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Winter approaches the Duchy of Brackenwald with a ferocity that paints the skies a leaden gray. On the cobblestone streets, the wind whistles through the wooden beams, but inside Jimin's apothecary, the atmosphere is radically different. It is warm and smells of resin, dried flowers, and a lingering trace of something sweet and warm emanating from his own skin: the scent of an omega who has made a decision.
Jimin is not an omega who waits for fate to knock on his door. As he adjusts the glass jars on the shelf, his eyes drift toward the window.
Across the square, in the barracks' courtyard, Yoongi is training his men. He is an alpha of ancient lineage, a man whose presence is like a granite mountain: immovable, silent, and, to many, intimidating. His scent is an intoxicating blend of pine and musk, and it is the only thing Jimin wants to smell on his sheets.
Yoongi is an alpha who does not crave company; he seems to find fulfillment in his voluntary isolation. However, Jimin has been able to perceive the cracks in that facade of authority and is aware that behind that uniform lies a being who needs care and attention. He has noticed how Yoongi pauses for a moment in front of his tent, inhaling deeply before continuing on his way with an impassive expression.
Although tradition is unquestioned: the alpha is the one who provides, seeks, and delivers the first gift or symbol of courtship. Jimin is known for defying traditional expectations, so as he holds a small polished wooden box in his hands, he smiles with a determination that would make any other man tremble.
He has already made his decision.
He doesn't want to be sought after; he wants to claim.
So he takes the first, risky step. While observing the alpha, Jimin learned that Yoongi is a man of practical needs. The cold of the north is unforgiving, and the alpha's night patrols are famous for their rigor.
Jimin crosses the square at dusk. Snow begins to fall in fine flakes that get lost in his dark hair. Yoongi is finishing putting away his equipment when the omega's presence makes him pause. The alpha turns with predatory slowness, his dark eyes scanning Jimin's slim but firm figure.
“Master Jimin,” he greets him with a nod, Yoongi's voice a deep rumble that vibrates in the omega's chest. “I thought the pharmacy was closed at this hour. Lately, the cold has been getting into my bones.”
“That's precisely why I'm here, Captain,” Jimin replies. He doesn't lower his gaze and approaches until the alpha's personal space is invaded by the omega's soft scent.
Jimin extends his hands, holding a sturdy wool scarf made by him during sleepless nights and tied with a sophisticated ribbon. However, it is no ordinary scarf. For several days, Jimin has kept it next to his nest, allowing his own pheromones to seep into every thread. For an alpha, obtaining something that so intensely emanates the essence of an omega has a direct impact on his instincts.
“It's a gift for you,” Jimin says in a clear voice, “so that the cold nights on guard duty won't be so harsh.”
Yoongi looks down at the garment. His fingers, calloused and scarred from the sword, brush against the wool. The contact is brief, but Jimin feels the electric spark run down his spine and notices how the alpha inhales deeply, almost involuntarily, and his pupils dilate.
“I can't accept this offering, Jimin. Traditions...”
“Traditions say that the strong protect the weak,” Jimin interrupts, taking another step forward, standing just inches from the alpha's armored chest. “But I follow my instincts, and I know you need warmth, and I'm happy to give it to you. So please, take it, Yoongi.” Not as a favor, but as a beginning.
Yoongi remains silent for a long time. The wind roars around them, but between them there is a microclimate of tension and desire. Finally, the alpha takes the scarf and, to Jimin's surprise, immediately wraps it around his neck. Burying his nose for a second in the wool impregnated with scent, Yoongi nods.
“Thank you,” he murmurs. His voice grows hoarse, and Jimin swells with pride. “Go home, little omega. It's getting dark.”
Jimin leaves with his heart pounding. The first step has been taken, and he is not a coward who backs down.
🩵❄️
Three days pass, during which Jimin does not seek out Yoongi, letting the scent of the scarf do the dirty work in the alpha's mind. He knows that Yoongi will be sleeping with that garment, that his dreams will be invaded by fields of lavender and the warmth of a nest he has not yet visited.
The second gift of courtship is provision. It was known that offering food to an alpha meant that the omega could feed not only his body but also the essence of the relationship.
Jimin prepares an elaborate stew, a recipe that incorporates unusual herbs that only he has the ability to grow. This dish demands hours of dedication, imbued with the intention of caring. He pours it into a sturdy ceramic bowl and heads to the barracks during lunchtime.
Upon arrival, he finds Yoongi surrounded by his lieutenants. Seeing the omega enter the austere stone hall, silence fills the table. The other alphas present sniff the air, detecting Jimin's scent, but a cold stare and Yoongi's low growl immediately make them back off. The captain has already marked, albeit unconsciously, the territory around the apothecary.
“I brought something for you,” Jimin announces, placing the bowl on the table covered with maps. You've been working double shifts on the walls, Alpha, and you need to eat well to protect us."
Yoongi looks at the food. The gesture is domestic, almost intimate, delivered without shame in front of all his subordinates. Jimin is openly courting him, reversing the power roles.
“Jimin,” Yoongi replies, his voice a warning. You know what people will say if you keep doing this. They'll say I'm not capable of providing for myself.
The omega leans against the table, crossing his arms in a defiant stance. He will not accept rejection from this alpha.
