touch starved

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/41192262.

Rating: Explicit
Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Category: M/M
Fandom: 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys | BTS
Relationship: Jeon Jungkook/Park Jimin
Characters: Park Jimin (BTS), Jeon Jungkook, Kim Taehyung | V, Kim Seokjin | Jin
Additional Tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Friends to Lovers, Alpha Jeon Jungkook,
Omega Park Jimin (BTS), Touch-Starved Park Jimin (BTS), Witches,
Curses, Heavy Angst, Fluff, Scenting, Mating, Mating Cycles/In Heat,
Smut
Language: English
Series: Part 25 of commissions
Stats: Published: 2022-08-21 Completed: 2022-08-22 Words: 58,109 Chapters:
3/3
 touch starved
by tinymiminie

Summary

omega park jimin can't be touched because of a curse. anybody who touches him doubles
over in pain. so he runs away from his pack and lives on his own for five years. until alpha
jeon jeongguk comes crashing back into his life and gives him what he lost a long time ago:
hope.

Notes

so this is a monster. but i'm soo happy with it and i've had so much fun writing it that i've
finished it faster than i expected. the idea popped into my head a while back and when the
chance to work on it as a commission thanks to my sweetest sunny came along, i got so
excited. i hope this will be everything you hoped for and that you'll enjoy it as much as i did
while writing it!

thank you to everyone who's been following along with the writing process, i hope you all
enjoy it a lot too! This is very angsty towards the start, so keep that in mind!

See the end of the work for more notes

 Chapter 1

Everything is quiet. It’s been that way for a long time. And Jimin enjoys it. A part of him
misses the loudness of living with several other people, of hearing shouts here and there, of
hearing the distinct howling of wolves somewhere nearby. But, then again, all of that came
along with things he’s glad he left behind. Here he has no fear, here he’s free to move around
without having to worry about hurting someone.

There used to be a time when things weren’t like this. And, truth be told, Jimin managed to
live like that for a while. Being close to people, keeping himself in check, even when he
wanted to reach out and soothe. He used to be the type of wolf to express thrings through
touch, through gentle fingers and warm smiles.

It feels like a lifetime has gone by since then.

Jimin steps out of the house and walks down the five stairs before his bare feet land on the
grass. It always feels nice. Nature. It’s calming and it touches his skin softly enough that he
can stop thinking about the rest of the things clouding his mind. Clothes in hand, he allows
himself to enjoy the feeling for a little while. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

A strong feeling settles in his throat, emotion bubbling up his chest. He shakes his head and
pushes it away.

But then the scent reaches his nostrils. His eyes snap open in time to hear something along
the woods. The small house he lives in is in the middle of them, but it’s located in a small
clearing. So ahead of him, he watches the border of the trees surrounding him. Even though
he doesn’t immediately see the source of the sound, he can smell it.

Not animal, not human. Even though he hasn’t been in touch with wolf scents in almost five
years, Jimin knows this is a wolf . A million emotions wash over him in a split second. Fear,
worry, confusion. All of them cloud his head but when he focuses on the scent, it all turns
faint.

It’s a nice scent. Better than nice. It’s soothing, even though it’s so strong. It smells thick and
earthy, a mixture of forest and flowers. It all rushes to Jimin’s head, makes his body feel
strangely weak for a second or two. The clothes drop from his hands. His skin starts to tingle.
It’s an alpha. He can tell by the warmth that spreads across his limbs and by the musky scent,
heavy on his tongue. If he feels it this strongly when being away, how would it feel if he were
to touch―no.

Another sound, a branch snapping. He whirls around. And sure enough, there he is. It should
be funny how he easily recognizes him even though he hasn’t seen him in five years and he’s
definitely not the same as he used to be. Jimin left behind a relatively small―at sixteen he
was taller than him, but still a bit lanky― and not yet presented Jeongguk.

Now he’s standing in front of a very big and broad Jeongguk. Where lanky limbs used to be
now are well defined and strong arms. Jimin’s eyes follow a slow trail down Jeongguk’s
body. It’s like discovering a whole new universe. He and Jeongguk used to be so close in the
past and yet there’s something so different about this Jeongguk. He’s no longer unpresented.
He’s an alpha, standing taller than he used to be.

His hair is longer. Long enough that it almost reaches his shoulders. His features have
matured, but he still has those doe eyes that Jimin was often found himself feeling endeared
about. But now there’s also a sharp jaw, cheekbones that make Jeongguk’s eyes seem prettier,
full lips. Down and down, broad shoulders, well defined abs, muscle everywhere, just enough
that it fits his body perfectly. Hands that used to seem so soft now look bigger and firmer.

Jimin briefly wonders if they’re still as soft as they used to be―not that he’ll ever get to
know.

And then further down, wonderfully strong, well defined thighs. And― oh . He’s naked.
Only now is Jimin realizing this. He must have been in his wolf form and has shifted back to
human. That’s why he has no clothes on.

Jimin isn’t new to naked bodies. Being in a pack meant seeing them more often than not,
especially whenever they went for runs in their wolf forms. But this is different because
there’s nothing pure about the way he’s looking at Jeongguk. Maybe it’s because it’s been
five years since Jimin was last close to someone―someone he knows. Maybe it’s because
Jeongguk has changed so much.

He’s absolutely breathtaking. Beautiful in a way that makes Jimin’s eyes stay on him for a
little bit too long, even if he’s trying to make himself stop. Everything about this situation
screams danger.

What is Jeongguk doing here? How did he find him? It’s been five years. Maybe he doesn’t
recognize him. It seems unlikely, considering the way Jeongguk is looking at him. Eyes wide
and surprise all over his features.

“Hyung?” He asks softly.

A strange flutter takes over Jimin’s heart. The words are spoken so softly, but Jimin can hear
them all the way to where he’s standing. It’s been so long since he’s been near someone, he
doesn’t know what to do. The fear. The worry. It all comes rushing through him as Jeongguk
takes a step towards him.

“Jeongguk,” he says, clearing his throat, a lump having formed and making it hard to breathe.
“What are you doing here?”

It sounds accusing and Jimin hates it, but he doesn’t know how to react. He doesn’t know
what to do. Jeongguk takes another step and Jimin stares at him. He’s unable to move, even
though he knows he should. He’s not even fully aware of the fact that Jeongguk is naked. All
he can think about is the fact that Jeongguk is here.

And even though Jimin was the one to run away, even though it’s been five years, he’s always
missed it. Craved closeness with people, craved being with his pack. A pack he’s no longer a
part of. It hurts to think about. Since he’s been all by himself, he hasn’t thought about it. And
now here he is. Jeongguk looking at him―walking towards him.

He’s suddenly right there, reaching out. Jimin jerks back, panic taking over. His eyes widen
and he shakes his head. His heart is racing in his chest. Jeongguk’s eyebrows furrow, his hand
drops and he seems to realize what he was doing.

“I’m sorry,” he says. His voice is rougher, husky, deep. Different to how it used to be. “I
um―I just can’t believe it’s you,” he explains. His gaze is strangely filled with emotions
Jimin can’t quite pinpoint. “When I smelled you―I thought I was imagining things.”

His words aren’t helping Jimin calm down. The way Jeongguk is talking, the things he’s
saying. It’s been five years, how can he recognize his scent so perfectly if he hadn’t even
presented back when Jimin left? His senses weren’t heightened, weren’t fully developed.

“I can’t believe it’s you, either,” he whispers, breathless.

Too much. It feels as if Jeongguk’s scent is sticking to his body and it settles an ache in his
belly. It’s something he could have more of. But he can’t. He never will be able to. That’s
why he left.

Jeongguk’s lips lift up into a big smile, bunny teeth and all, nose scrunched. It does things to
Jimin’s heart that he shouldn’t feel. He clears his throat, trying to relax because he’s worried
Jeongguk will be able to pick up the emotions washing over him through his scent.

“How are you here?”

The smile slowly disappears. Jeongguk cards his fingers through his hair and Jimin’s eyes
move to the muscles of his arms. Now that he’s closer, he has a better look of him. He looks
even more breathtaking up close.

“I was surveying the area,” Jeongguk explains. “The pack’s looking to move further into the
forest.” He looks towards the trees, as if getting lost in thought for a moment. “There were a
couple of rogue attacks near the city. And people have been exploring the woods more. They
often come across our camp. Some are nice and leave us be. Others aren’t so much. Plus,
with all the attacks, the government grew antsy. They asked us to move deeper into the
woods. So…” he trails off, shrugging. “We’re trying to expand our territory and settle
somewhere further away.”

It’s hard listening to this, hearing about the a pack, even if it’s not his own. Knowing how
they’re doing. His pack used to be very close with the Jeon pack. They were very nearby,
shared parts of their territory. Jimin knew them just as well as he knew his own pack.

“Is everybody okay?” He asks, curious despite his own decision to stay away.

“Yeah, everybody is okay,” Jeongguk reassures.

“What about…” he tries, cutting himself off and hesitating. Maybe it’s not that much of a
good idea to ask about his own pack. It’s not his pack anymore. He doesn’t belong with them.
Asking probably isn’t okay.

“They’re okay too,” Jeongguk replies, not needing Jimin to continue to know what he was
asking. He shifts on his feet and Jimin becomes aware again of his nakedness. The muscles of
his thighs clench. Jimin looks away. “Do you um, have something I could wear?” Jeongguk
asks then.

Is he planning to stay? If he’s investigating the area, he shouldn’t be staying. He should shift
again and go on with his task at hand. But, selfish as it is, Jimin doesn’t want him to leave.
It’s been so long and Jeongguk smells so comforting, even from the distance separating them.

So, he nods.

“I should have something that could fit you,” he murmurs. He turns towards the house, but
remembers he dropped his clothes earlier. Picking them up from the floor, he studies them for
a second. “Actually, these should be okay.”

He hesitates when Jeongguk reaches out. He hasn’t had to be careful in years. But he
remembers how it used to be back when he was with the pack. He leans down and places it
on the grass, stepping back when Jeongguk steps forward to pick them up.

“Do you want to come inside?” He asks. “I was going to get dinner ready after taking a bath.”

Jeongguk holds the clothes to his chest tightly. Jimin tries not to think about the fact that his
scent is all over the clothes. He tries not to think about the fact that Jeongguk’s scent will
linger even after he’s gone. The thing is, Jeongguk used to be the one person Jimin trusted the
most, the one person who wasn’t afraid of him. Ever since the curse was triggered, Jeongguk
remained by his side, didn’t seem the slightest bit worried about Jimin ever accidentally
touching him and hurting him.

And before that, Jeongguk’s thumb would constantly press to his wrist, rubbing back and
forth over his not yet fully developed scent gland. And even though he had a faint scent,
something barely noticeable, it felt nice, it felt calming. Jimin instantly missed it after he
presented.

It’s been so long since the last time he cried, he doesn’t realize his eyes are filling with tears
until one of them spills. He turns around, heading towards the house as he hears Jeongguk’s
‘yeah’ from behind him. He nods, brushes away the few tears that spill and heads inside to let
Jeongguk get dressed.

All of these feelings are another reason as to why he left the pack.

When he presented, everything went downhill immediately. He was fifteen, had grown up
perfectly fine, had everything he could possibly want. And he stupidly thought that only good
things would keep coming. He had a family, friends, Jeongguk. He had everything. But
presenting came with a bigger burden than he could have ever imagined.

A curse.
His skin would bring pain to whoever he touched. He understood that the hard way. Tried to
stay away, tried to work through it. His parents tried to help. But one mistake, one slip up was
all it took. Jimin ran away without looking back, too scared to hurt anyone more. People
would be wary of him, would look at him as if he was to be feared.

At the end, it all drove Jimin away.

He’s startled by the sound of Jeongguk’s steps entering the house. He knows already that his
scent will linger here too and the thought makes excitement prickle under his skin. He
shouldn’t feel this way, but it’s been so long . He’s been alone for so long, yearning for
warmth, for things he can’t ever allow himself to wish for.

“Can I help you with something?” Jeongguk asks.

Jimin shakes his head. He hopes it’s not obvious in his eyes that he’s overwhelmed with all of
the emotions growing in his chest. And that he spilled tears when coming inside. He turns
around and gestures for Jeongguk to sit down.

“Get comfortable, I just need to heat up some stew,” he reassures.

He watches Jeongguk look around, but focuses on the stew. There’s a part of him that still
can’t quite grasp the fact that Jeongguk is actually here. It’s silent for a long while. He feels
Jeongguk walking around, undoubtedly studying the place, looking at everything Jimin has
built over the past five years.

It’s gotten so lonely. Whenever it’s too bad, he’s gone into the city. Mindful of covering up all
his skin, careful of never coming into contact with a human. But even being surrounded by
people did nothing to help with the loneliness. It’s never enough. He longs for someone to
scent him, to hold him, to take away all the fear that’s etched its way under his skin, refusing
to leave.

He settles a plate on the table and Jeongguk looks at him for a second before taking a seat in
the chair. Jimin remains standing. The table is too small and he doesn’t want to risk touching
Jeongguk accidentally. He’s not covered up. All he’s wearing are shorts and a short sleeved
shirt. Out here, on his own, he never has to worry about covering his skin.

Jeongguk’s gaze moves to him again as he picks up a fork.

“You can sit down, hyung,” he says softly. “You don’t have to be…so far away.”

Oh, but he does. Jimin shakes his head and tugs at a chair, pulling it far enough before taking
a seat.

“You know I do,” he mumbles.

He’s too highly aware of Jeongguk’s presence to fully focus on eating. He’s tense, now that
he’s realizing it. His muscles are pulled tight and he’s nervous. Silence settles around them
again. Jeongguk eats for a while. Jimin does his best to do so too. But there’s a heaviness in
the space around them, a tension that feels so palpable.
At the end, it’s Jeongguk who breaks the silence.

“Yeonjun and Soobin mated,” he voices out.

Jimin stops eating. “Really?” He asks. He can’t help but be happy about it, about his pack,
about Jeongguk’s pack. It’s been so long. “I kinda knew they’d end up together. They’ve been
tied to the hip ever since they were pups.”

Much like Jimin and Jeongguk were. So close to each other. Jimin doesn’t like thinking about
it. He keeps those feelings tucked in deep inside his heart, where he can’t fish them out. It
doesn’t matter anymore. Maybe it never did.

Jeongguk nods, although he seems distracted. He’s staring at his plate, moving the food
around with his fork.

“The packs are merging,” he says then.

It’s nothing he could have expected to hear. Sure, the Jeon and Park packs were always
unnaturally close. Closer than packs tend to be. But he never thought they’d end up merging,
becoming one. His eyebrows furrow.

“How did that happen?” He asks.

“Dawon and Chaewon mated a year back,” he replies. “She had her baby a few months ago.
But our parents have been talking about it for longer. After that, it all just fell into place.”

“Oh,” he whispers.

What is he even supposed to say? He’s been away from them for so long, it feels like he
doesn’t belong―actually, he never did. He focuses on his food, trying to think about what
more to say, but he has no idea. Instead, he asks more.

“Who’s pack alpha?”

He can’t look at Jeongguk. It feels like he’ll break down crying if he does. Having him here
was a bad idea. He should have told him to go. Because now he’s thinking about the pack and
yearning for something he can’t have. He’s better off here, where he can’t hurt anyone.

“Both our dads,” Jeongguk replies. Jimin can literally feel his eyes burning holes into his
face. He can smell Jeongguk, can somehow easily point out some of the emotions he’s
feeling. Confusion, worry, sadness. It’s all mixed into his scent, impregnating itself all over
Jimin’s home. “When my dad suggested we should survey the area further into the woods, I
said I would go. I think…a part of me was hoping I’d come across you. I didn’t know where
you were. Nobody does. But I still hoped. And when I smelled you, hyung. I thought it was
too good to be true.”

Jimin refuses to look at Jeongguk. He can’t because he knows that if he does, he’ll end up
breaking a little bit more. He’s stopped eating. He’s fiddling with the hem of his shirt
nervously. He shakes his head and closes his eyes for a second, trying to clear his thoughts.
When fails to respond, Jeongguk speaks up again.
“You left so suddenly, hyung,” he murmurs. There’s hurt laced with his tone. “You were gone
so quickly, I couldn’t even wrap my head around it. I’ve missed you so much, you have no
idea.”

Jimin squeezes his fingers around the bottom of his shirt. “I missed you too.”

It’s true. Out of everything he’s missed from the pack, from what he used to have, Jeongguk
is what he’s missed the most. Jeongguk could make him smile on the worst days, could take
away his sadness when he was feeling particularly worried about what would happen in the
future.

“You didn’t have to leave,” Jeongguk says. The chair moves, it makes a loud sound. Jimin’s
gaze darts up, his pulse quickening. Jeongguk is still seated, but he’s no longer sitting
comfortably. He’s leaning forward, as if ready to jump to his feet.

“Of course, I did,” Jimin replies. “What was the point of me staying? It made no sense. I
didn’t want to risk hurting anyone.”

“It’s not like you were trying to,” Jeonguk says. There’s an urgency in his voice that makes
Jimin’s chest constrict. There’s no convincing to do here. He knew what he had to do, no
matter what Jeongguk says, it’s the way things had to be. “It wasn’t your fault, hyung. I don’t
like the idea of you being out here, alone, for years . Your part of my pack, you could come
back with me. We―”

“I’m not part of the pack anymore, Jeongguk,” he interrupts, shaking his head. The way
Jeongguk said, my pack . It hurts. For some reason, it feels as if he’s squeezing at Jimin’s
heart, breaking him down. He was fine . He was doing okay. And now Jeongguk is here and it
feels like everything is tumbling down around him. “And I’m fine here. It’s better like this,
you know that.”

Jeongguk shakes his head. “I will never believe that.”

Jimin looks away and stands up, clearing his throat. It doesn’t matter. Jeongguk has to go
back and once he’s gone, Jimin will fall back into his normal routine, he’ll be fine. It’ll
become something he can remember, Jeongguk’s presence, his scent lingering for a few days.
And then years will go by and he’ll move past it once more.

“I’m sorry, I just―” he tries, closing his hands in fists. “I’m really okay, Jeongguk. You don’t
have to worry about me. You don’t have to feel this protectiveness over me. I’m a rogue. I
haven’t been in the pack for five years. And that’s fine. I knew it would have to be that way
just months after I presented. There’s nothing we can do about it. Please,” he pleads. He begs
. “Don’t make this harder for me. It’s been years.”

It took Jimin years to get to this point, to a point where he didn’t struggle every day wishing
to go back to his people, to the point where his omega didn’t claw at his chest, begging him
to go back, to seek the warmth of his pack. A warmth he hasn’t been able to have since he
turned fifteen.
“I’m sorry,” Jeongguk apologizes softly. He sounds genuinely sorry. He’s standing now, too,
although Jimin isn’t sure of when he stood up. He didn’t even hear him. “I just wish you
could understand. You do belong to the pack, hyung. You will always be a part of it.”

Jimin knows better, but he has no strength to fight Jeongguk about it. He doesn’t want to,
anyway. They haven’t seen each other in such a long time, he doesn’t want this change to go
down the drain. He might as well enjoy it because he’ll never get to have it again.

Silence surrounds them as Jeongguk picks up his plate. He only lets Jimin know that he’ll
pick up everything and clean up. He tells Jimin to go on about doing what he was up to
before Jeongguk showed up and to not worry about cleaning up because he’ll do so.

Jimin nods and drifts away. He was going to take a bath at the lake a few minutes away from
his small home. But he decides to just take a shower here. He has everything he needs here,
but sometimes it’s impossible to ignore his instincts, his wolf craving contact with the
wildlife. When the feeling takes over him, he seeks out connection with earth.

He’ll do it tomorrow, instead. He tries to ignore the voice inside his head telling him he’s
actually too afraid to go to the lake and come back to an empty house. He doesn’t want
Jeongguk to leave, even though he knows he has to.

By the time he’s done, he finds Jeongguk sitting in the small two seated couch in the living
room and the tension that had risen is long gone. Jeongguk’s head is tipped back and resting
against the backrest, his chest rising and falling slowly. He looks so beautiful. The clothes
Jimin gave him fit him just right―they’re big on Jimin’s body, after all.

Jimin looks away just before Jeongguk’s eyes open and he feels him looking his way as he
heads to his bedroom. The place is small enough that Jeongguk can probably see perfectly
inside the room and it’s hard to ignore the way his skin heats knowing he’s still watching. A
weird feeling has settled in Jimin’s belly. Nothing that feels pleasant, but also not something
that feels bad.

He’s not sure what it is, but maybe it’s because he’s so hyper aware of Jeongguk’s presence
right now. He’s not used to being watched, to being in contact with someone.

