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The not-so-far-away sound of the waves breaking onto the shore, the smell of the salty water mixed with the tangy smell of dried algae and the happy chirping of birds flying from one branch to another signal that it's time for Jimin to wake up.
He yawns even before he opens his eyes, the humid air permeating through the cracked windows and clinging onto his skin. It's refreshing when you've just gone through a rut — his skin is still too warm to the touch, his gums still feel tender where his canines elongated, and his head is still slower than usual.
Jimin isn't going to lie, it's been a hard one. But he pushed through and that's the important thing, for now.
"Hyung!" The voice comes all the way from the entrance door through the open windows, and it makes Jimin's lips crack a smile. It's the best way he could have asked to wake up.
His best friend, Jungkook, doesn't even wait for him to tell him he can come inside. Instead, he comes in through the main door, then Jimin hears the quick steps going to the small kitchen and then coming towards the bedroom.
If it was someone else, Jimin would be worried about the smell despite the open windows, but Jungkook has seen and smelt him in way worse conditions. Thinking about it, Jimin doesn't know if it's a good or bad thing. But before a frown can form between his brows, the door of his bedroom opens wide.
Jimin breaths in.
He missed the fresh smell of sweet, plump and slightly sourish raspberries. It invades his senses, making his mouth water. His canine teeth ache to come back out, but he forces himself to calm down. Jungkook doesn't have to know about everything after all.
"I've brought you some fruits, they always make me feel better after my heats," Jungkook sits down on Jimin's makeshift nest. His alpha paws at him, asking him to get his best friend closer. Jimin ignores his wolf and instead sits up to take the bowl of fresh fruits from the omega.
No matter how worn down he feels and how deeply his muscles ache, the omega shouldn't carry any weight if Jimin is around — no matter how light the weight is.
"How do you feel?" Jungkook's voice is soft, gentle, knowing.
"Better now that you're here," Jimin replies, automatically, defenses lowered now that he's just coming out of his most vulnerable moment. He doesn't react because taking it back would create more embarrassment and confusion than letting it out.
Jungkook hums, scent sweetening ever so slightly — Jimin doesn't know if it's because he appreciates what he said, or to comfort him. It doesn't matter; Jimin enjoys the small change quietly.
Before he can say something even more embarrassing, he picks up a slice of a red apple and puts it in his mouth, savoring the taste and crunchiness under his teeth. Jimin then notices how all the fruit is washed and cut into bite-sized pieces — if tears threaten to come up, Jimin pushes them down before they can water his eyeline.
It's just that Jungkook is so sweet to him that Jimin feels his heart clench every time.
"So, while you were in here, Seokjin hyung decided the shifts turns for the kitchen and you're in turn for the next four days," Jungkook starts, breaking the silence. "And you're with Yoongi hyung, so you don't have to worry about anything."
Jimin swallows down another slice of his apple while he nods.
"How did you corrupt Seokjin hyung?" He asks, fully knowing that when their hyung makes the turns, he never lets anyone stay in the kitchen more than two days in a row.
In the pack, everyone has to be able to do everything and tournaments are made around every task needed for the whole pack. Everyone goes through kitchen duty, farmer duty, foraging duty, cleaning duty and hunting duty. Since they are a numerous pack, when they aren't on those duties, they specialize in their favorite skill. Jimin is deeply involved in building and sculpting, so when those things are needed, Jimin is there to help.
Jungkook, on the other hand, enjoys patrol duty and fishing. If he could stay at sea for days on hand, he would. Unfortunately, Jimin had to cover him in aloe a few times too many because of how red he'd come back on land from the open sea. Then his wolf's fast healing would kick in and Jungkook would be back at the beach, doing exercises with his patrol duty friends.
Jimin has seen Kangdae, Jungkook's appa, yell at the young omega to not stay in the sun for too long for the last ten summers. He also saw how Jungkook, giggling, never listened — and Jimin with him, coming back, his freckles showing and his shoulders burning red.
"Where did you go?" Jungkook asks, nose scrunching.
Jimin chuckles, shaking his head to make the memories disappear.
"Just thought about how your appa kept scolding us about not staying under the sun all day," he smiles, amused. Jungkook's eyes grow big — bigger than they already are — before he breaks into a giggle.
"He'd scold us, but then he'd be out in the sun the whole day too. Either in the garden or studying seashells," Jungkook chuckles, fond of his appa.
