon tried to ease his mind but Seokjin wasn’t convinced.
“ The council shouldn’t have hastily invited them to the meet. There are so many packs involved in this gathering. The council is exposing all of us to an unknown pack with no preparation whatsoever.”, he sighed and turned to face Namjoon on the bed, his hand placed securely over Namjoon’s belly, which was still flat then. It was only two weeks after his heat but both of them knew. The telltale signs of the life inside his omega were already there. Namjoon wanted to wait for confirmation, for symptoms to appear fully before going to the healer. But Seokjin was already excited and was just waiting to share this news to his people.
That moment never came.
It’s going to be almost three months now. The group that went to the meet didn’t make it back yet. When Seokjin didn’t return after a week like he was supposed to, Namjoon announced that they will wait for three more days. Three days passed in a blur and Namjoon felt like the air is becoming thicker around him. It was getting harder to breath day by day. The search parties were formed, wolves charged from their borders everyday to search their alpha and pack members. One of the search parties found out that they didn’t even make it to the meeting. Their convoy was attacked; there were signs of struggle, claw marks, dragged limbs and blood. Namjoon’s heart sank after hearing it but he maintained his composure. His pack needs him till they find Seokjin.
And then the search started in full force. Using Namjoon’s skills and expert advice of pack members, a search plan was created. They were thoroughly scouting small areas in parties of two, slowly covering the territory around the place they went missing. So far, they had no luck. But no one is even close to giving up. Seokjin was loved by all and they wanted him back too.
Namjoon felt the familiar wave of nausea making its return and he rushed to the toilet, heaving nothing but bile. He hasn’t had anything since morning. He was busy formulating the maps of areas around the lake for today’s search team. Breakfast can wait.
His head was throbbing by the time he was done and his vision was shaky, but a pair of strong hands held him by his shoulders in time, before he could fall flat on his face.
“ Namjoonah? Can you hear me?”, Hoseok asked in worry but Namjoon only gestured him to lower his voice. His headache was becoming worse by the second and Hoseok’s high volume wasn’t helping.
“ I am alright Hyung.”, he tried to get up on his own but took Hoseok’s arm for support later.
“ This is why I wanted you to come live with us for a few days. Look at you, you are burning yourself away.”, Hoseok was usually a very cheerful person. His laughter and bright eyes are contagious. But an angry Hoseok, which rarely comes out, is terrifying in equal proportions.
“ This is routine hyung. You know that. Your morning sickness was so intense, it practically became news in the whole pack. I will be fine.”, Namjoon tried to assure him but the look on Hoseok’s face tells him he is failing terribly. Hoseok wanted to tell him that he wasn’t alone back then. Yoongi was by his side all the time, like a mate should be. Or else, it gets exhausting, especially for an omega. He knows Namjoon is strong and doesn’t want to acknowledge this fact yet. But his body is already showing signs of weakness. Last week, he collapsed and Jungkook found him unconscious on the ground. He even refused to let Jimin see him for more than five minutes and rushed out to brief the searching party. Hoseok hopes they find Seokjin soon or else three lives will be ruined.
Yoongi entered the hut and looked at them in confusion. After a moment, he went back outside and came in again with an apple, few pieces of freshly baked bread and butter. He neatly placed them on the small table in their hut.
“ Eat.”, it wasn’t a suggestion, Namjoon understood with the glare Yoongi threw at him so he politely sat down and nibbled on the apple. Yoongi and Hoseok started on the map that Namjoon made for today, discussing the routes and timings. Jimin came in after few minutes with a bag of herbs and emergency supplies.
“ Do not lose them again hyung. These herbs are expensive. Be careful this time.”, Jimin huffed while giving them the bag.
“ Glad to know you care about this bag of grass more than your friends.”, Yoongi teased but Hoseok at least had the decency to apologise.