“Do you want me to leave?” Jeongguk asks.

Jimin turns around and walks to the entrance of his room. He stares at Jeongguk, trying to
figure out what to say. He doesn’t. He doesn’t want Jeongguk to ever leave. He wants
Jeongguk to stay with him and to just…be by his side. But that’s not something he can even
hope for.

It’s just that this tension, this feeling around them, it’s not something he’s used to. It’s not
something he’s ever felt when in Jeongguk’s presence. Maybe it’s because he’s an alpha now
and his scent makes Jimin’s omega react. Or maybe it’s because Jimin’s long ago buried
feelings are trying to resurface when they shouldn’t. They feel stronger than they were back
then. He used to believe it was a crush. Now he’s not so sure anymore.

“Do you have to?” He asks back.

Jeongguk studies him for a second. His head is still tilted back and he’s sitting in a way that
seems so strangely lazy. Legs spread, body slumped on the couch. His gaze feels heavy and
intense.

“I could stay,” Jeongguk whispers. “It’s late and I’ve been running all day. It would be nice to
stop for a while.” He pauses. Their eyes meet. “If that’s okay with you,” he adds softly.

“Then, you should stay,” he replies. “You can take the bed, I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“No,” Jeongguk says, shaking his head. “It’s okay, I’ll take the couch.”

“You’re too big for the couch,” Jimin points out.

Maybe not too big, but there’s no way he’ll be comfortable there. Jimin is a bit smaller, he’ll
fit better.

“I’m not that big,” Jeongguk says, a small smile on his lips.

He looks so much older. Jimin still can’t wrap his head around it. He’s changed a lot and, at
the same time, he hasn’t changed at all. He’s still Jeongguk, only there are small differences
that Jimin can’t help but notice.

“It’s okay, hyung. I’m the one getting all up in your space,” he reassures. “I’ll be fine out
here.”

Jimin walks back into the living room. It’s already dark outside. He doesn’t stay up too late
normally, so he'll go to bed soon. Although, he’s not too sure sleep will reach him easily
knowing Jeongguk will be just outside.

“Okay,” he finally agrees.

They fall silent for a second. Jeongguk tilts his head to the side. “Do you want to tell me
about what you do out here, hyung?” He asks. Curiosity fills his expression. “Like, how do
your days go?”

Jimin pulls out a chair and sits down, pulling a knee up and placing his foot on the edge of
the chair. He wraps his arm around it and places his chin on his knee.

“I don’t do much,” he murmurs.

But he tells Jeongguk what he wants to know. Jeongguk listens attentively, smiles and asks
more as Jimin speaks. An hour goes by between conversations and momentary calmness.
Jimin manages to push away everything bad he doesn’t want to think about and focuses on
their conversation, on how familiar it feels. Jeongguk was always someone he could confide
in. Now that they’re older, talking with him feels different―better, even.

Soon enough, Jimin starts to yawn and Jeongguk smiles. He tells him he won’t keep him up
any longer and with quick goodbyes, Jimin slips into his bedroom and leaves the door ajar.
As he slips under his sheets and curls onto his side, he can’t help but nibble on lower lip
nervously.
He can hear Jeongguk shuffling around, closing the bathroom door, which Jimin told him he
could use if he needed to. Then he’s out and there’s more shuffling. His clothes rustling as he
settles on the couch. Jimin left a pillow and a blanket out for him. He probably doesn’t need
much more because his body is already naturally hot.

Jimin rolls onto his other side, feeling restless. He’s tired, but he can’t sleep. If he thinks
about it hard enough, he can imagine how easy it would be to slip into Jeongguk’s side, wrap
his arms around him. When they were younger, still hadn’t presented, sometimes they’d bunk
together, they’d wake up all tangled up in each other, bodies seeking warmth through out the
night. There was nothing beyond a friendship between them, although Jimin’s younger self
had a bit of a crush on Jeongguk.

And now here they are and Jimin still wishes he could hug Jeongguk again. Just once. When
he saw him again earlier, he wanted nothing more than to run into his arms and hold onto
him. Maybe in another world. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tries to get some sleep but it takes
far too long for it to happen and when it does, only nightmares plague his mind.

↢↣

Jimin feels strange, as if he has new skin, as if he’s somebody new. He’s newly presented, his
senses are heightened. And even though he’s a bit tired, he feels great. He’s happy. He’s on
his way to see his parents. He’s been running around in his wolf form for a while now, getting
accustomed to the newness of his new status. He’s ready to go back and settle for the day.

On his way to their home, he spots Donghyun. He has his head tipped back, just enjoying the
sun that sips through the tall trees. He smells Jimin as he comes closer and he smiles at him.
Jimin beams, stepping closer and reaching out to him. The pack likes to stay close, to keep
each other scented so it’s easy for outsiders to know they’re a family.

It’s nothing different to how it usually is. But Donghyun’s reaction is. He’s five years older
than Jimin, he’s someone Jimin looks up to. So when Donghyun screams, pulls his hand back
sharply and crawls away, he freezes. He’s crying. He’s screaming, still. He’s begging for the
pain to stop.

Jimin stares. Why is he in pain? He doesn’t understand. Is it his fault? Is he the one who hurt
him? It can’t be. He doesn’t understand. He tries to help. He falls to his knees and reaches
out. His fingers brush against Donghyun’s arm and he screams louder, crawls away, shakes
his head. No. All of his body is shaking. Jimin reaches out again. It’s a little bit mindless, just
wanting to help, even if he has no idea of what’s happening.

Donghyun jerks away, crawls more.

People come, surround them. His father looks at him. Jimin doesn’t know what’s going on. He
has tears in his eyes. He doesn’t know what he did wrong. Jeongguk is there, looking at him,
stepping towards him. Jimin’s mother stops him. The tears spill. Donghyun’s screams can still
be heard, people are around him, trying to help. The screams. They don’t stop.

Screams and screams and screams and―

Jimin wakes up with a sob stuck in his throat. It spills from his lips as he sits up and clutches
the front of his shirt. He’s drenched in sweat, tears are streaming down his cheeks and his
body is shaking. He can remember it all too well, the first time he hurt someone, the last time
he ever dared touch someone.

After that, as his parents explained why Donghyun had gotten hurt, realization dawned on
Jimin that his life would never be the same, that it was unfixable. That he’d always be that
way.

Its then that he notices Jeongguk’s presence. He’d been so focused on trying to breathe that
he wasn’t conscious about Jeongguk’s pheromones coating the air around him. He’s standing
by the door, now wide open. Jimin isn’t sure of how long he’s been watching him but when
Jeongguk takes a step forward, he panics.

“No!” He yells, lifting his shaky hands in the air between them. “Don’t, Jeongguk,” he
pleads. “Please, don’t come closer. I’ll hurt you, I’ll―”

“Hyung,” Jeongguk interrupts him. “It’s okay, I won’t. I won’t, hyung. Please, calm down.
Breathe .”

Jimin is trying, but it’s too hard and he can still hear Donghyun’s screams ringing in his ears.
He sobs again, pulling his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them, shoulders
trembling.

“It was just a dream,” Jeongguk says. His pheromones are permeating the air, so strong and
so intense. He’s trying to soothe Jimin from afar and it’s something Jimin has never
experienced coming from him. It’s working. “You’re okay, hyung. It was just a dream.”

It wasn’t. It happened. But Jimin doesn’t say that. The pressure on his chest is slowly easing
away and his sobs turn into sniffles, tears stop flowing. His body relaxes and exhaustion
washes over him. Jeongguk' continues to release calming pheromones, they spread across the
whole room and become the only thing Jimin can think about, the only thing he can focus on.

It almost feels as if Jeongguk is hugging him. He’s surrounded by him. He’s everywhere. It’s
overwhelming, but it tires him out and allows him to lay down again, no longer shaking with
fear. Jeongguk doesn’t move, but Jimin is too tired to notice him anymore. He’s soothed by
his pheromones, lulled back to sleep and this time around, he sleeps soundly, no more
nightmares to plague his mind.

↢↣
Jimin feels…weird. Even though he woke up in the middle of the night, had a horrible
nightmare, he’s not tired. Jeongguk’s pheromones helped soothe him enough that he slept
what was left of the night. It’s late now. It’s almost ten and he’s just getting out of bed. His
bedroom door is left ajar again and he wonders briefly how long Jeongguk stayed there,
watching him, looking over him.

It’s the first time in so long he’s been taken care of, even if he wasn’t touched nor held. He
can’t stop thinking about how calming Jeongguk’s scent was. And maybe the remnants of it
are making him a little bit woozy because as he stands, he feels his knees weak, he feels a bit
wobbly and everything spins for a second. But he soon enough manages to stabilize himself
and takes a deep breath.

His room still smells of Jeongguk. It smells so strongly of him that Jimin briefly considers
laying back down in bed and just letting himself be engulfed by it for a little bit longer. But
he’s already slept more than he usually does and Jeongguk stayed the night, he should be out
there talking with him, enjoying the few more hours he might have with him before he goes
and they never see each other again.

If the pack’s territory expands and this part of the forest belongs to them, he’ll have to move.
He’ll have to find a new place. He doesn’t want to leave behind this, the home he’s made
over the past five years, but he can’t risk bumping into more people.

Jeongguk is nowhere to be seen when Jimin steps out of his bedroom. He made breakfast and
left it on the table for Jimin to eat. And Jimin almost thinks he already left, but spots the little
note he left on paper beside his food. He’s bathing at the lake. Jimin eats. It’s been so long
since someone has made him food.

It feels as if he’s experiencing all of these new things. He’s scared he’ll yearn for it later,
when Jeongguk is gone. He’s scared it’ll be such a strong feeling he’ll want to go back. But
it’s true, he’s not a part of the pack anymore. He’s been gone too long. They’ve all kept on
going without him.

He wonders if Jeongguk will tell his parents that he’s here. They would come looking for
him, surely. He will really have to move after Jeongguk is gone. He closes his eyes and sighs.
Why now? Why after all this time?

Jimin busies himself cleaning up. He hesitates. He wanted to go to the lake to bathe, but
Jeongguk is there. He contemplates just staying and showering at home, but finally gives in
to his instincts and to the clawing of his omega, begging him to go to the wildness. He grabs
clothes and heads out of his house.

It’s a small cottage-like house. Werewolves moved to the woods a very long time ago and the
government helped building houses like that one, providing them with everything they might
need. A lot of werewolves didn’t like being in the city because it didn’t allow them to give in
to their instincts, it didn’t fulfill the part of them that craved wildlife. It was a good deal for
both humans and werewolves.

A modern camp for packs, access to water and to electricity and to anything they might need,
all connected to sources coming from the city. A lot of werewolves still stayed there, some of
them adapted better to that life style. But most of them left for the woods.

Jimin came across his little home weeks after leaving the pack. The fact that Jeongguk found
it after such a long time makes him feel strange. He knows he didn’t come looking for him,
not after all that time. But him coming here, finding his way here, feels as if it was somehow
destined to happen.

He shakes the thought away and heads in between the trees, trying to suppress the feeling in
his stomach. A wave of nausea shocks him and he bends over, almost expecting to throw up
the contents of his belly. Nothing comes out and the feeling passes quickly. He frowns and
straightens his back. He hesitantly keeps walking, almost expecting to feel nausea again. Yet,
it doesn’t happen.

It could be that his wolf isn’t used to the strong scent that’s enveloped him now that
Jeongguk’s around. Such a strong scent that’s a bit overwhelming. When he spots the lake
and sees Jeongguk inside, all thoughts leave his head. He’s close to the shore, but he must be
sitting down because the water reaches up to the middle of his abs. Jimin can see the droplets
clinging to his chest, long and wet hair strands falling over his face.

He’s breathtaking.

Jimin gets caught. Jeongguk had had his head tilted back and his eyes closed, but they open
suddenly and his head turns to Jimin. His expression relaxed when he notices it’s him and he
shows him a small smile. There’s something clouding his gaze, though and Jimin wonders if
it’s because of the nightmare.

It’s nothing that Jimin doesn’t experience frequently.

“How are you feeling?” Jeongguk asks, his body turning to face Jimin.

As he thought, Jeongguk has that gloomy expression because of the nightmare.

“Okay,” he replies, shifting on his feet. “Sorry I slept in. I don’t usually sleep so much, but I
was a bit tired.”

He still is. He feels strange and there’s a gnawing feeling under his skin. Jeongguk looks at
him for a beat too long. “Does it happen often?” He asks. “The nightmares, I mean.”

Too often. But Jimin doesn’t say that.

“Sometimes,” he responds.

He shifts on his feet again. He didn’t think it through, clearly. He wants to get in, but he’s not
sure how he feels about being fully naked when Jeongguk is in there too. The nakedness isn’t
what worries him―Jeongguk seeing him, that is. What worries him is the lack of covering,
the possibility of somehow touching Jeongguk on accident and hurting him. Even if he were
to stay very far away, the fear would remain.

“I’m sorry you have them,” Jeongguk whispers.

Jimin’s eyebrows furrow.

“It’s not your fault.”

It’s his parents fault. But even then, he can’t blame them. He never did. A which had cursed
them years and years before. They thought it wouldn’t work. They thought the threat and the
curse weren’t real. The first omega to be born from them would trigger the curse once they
presented . And, sure enough, Jimin had presented and become a danger to all of his
packmates. His parents never fully explained to him what had happened, how the curse was
suppose to work. Even they didn’t know much about it.

So, Jimin is stuck with it. He’s stuck with the burden of their actions.

“Are you going to get in?” Jeongguk asks after a long moment of silence.

He trails away, as if giving Jimin space to do so if he pleases. The fear is still there, but Jimin
tries to reassure himself that everything is fine as long as he stays away from Jeongguk. He
isn’t shy about getting undressed. All the young ones used to get into the lake together back
before they had presented. It wasn’t much different to being in wolf form. It shouldn’t be
much different now.

His clothes come off and he steps towards the lake. Only, it is different. Because Jeongguk’s
eyes take him all in and even though Jimin isn’t looking in his direction, he can feel it. It’s so
strange, being in his presence again after so many years. They went from not seeing each
other in so long to suddenly this. Just like old times, but now they can’t come near each other.

Jimin wraps his arms around himself as he walks into the lake, further and further in until the
water is up to his chest. It nice against his skin, a pleasant feeling that helps him relax, tense
muscles easing up as he allows himself to enjoy the water.

He likes it here. The lake is his favorite place. And he likes that he gets to have him all to
himself. Even though Jeongguk is in it with him right now, he doesn’t really notice his
presence until he talks again.

“Doesn’t this feel like old times?” He asks.

Jimin looks at him, shifting his body around so he’s facing him. He’s closer, not too close that
Jimin is worried, but close enough that he can see every detail of his face. He must have sunk
down for a moment because new droplets fall down his cheeks and his hair is pushed back,
wet and messy. It’s gotten so long. Jimin remembers Jeongguk used to say he wanted to let it
grow out long enough that he could hold it up with a tie.

“Yeah,” he murmurs, moving his hands under the water, willing himself to focus on the
feeling instead of being too conscious of Jeongguk’s presence.

“We used to race all the way to the lake in the middle of the night, remember?” There’s
fondness in his tone and, even though it hurts to remember the past, Jimin’s lips tug up into a
smile at the memory.
“You fell and scraped your knees so bad that one night,” Jimin murmurs.

“Ah, yeah,” Jeongguk replies, seemingly embarrassed. “You made it better, though.”

Jimin had only reassured him that he’d be fine. He’d heal quickly, perks of being a werewolf.
It would just hurt for a while. And, sure enough, the pain had quickly faded and Jeongguk’s
knees had healed up within minutes. Then they’d gotten into the lake and splashed around
until Jimin’s mother had come looking for them, worried sick. They’d gotten scolded and
Jeongguk hadn’t been able to visit for a few days.

When Jimin opens his eyes again, Jeongguk is even closer. He stares at him, Jeongguk’s gaze
focused on his face. It trails down to the place where water brushes against his chest, then
back up. Heat covers Jimin’s skin.

“Jeongguk,” he warns. He’s moving closer, as if his body is being pulled by some sort of
force, maybe the water pushing him forward.

“I wanted to hold you last night,” Jeongguk confesses softly.

He’s never said things like this to Jimin. Then again, they haven’t seen each other in a long
time. Jimin left when he was eighteen and Jeongguk was sixteen. Now Jeongguk has to be
twenty-one. His birthday was a few months ago. Jimin remembers the date easily. On those
days, he’d think about Jeongguk, wondering how he was doing.

He never imagined he’d have him in front of him again after all these years.

“It’s fine,” Jimin replies. Jeongguk has stopped moving, but a part of Jimin wishes he would
keep going. It’s selfish. But Jimin craves touch so badly―especially now that Jeongguk is
here, so close .

His eyes sting. He doesn’t want to start crying, but he’s finding it harder and harder to hold
back.

“Maybe it’s fine now,” Jeongguk says, softer, unsure.

Jimin shakes his head and quickly drifts away, putting more space between them. Jeongguk’s
eyebrows furrow, but he doesn’t move closer.

“It’ll never be fine, Jeongguk,” he replies. “It’s a curse. Only the which who cast it can break
it and she’s long gone.”

“Hyung,” Jeongguk murmurs. The word sounds so pained coming out of Jeongguk’s mouth.

Jimin turns around and wraps his arms around his body. He feels like he’s going to break. The
emotions in his chest mixed with the strange feeling under his skin are making him tremble.
He’ll break down if Jeongguk keeps going. He’ll cry and it’ll be worse and he doesn’t want
that.

Jeongguk seems to understand he shouldn’t press the matter any further. A beat passes during
which Jimin is worried Jeongguk will suddenly appear behind him, but he doesn’t hear
movement, only Jeongguk’s sigh.

“I’ll go back to the house,” he says and he sounds apologetic. Jimin turns slightly, looking
over his shoulder as Jeongguk backs away, still facing him.

When he turns around and keeps going until he’s out of the water, Jimin can’t help but look.
Tight muscle, beautifully smooth skin. Pulling his eyes away proves to be difficult but he
finally looks forward again and brushes his hands down his arms.

As he hears Jeongguk leave, nausea settles in his belly again. He doesn’t throw up, though.
And yet his body feels even more exhausted. He’s trembling and he’s feeling cold, something
that hasn’t happened to him before. His wolf is struggling to keep up with the presence of this
new scent, strong and musky.

It’s what’s making him sick. After so long being on his own, with no other scent to
accompany him, his omega is overwhelmed. After a while of breathing slowly, he calms
down enough to focus on cleaning up.

And yet, as his hands trail over his skin, he can’t help but wonder how it would feel if other
hands were touching him, cleaning him up. Jeongguk’s hands. The second the thought
crosses his mind, he pushes it away. But it lingers close by, it’s too hard to ignore.

He takes his time in the water. Though, it doesn’t take him long to grow ansty. Soon enough
he’s getting out and getting dressed, not bothering about his clothes getting wet because
they’ll dry up on their own, the sun already high in the sky.

When he gets back home, he finds Jeongguk in the kitchen, cooking. He stares at his broad
back for a second too long, only looking away when Jeongguk starts to turn, alerted of his
presence.

Maybe it’s the mix of Jeongguk’s potent scent with the food. Jimin can’t be sure. But one
second a wave of nausea is taking over his stomach and the next he’s running to the bathroom
to throw up. He hears Jeongguk’s steps coming near, hopes that he doesn’t try to touch him to
help because he can’t find it in himself to speak when he’s feeling so terrible.

When the nausea leaves his body, he slumps down on the floor, propping himself up against
the wall. Jeongguk is close, so close . He seems frustrated, his hands hovering in front of him.
Jimin closes his eyes and tilts his head back. He wants Jeongguk to touch him. Even though
his strong scent is making him sick, he wants to be engulfed by it. He wants his hands on his
body, soothing the strange feeling.

“What happened, hyung?” Jeongguk asks. “Have you been sick for a while or is it just now?
I’m worried. What can I do?”

“Don’t worry,” he whispers. “I’m fine, I just got nauseous, probably something I ate
yesterday,” he explains. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

“Do you always get nauseous?” Jeongguk asks. Jimin shakes his head, he’s feeling
exhausted. “You don’t look well, hyung. Please, tell me what I can do.”
“Nothing,” Jimin reassures. “I just need to rest for a while. I’m fine. Please, don’t worry,
Jeongguk-ah. I’ll go to bed for a bit.”

“Okay,” Jeongguk replies, but he doesn’t sound any calmer, he doesn’t seem fully convinced
that Jimin is okay.