"Anyway, how have you been these days?" Jimin asks, genuinely curious about how his friend has been and also willing to return to the present.
Jungkook scoffs, annoyed.
"Hyung, I voluntereed to help in the forge! Kihyun was sick so they needed help and I was the only one free," he pouts. See, if Jungkook doesn't like a duty, that's the forge. Jimin's alpha doesn't really like the idea of the omega near such high temperatures, but he doesn't say anything. He couldn't even if he wanted to; the pack rules are the pack rules.
"Would have gone in your place if I were there," Jimin says, making Jungkook's scent sweeten once again.
"Such a good alpha," Jungkook's voice comes out teasing, but his face is too serious to be joking.
That's — new.
"And you're a good omega for helping even if you didn't want to," Jimin replies, hoping he sounds as smooth as he wishes.
It seems he did, because he can smell in Jungkook's scent how much the omega preens at the praise. It confuses Jimin. This has never happened before and he thought — well, he thought he was the only one.
This might change things.
Jungkook clears his throat, pretending it never happened. But Jimin's heart is beating faster and he's not sure he can move on so quickly.
"And the rest of the week was kinda boring without you, the hyungs were all busy and the patrol guys are preparing for the courting season. Apparently, everyone is planning to get mated this time around," Jungkook says lightly, but Jimin can smell how sad his scent turns, even if the other tries to hide it.
However, Jimin's mind registers two things. One, Jungkook was bored without him. Two, the courting season starts soon and is sad about it.
"Are you?"
Jungkook looks at him and shrugs. "I'm not sure…"
Jimin hums, thinking. Could it finally be his time to tell him?
"Even if I was, I wouldn't do it without you," Jungkook adds, before he can reply.
Jimin looks up at him, confused.
"Why?" He asks.
"You're my favorite person," the omega answers, as if that's supposed to be enough of an answer. Jimin is left speechless.
"Ah! I almost forgot. The hyungs told me that we are having dinner together tonight at the beach, so don't go to the communal dining," Jungkook says before Jimin can question him further. What a sneaky little omega, Jimin thinks.
It works though, because then Jimin asks about the details and they end up talking about this and that for the whole morning. Duties forgotten and the happiness of being in the same room after days fueling their conversation until it's time to go get lunch. When they greet the others, no one is surprised to see them together so soon after Jimin's rut.
Later that night, Jimin waits until the sun is setting to take the small walk to the beach. From his hut, it only takes a few minutes to reach the sandy plain, but to get to where they usually have their bonfires, it takes a bit longer. It's a small alcove on the coast, where sand and grass meet in a weird but soft encounter — one would barely see it if they didn't know where to look.
Before parting ways earlier in the afternoon, Jungkook told him they'd meet there because he'd come to the beach straight from his usual training with the patrolling guys. Although, Jimin would have loved going together, he also enjoys the time alone.
His feet disappear in the sand and the waves crash against the shore in a rhythmic pattern. Today they are a bit more aggressive, a sign that they'll have to deal with strong winds in the upcoming days. That's for the better, Jimin thinks; the heat has been unbearable lately.
The sun setting behind the edge of the sea makes the sky look like it's bleeding red, pink and purple. It's about to give way to a dark sky full of stars.
Jimin groans at himself for the way his wolf cornily suggested that the sky is never going to be as beautiful as his omega.
His omega.
That's what his wolf calls Jungkook — for a while now, actually.
He shakes his head.
This morning's conversation hasn't left his mind. Jimin can't help but wonder whether Jungkook really meant it or if he was just influenced by his rut pheromones still in the room. He wonders if Jungkook could ever feel like that towards him — maybe.
Jimin hears his friends' laughter before he sees the smoke of the bonfire. It makes him smile — he can't wait to see his friends and listen to what they are up to. They see him before he does.
"Jimin-ah!" Seokjin, the pack omega, yells at the top of his lungs, making him laugh.
"Finally! I couldn't bear a moment longer without my soulmate!" Taehyung, his best friend, runs towards him to lock him into a hug.
It makes him laugh even more, "As if you didn't see me at lunch!" He says, but hugs the other alpha back.
"Yeah, but those fools kept making dad jokes! I was about to pee my pants," Taehyung lets go of him, a big box-shaped smile plastered on his face. His eyes bright with amusement and the remains of recent laughs.
"Your babe is waiting for you," the alpha says, voice lowered and a certain mirth written all over his face.