“I don't care what they say,” he rolls his eyes in annoyance. "I'm not giving you food because you're weak, Yoongi. I'm giving it to you because I want you to associate the taste of satiety with my presence, and when you're hungry, I want my name to be the one that comes to mind."
Yoongi is speechless. Jimin's audacity is something he has never encountered in another omega.
Most omegas in the city are sweet and submissive, waiting to be chosen, but Jimin is a hunter who uses softness as a weapon.
The alpha takes the spoon and tastes the stew. His eyes close for a moment, focusing on the rich flavor and special spices, and it seems to calm a restlessness that has been in his bones since he accepted the scarf.
“It's excellent,” the alpha admits, looking at Jimin with a new intensity. There is no longer just confusion in his eyes; there is a hunger that has nothing to do with food. “I'll go to the apothecary tomorrow. We need to talk about... these gifts.”
“I'll be waiting,” Jimin replies with a smug smile before leaving.
🩵❄️
The following night, a real snowstorm hits Brackenwald. The streets are deserted, but the lights at Jimin's apothecary remain on. The omega has set the stage. The fire crackles in the fireplace, and the air is saturated with essential oils that calm the nervous system, creating a sanctuary-like atmosphere.
When the door opens, Yoongi enters, bringing with him a gust of icy air. His cloak is covered in snow, but his gaze is pure fire. He removes his gloves and approaches the fireplace, watching Jimin, who is sitting in an armchair, reading an old book.
“You've been playing a dangerous game, Jimin,” the alpha says without preamble. His cedar scent is now much more aggressive and spicy from the agitation of his hormones. “Courtship is the alpha's responsibility. By doing what you do, you are defying my nature.”
Jimin closes the book and stands up. He approaches the alpha with the calmness of someone who knows he has already won the war.
“Your nature is to protect, Yoongi. Mine is to choose who deserves to be protected by me. I am not challenging your strength; I am acknowledging it and deciding that it is the only one I want by my side.” He brushes the remaining snowflakes from his broad shoulders. “But one last thing is missing.”
Yoongi frowns.
“More gifts? I already have your clothes and your food. I practically live off your essence now.”
“It's not an object,” Jimin says.
The omega searches in a small drawer behind the counter and pulls out a small, finely crafted silver dagger. Yoongi tenses, his warrior instincts on alert, but Jimin does not hold the weapon as a threat.
“In ancient stories,” Jimin begins, his voice dropping to a whisper, “when an omega courted his alpha, he offered him the most valuable thing he possessed: his absolute trust.”
Jimin unbuttons the top buttons of his shirt, exposing the curve of his neck, right where the scent gland beats strongly. The skin there is pale and vulnerable, and Yoongi swallows, his self-control wavering.
Jimin hands the dagger to Yoongi.
“Make a small mark here,” he says, pointing to his own wrist, not his neck. A wound that will heal, but that will seal your commitment to me. I have already made my offerings. Now it is your turn to accept that this omega has claimed you."
Yoongi holds the dagger with trembling fingers. The irony does not escape him: the great captain of the guard, the most feared alpha in the duchy, is being dominated by the will of a man who smells of lavender.
“If I do this,” Yoongi growls, closing the distance until their bodies brush against each other, “there will be no turning back. I will mark you as mine before everyone. There will be no more courtship games. You will be my nest mate, my priority, and my responsibility until the end of my days.”
“That's exactly what I planned from the first day I saw you,” Jimin replies, tilting his head back.
Yoongi drops the dagger to the floor with a metallic clang. He doesn't need silver for this claim. His large, strong hands wrap around Jimin's waist, lifting him as if he weighs nothing and sitting him on the wooden counter of the apothecary.
“To hell with that old story,” Yoongi says before burying his face in Jimin's neck.
The alpha doesn't bite yet; it's not time to make a permanent bond, but he licks the sensitive skin above the gland, marking him with his saliva and scent. Jimin lets out a ragged moan, his fingers tangling in the alpha's short, dark hair. The power emanating from Yoongi is overwhelming, but Jimin doesn't feel small. He feels victorious.
Yoongi pulls back a few inches, his golden eyes shining in the dim light.
“Tomorrow,” he says in a commanding voice, “I will bring my own offering. It will be a jewel bearing the seal of my house. But tonight... tonight I will stay with you.”
Jimin smiles, wrapping his arms around the alpha's neck, pulling him back toward him.
“I've prepared the nest in the upstairs room,” he whispers against his ear. “I thought you might want to see if the scarf is as warm as the rest of me.”
Yoongi needs no further invitation. With a possessive growl, he carries Jimin toward the stairs. Winter can rage outside all it wants, but within these walls, the balance has shifted. The alpha has been hunted, and the omega has finally found the place where his strength and softness can rest.
Weeks later, the Brackenwald market witnesses an image that becomes legendary. Captain Yoongi walks through the square, but he no longer looks like a statue of ice. At his side, walking with an elegance that exudes satisfaction, is Jimin.
Yoongi wears a new cloak, a deep amber color that perfectly matches the omega's eyes and is embroidered with lavender flowers. On Jimin's neck, a fresh and proud bond mark glistens in the pale sunlight. The other alphas bow their heads as they pass, acknowledging not only Yoongi's strength but also the audacity of the omega who dared to court the storm and ended up making it his home.