“You don’t have to stay,” Jimin says. He’s sure Jeongguk has to go on with his surveying. He
already stayed the night and, as much as Jimin wants him to stay, he knows it can’t happen.
“You don’t have to worry. I know you’re supposed to be exploring. Don’t worry about me,
I’ve been fine all these years. I’ll be fine now.”

Jeongguk shakes his head. “I’m not leaving when you’re sick,” he quickly says. “I’ll finish
cooking and I’ll make something light for your stomach, in case you’re still feeling nauseous.
I’ll stay for a while longer, until you’re feeling better.”

Jimin won’t feel better until his wolf gets used to the presence of such strong pheromones.
But he doesn’t say that just yet. Because he’s selfish and Jeongguk being here makes
everything feel different. He’s not ready to let him go. Just for a little while longer.

He’ll be selfish for a little bit more.

“Okay,” he whispers.

Jeongguk steps away as Jimin stands up and he looks as frustrated as he did minutes ago. It
dawns on him that all of these things are things that Jeongguk has never experienced before.
Being helpless around Jimin, not being able to touch him. Jimin has gone through this
already, was grateful he didn’t have to go through it anymore while being alone.

Now, he wishes Jeongguk could hold him, carry him to bed, lay him down. Lay beside him.
Hug him. He’d do anything to feel Jeongguk’s warmth enveloping him.

The alpha follows close by until Jimin lays down in bed, slipping under the sheets and only
then does he head back to the kitchen, leaving the door ajar. Jimin’s head spins, but it quickly
settles. His eyes flutter shut and he falls asleep to the sound of Jeongguk moving around the
kitchen, wondering how it would be to get to experience that every single day.

↢↣

When Jimin wakes up again, he feels even worse. It’s night time already, the room is dark.
He’s shaking and there’s a thin layer of sweat covering his forehead. He feels cold, something
that hasn’t happened to him in a long time. Werewolves don’t normally get sick because
they’re bodies heal quick and run naturally warm. He knows what’s causing it, of course. It’s
the only explanation he can find. He’s been fine all these years, hasn’t felt this way ever. And
Jeongguk suddenly pops into his life again and turns everything upside down.

But still, Jimin doesn’t want him to go.

At the thought of him, his heart starts beating faster and he tries to sit up to search for him.
Maybe he’s left. Maybe he thought Jimin would be fine and―

“Don’t try to get up, hyung. You’re running a fever,” Jeongguk says.

Jimin slumps down, unable to properly sit up. But then panic takes over him and his eyes
open. Everything is blurry, his head is spinning and he’s still trembling.

“Did you touch me?” He asks, voice hoarse. “Jeongguk, how do―”

“I can tell,” Jeongguk says, interrupting him. He’s suddenly right there, standing next to the
bed, looking down at Jimin. There’s worry etched to his gaze, hands in fists by his sides.
“You’re shaking and you’re covered in sweat. I don’t understand, hyung.”

Jimin shakes his head and closes his eyes. He’s exhausted.

“It’s okay,” he reassures, even though it’s not. He feels nauseous again, but he hopes that it
won’t get worse if he stays in bed.

“No, hyung. It’s not okay. What if I hadn’t been here? What would you have done?”
Jeongguk demands.

Jimin’s heart constricts. That’s the thing. If Jeongguk weren’t here, he wouldn’t be feeling
this way. His eyes open again, but it’s hard to keep them that way.

“It’s because of the scent,” he explains softly. “It’s been five years, Jeongguk. Five years
since the last time I was close to a wolf.” Eventually, it becomes too hard to keep his eyes
open, so he closes them and tries to focus on breathing properly. “Your scent is so strong. It’s
messing with my wolf. That’s why I’m feeling like this.”

Jeongguk is so quiet after Jimin is done talking that worry takes over him and he ends up
opening his eyes again, despite the protests of his body. His eyelids feel so heavy, now he’s
looking at Jeongguk and he seems so strangely…sad.

“I’m sorry,” he finally whispers.

“No, I―” Jimin quickly says. He reaches a hand out without thinking and snaps it back to his
body so quickly Jeongguk doesn’t even get a change to react. “I didn’t mean it like that. I
don’t want you to leave. I don’t want you to feel like it’s your fault. It’s just my body that
isn’t used to it. It’ll be fine. I just need time. Don’t worry, Jeongguk-ah. Please?”

Once more, Jeongguk stares at him without replying for a long moment. His emotions are all
over the place, Jimin can smell them, can somehow easily pick them out right now. He tries
to suppress the nausea, but it’s not easing up at all.

“I don’t want to leave either,” Jeongguk says. His voice sounds so vulnerable, Jimin’s heart
breaks a little bit. He’s glad he’s not the only one wishing for Jeongguk’s presence. And it’s
wrong. It’s so wrong, but he can’t help it. He keeps saying he’ll be selfish for a little bit
longer, but more and more time goes on and he’s yet to let Jeongguk go. “I’ll stay. I’ll try my
best to suppress my pheromones and not to come too close to you, hyung. And I’ll stay to
take care of you for a few more days because it doesn’t feel right to leave you like this.”

Days . Jimin closes his eyes and shakes his head. “You don’t have to. I’ll really be fine soon.”

“But, I want to stay,” Jeongguk says. “Don’t make me leave, hyung. Let me take care of you.
Just this once.”

Jimin is so weak. He always was when it came to Jeongguk. All Jeongguk ever had to do was
make puppy eyes for him and Jimin would bend to his will, would do anything for him. Now
is no different. Jeongguk only has to speak and Jimin can’t help but agree.

“Okay,” he whispers.

He doesn’t have the strength to fight it, anyway. He’s too exhausted.

“I’ll make you something to eat,” Jeongguk says.

He’s gone before Jimin can so much as wrap his head around what’s happening. How did
everything change so suddenly, so quickly? Why did Jeongguk have to pop into his life again
after he was finally starting to feel like he had it all under control?

Jimin falls asleep between messy thoughts and shaky limbs. It feels like he sleeps far too
little and when he opens his eyes again, it’s still dark inside his room. Jeongguk is sitting in
one of the chairs from the living room. He must have pulled it into Jimin’s room at some
point through out the night. His legs are spread and his arms are folded over his chest, body
slack with sleep. His head is tilted down.

It looks so uncomfortable. Jimin wants to wake him up, but he also doesn’t want to. He wants
to look at him for a while longer, take him in, memorize every inch of him. So, he stares. He
trails his eyes down his body and all the way up. A gentle wave of pheromones is leaving his
body now that he’s sleeping. The room smells like him again. It’s as if he can’t stop himself
from releasing them and right now, it’s probably because he’s fast asleep and he can’t help
what his alpha is doing.

Slowly, Jimin tries to get up. His head is still heavy and there’s a throbbing pain in his
temples. But he’s not shaking as much anymore. Bare feet touch the floor and a shiver trails
up his body. It disappears fast enough and he slowly makes his way out of the room, mindful
of stepping around Jeongguk and being as quiet as possible.

Thankfully, Jeongguk doesn’t stir. He must be tired. Jimin wonders what he’s been doing all
day while he was sleeping and resting in bed. A slow and tiring trip to the kitchen lets him
know that he must have eaten soup at some point in between naps because there are two used
plates in the sink. He doesn’t remember waking up and panic quickly settles in his chest.
What if Jeongguk touched him?

He goes back to his room in a hurry, instantly staring at Jeongguk’s chest to see if it’s
moving. It is. It rises and falls to his steady breathing. Jimin leans back against the wall and
places his hand on his chest. For a second there he thought that Jeongguk was― no . He’ll
never allow himself to hurt Jeongguk like that. He’ll never let anything happen to him. He’d
never forgive himself if something like that happened.

Jimin must have eaten by himself, even if he doesn’t quite remember.

Again, he leaves the room slowly, makes his way to the bathroom and only then does he
notice that he’s feeling sick to the stomach. Maybe it was the fear of having possibly hurt
Jeongguk or maybe it’s just the constant nausea he’s been having for the past few hours.
Either way, he doubles over and throws up.

He leans against the wall again, shaking, feeling horrible. A part of him knows that the easy
solution to this is Jeongguk leaving. And he should let him go. He should . But he doesn’t
want to. Tears are streaming down his face then. It’s too late to keep them in. So, he closes
his eyes and lets it wash over him. The pain. All of those emotions he’s been collecting in his
chest for years. They take over him and he can’t stop.

“Hyung,” Jeongguk’s whisper startles him. His eyes snap open and he finds him standing
there, looking at him. “What happened, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

Jimin shakes his head, grateful that Jeongguk isn’t trying to reach out to him, grateful that
he’s being mindful of keeping his distance. He has no strength left in his body. He’s
trembling, but he’s not sure if it’s because of the crying or because he just threw up.

“I just don’t feel well,” he replies.

What more can he say? It’s the truth. Maybe he should drive Jeongguk to leave. He should
tell him to go. It’s the reasonable thing to do.

“Should I leave?” Jeongguk asks. “I feel like I’m only making it worse and worse. I don’t
want to hurt you, hyung. I can go.” Jimin opens his eyes and looks at him. He finds him
crouching down now, still standing outside of the bathroom. “I’ll go,” he adds in a small
whisper.

Yes. He should go. He should tell him to go. More tears stream down his face. He can’t. He
can’t say it. He can’t ask him to go. His eyes fall shut and a sob leaves his mouth. How can
someone unstabilize him so much, so easily? It feels like he’s at Jeongguk’s mercy, unable to
do anything to push him away.

“You should go to bed, hyung,” Jeongguk suggests. “I wish I could carry you. Do you think
you can walk?”

Jimin nods. He thinks he can. It’s a struggle to get on his feet and when he does, his knees
feel shaky. But after a few seconds of hesitation, he finally manages to stay up properly. He
sniffles, trying to keep the tears at bay because he already made a fool of himself crying in
front of Jeongguk. He doesn’t want him to see him like this, to realize how broken he actually
is being away from everything he ever loved.

Jeongguk follows close by, as if ready to reach out to catch him if he falls. So, Jimin does his
best not to. He doesn’t want Jeongguk touching him and hurting himself. He falls back into
bed, curls into a ball on his side and startles when Jeongguk gently covers him with the
sheets. He’s mindful of not touching him, but Jimin’s heart still beats frantically in his chest
at the idea of Jeongguk accidentally brushing against his skin.

He only calms down once Jeongguk steps back and moves back to the chair. He takes a seat
and looks at Jimin. Jimin’s skin prickles with warmth. The ugly feeling that’s taken over his
body made him forget briefly about all the other things he was feeling at first. The warmth
and the tingling in his belly, the fluttering of his heart.

“Do you remember that time we both got sick?” He asks suddenly.

Jimin does. When werewolves are growing up, still haven’t presented, they’re more likely to
get sick. It’s not something that happens in fully grown werewolves, but pups, it can happen.
It was one time that they’d gotten into the lake a bit too late, on a far too chilly night. They’d
woken up with a fever, both feeling like the world was ending.

It lasted just two days, but it felt like eternity.

“I do,” he whispers.

He closes his eyes because he feels too exhausted to keep them open.

“Your mother made us cupcakes,” Jeongguk says. Jimin listens, tries to keep his focus on the
conversation, even though he’s already starting to feel to tired to stay awake. “She still makes
them, you know? I always go visit her and she’s always waiting for me with cupcakes.”

Jimin’s heart hurts. He misses them. He misses her. He misses his family.

“The chocolate ones?” He asks softly.

“Yeah, the blueberry ones, too,” Jeongguk says. “Maybe I could bring you some one day.”

No. Because Jimin will be leaving once Jeongguk is gone. But he doesn’t know that. So,
Jimin nods and falls silent again.

“I miss seeing you walking around the camp and annoying the shit out of Taehyung.”

Taehyung. It’s been so long since Jimin last saw him. He was also Jimin’s best friend. The
three of them would do so much together.

“Is he doing okay?”

He opens his eyes again because he just can’t help it and finds Jeongguk leaning forward.
He’s looking at him, his expression a mixture of sadness and worry.

“Yeah,” Jeongguk replies. “He says he’s angry with you, but I can tell he misses you so much
he’d run to you the second he saw you again.”

Jimin looks away. “He can’t.”

The words seal the conversation. He can’t. Nobody can run to him. Nobody can touch him.
It’s been so long, Jimin doesn’t even remember how it feels to be scented anymore. He
wasn’t paying as much attention as he would have wished the last time it happened. Why did
he have to? He didn’t know it would be the last.

“Go to sleep, hyung,” Jeongguk whispers. He stands up and he suddenly looks so imposing
like that, looking down at Jimin’s form on the bed. “I’m going for a run.”

Jimin watches him go, fear taking over his body. A part of him wonders if that means he’ll
leave. The other part of him is hoping that he’ll come back.

↢↣

Jeongguk did come back. He doesn’t leave and even though he shouldn’t, Jimin can’t help
but be grateful. Things will never be the way they used to be, he’ll never get to sleep next to
Jeongguk again and hold his hand and hug him tight. But at least he can look at him now. At
least he’s close by, even if he’s not close enough.

Day two goes by just the same as the day before. He throws up three times, barely manages
to keep down the food Jeongguk is making for him and he spends all day in bed, shivering,
trembling, wondering if it will ever end. Jeongguk keeps asking if he should leave, but Jimin
keeps shaking his head no. And so, Jeongguk stays. Despite the task he was given, despite
having to survey the area for his pack, he stays with Jimin and takes care of him.

Day three is better. Jimin wakes up without feeling cold, no longer trembling and when
Jeongguk gives him breakfast, he doesn’t feel nauseous after he’s done eating it. He holds it
down. It feels like his body is finally growing used to Jeongguk’s scent being around him,
invading him.

Even though things are different, it’s as if they fall into a routine again. They talk, reminisce
the past. And for the most part, they are happy memories that Jimin doesn’t mind
remembering. And yet at the end of the day, he’ll lay in bed and stare at the ceiling, wish for
things he can’t have. Things he’ll never have.

And Jeongguk will be there, so close but so far away. Too far for him to reach.

“Hyung?” Jimin’s voice interrupts his trail of thoughts.

He looks up from his plate, finding him standing in the living room. He only has shorts on
and there’s water clinging to his body. He must have gotten into the lake after his run. He
does that a lot. He disappears for an hour or so. Jimin wonder if he’s running because he
wants to be connected with his instincts or if he’s doing it because being in the house is too
overwhelming.
It’s frustrating to realize how much Jimin thinks about Jeongguk as a part of his home. It’s
only been three days since he slipped into his life and Jimin is dreading the thought of him
leaving. He has no reason to stay. Even these past three days, there’s been no reason. Jimin
knows he should send him home but every time he finds the strength to do so, Jeongguk will
come walking into his home like this and make Jimin feel so happy of having him here.

“How was your run?” He asks, focusing on eating.

He’s feeling fine enough today that he managed to get out of bed and sit down on the table.
Jeongguk pads his way across the living room into the kitchen and washes his hands quickly
before heading to the table. Jimin tenses briefly, but relaxes once he sees Jeongguk pulling a
chair a bit back and taking a seat there, a good distance from him.

“Okay,” Jeongguk replies. “You’re feeling better, aren’t you?” When Jimin nods, Jeongguk
nods as well. “I’m glad, hyung. I was worried you’d keep feeling this way.”

Because if it never stopped, then the only solution would have been for Jeongguk to leave.
And that’s what’s supposed to happen. They’re supposed to part ways as if they never saw
each other again because it should have stayed that way. Jimin was never meant to see this
Jeongguk, all grown up and stubborn and eager to take care of him. Jimin has been fine on
his own for years.

“Thank you for um, taking care of me,” he whispers. Here’s the chance. This is when he’s
supposed to tell him to go . “You didn’t have to, but I’m really grateful you did.”

“It’s okay, hyung,” Jeongguk says, before Jimin can keep going. “I wanted to.”

Jimin’s eyebrows furrow. He sets his fork down and leans back in his chair. His pulse
quickens when Jeongguk stands up.

“Jeongguk.”

Jeongguk pauses. Their eyes meet. He shakes his head. “Don’t, hyung.”

However he can tell, Jimin will always wonder. He stands up too. He has to do it. He can’t
prolong it any longer. Even if he’s finally feeling fine. What’s going to happen now? What’s
the point? Jeongguk has to leave, anyway.

“You have to go,” he urges, taking a step closer to him, even though he knows he shouldn’t.
“You know you do, Jeongguk.”

“I don’t want to,” he replies. “I can stay and―”

“And what?” Jimin interrupts. “Stay for how long? There’s no point. Nothing is going to
change, Jeongguk. And even though I want you to stay, I can’t keep you here. You’re not
supposed to be here. You’re life is back there, your family is back there. I missed you and I
still can’t fully believe that you’re here, but you can’t stay. You have to go.”

He’s met with silence. Jeongguk’s hands close in fists and his shoulders shake. He keeps his
head down, but Jimin can tell by his pheromones that he’s frustrated and angry. Sad. Jimin is
trying his best to suppress his emotions because he doesn’t want Jeongguk to know just how
much it hurts to let him go. He hates that this happened, that he allowed himself to selfishly
accept his presence when he knew he was supposed to make him go.

“You want me to stay,” Jeongguk says, eventually. Jimin’s eyebrows furrowed, confused by
his response. “Why can’t you keep me here, hyung?” He asks. “Why can’t I just stay with
you?”

Jimin shakes his head, wrapping his arms around himself as if that will protect him. But, the
thing is, Jeongguk has already settled himself deep inside Jimin’s heart. There’s no protecting
him, there’s no stopping the inevitable. It feels like everything around him is crumbling
down.

“What’s the point?” He asks sadly. “Why would you stay when you’ll constantly be in fear of
touching me? What if I accidentally touch you? What if you get hurt?”

“I’m not scared, hyung,” Jeongguk replies. “I’ve never been scared of you. And I never will
be. I trust you. I know that you won’t hurt me.”

“It’s not about trust,” Jimin mutters, carding his fingers through his hair, frustrated. How can
he not get it? It’s not something he can control. “It’s not like I have a choice. If you touch
me―”

“Then, I won’t,” Jeongguk interrupts.

He’s so adamant. So stubborn. Jimin is so busy growing frustrated he doesn’t realize that
Jeongguk is not standing directly in front of him, close enough that he can feel the heat
radiating off his body and panic makes him step back sharply. It makes his head spin and he
places his hand on the table, trying to hold himself up.

“Hyung―” Jeongguk reaches out.

Jimin flinches. “You see?” He asks, shaking his head, walking further away, the table now in
between them. “What if you reach out to me one day and touch me?”

Jeongguk’s hand hovers in the air between them before it drops down to his side, once more
closed in a fist.

“I’ll be careful,” he murmurs. He’s not looking at Jimin anymore and it almost looks as if
he’s physically restrained, body trembling the slightest bit, waves of worry and frustration
leaving his body. His pheromones are starting to make Jimin’s omega stir in his chest. The
progress he’d made growing acostumbed to Jeongguk’s strong scent starts to disappear.
“Don’t make me leave, hyung. Not yet. Just for a little bit longer,” he pleads.

How did they get here? It feels stupid to believe that just a few days ago he was alone here
and that now Jeongguk has been keeping him company. Too good to be true.

“Don’t make this harder for me, Jeongguk-ah,” he pleads. “I can’t do this again.”
He can’t. Letting Jeongguk go once was so hard and Jeongguk was still so young, still hadn’t
presented, didn’t have a scent that would linger about Jimin’s life once he was away. He was
his best friend, the person he’d grown up next to, the person he never expected he’d have to
let go of. It feels like it’s not yet too late to let him go without consequences he might never
move past.

Maybe there’s a chance he can still save his heart. Because as much as he doesn’t want to
accept it, he feels something for Jeongguk that he’s never felt for anyone. Jeongguk’s scent
might be strong and might have made things hard for him, but it brought something soothing
as well. It gave Jimin hope . For what, he doesn’t know.

After a very long while of silence, Jeongguk finally looks up and their eyes meet again.
“Hyung, you―” He shakes his head, as if that’s not the way he wants to start his following
words. “I think you’re the person I’m meant to be with,” he confesses. And it feels like his
words shatter everything inside Jimin because a part of him knows , too. His omega does, his
instincts do. He feels the tug, he’s just been trying so hard to fight it. How would it ever be
possible for them to have what Jimin wishes they could have? “And I know you’re scared,
but I can’t leave you here. I can’t go away and pretend seeing you again didn’t change my
priorities, because I―”

“Your priorities are with your pack,” Jimin interrupts. He can’t let Jeongguk keep going. He
can’t keep him here any longer.