"Oh, shut up!" Jimin rolls his eyes, amused and slightly shy.
Taehyung is the only one who knows and he uses that to his advantage every time he sees Jimin.
"Ah-ah — I'm sure you'd want to know that he was very worried when he realized you were late. He thought you were feeling sick after coming out of your rut — a rough one, from what he smelt," Taehyung's eyebrows were wiggling suggestively and, in Jimin's opinion, in a rather silly way too. Though Jimin isn't going to lie, his alpha does preen at hearing that his omega worries about him.
His scent must betray him, because Taehyung bursts into a laugh right then.
"You're down so bad for him," he laughs. "I don't know how no one else realized," Taehyung teases before he starts moving towards the others with a jump in his steps.
Yeah, Jimin doesn't know either. Especially because walking towards the other, right behind the other alpha, his eyes fall on Jungkook and lock on him.
Tonight, Jungkook graced them with his presence in the patrolling training uniform — it consists of light pants with the pack's coat-of-arms sewn on the left side and no shirt. Though Jungkook must have decided he didn't want to show his belly more than needed, because he has a short-sleeved shirt on. It's too big on him, but the omega likes it like that. In Jimin's cursed mind, he knows Jungkook would look beautiful in his own shirts.
Jimin also appreciates the fact that Jungkook covered his belly — not because he thinks omegas should cover up, but because his wolf is still recovering from going nearly feral in his rut over dreaming about breeding Jungkook. If he saw the omega's belly, Jimin thinks his wolf would go into a rut again.
"Hello everyone," he greets, getting a choir of greetings back. The only one that stands out is Jungkook's 'hi, hyung'. Sweeter than sweet.
Jimin sits down next to him on a beach towel. He knows this towel was made by Jungkook's mama, he picked the fabrics at the all-packs fair and sewed it to take to the beach after a swim. It smells of aloe, raspberries and cookies — Jungkook and his parents' scents. He wonders how his own would fit in the mix.
"I was worried," Jungkook admits quietly, before any of the others can steal Jimin's attention.
"Why?" Jimin asks, despite knowing already.
"You smelled really tired when I came this morning and even after having a hearty lunch, you seemed a bit worn down. I thought you might feel sick and not come tonight," Jungkook explains, biting his lips worriedly. Jimin has to stop cooing at his cute lisp.
"It was rough, that's true. But I wouldn't have missed out on seeing you tonight," he says, smoothly, while also trying to keep his wolf under wraps. He can't have Jungkook going scent drunk from his pheromones because he can't control himself.
Jungkook's scent sweetens, becoming as ripe as freshly foraged berries. Jimin wishes he could bite onto the omega like he bites onto those plump, juicy berries.
"I would have come to check on you if you didn't come," the omega mumbles, all shy and blushing.
Ah, Jimin is in love.
"Thank you, little omega," it escapes his mouth before he can think better and stop himself from giving Jungkook a nickname that's mostly used between partners.
Though before he can panic, Jungkook's scent sweetens more, and he smiles through his lovely blush.
"I like that," he murmurs, as if he doesn't want to be heard.
But Jimin certainly has good hearing. "What?"
"The way you called me, silly alpha," he's coy now, an amused mirth resting beautifully on his features.
"Jungkook-ah, come help hyung with this!" Yoongi calls him, interrupting them and bursting the bubble they created around themselves. And Jungkook never says no to his hyungs, especially when he can help move heavy things — like the log Yoongi is trying to add to the fire.
Jimin's eyes stay on the omega, watching how his muscles bulge under the shirt as soon as he picks up the log and puts it over his shoulder.
"Here," Hoseok hands him a handkerchief with a teasing smile on his lips. "Dry your droll before he sees," he giggles, amused at himself and the situation he's witnessing.
Jimin chokes on his spit out of surprise.
"Fuck, hyung, how do you know?" He asks once he can breathe again.
"Jimin, dear, it's written all over your face. You have heart eyes every time you look at him," Hoseok laughs good-heartedly. "We are actually surprised you haven't started courting him," he adds, seriously this time.
Before Jimin can answer, Namjoon calls them over to eat since the food is ready and neither of them says anything else. Then everyone is too busy eating and catching up that Jimin doesn't think about it anymore.