“ You are right Yoongi hyung. Coz this bag of grass doesn’t talk back to me like an ungrateful little shit. Now shoo, I need to talk to Namjoon hyung. And do me a favour, come back in one piece you two.”, Jimin said in annoyance but it made them smile anyway. Jimin is always like this. It’s somewhat comforting that some things are still the same. Yoongi pointed at the breakfast again, silently telling him to finish and left. Hoseok packed the rest of their stuff and stood in front of him.
“ You sure you are okay? I can stay if you want.” His voice was still laced with worry and Namjoon managed a smile for his hyung’s sake.
“ You know how it is, I will feel better by afternoon. Besides, Yoongi hyung will drive everyone mad if you aren’t there.”, he smirked at him.
“ I know, Jiminie is right, he is a little shit.”, Hoseok huffed but smiled back. He opened his arms and Namjoon gladly went into his embrace, taking a deep breath into his comforting scent.
“ Hang on Joonie, I hope this time we won’t come back alone.”, Hoseok whispered and Namjoon tried to reel in the tears that were pushing through.
“ Me too.”, he uttered somehow and Hoseok kissed his hair, before leaving with a smile. Jimin stayed back, clearly not done with his business yet.
“ Okay, you have avoided me enough. I called you for your check up three days ago and since no one here actually listens to me, I came prepared this time. Lie down.”, Jimin ordered and Namjoon hesitated for a second.
“ But Jiminie, cant this wait? I still need to..”, but Jimin already made him sit on his bed.
“ Uh uh..every thing else can wait, but this cant.”, Jimin took out his measuring rope and wrapped it around Namjoon’s middle, marking the new point on it. He then made him lie down and asked him to pull up his tunic. Jimin’s face became sombre after doing his initial examination.
“ Hyung, I have to say I am not happy. The development..it’s not much. You should be showing more by now.”, Namjoon covered himself and sat up.
“ I am trying.”, that’s all what he says since Seokjin went missing. I am fine, it’s okay, I am trying etc. Truth is that he didn’t even have time to properly face the fact that he is going to be a father soon. He was more invested in finding his mate than actually taking into account that there is a pup inside him, blissfully unaware of everything that’s been going on. Nothing makes sense without Seokjin anymore.
“ Hyung, you are not alone now. This tiny life depends on you for its survival. I don’t know if you have even acknowledged how your body is going to change in future months. You need to gather your strength. Last thing we need is the repeat of what happened a week ago. And..wait, why are you wearing a scarf? Are you cold? Do you have a fever?”, Jimin tried to feel his forehead but he stood up instead.
“ My throat felt a little scratchy that’s all. No fever I promise.”, he tried to evade. Jimin wasn’t fully convinced but he didn’t push for now. Instead, he rummaged through his bag and pulled out a jar.
“ Here, take this.”, Namjoon took the jar and looked at the strange orange colored substance which was emitting a strong fruity smell. Namjoon has been sensitive to smells these days but this one doesn’t seem so bad.
“ What’s this?”, he asked curiously. Jimin smiled at him.
“ It’s marmalade. Remember I went to treat that lady omega’s little boy in the neighbouring village? She was very grateful and gave me three of these. It will be a good change. Maybe you will eat a little more.”, Jimin whispered the last part and Namjoon couldn’t help but smile at his thoughtful friend.
“ Thank you Minnie.”, the nickname comes out rarely now but it means a lot for them. Reminds them of the time when Jimin would climb on his shoulders to reach the tree trunks and then refuse to come down till sunset. It’s moments like these that keep him close to his sanity. The assurance of this little makeshift family, who will do anything for him and his mate.
The comforting silence was rudely interrupted by a growl. Jimin sighed when he saw the large familiar red haired wolf entering the hut, a small pup in his mouth which he dropped on the ground with a grunt.