“ You’re my pack!” Jeongguk yells

His pheromones are going wild, they’re all over the place, invading Jimin’s senses again. For
days, he’s kept them at bay and suddenly, Jimin can’t breathe properly. His knees feel weak,
his body feels too heavy, his heart is beating too fast. His hand falls to the table again,
struggling even more to keep himself on both feet.

“I’m not your pack,” he whispers weakly. “I don’t have a pack. I’m a rogue, Jeongguk. I
don’t―”

“No,” Jeongguk interrupts, shaking his head. “You’re still a part of the pack, even if you left.
You can come back whenever you want to, hyung. You can come back.”

Jeongguk turns around and leaves before Jimin can so much as respond. He’s out the door,
running out into the clearing and Jimin is following because he can’t help it. Jeongguk has to
understand. He can’t stay.

“There’s not a place for me there, Jeongguk!” He yells, almost tripping over on his own feet
as he moves down the few stairs to catch up with Jeongguk.

His hands are closed in fists and when he turns around to look at Jimin, his eyes are glowing.
An amber tone to them that has Jimin mesmerized for a second too long. He hasn’t ever seen
Jeongguk’s wolf. The first turn must have been after he left. But he looks so wild right now.
So different and yet just the same.

“There’s always a place for you,” Jeongguk says. He’s trembling, still. Restraining himself.
“Jeongguk, please,” he mumbles. He feels defeated. He doesn’t know how to make Jeongguk
understand. “ Please .”

Pain flashes through Jeongguk’s gaze. “Don’t ask me to leave you, hyung.” Jimin wraps his
arms around himself again. Now it’s him who’s shaking. He feels nauseous again, his head is
spinning. “I can’t. ”

Tears are streaming down Jimin’s cheeks. He’s in pain. He wants Jeongguk to leave, but he
also wants him to stay. His mind is a mess. His wolf is a mess. And he wishes Jeongguk
would hug him. He wishes there was no curse and that Jeongguk could wrap his arms around
him, hold him until the pain subsides.

His knees give in. He falls. And there’s a split second during which Jimin doesn’t even move.
Doesn’t even realize what’s going on around him. Jeongguk’s fingers brush against his arm.
He jerks away so fast that he falls back on his ass, hands stretched out in front of him to stop
Jeongguk. But in doing so, he touches him again . Fingers brush Jeongguk’s. He pulls back
so fast, fingers clenching around his shirt, holding onto something because he’s panicking.

Jeongguk just touched him. He just touched his skin. He looks up, eyes wide and finds that
Jeongguk is staring back just as shocked. His hand is still hovering in the air and his
expression is startled and Jimin waits . He waits for Jeongguk to double over in pain and cry
and sob. He waits for the pain that he’ll feel when he realizes how much he hurt him.

And yet, it never happens. Jeongguk is still standing there, still looking, fine .

Jeongguk’s eyebrows furrow. He looks at his hand with confusion all over his expression.
And then he looks at Jimin, slowly inching closer.

“Hyung, it’s―”

“No!” Jimin yells, crawling back, struggling to get up when he’s moving away from
Jeongguk quickly, terrified. “No, I can’t,” he says, shaking his head and reaching his hands in
front of him, stopping Jeongguk’s walking. “You―you―”

“I’m okay,” Jeongguk whispers, when Jimin fails to continue. “Nothing happened, hyung.
See?” He asks. Another step, Jimin whimpers and shakes his head furiously. He takes a step
back, almost trips over his feet. “Hyung, I’m okay.”

“Maybe it wasn’t long enough to hurt you,” Jimin mutters, more tears streaming down his
face. “I don’t know. I don’t know!” He exclaims. He almost falls over when his feet reach the
stairs and he’s quick to step up, reach the entrance of the house. “Please, don’t come closer. I
can’t hurt you. It would kill me, please don’t do this Jeongguk.”

“Hyung,” Jeongguk whispers, his expression softening. “But you didn’t hurt me.” Jimin
shakes his head. “You didn’t, hyung. Please, just―breathe for me, hyung. Calm down, I
won’t come closer, okay?” He asks, lifting his hands in the air. He’s not moving anymore, but
Jimin’s body is still shaking with fear. “I’m okay, see? Look at me. I’m okay .”
“You have to leave,” Jimin pleads. Maybe this is some trick. Maybe the curse is playing with
him. And another touch will hurt Jeongguk. He can’t risk it. “Leave, Jeongguk! You’re
hurting me, can’t you see?” Jeongguk takes a step back, hurt filling his features. “I was fine
without you! I was okay!”

Jeongguk looks away. His jaw clenches.

“Fuck,” he growls, his eyes shining that amber again. “ Fine. ” That single word somehow
hurts more than anything Jimin has ever heard before.

He turns around and runs. Jimin watches him shift halfway into the woods, a big white wolf
disappearing in between green. Jimin clutches the front of his shirt with his hands, body
trembling. He’s gone. He’s actually gone. He throws the door closed and slides down against
it, wrapping his arms around his knees. Sobs make his body shake, tears stream down his
face.

Jeongguk is gone. And even though Jimin was the one to send him away, his heart is
breaking, his omega is already missing him and there’s nothing he wants more than to feel
the brush of his fingers against his skin once more.

↢↣

Jimin wakes up in bed. He moved onto it at some point after almost crying himself to sleep.
His skin feels oddly tingly, far too sensitive against the sheets. And everything is so… hot .
There’s a dull ache in his temples, warmth in the low of his belly, a strange pull in his chest.

He stirs and freezes when he realizes he’s not alone in the room anymore. It smells so strong .
Or maybe it’s just him sensing things wrong. Despite the musky scent, a pleasant shudder
rolls down his body and he curls further into a ball, overwhelmed.

He knows what this is. He knows even before Jeongguk speaks up. A glance towards him lets
Jimin know that he’s sitting in a chair again, legs spread, elbows on his knees. Head hanging
between his shoulders, he looks up. His eyes are golden again. He’s reacting to Jimin’s
pheromones clinging to every inch of the room.

“I thought―” he tries, but his throat feels so dry and every little movement feels like such an
immense effort.

“That I left?” Jeongguk asks. His voice is husky. Even if his pheromones weren’t dancing
along Jimin’s at the moment, Jimin would be able to tell just by his voice that he’s very
perfectly aware of his situation. “I couldn’t, hyung.” He sounds pained again and Jimin can’t
even think about what to reply. His omega is clawing at his chest, begging him not to drive
Jeongguk away again. And, if he’s being honest with himself, he doesn’t think he can push
him away any longer and it’s not just his pre-heat making him feel this way. It’s everything
he feels, everything he wishes for with Jeongguk. “How could I leave when my wolf is
telling me I have to stay?” His gaze lifts. “And I came back and the house smelled so strong.
I thought―I was worried. And then I walk in and you look so…”

Jimin closes his eyes and tries to calm down, but he can feel Jeongguk’s gaze on his curled
body, feels his skin burn as he looks at him. Jimin tries to stay as still as possible because the
sheets feel weird on his skin and Jeongguk’s gaze is making his omega stir. His heats are
always sort of bad. They’re tiring and overwhelming and the heat gets so bad he can barely
open his eyes at times. Because he hasn’t been scented in such a long time, doesn’t have a
pack scent lingering to settle down his omega, it doesn’t sit well on his body.

He wonders if Jeongguk’s presence, his scent, will make this heat worse or better. It’s hitting
too soon, that’s for sure. Must have been triggered by the fight or just by Jeongguk’s presence
over the past three days. Jimin is terrified and he craves Jeongguk’s closeness more than he
has in years.

“I’m worried,” Jeongguk voices out. His jaw is clenched and his eyes are still amber, a clear
indication that he’s affected by Jimin’s pre-heat. It’s not wise of him to be here. His alpha will
want to take care of Jimin. And Jimin will want to be taken care of by him. His feelings for
Jeongguk will be intensified, his desire to have his warmth will be so strong he’ll beg . “How
do I take care of you, hyung?” He asks, pleading. He stands up and Jimin tenses. How is he
still here after they fought? How is he here after they touched? He should be scared. “How do
I make sure you’re okay if I can’t even card my fingers through your hair and reassure you?”

Jimin whimpers. It’s a mixture of pain and desire. It’s progressing fast, that much he can tell.
It won’t be long before he’s fully in heat and the thought makes his cheeks heat up, but it also
makes a whine bubble up his throat.

“Y-You don’t have to,” he whispers. “I’ll be fine, just―”

“Don’t ask me to go,” Jeongguk interrupts. Despite his tone, his gaze is soft and pleading. “I
mean,” he breathes out, seemingly attempting to relax. “I won’t stay here. Not when you’re in
heat. Because if I do, I’ll want to hold you and take care of you. And I can’t do that.” Jimin’s
eyes fill with silent tears. Jeongguk’s words hurt and he’s not even sure of why. It feels as if
they slice open his heart and break it into a million pieces. “It’ll kill me, hyung. It’ll kill me
more than it’ll hurt to be away.”

Jimin doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t know how to respond to that. So he says the only
thing he can and hopes that Jeongguk will be able to understand, that he’ll be able to express
what he feels through that single word.

“ Jeongguk .”

Their eyes meet and Jeongguk takes a step back. He cards his fingers through his hair, seems
so hesitant as he moves from one side to the other. He looks at Jimin again and shakes his
head.

“You can’t say my name like that, hyung,” Jeongguk murmurs. “You wanted me to leave.
I―” he stops, nostrils flaring when Jimin shifts and his scent undoubtedly spreads across the
room. “I think it’s your heat speaking. I don’t lose control, but you smell so nice and there’s
nothing I wish I could do more than burrow my face in your neck and scent you.”

It’s as if images flash in front of Jimin’s eyelids when he closes his eyes. Jeongguk only ever
came close to his neck once. It was when neither of them had presented yet, so they didn’t
have scents. And so, a thumb brushing against the inside of a wrist, against the crook of a
neck. It was all about the feeling, not about the scenting. Yet, Jimin remembers it feeling
nice. The way Jeongguk smiled so sweetly before he leaned in and pressed his face to his
neck. It was a brief moment during which he just stayed there, didn’t even breathe him in.
And then he was hugging him tight, falling asleep right beside him.

Oddly enough, Jimin imagines that when Jeongguk says that he wishes he could burrow his
face in his neck. He wishes for that, too. He wishes he could be scented and held.

“It’s not,” he whispers, a single tear slipping down his cheek. “It’s not my heat speaking. I
want you to stay, even though I know I shouldn’t,” he confesses. And after the first words
leave his mouth, there’s no stopping the rest from coming out as well. “It’s selfish, I know .
But you being here for the past three days has reminded me of how badly I missed you, how
badly I missed the way things used to be. And yes, you should leave. Because what’s the
point, really? What’s the point in anything when you can’t even come near me?” He asks. He
keeps going before Jeongguk can reply. “There is no point, Jeongguk. There isn’t . But it
doesn’t mean I want you any less. I want you to be here with me so badly I just―” he stops
himself, shaking his head.

He pulls his pillow to his chest and holds onto it for dear life because at least like that he can
imagine it’s Jeongguk. He can restrain himself, he can keep himself grounded.

“I want you too, hyung,” Jeongguk whispers. He steps towards the bed but then pauses,
seems to realize it’s not the best idea. Jimin’s body is starting to ache and the familiar
sensation starts to crawl down his limbs. He can tell Jeongguk realizes the shift in his scent
because he tenses, his jaw locks and he releases a shaky exhale. His eyes are full of lust all so
suddenly and Jimin has to look away because it’s starting to drive his omega crazy. “There
are so many things I want to say, but I can’t right now. I think your heat is starting. And I
need to make sure you have everything at hand for when I leave.”

And really, Jimin is ready to let him go without saying anything more. But his brain and his
mouth think otherwise because the second Jeongguk turns away to leave, he blurts out, “don’t
go.”

Jeongguk pauses. He groans. Jimin’s arousal grows.

“I’ll come back when it’s over,” he promises softly. “And I’ll make sure to leave everything
you might need before I go.”

He sounds apologetic, even though it’s nothing he can control, even though there’s nothing he
can change. Jimin holds his tongue even when he wants to ask him to stay again. It’s not even
about his heat. All he wishes is that Jeongguk would lie down beside him and look at him and
hold him.
He tightens his hold around the pillow and presses his face to it, hoping it’ll hold back his
sob. He doesn’t move his face away until several minutes later when he hears the front door
closing and Jeongguk’s presence can no longer be felt.

Then, he rolls onto his back and stares at the ceiling for a split second. Jeongguk’s absence
only makes everything worse. Because his pheromones linger in the space around him and
they make him crave what he can’t have. It’s a little mindless, really. How his hand slides
down his belly, slips under his shorts and wraps around his cock. He tries not to think about
Jeongguk, but it’s hard when everything smells like him.

It’s not satisfying at all, even though pleasure tingles up his spine quickly and warmth
spreads inside his belly. His toes curl and his eyes flutter shut and he gets lost in a world
where Jeongguk’s touch isn’t that impossible to reach. The heat messes with his senses,
makes his brain imagine things that feel so vivid.

He imagines the feel of Jeongguk’s strong hands on his hips, the pressure they apply against
the low of his back, the way they sink into his hair and make goosebumps arise all over his
arms.

And then there’s his lips against his jaw, his mouth near his scent gland, his body pressed
close. There’s pleasure escalating so fast and steady that Jimin soon enough comes, body
jerking violently with the overwhelming sensation. It does nothing to soothe the ache in his
belly and he’s quickly getting hard again.

In between heat waves, he drinks from the bottles of water that Jeongguk left behind near the
door and nibbles on the cookies that he bought in the city, so similar to the ones his mother
baked. But it’s hard to keep them down when he’s feeling so hot and desperate. He’s covered
in sweat and no matter what he does, the tightness in his belly doesn’t subside. He showers
and gets back into the messy sheets because he’s too exhausted to change them―and they’ll
get all messed up again, anyway.

It’s a mess of slick and cum and Jimin’s feelings are all over the place. But the thought of
Jeongguk coming back afterwards. His words. I’ll come back when it’s over . They help Jimin
through it.

When it’s over―Jimin has no idea how long has gone by―and the constant state of arousal
leaves his body, he curls back into a ball and closes his eyes tightly. Even now that it’s over,
he still wants Jeongguk. He knew as much. He knew it wasn’t the heat making him feel this
intense craving. It’s his wolf, his body knowing what he refuses to accept. He wants
Jeongguk so badly that it hurts.

It doesn’t take long. A minute? Two? Maybe Jimin drifts off and that’s why it feels like such
a short time. But when his eyes flutter open again, he finds Jeongguk standing by the door.
He’s shirtless, only has shorts on. His chest is heaving. Did he not stop running? All through
out Jimin’s heat, did he never stop?

His pulse quickens. Jimin becomes painfully aware of the fact that he’s naked under the
sheets. And his skin is still so sensitive to the touch, tingling strangely when he shifts under
the dovers. Jeongguk’s eyes rake down his body, make him feel hot all over again. But then
his gaze softens when he meets Jimin’s and he steps into the room, invading the space all
over again. He smells so nice and soothing, Jimin’s restless omega settles down immediately.

When did Jeongguk’s pheromones stop messing with his body and become such a soothing
thing? It feels like he’s gone through a million emotions all at once in the lapse of just a few
hours. It’s felt that way ever since three days ago. Jeongguk turned his whole world upside
down.

“How are you feeling, hyung?” Jeongguk asks, voice rough.

It does something to Jimin. It makes his body warm, it makes him crave .

“I don’t know,” Jimin confesses softly, pressing his face to the pillow in an effort to hide
himself.

He’s embarrassed about the mess he’s made and he can’t help but notice the way Jeongguk’s
body tenses, the way his gaze keeps drifting over the sheets as if he can’t help but stare at the
traces that Jimin has left behind.

“I wish I could hold you right now,” Jeongguk murmurs, looking away for a brief second. He
closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. When his eyes open, they have that
amber in them that Jimin is quickly starting to associate with Jeongguk’s inability to hold
back his wolf’s reactions. It’s as if it expresses itself whenever he feels something intense. “I
want to hold you so badly, hyung.” Jimin wants that too. He’s never felt so overwhelmed
after a heat. It normally leaves him exhausted and that’s that. This time around, mixed with
that exhaustion there’s sadness and pain and desire for more. Jeongguk’s presence helps, but
at the same time it drives him crazy. “I could,” he adds, so softly that Jimin almost doesn’t
hear it. “I’m still fine, aren’t I? It’s been almost two days. And nothing happened to me,
hyung.”

His voice is so gentle, so tentative, as if he’s scared Jimin will shatter if he speaks too loud, if
he presses too much.

“I’m so scared, Jeongguk,” he mumbles tiredly. “I’m so scared of hurting you. But I’m also
so scared of what I feel. It’s driving me crazy. Why did you come back? Why did you have to
walk into my life again and turn it upside down?”

“I’m sorry,” Jeongguk replies softly. He doesn’t sound angry with Jimin’s words. And, the
thing is, Jimin isn’t trying to push him away anymore. He doesn’t have the strength right
now. He feels so physically and emotionally exhausted that he can barely move, much less
keep his eyes open long enough. He’s being honest. Why did Jeongguk come into his life to
change everything all over again? “But sometimes I missed you so much that I couldn't sleep,
hyung. Even though it’s been five years, I constantly thought about you, constantly hoped
that you would come back. And I’m glad I found you again. I’m so glad I’m here, with you.”

Jimin is, too. Even if he’s hurting, having Jeongguk feels so reassuring. Jeongguk’s presence
is like a soft blanket covering him, his pheromones now gentle and calming.
“I missed you so much too.” He opens his eyes again so he can look at Jeongguk. “And I
thought about you a lot. I wondered what you were up to. I thought about it, too. About going
back. But it scared me too much. I don’t think I can. Ever.”

“Shh, hyung.” Jeongguk steps into the room and heads towards the bed. Maybe Jimin is more
tired than he thought because he can’t find it in himself to panic over his closeness. “Lets get
you out of those sheets, hm? I’ll change them for you while you shower. And we’ll talk when
you’re feeling refreshed. Okay?”

Jimin’s heart constricts. Tears form in his eyes, but for entirely different reasons. Jeongguk’s
words make him feel so loved, so cherished. And for a moment, he wonders if this is how it
would be if he were to go back to the pack. If Jeongguk would find these small and subtle
ways to take care of him even if he can’t touch him.

“Okay,” he whispers.

Jeongguk brings back a towel for him to wrap around his body and heads to the bathroom to
open up the water stream and let it warm. When he comes back to Jimin’s room, he’s already
on his feet, towel wrapped around him tightly. He feels sticky and dirty, but the way
Jeongguk’s gentle gaze slides over him makes him relax and settle down.

“I’ll leave clothes for you on the toilet lid,” Jeongguk says as Jimin leaves the room.

He mumbles a quick thank you and disappears into the bathroom, leaving the door ajar. Once
more, he doesn’t feel particularly shy about being naked in front of Jeongguk, but he does
feel a little bit embarrassed because he’s covered in slick and cum.

He hears Jeongguk walk into the bathroom and probably drop off his clothes before he’s
gone. Jimin’s body still feels weak, so he tries not to take too long showering. Once he’s done
with cleaning up, he tilts his head back and just enjoys the feel of water falling over his body,
soothing his aching muscles.

When he walks out of the bathroom, he finds Jeongguk leaning against the wall, right next to
the bathroom’s door. He’s no longer shirtless and he quickly leans away when Jimin comes
out. He takes a step back and Jimin is grateful, even if he’s not paying as much attention to it.
His brain feels fuzzy and he’s too exhausted to worry.

“Want to go lie down, hyung?” He asks.

Jimin nods letting his feet guide him to the bedroom and dropping down tiredly on the sheets.
They’re clean and smell like Jeongguk. He makes a soft and pleased sound, presses his face
deeper into the pillow.

“They smell like you,” he mumbles, turning his head to the side so he can speak, cheek
staying on the pillow.

Jeongguk shows him a small smile, pulling the chair closer to the bed. He settles right beside
Jimin, sits facing him. He’s so much closer, making Jimin’s pulse quicken. Not close enough
that they could accidentally touch if they moved, but close enough that Jimin feels like he
could reach out and trace Jeongguk’s face in the air. Close enough that he could hope for
touch and warmth, even if he shouldn’t.

“You should sleep, hyung,” Jeongguk whispers. “Rest up. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Jimin closes his eyes. But then he opens them again and looks into Jeongguk’s. “Will you?”

If he could, he’d fall asleep gripping Jeongguk’s hand, making sure he really doesn’t leave.