Later that night, after saying bye to their friends and walking Jungkook home — hand in hand —, Jimin does ask himself why he hasn't courted the omega yet. Now, more than ever, Jimin is almost sure Jungkook feels the same. Always if the way the omega talked to him today is anything to go by. But he trusts that Jungkook wouldn't say things he doesn't mean, not even to appease his closest friends, he's not like that. Jungkook would say what he thinks even if it landed him into trouble.
So Jimin really thinks about it. By the time he makes it to his own hut, he knows he has nothing holding him back. Even if he's apprehensive, because courting his best friend of his whole life isn't something to take lightly, he's not as paralyzingly scared as he used to be.
Once he's in bed, Jimin makes a decision: he's going to court Jungkook. And he's going to do it as it should be done, the traditional way. He only hopes the omega will accept.
][][][][][
It's been a full moon circle since he decided to court his best friend and Jimin isn't ashamed to admit he didn't start on his courting gifts because he was confused about what he's supposed to gift to someone who means as much to him as Jungkook does. It feels like nothing is ever enough, and unfortunately, Jimin is a perfectionist.
By the time he decided he'd go for traditional courting gifts with a personal touch, the courting season was close enough that Jimin was starting to feel nervous. He needs to start with his first gift and be done with it quickly if he wants to declare his intentions before anyone else might think of proposing to Jungkook.
The thing is, Jimin has been trying. He has his mind set, finally, so he has started to work.
The problem is, weaving baskets is definitely not as easy as the others make it seem. He doesn't understand what he's doing wrong.
Jimin inhales, tired.
"You know, Jungkook isn't going to think any less of you if you don't hand-make that," Taehyung says after Jimin's nth sigh.
Jimin exhales, letting all the frustration he feels out through his lungs.
He knows. Jimin knows Taehyung knows he knows. It still doesn't make him deter in his intent. Unfortunately for Taehyung and him, too, he's too stubborn to give up when he has a goal set in mind. Especially if it's something related to Jungkook.
With an amused huff, Jimin realizes that it's not even the first time he pegs away at something because of Jungkook.
"What?" Taehyung asks him as he watches Jimin let the instruments he was holding down onto the table in front of them.
"It's just funny that every time I'm making something for Jungkook, I end up regretting all my life choices. It has to be perfect," he explains simply. He's not even mad or upset, he is just amused at himself and his wolf for wanting to put themselves through such complicated tasks only to make the omega happy.
It's definitely not the first time this has happened.
Jimin remembers when they were barely out of puphood and Jungkook begged for his favorite cookies until Jimin decided he was going to make some for him. Only, Jimin almost burned his parents' hut in the process. The small kitchenette every hut is provided with is decidedly not easy to use for someone who has barely started developing muscles. Even if Jimin was already showing signs of presenting as an alpha, all the strength that came with said presentation wouldn't come until much later.
As a result, Jimin did make the cookies for Jungkook and the younger pup loved them, but Jimin's parents banned him from the kitchen until he was able to hold up the heavy pots that would then go on open fire.
"That answers the question about why no one is going to be surprised when you'll publicly court Jungkook," Taehyung chuckles at him.
Jimin looks at him and rolls his eyes.
"Ok, Mr. I know it all, help me take this apart so I can try it again," Jimin mumbles, pretending to be annoyed.
Taehyung helps him, and Jimin ends up having to go back home from the workshop empty-handed. He'll ask his mother what he should do. After all, the art of waving baskets is not for everyone, but Jimin's omma definitely knows all the secrets.
That same night, Jimin goes to meet the other in the communal space to have dinner together with their pack — as per tradition. However, before he makes it in, his sight is caught by his best friend being led away from the crowd by another alpha.
Jimin is confused for a moment, as he has never seen Jungkook interact with the alpha before. He walks a little closer, unsure of what to do; maybe Jungkook might need help, for whatever reason. So he stays close, watching.
The more he watches, though, the less he likes what he's seeing.
The alpha moves close — too close — to Jungkook, whispering something that makes the omega's doe eyes go wide, like a deer at the first loud sound around it. Though Jimin doesn't think he's uncomfortable — it's weird, Jungkook usually doesn't like alphas so close.
Then, the alpha takes something from a little pouch Jimin didn't see before, and he offers a small wooden doll. It's hand-carved, Jimin can see as much.
Suddenly it hits him: it's a courting gift.
Jimin's heart sinks to his stomach and he has to remember to rein in his scent, not wanting his cover to be blown. As much as it pains him, Jimin can't stop watching the scene as it unfolds.