“ I was wondering why you weren’t here yet.”, Namjoon said to the wolf, who was now returning to it’s human form. The pup giggled on the ground as his bones creaked. Namjoon picked him up and removed dead leaves that were tangled in his hair. Jimin threw a blanket at the wolf, now a boy with red hair but towering over Jimin in height.
“ What the hell did you do to him while coming here? Yeonjun looks like he just got attacked by a tornado.”, Namjoon tried to clean the pup, who just found it amusing and tried to stick his finger inside Jimin’s nose.
“ This little monstrous offspring of Yoongi hyung! He ran away when I was near the forest, jumped into a pile of dead leaves and then peed on me.”, the boy made a gagging sound and Namjoon chuckled at the pup in his arms.
“ Someone had a lot of fun with uncle Kookie huh.”, Namjoon mockingly scolded the pup, who just yawned and laid on his shoulder, all the excitement catching up to him. Yeonjun was only a year old, full of energy just like Hoseok and everyone’s favourite pup.
Well almost everyone. Jungkook and Yeonjun seem to have some kind of rivalry from their past life. It’s like they constantly fight each other for the pack’s affection. You see, before Yeonjun was born, Jungkook was pack’s youngest baby. Hoseok even had to assure him that he will always be his Jungkookie, no matter how many babies he has in future. But Yeonjun has different plans and keeps finding new ways to torture his uncle. Jungkook blames Yoongi for that because no way Hobi hyung’s genes can be that evil. It must be Yoongi’s.
Jungkook forgot his misery though when he saw Jimin, who was packing his stuff.
“ Let me walk you to your den Jiminssi.”, Jungkook offered sweetly and Jimin smirked.
“ It’s alright. I think I can manage to avoid pile of dead leaves myself Jungkookssi. Hyung, I better find that jar empty after a week. I will see you again soon.”, Jimin squished Yeonjun’s cheeks fondly and fixed Jungkook with a glare before leaving. Jungkook sighed and turned to Namjoon trying to lay his head on his empty shoulder but Yeonjun placed his pudgy little hand on it before he could.
“ Quit hogging all my hyungs you drowsy little rice cake!”, Jungkook whined and Namjoon shushed him.
“ Stop saying such things to my nephew you overgrown puppy.”, Namjoon slowly laid the pup in the baby swing and gave it a little nudge. The moment his hands got free, Jungkook practically lodged his muscular body into his arms and started scenting him vigorously. He then moved to the table and started putting marmalade on bread. He handed it to Namjoon and made him sit.
“ Why doesn’t Jimin hyung take me seriously? I am trying so hard here.”, Jungkook pouted and looked down.
“ Maybe that’s what you are doing wrong. Half the pack knows you like Jimin Kookie, it’s that obvious.”, Namjoon ate the bread, actually relishing into the taste for a moment. Jimin was right. This marmalade is definitely something he needs more.
“ Bu..but then how will he know that I like him? He keeps to his den all day, treating patients and growling at people. Although that people part is actually me, most of the time.”, Jungkook mumbled while readying another bread piece for his hyung.
“ Jimin is a traditionalist you know. He likes courting and wooing his omega. But you don’t even give him a chance.”, Jungkook’s eyes became comically wide and Namjoon chuckled. He knows their Jungkookie isn’t the typical omega. In fact, they were all pretty shocked when he actually presented as one. He was tall and broad, would jump around, always a kind and friendly wolf, ran faster than even alphas and was fiercely protective of his pack. Jimin, on the other hand was complete opposite. He was bitchy, sarcastic and beautiful but deep down the kindest soul.
“ So what you are saying is that I should stop going after him and let him come to me instead?”, Namjoon nodded and Jungkook giggled, putting his head on his hyung’s shoulder.
“ Pretty sure I am going to die unmated if I follow your advice.”, Namjoon snorted at that. After a moment, he looked up.
“ Did Jin hyung do that too? Courting?”, Namjoon gave him a sad smile at that, reminiscing the past as if it was ages ago.