“I promise, baby.”

Jimin hums, his body giving in to exhaustion. His eyes flutter shut and his limbs relax as
Jeongguk’s calming pheromones permeate the air, reach his skin, take over his senses. So
gentle, so nice. So strong. Jimin’s heart is beating fast, but this time around, it doesn’t feel as
scary as it did before.

↢↣

When Jimin opens his eyes again, Jeongguk is still there. He shouldn’t be getting used to it,
but it’s such a nice feeling, knowing that Jeongguk is right there in case he needs him. And he
does need him. He needs him so much doesn’t even want to think about him having to go.

“How are you feeling, hyung?” Jeongguk asks the second his eyes meet Jimin’s.

He sits up tiredly, fingers playing with each other on his lap. He feels strangely well rested,
something that doesn’t normally happen when he’s freshly out of a heat. Jeongguk’s head tilts
to the side in questioning and Jimin clears his throat.

“Thirsty.”

Jeongguk is up instantly. He comes back just seconds later with a bottle of water and hands it
over to him.

“Sorry I didn’t think about that,” he says, sitting back down on the chair. “I just―it’s the first
time I’m taking care of someone after a heat, so…” he trails off.

Jimin’s heart starts beating faster as the words reach his ears. He likes that, even if it feels
selfish to think so. He doesn’t have to tell Jeongguk that this is also the first time someone is
taking care of him after a heat. They both share knowing looks before Jimin looks away
shyly. What happens now? He has no strength left to tell Jeongguk to leave―and he doesn’t
want him to, anyway. He just can’t ask him to when the thought of never seeing him again
makes him want to cry.

“Are you up for talking, hyung?” Jeongguk asks, then. He stands up and Jimin watches him
nervously as he moves to the other side of the bed and takes a seat. He’s close to the other
corner, legs crossed. He’s too close, but once more, Jimin doesn’t move. He doesn’t flinch.
“Yeah,” he replies softly. “I’m sorry about…everything. About trying to make you leave. You
have to understand, Jeongguk. If I were to hurt you, I think I wouldn’t―I could never live
with it.”

Jeongguk’s gaze is gentle as he slides a bit closer. Jimin’s lap and hands are covered by the
sheets, still, but he can’t help the way his pulse quickens at Jeongguk’s advances.

“I haven’t felt pain,” he says. “At all. Nothing. And I touched you. Your fingers bumped into
mine, I brushed mine against your arm. I’m okay, hyung.”

Jimin nibbles on his lower lip nervously. He can see that. But how can he not worry when he
hurt people the first two years after he presented and he’s spent the next five by himself, too
scared of hurting anybody else, deciding to live on his own to keep his strangely dangerous
skin away from people. Away from the people he loves.

“It’s just that―” Jimin tries to convey what he feels. Jeongguk’s gaze is understanding, his
expression calm and gentle. “For years, I’ve been too scared about touching anyone. Why
would I be able to touch you? How can that be possible when I saw―I see them all the time.
I see Donghyun crawling away from me. I can’t―”

“Hyung, listen to me,” Jeongguk interrupts, once more moving closer. Jimin tenses then,
because he’s so close now, closer than he should be. “Let’s just try. Quickly, just a brush of
fingers. If it hurts, it’ll only last for a while. I promise we’ll never do it again.”

Jimin’s eyes fill with tears and Jeongguk shakes his head, reaching out. This time, Jimin
flinches. Jeongguk doesn’t move further, just lets his hand hover in the air between them and
Jimin allows himself to imagine what it would feel like if Jeongguk closed up the space and
touched his cheek, traced his jaw.

“I don’t want to see you in pain,” he whispers, the tears quickly sliding down his cheeks.

It feels like he’s been crying nonstop ever since Jeongguk walked back into his life. And right
now, he’s still overwhelmed by his heat. His body is just moving past it.

“Don’t cry, hyung,” Jeongguk pleads. “It makes me feel so powerless. It’ll be fine. I’m sure
of it. Trust me, please. Just this once. Let me touch you.”

“Jeongguk,” he pleads.

And the thing is, he already knows he’s going to say yes. Jeongguk’s hand is still in the air,
still reaching out and Jimin wants it so badly.

“Do you know that I used to think we’d end up together at some point, back when we hadn’t
even presented?” Jeongguk asks.

Jimin’s eyes meet his. Jeongguk already told him that he thinks that he’s the person he’s
meant to be with, but all of those words are only just now rushing back to Jimin’s head. The
fighting and his heat put all of that aside. Now that they’re speaking so calmly, he’s finally
realizing what it all means .
I promise, baby . That’s what Jeongguk said before he fell asleep.

“You did?” He asks softly.

He sniffles, trying to keep the tears at bay, but they still slip down his cheeks. His fingers are
intertwined in his lap and he’s holding onto them so tightly that it hurts.

Jeongguk’s lips tilt upwards. He drops his hand and slides even closer. Now he’s sitting
directly in front of Jimin, their knees pressed together through the sheets. Jimin doesn’t
remember the last time he was this close to someone. He doesn’t want to move away, even
though his brain is sending warning signals down his body.

“I used to have a huge crush on you, hyung,” Jeongguk confesses. “I didn’t really think about
what it meant. But after you left and I presented, as the years went by and I realized how
much I missed you, what everything I felt actually meant, I kept thinking that if I ever had a
chance to see you again, I would tell you all of this.”

“I used to like you, too,” Jimin murmurs. He never thought he’d say these words to
Jeongguk. After he presented and he realized what his life would be like, he never even
dreamed it. And now he’s here and Jeongguk is so close.

“Used to?” Jeongguk asks.

His lips are still tugging up into a smile and Jimin smiles weakly. He’s terrified out of his
mind, but when Jeongguk lifts his hand again, all he does is close his eyes.

“I still do,” he confesses. “I thought it was just a crush. But then I saw you again when you
walked into the clearing and I―I feel so many things.”

Jeongguk is quiet for a long time. He doesn’t reply with words, anyway. Jimin waits, heart
beating like crazy in his chest. He feels Jeongguk’s fingers inching closer, hears the bed dip
when Jeongguk leans forward. He holds his breath.

And then, there’s the gentle press of Jeongguk’s fingertips against his cheekbone. A second.
Jimin is shaking. Another second. Nothing . His eyes snap open. Jeongguk’s eyes are wide,
his expression surprised, even though he was just telling Jimin that it would all be okay, that
nothing would happen to him if they touched.

Nothing is happening. Nothing aside from Jimin’s rapidly beating heart. Nothing aside from
Jeongguk’s fingertips now pressing harder into his skin, sliding across, moving to his jaw.
There’s a moment during which Jimin is almost sure he’s imagining this. Maybe he’s still
sleeping, maybe he’s still feverish. Because there’s no way he’s here and this is true and
Jeongguk can actually touch him. How can that be possible?

It’s as if it triggers a chain reaction in Jimin. He reaches up, fingers touching Jeongguk’s
forearm. He traces upwards, follows the path to his shoulder. Nothing happens. No pain.
Jeongguk’s fingers splay out over his cheek, his palm warm against Jimin’s skin. He does the
same, cupping Jeongguk’s cheek. Nothing .
There’s no coming back from that. Jimin loses all self control. The tears come back, but he
moves before they even begin to fall. He throws himself at Jeongguk, stops thinking about all
the fear because now all he can think about is the fact that he can touch him. He can touch
Jeongguk. He can feel his skin against his own. He’s on his lap within seconds, wrapping his
arms tightly around his neck and shaking against him.

“ Jeongguk .”

A broken sob leaves his mouth. Jeongguk’s arm wraps around him, his other hand trailing up
the middle of his back until his fingers are sinking into his hair. Goosebumps arise all over
his skin. It’s such a good feeling. Jeongguk’s hands on his body, his warmth pressed to him.
All of Jeongguk right here, right now. It’s been so long .

“I’m right here, hyung,” Jeongguk whispers into his ear. “I’m okay. See? Hold onto me all
you want. I won’t ever leave your side, baby.”

Jimin sobs again and squeezes his arms tighter around him, holds onto him for dear life. His
legs tighten around Jeongguk, trying to get closer even though they’re already as close as
they can get. When the initial shock of being touched again for the first time in five years
passes, Jimin sinks his fingers into Jeongguk’s hair just because he can. He can .

He loves the way Jeongguk shudders, loves the way his fingers tighten in his hair and his
other hand squeezes his hip, pulls him flush to his body. They’re touching in all the right
places.

Jimin wants more. He wants Jeongguk’s hands all over his skin, he wants Jeongguk all over
him. He wants Jeongguk to be the only thing he can think of, the only thing he can focus on.
All he wants is Jeongguk. Jeongguk always. Jeongguk only.

“Scent me,” he pleads. “Please, Jeongguk. I want to smell like you. I want you all over my
body. I can’t―”

“Don’t cry,” Jeongguk whispers.

Jimin tugs at his hair, tilts his head back and brings Jeongguk closer. A soft rumble takes over
Jeongguk’s chest. Jimin tilts his head to the side, then. Taunting him. A breathless ‘fuck’
leaves Jeongguk’s mouth before he’s moving. The world spins as Jimin’s back hits the
mattress and Jeongguk is suddenly in between his legs, hands gripping Jimin’s wrists,
keeping them pinned to the bed.

A gasp leaves his mouth because he’s just touching Jimin’s scent glands, but the feeling is
already intense. Overwhelming. Jeongguk’s nose brushes over his skin, trails down his neck
until it’s on his scent gland. He scents him slowly, just once. Jimin whimpers, his whole body
coming alive just with that soft touch. Then he’s squeezing hard around his wrist at the same
time he brushes his nose back and forth Jimin’s scent gland. This time it’s ten times more
intense.

It’s so intense, Jimin is livid. He’s floating. He’s never coming down. Tears stream down his
cheeks. He’s crying silently, overwhelmed, but happy. So happy. It feels too good to be true,
but he doesn’t want to stop. He doesn’t want to pause and think. He wants to keep going. He
wants Jeongguk to scent him until it’s too hard to tell what scent belongs to him.

“Don’t cry, hyung,” Jeongguk pleads, mouth pressing to Jimin’s cheeks, over and over again,
collecting the tears that are falling. “It’s okay now. You don’t have to be scared anymore.
Breathe for me.”

“I need more,” he whispers, shaking his head. He closes his eyes and tilts his head back
again. “More, Jeongguk. Please, I want to feel it again. It’s all I want to feel.”

“I’ll give you anything you want always, hyung,” Jeongguk promises.

He dives in again and this time, it’s his mouth that brushes over Jimin’s scent gland. The
sound that leaves his mouth makes his cheeks heat up, but Jeongguk then sucks on his skin
and all coherent thought leaves his brain. He slumps down, doesn’t want to move an inch
because he wants to be completely focused on the feeling. Nice warmth spreads down his
spine, makes his belly coil with pleasure.

It’s unlike anything he’s ever felt. Jeongguk brushes his thumbs over the insides of his wrists
and Jimin trembles, thighs closing tight around his hips. Jeongguk makes a sound of approval
before sucking on his skin again, this time harsher. It stings, but in the best way possible. And
Jeongguk soothes that sting with his tongue. Licks across Jimin’s scent gland, drives him
crazy.

It feels too good. Jimin’s body is on fire. His skin is burning. Everything is spinning. It feels
as if he’s high on pheromones, Jeongguk’s mouth and tongue and thumbs making it
impossible to think properly. He’s so overwhelmed he can’t breathe. He can’t even move. All
he can do is lay under him and feel .

“I’ve got you, baby,” Jeongguk promises. He nibbles on Jimin’s skin and Jimin whimpers
again, back arching because of the tingle of pleasure that washes over his body in a gentle
wave. “You taste so good, hyung. I want to scent you forever.”

“Please,” he mumbles, nodding mindlessly. “Don’t stop. Don’t stop, Jeongguk.”

“I won’t.”

It turns lazy and slow. Jimin doesn’t want to slow down, he wants more and more, everything
he can get, just in case this is some glitch in the universe and it doesn’t last long enough. But
Jeongguk slows it down, anyway. He licks slowly, pulls whines and whimpers out of Jimin
before he starts peppering kisses all over his sensitive skin. He lets go of his wrists and
slumps down over his body, pressing the length of him to Jimin, making sure there’s no space
between them. It feels better the next time he sucks on his skin gently.

Jimin’s hands slide under Jeongguk’s shirt. His skin is heated, so warm to the touch.
Jeongguk makes a sound against his neck and growls when Jimin’s fingernails dig into his
skin. He slides his mouth all the way to the other side of Jimin’s neck, sucks there as well,
makes his thighs tremble. The pleasure he’s feeling is unlike any other. Jimin’s hand is on his
thigh, squeezing tightly, holding onto him. Jimin doesn’t feel close enough anymore, but
Jeongguk’s mouth is doing wonders distracting him.

He can’t even speak. He can’t formulate coherent words. All he can do is hope that Jeongguk
knows what he needs and keeps going, doesn’t stop. Doesn’t ever stop.

“Jeongguk-ah,” he breathes out, arching his back again when pleasure startles him. His toes
curl, his thighs close tighter around Jeongguk. “Jeongguk. Jeongguk .”

“I know,” Jeongguk mumbles against his neck. His breath sends shivers down Jimin’s body.
“I know, hyung. I can’t believe I can finally touch you, scent you. It’s driving me crazy.”

Yes, Jimin knows . It’s driving him crazy, too. He squeezes his arms tight around Jeongguk.
Now he wants to touch Jeongguk, he wants to explore every inch of his skin with his fingers
and engrave it in his memory. He wants to scent him back. He wants to do so many things, he
can’t think about them all at once.

When Jeongguk’s mouth closes around his scent gland again and sucks harshly once more,
Jimin whines. It’s too much, even if it still doesn’t feel like enough. He’s shaking. His hips
move, lift off the bed, press into Jeongguk’s. A moan leaves his mouth. Jeongguk groans and
burrows his face in his neck.

He stops. And Jimin doesn’t want him to. But they’re getting carried away and first, Jimin
wants to do many other things. He wants to focus on Jeongguk’s skin. He wants to hug him
and touch him and―

“Hyung,” Jeongguk whispers, lifting himself up on his forearm.

He looks down at Jimin. And his gaze is so heated. It’s different from up this close. His
amber eyes are staring back at him, making Jimin realize just how carried away they were
getting. Oddly enough, it doesn’t feel as if they’re going too fast. It feels like they’re going
too slow . But that’s probably because Jimin hasn’t gotten to experience any of this in five
years. And the fact that he gets to do it with Jeongguk is fascinating. He doesn’t want to
question the reasons. He just wants to enjoy it.

Jimin wants them to stay in this nice little bubble and never think about anything else ever
again.

“Jeongguk, I―”

His voice is cut off by Jeongguk’s lips crashing against his. All the scenting and the touching
made him briefly forget about the fact that they basically confessed to each other earlier.
Jeongguk likes him, he wants him, he thinks they’re meant to be together. And Jimin feels the
very same way. Jeongguk is the person he wants to be with, always.

Even though it’s the first time he’s being kissed, Jimin’s body moves on it’s own, somehow
knows what to do. Jeongguk’s lips move slowly against his, as if savoring the moment. And
it’s good. It’s so good. It’s just as intense and overwhelming as the touching. Only a new type
of pleasure tingles up his spine this time around when Jeongguk’s fingers dig into his thigh. It
feels so pleasant against his skin. Jeongguk’s strong grip makes Jimin’s heart beat faster and
his abdomen coil with heat.

His mouth speeds up just the slightest bit and his tongue swipes across his lower lip and
Jimin shudders. These are all things he’s never felt before, things he can’t believe he’s been
missing out on. Things he knows he’ll want and crave ten times more now that he’s
experienced it with Jeongguk. He’ll be glued to his side 24/7, that much he knows. And he
hopes Jeongguk won’t mind the monster that he’s unleashed because Jimin can’t even
imagine a world where he doesn’t get to have this again.

And again. And as many times as he can.

“Baby,” Jeongguk mumbles against his mouth.

“I like that,” he whispers back, slipping his fingers into Jeongguk’s hair. “I like it so much. I
like this so much. Jeongguk, I never want you to stop.”

Jeongguk kisses him again. “No stopping,” he says against his mouth.

It’s sexy. Everything about the way Jeongguk is touching him and kissing him is sexy. The
kiss is sensual and slow and Jeongguk’s tongue slips into his mouth this time. It makes a new
wave of pleasure wash down his body. He arches against him, tugs at his hair. He loves the
way Jeongguk growls against his mouth. Again , he pleads into Jimin’s mouth. And Jimin
does it again.

He gasps into his mouth when Jeongguk’s hips move, pressing deeper into him. A moan
leaves his mouth, Jeongguk swallows it down and kisses him faster, sloppier. They don’t
manage to coordinate their movements, it turns messy. But Jimin finds that he likes it just as
much as he did when they were doing it slow.

Jeongguk’s teeth dig into his lower lip, tug gently. This time, it’s Jimin who asks him to do it
again. Jeongguk does as he’s told. They rolls onto their sides, move back to their previous
position. They roll over again, this time Jimin ends up on top of Jeongguk’s body. He takes
control, licks into Jeongguk’s mouth, loves the way Jeongguk lies there and sighs and begs
Jimin for more.

He could kiss Jeongguk for hours. He would never grow tired of it. He’d never get enough of
him. He cups his cheeks and bites down on his lower lip, tugs harsher than Jeongguk did,
marvels in the way Jeongguk groans and his hands reach up, grip his hips. The hold onto him
for dear life.

Jimin feels like he’s in a dream. His body is moving on it’s own, urged forward by instinct
and desire and so many feelings. He feels so much for Jeongguk he wonders if he’s actually
in love with him and he just doesn’t know yet. He’s never been in love, how can he know
what it feels like? What he does know is that he’s overwhelmed and he never wants to stop
holding onto Jeongguk.

He won’t. He never wants to stop.

“Please, never stop,” he mumbles.

And just like many times before, Jeongguk promises that he won’t. He promises again and
again against Jimin’s mouth, rolls onto him again and pins him down with his body,
enveloping Jimin until there’s nothing he can focus on but him.
 Chapter 2

Nothing could have ever prepared Jeongguk for what he felt the moment he walked away
from Jimin earlier. Oddly enough, it reminded him of how he felt the day he went to visit him
and found that he was gone.

Jimin’s presence used to make Jeongguk feel warm and calm. Having him around made him
feel giddy and excited. He looked forward to their time together more than he looked forward
to anything else. Now that years have gone by, it’s easy to understand that all of those
emotions weren’t as platonic as he thought. And now that the situation has changed, they’ve
also developed quite quickly.

When he smelled Jimin’s scent during his survey around the are, he’d instantly frozen in
place. His brain had been a bit fuzzy because he was in his wolf form and things aren’t the
same when he is. He’d really thought that he was imagining it, that he was making it up in his
head. A part of him thought it couldn’t be possible. After five years, what were the odds that
his wolf remembered so perfectly Jimin’s scent? Jeongguk hadn’t presented back then, his
senses weren’t as developed as they are now.

Nothing will ever come close to the feelings that twirled in his chest upon the sight of Jimin.
The way he dropped his clothes and stared at him in awe. Jeongguk had changed and he
knew that Jimin was taking it all in while overcoming the initial shock of seeing him again.
But Jimin had changed too. Jeongguk had been so grateful that Jimin was distracted with his
surprise because his own eyes had traveled down the length of his body and a deep desire had
settled in his belly.

Just the urge to reach out and hold him.

He’d known then, somehow, that he wanted to stay with Jimin. He couldn’t leave. How could
he turn around after feeling all of these things in his presence? A future was something that
Jeongguk wanted and he was ready to fight for it, even if it was complicated and they
couldn’t come near each other.

Truth be told, when he’d accidentally touched Jimin, lost all self control and reached out to
him because he wanted to hold him, he’d almost expected the pain to make him double over.
And even if it was stupid, he was ready to push through it if he had to, just so he could give
Jimin any sort of comfort for as long as possible. When he hadn’t felt pain, all he could think
about was the fact that he could now actually touch Jimin, he could take care of him.

And yet, while they sat in that bed and inched close to each other, a part of him wondered if it
really was just a glitch in the universe like Jimin thought it could be. A part of him had been
ready to feel pain again when he reached out to touch his cheek. But all he felt was
excitement, a thrill like no other. Jimin’s skin was as soft as he remembered.

Jimin makes a soft sound, stirs in his sleep and presses closer to Jeongguk’s body. He has an
arm and a leg hooked over him, holding on as if he’s worried Jeongguk will disappear while
he’s sleeping. It’s not going to happen. Jeongguk doesn’t plan on going anywhere if it isn’t
with him by his side.