Jungkook doesn't refuse the gift, instead he looks at it as if he's analyzing it. He brings it to his nose and smells the scent on it. Then he nods, with a bright, happy smile.
It's enough.
When Jimin turns around to go back to his den, he thinks he steps on his heart because it's broken into pieces. His wolf howls in despair in his chest. Once he's on his hut doorstep, Jimin lets his wolf come to the surface and shifts. A night run surely will help him feel less split into a hundred small particles of dust.
Jimin can't help but grieve what he didn't have the opportunity to give, explore.
With one quick look behind, Jimin starts to run.
He doesn't have a destination in mind, he just needs to clear his head — not feel.
When he comes back home, much later into the night, he does so breathless, exhausted and not even a bit less heartbroken than he was before he started to run. He lies on his bed and can't help the tears that run down his cheeks when he smells Jungkook's raspberry scent clinging to the walls of his hut.
Soon, his alpha tuts sadly inside himself, they won't be able to have his scent anymore.
Jimin falls asleep with tears in his eyes.
][][][][
The next few days go by without Jimin even realizing. He's not fully himself — he doesn't see what he does and doesn't hear when others talk to him. It's as if he's wrapped in a thick bubble of sorrow and sadness. He's aware that the other wolves smell his rotting scent, but he doesn't do anything to reign it in. He doesn't go to the communal meals, but to be truthful, he doesn't eat much in general.
Jimin feels and looks like a body emptied of its soul. A ghost of who he used to be just a few days ago.
Is he being too dramatic? Maybe. But Jimin just worked up the courage to confess to his childhood best friend, who he's been in love with for as long as he can remember, just for him to accept another alpha's courting gift.
He thinks he's allowed to feel the need to isolate himself to grieve the love he'll never receive back and mend his broken heart. Besides, his wolf has become inconsolable and even just the idea of seeing Jungkook with someone else makes it howl in despair in Jimin's chest. Staying in his den, burrowed under his covers — despite the weather not being cold enough — with the last remains of his best friend's scent, seems like the best way to cope with his emotions.
In the days he didn't have any pending duty, Jimin didn't move from his bed. He heard someone coming close to his hut and left as soon as they smelled how bad his scent was. He doesn't know if he's relieved no one tried to push him into explaining anything, or if he's sad no one came to check on him. He excuses his friends, knowing that they won't push him, but if the situation were to go on any longer, they'd probably come inside without even asking permission. They are spontaneous like that and Jimin loves that about them — among many other things.
What really hurts him is the way Jungkook never approached him, not even once.
Jimin knows the omega has been busy with the patrolling team because there has been a threat to one of their borders, but did he really not have time to check on his best friend? Were they really going to have to stop seeing each other since the omega accepted the other alpha's courting? But Jungkook wasn't like that, Jimin knows it. He's just hurt and doesn't know what to think.
He huffs, tired and sad — not even the sound of the ocean helps him anymore.
Usually, the gentle sloshing and crashing of the waves against the soft sand relaxes Jimin even on his worst days. But since he saw Jungkook with the other alpha, the waves feel like a haunting reminder of what could have been and never will be. It's as if he wrote their love story on the sand, only for it to be swept away before he could have shown Jungkook.
Waking up — or more like, getting up — after another sleepless night, Jimin feels like a walking corpse. He wonders if one could die of heartbreak, maybe he already is.
Unfortunately for him, he has kitchen duties to look forward to. Jimin grumbles beneath his breath; Seokjin really did a number with those turns. Jimin has never seen the kitchen as much as on the last full moon. But he knows he's doing this for him, to keep him up and running. It's his own way of taking care of Jimin and just the thought softens him up a bit. He just hopes his acidic scent doesn't ruin the food's taste.
Getting ready for the day is a routine Jimin goes through without thinking, not putting any effort into it. He gulps down some orange juice that Seokjin makes and he eats some strawberry jam from Taehyungìs parents' garden.
He sighs, mentally regrouping with himself and patiently tries to talk himself up and into trying to have a good day. Those thoughts distract him, so when his front door open, Jimin jumps up in surprise.
"Fuck," he curses, hand on his chest, trying to calm his heartbeat — from the jump scare or from the source of his sorrow standing in front of him, he doesn't know.
"O-oh, I didn't mean to scare you, hyung," Jungkook's voice, worried and shaky, feels like the band-aid over Jimin's heart is being ripped off.
"No no, it's okay. I was just thinking," he says quickly. Maybe too quickly.