“ Yes, but he wasn’t very good at it in the start though. He gave me red roses, which were actually peonies. When I told him, he became even redder than the peonies and apologised for messing up. But then he got me this really rare handwritten journal on growing orchids and I was gone for him. I love reading and plants. He paid attention and got me a bit of both. It was really thoughtful.”, Namjoon thought it was the best gift he can ever get.
That was before when he felt the presence of his pup for the first time. It was just a week after his heat ended and Jin suddenly stopped while changing into his night shirt. He looked at him curiously and then put his ears close to his middle, suddenly smiling so wide while Namjoon just stood confused.
“ I can hear it Joonah, our pup..it’s in there.”, Namjoon just gawked and tried to focus to hear it too but couldn’t. Alphas have a really sharp sense of hearing, a natural selection that evolved because of their hunting and providing instincts, while omegas evolved in their sense of smell. No matter how hard Namjoon tried to detect a change in his scent, it remained stubbornly same as before. But Jin kept saying that he is sure. He still wanted to confirm before revelling into this new happiness.
Three days later, he was reading when he noticed. The faint hint of spice and citrus between his usual sweet linden flowers. He knew this scent but couldn’t pinpoint it. Before he knew, there were tears in his eyes as he slid to the ground.
That’s how Seokjin found him. At first, he panicked that something terrible had happened but then he saw Namjoon smiling between his tears.
“ I felt it hyung, our pup. I caught their scent. It’s beautiful.”, Namjoon described the scent to Jin, who wiped his tears.
“ It’s mulberry Joonah, like the tree near the lake.”, and Namjoon laughed, finally able to understand. Seokjin held him in his arms and Namjoon felt the happiest, instantly deciding that this it, the best gift he will ever receive.
He thinks about it now, that moment of euphoria. He is trying to hold on to it but it’s like the joy of having a pup is painfully basic without Jin here to share it. There are days when he feels horrible, curses the universe for doing this to him, scolds himself for being so apathetic for his own baby. He just doesn’t want to do it alone, none of it.
Jungkook noticed his eyes that had travelled somewhere else. He held his hand then and put his head in his lap.
“ We are here hyung. We are not him but we are here. He is the strongest alpha I have ever known. Nothing can stop him from coming back. Just a little bit more time.”, Namjoon buried his hand in his hair and smiled. When did their Kookie became such a grown up.
Namjoon changed Yeonjun’s sheets, which he ruined and Jungkook fed him the applesauce. He flung it on his face more than actually eating it, making Jungkook frustrated to no end. Their crumb wars escalated to a point that Namjoon had to force them to take a nap. And even though Kookie is an adult who doesn’t even need naps, he was the one who passed out first, mouth open and his bunny teeth peeping.
When Namjoon was sure they were out like light, he went inside his room and looked in the mirror, slowly removing his scarf that covered his neck. The mating scar looked fresh, throbbing angrily red. A tear escaped Namjoon’s eye.
Because this isn’t the mating bite that Seokjin gave him. It was on his waist, when Seokjin claimed him on a full moon. This appeared a week ago when he collapsed. He felt it, the excruciating pain which he still remembers from his own mating. It was distant, but intense in a way that knocked his breath out of his chest. He didn’t tell anyone. He refuses to do it until he understands himself, until he asks Seokjin why he did this to him. To his mate who is waiting, worried sick about his alpha. But somewhere in his heart, he doesn’t even care about this new development. All he wants is his alpha back to him, alive and safe.
He heard a commotion at the barricades and quickly wrapped his scarf back, hiding the source of his misery. He wiped his face and stood tall in front of the mirror, the leader staring back at him. Jungkook was already awake, Yeonjun in his hold as he looked at him, smiling wide.
“ They found them hyung. They are here.”, Jungkook said in excitement. It took him a second to register what exactly Jungkook was saying, still unable to believe if he heard him right.
“ Jin hyung is back.”, and Namjoon rushed out the door.