He’s been awake for a while now. Touching Jimin, holding him, scenting him. These are
things he never thought he’d be able to do and somehow, he’s here, in his arms. A part of him
still can’t believe it. It feels like a dream. Gently, he brushes his fingers over Jimin’s
forehead. His blond hair is so pretty, longer than it was the last time they saw each other, the
strands framing his beautiful face. He’s like an angel.

He trails a path down the side of his face until he reaches his jaw and marvels in the way
Jimin’s lips part when he tilts his chin back the slightest bit. A press of lips against Jimin’s.
Jimin makes this soft sound, but otherwise doesn’t wake up.

Jeongguk closes his eyes, overwhelmed. He knows he’s in love with Jimin. He knows they’re
meant to be together. His wolf is telling him. There’s this tug whenever he’s around him. It’s
as if there’s a bond there, even if they haven’t mated, even if they were away for so many
years.

But he knows this isn’t the time to say it out loud. Jimin is barely just beginning to live all of
those things he deserved to live since years ago. Jeongguk wants to make sure he gets to
enjoy that first before anything else.

Slowly―and after changing his mind several times, he lets go of Jimin and slips off the bed.
Jimin doesn’t move, but he releases a soft exhale that makes Jeongguk want to get back onto
the bed and hold him once more.

Jimin fell asleep somewhere in between their desperate scenting. Maybe it was too much for
his wolf, not used to the intimacy that came with it. Truth be told, Jeongguk isn’t used to it
either. This type of scenting. Not just one that’s meant to bring comfort and safety. But one
that’s mixed with feelings and the urge to make the other person know just how important
they are.

It made his wolf claw at his chest, begging for more.

Despite wanting to get back into bed, he makes his way to the kitchen to make something to
eat. It’s been hours and Jimin will surely wake up hungry because they’ve already skipped
breakfast. The house still smells strongly of Jimin, the remnants of his heat making
Jeongguk’s toes curl pleasantly. His alpha had begged him to stay and take care of Jimin, but
he’d known that he’d want to touch him and the thought of Jimin crying again because of
fear broke his heart, stopped him altogether.

He regrets it. Only because he knows now that he could have touched Jimin. He could have
held him. But what’s done is done and he promised himself that he’d never allow Jimin to be
in pain and alone ever again.

He gets distracted after a while, focused on chopping meat, pealing potatoes. He’s glad that
he learned how to good growing up because there’s nothing nicer than Jimin’s expression
whenever he eats and enjoys Jeongguk’s food.
It’s hard not to think about what’s going to happen now. They talked a lot before they
touched, but there’s so much more to discuss. So many possibilites now that things have
changed. Jeongguk nibbles on his lower lip distractedly, stirring the stew slowly.

A quick gland into the room and he finds that Jimin is still sleeping in the very same position.
He looks so soft and inviting, Jeongguk has to look away to hold back. As he cooks rice and
makes lemonade, he wonders if Jimin would agree to go back with him. Maybe this doesn’t
change things all that much. They don’t know if Jimin’s curse is gone, they have no idea why
he could touch him. Maybe he’s the only one who can touch him―which makes him feel a
bit special, but doesn’t seem all that good because he’s sure Jimin would like to be scented by
his family again, after all this time.

He’s so lost in thought that he startles when a body brushes up against him, arms wrapping
around his middle. Before Jimin left, they were about the same size, although Jeongguk was
always an inch or two taller. Jimin must have grown some more over the years, but Jeongguk
grew as well and the couple of inches have turned into more. It feels nice when Jimin’s cheek
presses in between his shoulder blades, all of him lining up perfectly to Jeongguk’s back.

If Jeongguk was worried that the touching had been a once in a life time change, it all quickly
fades away when he brings his hand up and brushes his fingers over Jimin’s forearms. He
feels just as soft. He smells just as nice. A sweet lavender that somehow makes it’s way
under Jeongguk’s skin and makes it hard to let go.

“I thought you were gone,” Jimin whispers.

He doesn’t make it sound like he’s sad about it, but Jeongguk knows better. He can’t even
begin to imagine how it must have been for him. Not being able to touch anyone, not being
scented after he presented. Only know being able to feel someone close to him. It’s unfair and
Jeongguk wishes he could find a solution, he wishes he could change things, even if he has
no idea of how.

“You don’t have to worry about that happening,” Jeongguk reassures, squeezing Jimin’s hand
softly. “Did you sleep well, hyung?”

Jimin makes a soft sound, rubbing his forehead back and forth over Jeongguk’s back.

“Yeah,” he murmurs. “Better than I have in years.”

There’s so much truth in his words. Jeongguk turns off the stove and turns around in Jimin’s
arms. He wraps his own around him, squeezes him tightly to his chest and lifts him off the
ground for a split second. Jimin laughs softly, face pressing to the crook of his neck.

It feels nice. He trembles at the feel of Jimin’s lips close to his scent gland and can’t help the
whine that leaves his mouth because Jimin doesn’t scent him.

“Scent me,” he pleads softly.

Jimin hesitates, as if he’s not yet used to the fact that he can. But then his nose rubs along
Jeongguk’s scent gland and it feels like the world crumbles around him. He shudders, placing
him back on the door and turning him around so he can pin him to the countertop. Their
bodies mold together, Jimin’s hands are on his back, fisting his shirt.

“Scent me, too,” Jimin whispers, head tilting back.

He knows just how to taunt Jeongguk. Him tilting his head back like that makes his body
tense, his muscles pull, his skin warm. It makes warmth coil in his belly. He growls softly,
leaning in to give Jimin what he wants. Jimin sighs when Jeongguk’s lips press to his scent
gland and his hands sink under his shirt when Jeongguk sucks gently.

“You drive me crazy, baby,” he murmurs, licking once, twice, then pressing closer. He
reaches down and picks Jimin up, hands curling behind his knees. He settles him on the
counter top, grips his hips and tugs him closer to the edge so they’re flush together in the way
he wants. “I love being able to touch you like this. I really wish I didn’t have to stop.”

“Don’t stop,” Jimin says, fingers slipping in his hair. “You don’t have to.”

“Mm, but the food,” Jeongguk argues, smiling against the skin of Jimin’s neck.

“ Jeongguk ,” Jimin pleads.

Jeongguk won’t lie, he absolutely loves when Jimin says his name like that. With an urgency
that he can now soothe.

“I know,” he mumbles. Because he does. It’s as if they can’t get enough of each other. It’s
overwhelming. But it’s good. And Jeongguk gets it because he feels the very same way.
“God, I know . I know, baby.”

“I really like that,” Jimin confesses, a sigh leaving his parted lips as he hooks his legs around
Jeongguk’s hips. He wraps his arms around his shoulders and drops his cheek on his
shoulder, squeezing tightly. “I like your hands on me. I like how you touch me. I like you so
much, Jeongguk.”

“I like you too,” Jeongguk responds, placing a kiss on Jimin’s shoulder before wrapping his
arms around him again. He cradles him against his chest and slips his fingers into his hair,
hand on his nape. Jimin squeezes briefly before relaxing in his arms. “I’m so happy I’m
here.”

I’m happy, too . Jimin’s response makes his heart beat faster. Even if it feels fast, sudden, he
knows what he feels and he knows Jimin feels the same way. They always had this deep
connection. They hadn’t presented, but they grew up next to each other. When Jimin left, it
clearly broke a part of them both. Now that they’re together, Jeongguk can feel everything
Jimin feels through his touch, through his gaze.

“Come on, hyung,” Jeongguk says after a few seconds. He places his hand on the low of
Jimin’s back and rubs a gentle circle. “Let’s eat and I was thinking we could go to the lake for
a bath?”
Jimin leans back and their eyes meet. He reaches up and traces Jeongguk’s cheeks with his
fingertips.

“I’d like that.”

Jeongguk smiles. Jimin smiles back and it reaches his eyes. When Jeongguk got here, Jimin
looked so sad. So…lonely. He wanted to fix everything for him. And now that Jimin’s smile
is so big, he can’t help but grin, delighted. Jimin deserves to be happy. He deserves
everything good in the world.

“Just a kiss,” Jeongguk murmurs, leaning in to peck Jimin’s lips.

Jimin’s eyes flutter shut, even though it’s just a gentle brush of lips. But then Jeongguk
doesn’t feel like it’s enough and so he leans in again. This time, it’s more than just a brush of
lips. It’s a slow movement of lips, connecting and disconnecting as they explore the other’s
mouth. Jimin’s hands and legs squeeze around him again. Jeongguk sighs and leans into him,
hands falling to the counter at either side of Jimin’s thighs.

But then he goes for the soft skin because he remembers how they felt under his fingertips,
muscle giving in to his ministrations.

“I love these shorts,” he can’t help but say.

Jimin laughs and it’s such a nice sound that it makes a laugh bubble out of Jeongguk as well.
He grins against his mouth and squeezes his thighs again before leaning in to kiss him once
more. They get distracted in between kisses, tongues tentatively slipping into the other’s
mouth. They try not to get too carried away, but Jeongguk’s hands soon slip further under
Jimin’s shorts and Jimin’s back is arching, a moan leaving his mouth.

“The food,” Jimin says against his mouth, although his fingernails are digging into his skin
and he’s keeping him close.

“Yes, the food,” Jeongguk agrees, not letting up on his kissing.

Kissing Jimin makes his alpha claw at his chest for more. And because he only just finished
his heat, there’s a trace of the musky pheromones left behind on his skin. It envelopes them
as they kiss, turns even stronger when Jeongguk’s hands explore more. It’s so good he can’t
breathe properly.

“ Jeongguk .”

He groans and burrows his face in Jimin’s neck to hold himself back. He lets go of his thighs
and instead places them on the counter top again. He breathes steadily, trying to catch his
breath, trying to settle down. Jimin’s nails stop digging into his skin and they move over his
shirt, pressing gently on his back. They take a few seconds to collect themselves before
Jeongguk steps back and shows Jimin a smile.

“The food,” he says, breathless.

Jimin laughs again. And god, Jeongguk wants to make him laugh a million times more.
“The faster we eat, the faster we can go to the lake and I’m kind of looking forward to it
now,” he points out.

Right. The lake. The last time Jeongguk was in there and Jimin joined him, he wanted so
badly to get closer, to reach out and touch his skin. He wasn’t sure how it could be so
fascinating to see Jimin like that, in the wild, connecting to his instincts. Now he gets to do
that and the moment can’t come fast enough.

They eat in silence. It’s comforting, just being in Jimin’s presence. It’s like they can’t stop
touching. They sit close enough that Jeongguk can occasionally lean towards him and press a
kiss to his shoulder, close enough that Jimin can lean closer as well and kiss his cheek. Close
enough that Jeongguk wants to stop eating and just scent Jimin again. But he manages to hold
back.

Before going to the lake, they linger in the bedroom for a while. They sit down together and
wait for a few minutes so as to not get into the water immediately after eating. Then, they
grab their clothes and head out.

Jimin reaches for his hand instantly and Jeongguk intertwines their fingers as they walk in
between the trees and head for the lake. It’s a beautiful place. It reminds Jeongguk so much of
the lake they have back home. Being there a few days ago made him reminisce all the times
he and Jimin bathed in the lake, splashed around and were scolded for staying in too late.

“What are you thinking?” Jimin asks as they finally reach the lake.

It’s a very hot day and Jeongguk is eager to get into the refreshing water.

“Just…” he starts, setting his clothes down and standing directly in front of Jimin. He grabs
him by the shoulders and looks into his eyes. “I keep thinking about how it was before. While
we were growing up. We used to have so much fun together, always getting in trouble,
messing with the younger pups.”

Jimin smiles, but there’s this hint of sadness in his gaze. Jeongguk reaches up with one hand
and cups his cheek, moving his thumb back and forth over his skin.

“I missed it a lot when I left,” Jimin replies. He closes his eyes, as if that helps him think
about those days better. “It thought about going back so many times, too. I thought it was so
unfair that I had to pay for something my parents did and that I didn’t even know about. Even
now, I have no idea what happened. All I know is that I have to live with the curse.”

“Maybe we can figure out a way to reverse it,” Jeongguk says. Jimin left when he was still
too young to do anything. But now they’re both grown, the pack has expanded. Things have
changed. Jeongguk will go to the end of the world with Jimin to figure out what’s going on
and how to fix it. “I will go with you anywhere, hyung. I will help you, no matter what. We
can figure it out.” Jimin’s gaze is sad as he smiles again, as if he doesn’t quite believe that it’s
possible. Jeongguk cups his cheeks. “We’ll figure it out, hyung. I want a future with you. I
want you to have a future where you’re happy and don’t have to worry about touching
people.”
Jimin’s smile is less sad then. He takes a step closer to Jeongguk and wraps his arms around
his waist. His chin hooks over Jeongguk’s shoulder and Jeongguk hugs him back, hoping to
soothe whatever sadness he might still be feeling.

“Do you think there’s a chance the curse is just…gone?” He asks.

Jeongguk presses a kiss to his temple.

“It feels too easy,” he replies. “But I think we could talk to your parents. Maybe they can tell
us who the witch is. And if we know more about the curse, we could look for some sort of
loophole or something.”

Jimin remains quiet for a long moment, as if thinking about it. Jeongguk wonders if he’s
silent because he doesn’t plan on going back to ask his parents. It’s not like Jeongguk was
expecting him to just drop everything and go back with him. But he wants Jimin to come
with him. He wants him to have his family back, to have his pack to protect him.

“We can figure it out later, hyung,” he whispers, when Jimin fails to reply. He cups his cheeks
and looks into his eyes. “Don’t stress out about it. Let’s just get into the lake, hm?”

When Jeongguk smiles, Jimin smiles back and nods. They let go of each other and get
undressed. It’s not something he hasn’t seen before, but Jeongguk can’t help letting his eyes
drift towards Jimin as he drops all his clothes on the ground and heads into the lake. It feels
as if he’s learned every inch of his body already―last night they spent what felt like hours
touching and exploring. But at the same time, it feels like he could discover a million spots
more if he tried.

Jimin’s eyes move to him as he reaches a spot he’s finally happy in. He’s crouching, water
brushing against his chest. He’s waiting for him. Jeongguk grins when Jimin’s eyes trail
down his body as he drops his last piece of clothing. But they don’t say anything as he finally
starts towards the lake to meet him inside the water.

It’s cold, but it’s refreshing against Jeongguk’s warm skin. He makes his way towards Jimin,
follows him deeper into the lake until their feet are no longer touching the ground. They’re
far away from the shore, but they’re alone here and Jeongguk likes that. He likes that this is
some sort of bubble that nothing and nobody can disturb.

They don’t touch each other, as if touching when they’re both naked is different. Maybe it is.
More intimate. Jimin’s gaze feels heated as they float close to each other. His feet brush
against Jimin’s and Jimin startles. They drift closer, bodies drawn to each other. Soon, a brush
of feet turns into a brush of thighs, hands reaching out.

Jeongguk places his hands on Jimin’s hips and rubs gentle circles over his hipbones.

“How further into the woods is the pack moving?” Jimin asks after a long while of silence.
“I’ve been here for years and haven’t seen any packs or rogue wolves. Are you going deeper,
still?”
Jeongguk hums, absentmindedly continuing with his circled pattern. “A little bit more.
Maybe a kilometer or two.”

Jimin is thoughtful for a second, his eyes drifting away, distracted.

“So, this will also be a part of your territory?”

Jeongguk wants to correct him. Our territory , he thinks. Jimin will always be a part of the
pack, even if he’s been away for years, even if he doesn’t go back. But he doesn’t want to
pressure him.

“It’s the plan,” he replies. His hands trail up to Jimin’s waist. He sees how he startles, feet
touching Jeongguk’s again. They don’t move apart, just let their bodies float closer to each
other. “I didn’t even know there were houses here. Packs have stayed near the beginning of
the woods for so long.”

“I think it was abandoned a long time ago,” Jimin mentions. “I came across it one day and
thought someone might be living there, but it was mostly empty. It had electricity and water,
so I think the government didn’t know it was inhabited. All these years, I’ve had everything I
need, so I hope they don’t realize anytime soon,” he explains, lips curling into a small smile.

Once more, Jeongguk has to hold himself back from saying something about Jimin’s words.
He doesn’t like that he’s talking as if he’s planning to stay here. But Jeongguk is also
prepared to stay back if he has to. All he wants is JImin. And being with him is all he needs.

“I’m glad you found something safe.” He lets his hands slide down to Jimin’s hips again, but
then they keep going downwards, reaching the sides of Jimin’s thighs. Jimin’s lips part but he
doesn’t protest as their bodies finally press together. And yes, it’s different. Jeongguk can feel
all of Jimin. He drops his forehead to Jimin’s shoulder and sighs. “I always wondered where
you could be, if you were safe, if something had happened to you. I tried to go looking for
you, a few days after you left. My mother almost lost it. I only made it about twenty minutes
out from the camp before my father found me.”

“Jeongguk,” Jimin reprimands, even though it’s been five years and there’s no point.
Jeongguk grins because he can’t help it. “You could have gotten lost.”

He wraps his arms around Jimin’s hips and hugs him to his body. “I thought you would get
lost. And I was terrified of never seeing you again.”

Silence. Then Jimin’s hand slides into his hair and his other arm wraps around his shoulders.
“I’m sorry.”

He shakes his head and lets his lips brush a feather-like kiss against Jimin’s collarbone. He’s
so soft there, smells so nicely. He kisses again, loving the way Jimin’s body presses closer,
the way his hand tightens in his hair.

“I understand, I think,” he murmurs. “I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it must have
been for you. Having everybody nearby and not being able to feel the touch of the pack, no
scenting. I think about it and it hurts, hyung. My heart hurts for you.”
Jimin sighs, his hand traveling down and settling in between Jeongguk’s shoulder blades. “It
wasn’t just that,” he says. “I mean, I missed it and I craved it. Even after all those years, I still
craved it. But what helped me make up my mind was the fear I saw in everybody’s eyes.
They looked at me as if they were scared I’d touch them just because I wanted. And some of
them even looked at me as if they didn’t want me there, risking their lives every single day.”

Jeongguk leans back, searching for Jimin’s eyes.

“Who looked at you like that?” He asks. “I swear to god, I will―”

“No,” Jimin interrupts, shaking his head. He cups Jeongguk’s cheek and shows him a sad
smile. “It’s fine. I understood, Jeongguk. I was a threat. Even an accidental touch could cause
blinding pain. I left because it was the better option for the pack.”

“I was never once afraid of you,” Jeongguk says. “I never thought of you as a threat. And I
hate that someone made you feel that way. You deserve so much better.”

Jimin’s eyes fill with tears and Jeongguk’s eyebrows furrow. He shakes his head no and begs
him not to cry because it breaks his heart. He hated Jimin’s sadness when he couldn’t touch
him and even now that he can, he hates it because it feels like he has no way of making it
better. He feels powerless. Because Jimin’s curse is most probably still there. Even if
Jeongguk can touch him right now, he’s sure Jimin still has fear, has the same worry
Jeongguk does. What if one day it just changes again?

“You’ll be a great pack alpha one day, you know?” He asks, after he’s calmed down.
Jeongguk’s heart swells at the words. They both know it will happen eventually.

Now that the packs are merging, the older one of the generation under their parents’ is
supposed to become head of the pack. And that’s Jeongguk. Jimin isn’t there anymore―not
now, anyway. If he was, then he’d be the head of the pack. Maybe they can both be. Together.
Just like his father and Jimin’s are right now.

“Thank you,” he whispers.

Then, as if they didn’t just have a very serious conversation, his hands trail down again and
all words are lost momentarily. Jeongguk grips Jimin’s thighs, still fascinated by how nice
they feel. Jimin must run a lot, just like he does, because his muscles are so toned. Jimin’s
thigh slips in between his and a harsh groan leaves his mouth when he feels him against other
places.

He places a kiss against Jimin’s jaw, trails forward until he’s on his chin, then up until he’s
kissing his lips. They kiss slowly. It’s too sensual and it feels just as good as it did the first
time. Jeongguk is starting to realize that everything feels like the very first time with Jimin.
All of these emotions swirling in his chest make him crave more.

Jeongguk’s hands wander. They grip Jimin’s hip so hard that he’s worried it’ll bruise, but
Jimin just makes this soft sound against his mouth, moves his own hands to the low of
Jeongguk’s back. So low that his fingers are brushing over the swell of his ass. He grunts,
slides one hand down Jimin’s thigh and curls it under his knee, tugging it up until it’s hooked
around his hip.