"Was the thinking about death? Because it smells like you're grieving. Did someone die while I was away?"
Oh, innocent, sweet omega, Jimin thinks. Despite his hurt feelings, Jimin can't help but soften at Jungkook's words.
"No, everyone is fine," he clarifies , voice gentle.
"Then why do you smell so sad?" His best friend mumbles, saddened by seeing the person he cares about the most feeling such negative emotions.
Jimin doesn't know how to answer initially. He's being questioned by the sweetest heartbreaker of all time. On top of that, Jungkook is releasing calming pheromones and Jimin's alpha is soothed, finally. Jimin feels so easy with Jungkook and the omega doesn't even know.
His eyes fall on the finished basket he has been making for Jungkook and he can't help but tear up. He was so ready. It's unfair.
"Oh?" Jungkook follows his gaze and lands on the basket. He walks up to it, curious. When he picks it up, understanding lights up in his eyes and his scent flatters, sweet but controlled, as if Jungkook is trying to keep it neutral on purpose.
"Did the omega you made this for reject you?" He asks, gentle, kind.
Jimin wants to scream. Why would he be so perfect when he can't have him?
He shakes his head, unsure of what to say. He should tell him everything, so he can get his closure and hope to move on quickly. But he doesn't want to face the rejection, the look of betrayal on Jungkook's face, and the fact that he's going to lose his best friend.
"No? Then —" Jungkook looks up at the alpha then down at the basket, confused. "I'm sorry hyung, I don't understand."
Slowly sitting down on one of his kitchen's table chairs, Jimin guesses this is the only time he'll be able to do this.
"I have been trying to do this for a while, but I'm a bit of a coward and it took longer than anyone would have let it go on for," Jimin starts, voice breaking every once in a while. Though, he doesn't let it get to him and he keeps talking.
"I actually don't even know when it happened. I just know that one day I opened my eyes in the morning, right here, in this hut and I knew," he says, eyes never leaving Jungkook. His scent must have become bitter, because the omega scrunched his nose like he always does when it happens.
"Knew what, hyung?"
"That I was so desperately in love with you that I wouldn't be able to live one day without seeing you," he blurts out — now he can't take it back, he can't make Jungkook unhear. It's there, in the open space between the two of them, hanging and ready to be stepped on.
Before Jungkook can say anything, Jimin goes on with his little monologue.
"So, this courting season I was planning to court you like you deserve. But he had to come first and steal you, didn't he? I'm too late and it's my own fault, too." His voice cracks, a sob threatening to come out of his mouth, but he chokes on it.
Jungkook's scent goes from fresh surprise, to acidic confusion, to sweet realization.
"Too late? Alpha, what are you — Oh!"
Jimin watches as Jungkook's eyes go wide and then he bursts into a giggle, happy and erupting his scent with juicy, ripe happiness. He guesses, if his pain makes the omega smell so good, he'll never know a day of content again.
Jungkook moves quickly and steps in front of Jimin, then falls to his knees in front of him — it does something very inappropriate to Jimin's alpha.
"My silly alpha hyung!" Jungkook is unable to contain his giggles, so much so that he has to put a hand on his mouth to stop himself.
"You're not too late, because I am as free as the ocean winds!" The omega exclaims, exhilarated.
Now it's Jimin's turn to be confused. He pinches his brow together as he tries to make sense of what is happening.
"What—"
"Alpha! The guy you saw me talking with is one of the patrolling alphas and he was asking my opinion about his first courting gift for an alpha he's lost his head about," Jungkook explains quickly, as he bites his lower lip not to giggle again.
Oh.
"Oh," is the only thing Jimin can think and say.
Jungkook laughs in front of him, hands resting on Jimin's knees and happiness dripping from his scent.
"You — you're free?"
"Yes!"
"A-and you lov—" Jungkook interrupts him before he can say it.
"Yes, silly alpha! I love you, too," he chuckles, as sweet as the fruit he smells off.
Jimin can't help it when he takes Jungkook's head between his hands and he lowers himself to kiss the omega on his soft, pink lips. Jungkook doesn't move away; instead, he parts his lips to give the alpha access to his mouth. It's messy and not as romantic as Jimin wished, but it's them and, for now, that's enough.
][][][][
Living next to the sea in winter, up north where their pack is, means that sometimes they are blessed with the sight of snow on sand.
Jimin doesn't know why it feels so important. But watching the soft flakes fall outside his window, with Jungkook softly snoring with his head on Jimin's shoulder, feels like his life has never felt so right.
The room smells of coffee with a sweet, freshly baked raspberry pie. There's a spicy underline, the residues of their night together clinging to the air. Jimin loves it. Their scents are combined together, like never before, and as they'll forever be now.
If Jimin thinks about the last few lunar cycles, he can't help but feel his chest constrict in a flurry of emotions. He has never been happier.
That day, back when Jimin confessed, they started courting. Jungkook took it so seriously that, the very next day, Jimin found a basket of freshly caught fish. It stank his den for a whole lunar cycle, but that only meant that he had enough to cook dinner for his omega every single night for a while. His alpha has never been happier to spend hours preparing the fish to be eaten, despite it being a tedious task.
Jimin, on his side, finishes filling his basket with the nesting materials he had sawn and lets Jungkook nest in his room. That had been a magical night. To see an omega nest is a privilege, but to see Jungkook nest is his own bed, spreading his scent on the materials and asking Jimin to do the same so their scents would be balanced out and interwoven together — Jimin cried a bit that night and Jungkook laughed, a sound wet with his own unshed tears, before kissing him softly.
One courting gift following the other, their courting season came to an end with them desperate to mate and be as close as possible forever.
The night of their mating ceremony is one the pack will never forget. Jungkook insisted on holding the ceremony on the beach, despite it never being done before. The elders didn't like the idea of breaking tradition, but Jungkook was convincing enough. Besides, Jimin still has to find out who can resist the omega's doe eyes.
With the sun falling into the water in red, purple and blue hues right behind them, Jimin and Jungkook exchanged their promises to each other — sweet, so sweet that their friends pretended to gag at the end, making them and everyone else laugh. Then they took off, their wolves asking to be let free and run. The mating run ended with the alpha swooping the omega up in his arms and giggling all the way to his den, wolves happy to retreat and let the human side have what it needed.
That night they laid their souls bare, looking into one another's until they became one. Their bites connected them in a way neither of them could have imagined — they tried asking for what it would have felt like, but nothing that had been told to them could compare. The chemistry, the intensity, the scents, the heat of the moment and the love bleeding out of each of their bodies. It felt as if a star was being created, or, in their case, as if their whole beings were blending together and at the same time reinforcing their personas.
When Jimin's knot locked them together and their bites were already healing on their necks, Jungkook confessed his love for the alpha yet again. The alpha thinks he'll never forget the slow, soft, in love words the omega murmured that night. He knows Jungkook won't forget his own either.
A soft movement snaps Jimin out of his journey into their life together. Jungkook's scent changes from calm and sleepy, to happy and awake. He snuggles up to Jimin's side, nose automatically seeking his scent gland to get more of his alpha's serene and delicious scent.
" 'mornin," it's barely above a whisper, raspy with a night of sleep and last night's physical activities.
"Good morning, baby," Jimin murmurs back, his hands clinging to the omega's sides to bring him closer.
"What were you thinking?" Jungkook asks, head moving to look up at Jimin, eyes barely open. His scent sweeter than sweet, ripe, fertile — Jimin's alpha tells him they must prepare and he files that information for later.
"About how good life turned out to be," he answers honestly as the omega moves to lie mostly on him.
"Hmm," Jungkook hums in agreement.
"Does this life that turned out good foresees your knot inside me this morning?" He asks, knowing already Jimin's cock filled up the moment Jungkook decided to climb on his lap, slick already gathering around his used hole.
"It also foresees some more sleep," the alpha chuckles as he maneuvers Jungkook to sit on his cock. Slowly, but without a hitch, the omega sinks down on it.
Jungkook seems to think about it then and he nods, eyes already closing.
"Alpha always knows what his omega wants and needs," he mumbles, then puckers his lips to ask for a kiss which Jimin gives promptly.
They move around the nest a bit, finding a comfortable position for them to stay locked together and sleep.
"Love you, alpha," Jungkook says, sounding more asleep than awake. The alpha moves to leave a kiss at the back of his neck, the omega's scent exploding in a mix of happy and in love before falling back asleep.
Jimin sighs, full of love and care for his mate. He snuggles close to his omega and falls back asleep. The room smells of content raspberry, in love coffee and sweetened coffee sex. Jimin is a lucky and happy alpha; he knows he will be as long as his omega is next to him.
Forever feels like nothing when it comes to them.