Jimin’s hands slip further down. Not enough. But Jeongguk doesn’t protest. He accepts what
Jimin is giving him and gives Jimin back. He reaches up with his other hand, tangles his
fingers with Jimin’s hair and parts his lips with his own.

“Good,” he mumbles. But good doesn’t even begin to explain what he feels in this moment. “
Baby .”

Jimin whimpers against his mouth and suddenly both of his legs are around him. Jeongguk
knows how much Jimin likes being called that. His scent spikes and his body reacts and
Jeongguk wants more of that. He pulls those sighs out of him with slow kisses, his tongue
slipping into his mouth.

When he nibbles on Jimin’s lower lip, he marvels in the way he tilts his head back. The sun
makes his hair look golden and Jeongguk sees the way his eyes have an amber tone to them.
They shone bright when they touched for the first time, when it was instinct guiding them to
touch and explore. They shine bright right now.

“A little bit more ,” Jimin pleads.

And Jeongguk isn’t fully sure he knows what Jimin is asking for, but he nods as he kisses
down his neck, sucks on his scent gland softly and lets his hands slide up Jimin’s thighs
again, this time aiming further back. He hesitates, hands close enough to Jimin’s ass cheeks
that his fingers are touching the soft skin. And Jimin makes this strangled sound, sinking his
face into Jeongguk’s neck, tightening his thighs around his waist, ankles hooked over the low
of his back.

“You have to tell me how much more I can touch you, hyung,” he says, nibbling on Jimin’s
scent gland, loving the way Jimin moans against his skin. “Tell me. I want to touch you all
over.”

“More,” Jimin whispers. “Just a bit more.”

Jeongguk understands then. So he nods and slides his hands further back. Jimin groans and
his hips move forward, dragging against Jeongguk’s. Pleasure tingles up his spine. They’re
getting carried away again, but this time around, it doesn’t worry him too much. And Jimin’s
hands tugging at his hair tell him that he’s not the only one who isn’t worried.

“I want you to understand, hyung,” Jeongguk mumbles, lowering Jimin enough that their hips
are pressed together. So, when he squeezes at his ass cheeks, their hips grind against each
other and this time both of them moan softly. “It’s so important to me that you know. You’re
so perfect, you deserve the whole world and I will gladly give it to you. I’ll give you
anything.”

“Jeongguk.” Jimin’s fingers tug his head back until their noses brush together. “You’re the
one who deserves the world.”
Jeongguk shakes his head. “You, baby. I want to cherish you and take care of you until you
stop thinking what you did when you left the pack. Until there’s not a single doubt left in
your head.” He brushes a tear away when he spots it trailing down Jimin’s cheek and kisses
the tip of his nose, kisses his cheeks, kisses his lips. “Will you let me?” He asks. “Please, let
me.”

Jimin nods, his hands sliding down Jeongguk’s shoulders, touching the skin of his back. He
presses a kiss to his forehead, rubs his cheek against his in a way that feels strangely
overwhelming, strangely more intimate than the way they’re holding and touching each other.

“I’m all yours,” Jimin whispers.

Jeongguk kisses him again. His alpha loves the sound of that. His. Jimin is his.

“And I’m yours,” he replies. “I’ve been yours all of these years, hyung. Only yours.”

Jimin kisses him back desperately. The touching is forgotten for a moment while they show
each other what they feel through their kisses. Jeongguk will never get tired of it, of the way
his heart jumps in his chest and the way Jimin sighs softly against his mouth. He’ll never get
tired of being this close to him.

They end up staying inside the lake for far too long and when they finally get out, their
fingertips are like raisins. But neither of them mind. They get dressed with clean clothes and
it dries on their way back to the cottage. No more words need to be exchanged. It’s palpable
in the air around them, the feelings they’re sharing, the desire to be closer even.

It’s not even night time, but the slip under the covers together and slide close enough to each
other that their limbs are tangled and sweat starts to collect over their skin because the sun is
still out. Jeongguk finds that he doesn’t mind, though. Touching Jimin is the most pleasant
thing in the world.

He slides his hand over his nape, sinks his fingers into the hairs on the base of his head and
cradles him to his chest.

“You make me so happy, hyung,” he murmurs, lips connecting with Jimin’s forehead. “I
would stay like this with you forever.”

“Stay with me forever,” Jimin mumbles sleepily, pressing closer, sinking a hand under the
back of Jeongguk’s shirt and touching the skin of his back. “Stay.”

Jeongguk doesn’t know if Jimin is asking him to stay here, if he means to just stay by his
side, but he knows without a doubt that he’ll do it. He’ll do whatever Jimin needs to be
happy. Because as much as things are okay now, he can’t be one hundred percent sure that
they will stay that way forever. And if forever is just a few more minutes, then he’ll give
them to Jimin.

He really would give him the world if he could.

 ↢↣

Jeongguk’s eyes open when he reaches out with his hand and doesn’t immediately touch
Jimin. He’s not in bed. And even though it was the other way round earlier and he told him
not be worried about waking up and not finding him there, he can’t help but panic for a split
second.

Through fuzzy sleep, he pads along the room and heads towards the living room in search of
him. When his eyes fall upon the curled up figure on the couch, his heart constricts. Jimin is
staring off ahead, arms wrapped around his knees. He looks so small. He doesn’t even realize
that Jeongguk is there until he’s sitting down beside him.

He startles then and turns to look at him. His gaze is sad and Jeongguk hates it. He leans back
against the armrest and pats his chest with a small smile. Jimin goes, leaning back against
him and letting Jeongguk’s arms wrap around him. He looks even smaller in between his legs
and Jeongguk can’t help but squeeze him tight, hoping to soothe whatever is bothering him
that made him get up in the middle of the night.

They remain quiet for a long time, just breathing together, just enjoying each other’s warmth.
Jimin seems to settle down and the worry that was etched to his scent when Jeongguk first
walked into the living room has subsided. Now it’s just his normally sweet lavender invading
the space around them.

“Did you have a nightmare?” He asks softly, rubbing his nose under Jimin’s earlobe.

Jimin’s head lulls back, resting against his shoulder. He hums, hands settling on Jeongguk’s
forearms. He rubs them back and forth, distracted. So, Jeongguk waits some more. He scents
Jimin slowly, focuses on the sensitive spot of his neck until Jimin sighs and relents, relaxing
even more in his arms.

“It’s always the same thing,” he whispers into the darkness. “I dream about hurting
Donghyun. Sometimes I dream about hurting Taehyung. And sometimes I dream about
hurting you.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Jeongguk replies. “And you won’t hurt me, hyung. I trust you.”

None of what happened is his fault. He didn’t know when he reached out to touch Donghyun.

“You know it’s not about trust.” Jimin voice is so soft Jeongguk almost doesn’t hear it. “I
can’t control it. There’s nothing I can do. What happens if one day it all changes again?” He
asks. He’s starting to voice out the worries Jeongguk had earlier. It’s something that they
can’t ignore, but he thought they wouldn’t talk about it just yet. “What if I can’t touch you
anymore? I don’t think I can go back to that, Jeongguk-ah. I think it would break me. I
wouldn’t―”

“Hey,” Jeongguk interrupts, reaching up and holding Jimin’s chin softly. He turns his head to
the side and leans his torso away so he can properly look into Jimin’s eyes. He finds them
shining with unshed tears. He places a kiss on his lips, a gentle caress before speaking. “I
don’t want to think about that being a possibility,” he murmurs. “I don’t want you to
constantly be scared of it happening. I want you to enjoy this, to be here, in the present. We’ll
figure out the future as we go.”

“But, you’re―” Jimin tries, closing his eyes. Tears spill down, just a couple. Jeongguk leans
forward and pecks his lips once more. “You have no idea how intense it feels. It’s the best
thing I’ve ever felt in the world, Jeongguk-ah. If I had to stand in front of you and not be able
to touch you anymore, I wouldn’t be able to breathe. I can’t. I can’t .”

Jeongguk shifts, gently helps Jimin into a new position. When he’s finally straddling his lap,
he wraps his arms around his waist and leans forward to scent him more thoroughly. He
releases calming pheromones, glad that they don’t make him sick anymore, glad that they can
soothe him now. And they do. Jimin stops shaking in his arms and leans his cheek on
Jeongguk’s shoulder, arms sliding under his, wrapping around his back.

“Even if that happened, we’d find a way,” Jeongguk says, reaching up with his hand and
sliding his fingers into Jimin’s hair. He scratches at his scalp gently, hopes that he’ll calm
down even more. “We’ll find the witch, we’ll figure out how to reverse the curse. And if it
doesn’t happen, we still will look for a solution. I’ll stay by your side, baby. I’ll be here with
you always, I promise.”

Jimin sniffles, turning his head to the other side and this time rubbing his cheek up and down
Jeongguk’s neck. He leans against the backrest of the couch and tilts his head back, allowing
Jimin to do as he pleases. Like this, it feels a little bit as if he’s at his mercy and he likes that.
He likes Jimin taking and scenting and making his head spin with tingling pleasure.

“Jeongguk, what are we going to do?” Jimin asks, leaning his head against Jeongguk’s and
slumping down against his body. Jeongguk could fall asleep like this. He could and even if he
woke up sore, his neck aching, he’d be content because he fell asleep with Jimin’s body
pressed to his in all the perfect ways.

“Whatever we have to,” he murmurs. He’s feeling sleepy and it takes his brain a couple of
seconds to remind him that he is because it’s the middle of the night.

“I meant,” Jimin starts to reply, fingers playing the hairs at the base of Jeongguk’s head.
“What are we going to do now? You have responsibilities with your pack, Jeongguk.”

Jeongguk tenses when he hears the words. He can’t hold back from responding to them this
time around. “You’re my pack, hyung. I already told you this.”

“Jeongguk,” Jimin says, as if that will establish a point.

“You are ,” he urges. “You’re a part of my pack. I will stay if you want to stay, but I will still
try to convince you that things would be different if we go back together.”

Jimin’s eyebrows furrow. He’s leaning back now and Jeongguk misses his warmth, his
closeness.
“You can’t do that,” he whispers, his voice lower so much that once again, Jeongguk almost
can’t hear it. “Your father sent you to survey the territory. You―you can’t.”

Jeongguk reaches up and cups Jimin’s cheeks.

“Don’t you understand, hyung?” He asks. There’s a part of him that sometimes―whenever
he’s this close to Jimin and looking into his eyes―still can’t believe they get to do this. They
can touch and he can hold Jimin and make everything better. And yet right now, it feels as if
he can’t reach him. No matter what he says, Jimin doesn’t understand. “I don’t want to be
away from you. I can’t leave you here. It would tear my alpha apart. From the second I
stepped into that clearing and saw you, I knew I wouldn’t be able to go back without you.”

Jimin shakes his head. His hands are suddenly away from Jeongguk’s body and they card
through his hair, nervous energy enveloping him. His scent sours, his expression is conflicted
and Jeongguk hates that it happens. He gently places his hands on Jimin’s hips, not wanting
to startle him, not wanting to pressure him.

“I’m too scared of going back,” Jimin finally confesses. His hands are shaky as they reach for
Jeongguk’s shirt and fist the material tightly. “I’m too scared of hurting someone. I’m scared
of them looking at me like that again.”

“I won’t let them,” Jeongguk reassures. “You have me now, hyung. I’ll be right beside you,
no matter what. And we’ll be trying to figure out a way to break the curse. I promise there
won’t be a day that goes by that we won’t be investigating, looking for a solution.”

Jimin shakes his head again, but he doesn’t look as adamant as before. He stares at
Jeongguk’s chest, tugs gently at his shirt and Jeongguk goes, wrapping his arms around him,
holding him tight to his chest.

“What if there’s no solution?” Jimin asks in a small whisper.

“We’ll keep looking, anyway,” Jeongguk promises. He’s being serious. He’ll do whatever it
takes to help Jimin, he’ll never stop looking for a way to make things better for him.

“It’s been five years,” Jimin breathes out. His arm circles around Jeongguk’s shoulders and
his nose brushes under his jaw. It makes Jeongguk’s toes curl because it feels so nice.

“You’re still part of the pack, hyung,” Jeongguk replies. “People will be happy to see you.”

Maybe not everyone. Maybe there will still be some that will be scared. It won’t be easy. But
they’ll be together and that’s the only thing that matters.

“I’m nervous,” Jimin says after a long while.

He sounds excited, though. Jeongguk feels his lips curl up into a smile and he squeezes his
arms tight around Jimin. He shifts and drops him onto his back on the couch, hovering over
his body, settled comfortably in between his legs. Jimin stares up at him with wide eyes. His
cheeks are flushed and his eyes are still a bit red, but he looks so mesmerizing. Jeongguk
cups his cheek softly.
“You’ll come with me, then?” He asks. Jimin nods shyly. Jeongguk shakes his head and
grins, leaning down and nibbling on Jimin’s neck. Jimin yelps, squirms under him, but groans
when Jeongguk stops nibbling playfully and instead bites down. It’s soft, still. But Jimin’s
body locks up, his thighs close tighter around Jeongguk’s waist. “You have no idea how
happy that makes me, hyung.”

Jimin’s hands fist the back of his shirt as he bites down again. Jeongguk’s gums are itchy, or
so it feels that way. He’s not sure it’s an itch, or more like an ache. Either way, he knows what
it means. And even if he wasn’t feeling it, he knows in his heart that he wants it. He wants
Jimin forever. He knows Jimin is the one he’s meant to be with.

“Jeongguk,” Jimin sighs, head tilting to the side pliantly.

It’s almost as if he’s inviting Jeongguk to bite him harder, to mark his skin and―

“ Baby ,” he groans, mouthing at Jimin’s scent gland. It’s a spot he could bite, a bond that
would seal them together.

“Yes,” Jimin mumbles, even if he has no idea what’s going on through Jeongguk’s head. He
sinks fingers into Jeongguk’s long hair and presses him down, keeps him where he is.

Jeongguk sighs happily, nibbling on the skin again before biting down properly. It’s not
enough to break skin, but it’s enough that his alpha gets an idea of what it would feel like if
he did it properly. A breathless fuck leaves his mouth, Jimin arches against him, his fingers
claw at Jeongguk’s shirt. He mumbles against Jeongguk’s ear. Says, please. Please. Please.

“I want to mate you.” The words leave his mouth involuntarily. And his cheeks heat after
they do because Jimin freezes under him, probably not having been expecting that.

And Jeongguk isn’t even sure of what to expect. He isn’t even sure how Jimin might react.
So, he burrows his face in Jimin’s neck and lets his chest rumble softly, rubs his cheek back
and forth, hoping to show Jimin that he really does want that, but he’s willing to wait for as
long as he has to.

“But,” Jimin starts after what feels like forever. “That’s―why would you―”

He doesn’t go on. Jeongguk leans back, holds himself up on his forearm. He swallows down
the lump in his throat. He knows Jimin is surprised and, frankly, Jeongguk wasn’t planning
on saying that tonight, but he still feels a little bit rejected and he can’t help but pout. It might
be childish, but Jimin’s expression softens and he seems endeared as he reaches up to cup his
cheek.

“I know it’s sudden and I wasn’t really planning on telling you right now, but I…” he trails
off, shaking his head. He closes his eyes and tries to think properly, wants to say it in a way
that conveys what he feels and makes Jimin understand where he’s coming from. “I wasn’t
lying when I said I think you’re the person I’m meant to be with. Call it instinct or maybe it’s
just my wolf that knows. But I feel the tug when I’m around you, hyung. I waited for you
after you left. I thought about you all the time and when I saw you, the feelings just grew and
grew. They keep growing and it never stops.
“And maybe it’s too soon to know. Maybe you think we’re not ready. It’s fine. We don’t have
to mate right now. We don’t have to mate any time soon. But I know that I want you in my
life forever and I’ve waited for you all this time. So, if you want it too. If you want me too.
Then we can do it when you’re ready,” he finishes, pressing his forehead to Jimin’s.

Jimin’s eyes flutter closed. His pheromones are all over the place and Jeongguk has no idea
what he’s thinking, what he’s feeling. So he just waits patiently as Jimin processes the words
he just voiced out.

I love you hangs on the tip of his tongue. But this too can wait. He doesn’t want to
overwhelm Jimin with his feelings. He wanted to go at a slow pace, give Jimin time to figure
out things. Still, it feels nice to say it, to tell Jimin that he wants him. It’s close enough to an
‘I love you’ and it’s enough for now.

“I know I want you, too,” Jimin says. His voice makes Jeongguk’s heart jump in his chest and
his alpha claws, makes Jeongguk crave Jimin’s closeness even more, despite the fact that
they’re pressed together so tightly right now. “I want to mate you, Jeongguk-ah. I just―the
curse.” He sounds pained as he goes on and Jeongguk cups his cheek, wanting to reassure
him. “We have to figure out how to break the curse first. Because if I were to hurt you, if―”

“No, hyung,” he interrupts shaking his head. “You won’t hurt me. I know―”

“Let me just,” Jimin interrupts this time. “Let me finish,” he pleads. Jeongguk nods, leaning
down and placing a kiss on his cheek, sealing his lips for Jimin to go on. “I want to mate you,
too. I really want to. I like the idea of being bound to you in a way that’s unbreakable. But if
things somehow went downhill, if you couldn’t touch me anymore and we were mated, how
would we deal with it?” He asks. It’s a sensible question, but Jeongguk doesn’t want to think
about it. He doesn’t even want to consider it. He hates the thought. “It would hurt you. I’d
end up hurting you.”

“It would also hurt you ,” Jeongguk voices out softly.

Jimin cups his cheeks and their eyes meet. “You understand, don’t you?” He asks. “I want
you, Jeongguk. I want you forever, I just need―we have to fix this first. Please? Please,
Jeongguk-ah.”

“Hyung,” Jeongguk whispers, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. “I want you, too. So much.
And yes, of course, I understand. We’ll fix it. We’ll fix it and then everything will be okay.
You’ll see. I promise.”

He hopes it’s a promise that he’ll be able to keep. Jimin’s small smile and shining eyes tell
him he knows too that it’s a promise that might not be fulfilled. But Jeongguk really doesn’t
want to think about that. All he wants to focus on is the fact that Jimin wants him forever too.
So he sighs happily and sinks his face in his neck, nibbling again, only this time it’s playful,
gentle.

“I’ll bite you here,” he mumbles, licking at the skin and going back to nibbling. “I like the
thought of being bound to you, too.”
Jimin’s words will forever be engraved in his brain.

“I’ll bite you here,” Jimin replies, also nibbling on Jeongguk’s neck, slipping his hands under
his shirt and touching his heated skin. A groan is punched out of his throat. “I’ll make you
mine.”

Jeongguk growls softly, presses his body tighter against Jimin’s and marvels in the way he
wraps around him tightly, holding on for dear life.

“I’m all yours,” he mumbles. “I always have been and I always will be.”

Jimin’s response gets lost in between loud sighs and soft exhales, lips coming together in a
kiss that’s full of emotions, full of fear about the future and thrill about the possibility of one
day being linked together, an unbreakable bond formed between them.

↢↣

Jeongguk knows it’s hard for Jimin to leave the place he’s been living in for so many years.
He watches him take his time to say goodbye to his home and when he finally seems ready to
leave, he suggests that they both take a bath in the lake one last time. This time around, it’s a
peaceful moment and it doesn’t last all that long because they try not to get distracted with
one another. When they time comes to finally leave, they shift into their wolf forms to travel.

And it hits Jeongguk then that he’s never seen Jimin in his wolf form. There’s something so
beautiful about his white fur and golden eyes. Jeongguk stares at him for a little bit too long
before shifting as well. They dance around each other, press close for a moment, allowing
their wolves to get to know each other before they set out for the pack’s camp.

It’s a few days travel, but it all goes by in a blur. Whenever he’s in wolf form, things tend to
be different. He’s more wolf than he is human and he’s guided by instincts more than he is by
his brain. Time also moves by differently. And in the meantime, Jeongguk enjoys the feeling
of the woods flashing by him as he moves quickly, enjoys the way Jimin runs beside him. He
enjoys the way they’re connected to nature.

But what he likes the most is the fact that Jimin is going back with him to the pack.

↢↣

Despite the promises he made, a part of him was worried that the wolves wouldn’t be all that
happy to see Jimin there. If some of them really looked at Jimin in that way he mentioned,
then they might not like the fact that Jimin has come back. Which, of course, Jeongguk
doesn’t care. He was being serious about taking care of Jimin and making sure that he didn’t
feel out of place anymore.

Still, he can’t control the way they will react upon first seeing Jimin after all of these years.
He’ll make sure to talk to his parents after they’ve both settled down.

They shift into their human forms close by to the camp, on a spot where other werewolves
also shift when they come back from runs. There are spare clothes near a tree and they both
get dressed in them before heading into the camp.

When they enter the clearing, people are already standing there, staring at them. It’s
something they were both expecting, considering the fact that they can probably smell their
scents. Jeongguk was supposed to be back a long while ago and Jimin’s scent might be
unfamiliar to some.

It turns out, Jimin was worrying too much. Jimin’s nervousness is palpable in the air, but
people come close quickly, excited and happy about seeing him. He greets them with
tentative smiles. It’s still obvious in some of their eyes that they’re nervous and scared about
Jimin’s presence, but most of them keep it to themselves and greet Jimin nicely, telling him
that they’ve missed him while he was gone.

Questions are thrown here and there, where was he? Is he okay? Is he still cursed? Jimin
politely lets them know that he’s okay and that yes, he still can’t be touched. He fails to
mention the fact that Jeongguk can touch him, but it’s something they talked about before.
Before they even left Jimin’s home, they figured out what they’d say. They wouldn’t go into
detail because even they didn’t know how Jeongguk could touch him, but they wouldn’t hide
that they could touch and they wouldn’t hide the fact that they’re together now.

After some come close and hug him, sending smiles to Jimin because they can’t do the same
with him, the crowd parts to let Jeongguk’s parents and Jimin’s parents come through. The
Park pack has thirty wolves and the Jeon pack has thirty-five. In total there are sixty-five
wolves. About ten of them must have gone to the city to buy anything they might need
throughout the next fifteen days. It’s the half of the month, so Jeongguk knows it’s around
this time that they do. Some wolves are only now arriving to the circle that has formed
around them, but they don’t get a chance to say hello or ask their questions because the pack
alpha’s are now here.

Jeongguk is hugged by his parents, shows them a big smile when they smile at him. And a
weird sense of worry takes over him when he spots Jimin’s parents staring at him in awe. He
feels protective over him, even though he knows he won’t get hurt. He steps closer to him,
close enough that he can feel his body heat and his alpha settles in his chest, much calmer.

“I can’t believe it’s you,” Jimin’s mother says, hands covering her mouth.

“How have you been, son?” His father asks, taking a step closer. “Has something changed?
Has the curse disappeared?”

Jimin shakes his head and takes a step back. Jeongguk follows because he wants to stay
close.
“It hasn’t disappeared,” he replies. “Jeongguk convinced me to come back,” he adds, his gaze
sliding towards him.

Jeongguk smiles reassuringly. He’s here for him and he’ll stay by his side no matter what.

“I’m so glad he did,” his mother says. There are tears in her eyes and Jeongguk can tell that
she wants to hug her son. Even Jimin’s father looks frustrated. And Jeongguk knows all too
well how that feels. Wanting to hug him and hold him, show him through warmth and
closeness what he feels, but not being able to. It made him feel powerless before and he’s
glad it’s not the same way anymore. “I can’t believe it’s been five years. How are you, my
angel? You have to tell me what you’ve been up to. Why don’t you come to our cottage?”
She looks excited all of a sudden, gesturing for Jimin to follow.

“I um, actually,” he says, glancing at Jeongguk again. “We’ve been running for a few days. If
it’s okay, could we talk tomorrow? I’m kind of tired, it’s been a while since I’ve traveled for
so long.”

She nods eagerly and her husband tells Jimin that he can settle down in his old room.
Jeongguk knows for a fact that they haven’t changed anything. Over the past few years, he’s
slipped into the room occasionally, hoping to smell some of Jimin’s scent even though it’s
been gone for ages. But he didn’t plan for Jimin to stay at his old house. This, though, he
didn’t tell him about.

“Actually, he’s going to be staying with me,” he voices out.

He notices the way his parents look at him, curiosity in their gazes. They know . They have to
know how Jeongguk feels because after Jimin was gone, it was so hard for him to adjust.
Maybe they did even before Jeongguk knew. And so, he’s sure they’re not all that surprised
about the way things turned out.

Of course, when he reaches out for Jimin’s hand, he can hear the sharp intakes of air, the way
everybody freezes for a split second as Jeongguk’s hand connects with Jimin’s. Nothing
happens, of course. No pain. He looks at Jimin, smiles when he notices he’s just as startled as
everybody else, probably not having been expecting Jeongguk to just grab his hand like that
without explaining first that he could .

But Jeongguk figured it was better to just show everyone than to take too long explaining
something that would surely arise questions that he didn’t particularly feel like answering just
yet. He’s as tired as Jimin said he is and he’s really looking forward to having Jimin in his
bed. He’s pictured it all too much since he got a cottage of his own when he turned twenty-
one.

“We can talk tomorrow,” Jimin whispers, his voice soft as he moves closer to Jeongguk and
glues himself to his side. “About what happens now and all of that. I know I’ve been gone for
a long time, but if it’s okay, I would still like to be a part of the pack.”

Jeongguk is all but ready to protest because he told Jimin that he is part of the pack―a
million times, at that.
“You are a part of the pack,” someone says.

It takes Jeongguk’s brain a couple of seconds to process the fact that it was his father who
spoke up. Jimin’s father looks a bit baffled about the fact that he said it before he managed to.
And Jeongguk feels his heart beat faster because there’s something so nice about knowing
that both his parents understand what he feels and what him to be happy, know that Jimin is
supposed to be here. He’s a part of their family, of their pack.

“That’s right, Jimin-ah,” Jimin’s father speaks up this time. “You never stopped being part of
the pack, that’s not something you have to worry about.”

Jimin’s eyes fill with tears, but he blinks them away and Jeongguk leans into him, placing a
kiss on his temple. He’s vaguely aware of all the eyes staring at them in awe, clearly still
shocked about the fact that Jeongguk can touch Jimin.

“I thought you said that the curse hadn’t disappeared,” Jimin’s mother says.

She seems overwhelmed and confused, a million emotions flickering in her gaze.

“It hasn’t, I think,” Jimin replies. “We don’t know why Jeongguk can touch me, but…” he
trails off, looking at him.

Jeongguk nods and squeezes his hand reassuringly. “Now that Jimin is back, we’re going to
find out a way to break the curse. And we also want to figure out how I can touch him when
nobody else can.”

“Are you sure that’s the case?” One of the younger wolves asks. He seems to be the only
one―aside from their parents―to have moved past his initial shock. “Have you touched
anyone else? Maybe you can try―”

“No,” Jimin quickly says, shaking his head. “I don’t want to do that.”

Panic takes over his expression and Jeongguk’s eyebrows furrow.

“He won’t do that,” he says, sending the wolf a glare. He takes a step back, lifting his hands
apologetically. “We aren’t sure. We don’t even understand how this is possible. So, before we
try anything like that, we want to make sure we know absolutely everything there is to know
about the curse and hopefully find a solution.”

Murmurs are heard and Jimin seems to be getting more nervous by the second. Jeongguk
squeezes his hand again, showing him a reassuring smile when Jimin’s eyes move to him.

“Okay, everyone. I know we’re all curious now that Jimin is back, but I think we should give
him some space to rest and re-adjust to this new situation,” Jimin’s father says. “Please, go
back to what you were doing. We’ll all have time to catch up over the next few days.”

Grumbles are heard and a couple of protests, but the already big crowd starts to disperse.

“Please, come to our cottage when you’re ready, Jimin-ah,” Jimin’s mother says, hesitating,
as if she was ready to step closer and hug him. Jimin looks at her apologetically.
“I will, mom,” he whispers. “Thank you for understanding.”

She shakes her head and reassures him that she’ll always understand. His father is just
opening his mouth to speak when a voice screams Jimin’s name. Jeongguk turns around in
time to see Taehyung running towards them, making his way in between people, his
expression wild. He doesn’t even seem to be thinking because as he reaches them, he doesn’t
stop. And Jimin lifts his hands to stop him, but there’s not much he can do when he can’t
touch him.

Jeongguk lets go of Jimin’s hand and steps in between them, barely managing to wrap his
arm around Taehyung’s waist to stop him. Taehyung makes a surprised sound and slaps at
Jeongguk’s arm as his initial shock disappears.

“What the fuck, Jeon Jeongguk?” He asks, pushing him back and turning to Jimin again. “Let
me through, I haven’t seen my best friend in five years!”

“You can’t touch him, remember?” Jeongguk asks.

He lets go of Taehyung and turns to Jimin again because he can sense in his scent that he’s
sad. And he hates it. He wants to take away any sadness he might feel.

“ You’re touching him,” Taehyung points out. “I thought the curse might be gone? Is that not
the case?” His gaze grows sad as well as he steps closer. But this time around, he stops on his
own, shoulders dropping. “Jimin-ah?”

“Taehyungie,” Jimin whispers. Tears slide down his face. He sounds so sad. Jeongguk hates it
so much. He wants Jimin to smile only, to be happy and never feel pain again. “I’m sorry.
Jeongguk can touch me, but we don’t know why. I’m so sorry. I wish I could hug you. I
missed you so much.”

It seems that this moment right here is what finally made Jimin’s composture break because
his shoulders shake and he closes his eyes, shaking his head.

“Hey, it’s okay, Jimin-ah,” Taehyung reassures. “Please, don’t cry. It’s okay. I’m sorry, too. I
missed you a lot. I got excited, I should’ve been more careful.”

“It’s not your fault,” Jimin whispers. Jeongguk settles behind him and leans down to brush
his nose over his scent gland briefly. He releases calming pheromones, hoping it’ll soothe
Jimin enough that he’ll start to calm down quickly. “Seeing my parents again and you―I just
missed you all so much. I wish I could hug you all.”

Everybody has already drifted away and it’s just them three standing on their own. Jeongguk
is glad because he’s sure the crowd was overwhelming Jimin a lot. He leans back but stays
close to Jimin as he talks to Taehyung.

“It’s okay,” Taehyung reassures. His eyes are shining with tears that he seems to be struggling
to hold back, but when he smiles, it reaches his eyes and Jimin smiles back, sniffling. He
seems to be calming down. “Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. Right? We always did. This is
no different. I’m sure it’ll be fine soon.”
Jeongguk nods. “That’s true. We’re here to figure out more about the curse and also why I
can touch him. We just need time and dedication.” He leans down to whisper into Jimin’s ear.
“Everything will be okay, baby.”

Taehyung clearly hears him because his brow rises.

“Can we talk tomorrow, Tae?” Jimin asks. He sounds exhausted all of a sudden and Jeongguk
wants to pick him up and lock him into his cottage so he can lay down until he’s well rested.
“I really missed you and we have a lot to catch up on. But I’m so tired. Too many emotions
and we’ve been running for days.”

“Of course, of course,” Taheyung says, nodding eagerly. “Are you guys staying together? I
can go to Jeongguk’s cottage tomorrow before lunch. How does that sound?”

“Good,” Jimin replies with a grateful smile. “I’ll see you then, Tae.”

Taehyung nods. He sends Jeongguk a curious glance, but doesn’t say anything more before
he’s off to go back to where he was before he and Jimin arrived. Once they’re finally alone
again, Jeongguk slips in front of Jimin and wraps his arms around his waist, hugging him
tightly.

“Hyung,” he murmurs, placing his lips against Jimin’s scent gland. He kisses the spot,
smiling when Jimin’s head tilts to the side and sighs happily. “The hard part is over. I’m so
glad you’re here.”

“I’m glad, too,” Jimin whispers, placing his hands on Jeongguk’s hips. He rubs his cheek up
and down Jeongguk’s neck. “So, I’ll be staying with you?” He asks.

There’s a teasing edge to his voice that makes Jeongguk’s cheek heat up. Maybe he shouldn’t
have assumed, but he really wanted Jimin to stay with him. It’s what they’ve been doing
while staying at Jimin’s house. And, truth be told, Jeongguk has been thinking about it all too
much.

“I was hoping you would,” he mumbles. “But it’s okay if you would prefer―”

“No,” Jimin interrupts, shaking his head and slipping his hands under Jeongguk’s shirt. “I
want to stay with you, Jeongguk-ah. Show me your home?”

Our home, Jeongguk thinks. At some point, maybe, they’ll might mate. The thought alone is
enough to make his heart beat faster.

“Come on,” he says, stepping back and intertwining their fingers together. “I’ll show you.”

The walk isn’t a long one. The Jeon pack hasn’t fully moved to the clearing. It was decided
that they would be the one to move and the cottages they’re leaving behind will be used when
their camp becomes too small for them all to live here. Jeongguk was one of the first to move
because his father is pack alpha and he had to move with them, but once he was here, he
found a place of his own. An empty cottage that he’s been slowly decorating and filling with
things that make him happy.
After a short walk, they finally reach the place and Jeongguk eagerly tugs at Jimin so they
can go inside. When they do, he lets Jimin’s hand go and lets him wander around the living
room, looking around curiously. There’s something so strangely fascinating about seeing
Jimin here. Once upon a time, he couldn’t help but imagine that a day like this one would
come. He would imagine it, think about it endlessly.

And now here they are. Here Jimin is. In Jeongguk’s house.

“Do you like it?” He asks softly.

Jimin turns to look at him, various emotions flashing over his gaze. Finally, he tilts his head
and smiles.

“It’s your place, what matters is that you like it,” he points out. “But, yeah. It’s very cozy
and―”

His words are cut off by his yelp when Jeongguk slides closer and wraps his arms around his
waist. He burrows his face in Jimin’s neck, swaying them from side to side. Jimin’s hands
slide across his forearms, hugging him back and leaning against his chest.

“It could be our place,” he whispers against his ear. “If you’d like,” he adds. “We can buy
new things if you want. And we can decorate here and there. Whatever you want, baby.”

Jimin is quiet for a few seconds. And Jeongguk is starting to realize that it’s hard for Jimin to
let go of everything he’s known over the past five years. He’s been alone for so long―lonely,
too. And even though Jeongguk is trying his best to make him understand that he never has to
be alone again, it seems to be difficult for him.

“I like the sound of that,” he murmurs. “We don’t have to change anything, though. Living
here is enough for me.”

Jeongguk turns him around and Jimin startles, looking up into his eyes. He opens his mouth
to say something, but Jeongguk is already leaning forward to kiss him. Living with Jeongguk
is enough for him and, honestly, Jeongguk is perfectly content with having Jimin here forever.
That’s all he needs, too. Jimin always.

“Baby,” he mumbles against his mouth, picking him up instantly. Jimin’s legs wrap around
him without hesitation and his hands slip into his hair, a low groan making Jeongguk’s knees
feel weak just briefly. “You drive me crazy.”

Jimin makes this sound of protest against his mouth. “You drive me crazy.”

Jeongguk doesn’t let him speak again, mostly because he can’t stop kissing him. He’s
obsessed with Jimin’s lips, the way they move against his so slowly some times that it’s hard
to breathe and it’s hard to think. Jimin’s hands slide down, fist the back of his shirt, his legs
tighten around Jeongguk’s waist and he’s taller than him right now. Jeongguk loves how it
feels when he tilts his head back and Jimin is the one settling the pace.
But after a while, Jimin begs him for more and Jeongguk will never deny him anything. As
the kiss grows heated, he stumbles in an effort to be closer to him, even though they’re
already pretty much wrapped up in each other. Soon enough, he has Jimin pinned to the wall
with his hips and he grunts at the nice feeling. Jimin’s body molds to his, his back arches, his
head tilts back.

“Scent me,” he pleads.

And once more, Jeongguk doesn’t hesitate to give him what he wants. He trails his kisses
down Jimin’s jaw, under his chin and over his neck, until he reaches his scent gland and bites
down on it. Maybe a little bit too hard because Jimin whimpers and his body loses strength,
falling forward. His forehead presses to Jeongguk’s shoulder.

“Do you like that?” He asks, licking at the skin to soothe the slight pain he must have caused.

Jimin nods, one hand slipping into Jeongguk’s hair, his lips pressing to his jaw. He kisses
over and over again, as if he’s too overwhelmed to do much more. Jeongguk’s heart starts
beating faster. He loves that he can do this to Jimin, touch him and kiss him and bite him in a
way that makes him grow so pliant and so relaxed. All he ever wants is for Jimin to feel only
good things. The rest just doesn’t matter.

“What more do you like, baby?” He asks, curious, but also teasing.

He rubs his nose back and forth over Jimin’s throat, pausing to lick up a path before moving
to the other side. There, he bites down again and he earns the same reaction.

“Don’t know,” Jimin mumbles.

He sounds too far gone, even though Jeongguk is just getting started with him. He doesn’t
have any concrete plans―he wasn’t even expecting things to get heated between them this
fast after arriving, but he knows one thing for sure and it’s that he wants to make Jimin feel
good. Always, he wants to take care of him in any way he can. This, too, included.

So, he slides his hands down Jimin’s sides and grips his hips, leaning back. Jimin makes
another soft sound of protest, lips following Jeongguk, trying to get a kiss.

“I could scent you for hours,” he whispers, leaning forward and pecking Jimin’s scent gland
briefly enough that he protests again. “And kiss you, too,” he goes on, another peck, but this
one to Jimin’s lips. “I would go on and on, kiss and scent every inch of your body until you
can’t take it anymore.” Jimin’s face burrows in his face, as if he needs to hide while Jeongguk
says these things. He goes on, hands sliding to Jimin’s ass cheeks, pressing him closer. “I
love driving you crazy. I love you like this, happy and urgent and relaxed. I want you like this
always.”

Jimin leans back and looks into his eyes, he cups Jeongguk’s cheeks. Jeongguk is taken aback
by the sudden change in the situation. Jimin’s eyebrows are furrowed, his expression
confused. Finally, he leans his forehead against Jeongguk’s.
“Jeongguk-ah,” he murmurs. And something inside Jeongguk’s chest gives. It tugs at him,
makes him want to say a million things more. “Do you mean―” he cuts himself off, seeming
conflicted. Jeongguk goes back in his head trying to figure out what he said that made Jimin
stop. “Do you mean it…like that?”

And it hits Jeongguk then. I love you like this. Close enough to what he feels, but not exactly
it. Still, now that Jimin is asking and now that he’s here, Jeongguk wants to say it so badly.

He closes his eyes and lets his nose brush against Jimin’s. When he speaks, his lips are so
close to Jimin’s that they brush against his.

“I want to mate you, baby,” he starts. “I want to be tied to you for the rest of my life. I want
you. Of course, I mean it like that. I’m in love with you. I’ve known since the second I saw
you again and there’s not a moment when I haven’t thought about wanting to live my life
beside you.”

Once it’s out there in the open, Jeongguk feels as if a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.
And as he opens his eyes to see Jimin, he finds that his eyes are filled with unshed tears. It
seems that these things still overwhelm him, but Jeongguk just smiles and reaches up to cup
his cheek. He releases calming pheromones, pressing kiss after kiss all over his cheeks and
on his mouth.

“You don’t have to say anything, hyung,” he reassures. “I just wanted you to know.”

“Are you sure?” Jimin asks, shaking his head. “Jeongguk, I―”

“I am sure,” replies. “And, really, you don’t have to say anything, hyung. I know all of this is
new for you, I know you’re still having a hard time adjusting to all this newness. And I
understand that maybe you don’t feel the same way yet. It’s just that for that past few years,
you’re all that I’ve been able to think about. I never even wanted to―” he cuts himself off
and shakes his head. It’s hard to explain everything he feels with words sometimes. When he
looks into Jimin’s eyes again, he finds that he’s staring at him expectantly, a strange sort of
excitement in his features. “I’ve never wanted anyone else. Because all the time I thought
about you coming back and wondered if there was a chance we could pick up right where we
left off, if we would keep going through time until we inevitably fell in love and ended up
together.

“So, really. I don’t want you to stress out about it. Things haven’t changed, the only thing
that’s different now is that you know how I feel. You know it goes way beyond just liking
you.”

Jimin’s fingertips slide across his cheekbones and Jeongguk’s eyes fall shut. He likes it when
Jimin touches him like this, when he traces his skin so delicately it feels as if he’s some sort
of special thing Jimin is too scared of breaking. He takes a step forward, pressing Jimin to the
wall and groans when their hips connect. A tiny gasp leaves Jimin’s mouth as his lips fall to
Jeongguk’s forehead, they trace down and down his nose until he pecks his mouth.

“I’m not stressed out about it,” he whispers. And then he reaches into Jeongguk’s chest and
squeezes his heart so tight Jeongguk can’t breathe . “I’m in love with you, too. It’s just
that―I mean, I’ve never…” he trails off, shaking his head. Jeongguk opens his eyes, feeling
a little bit dizzy with Jimin’s words. Of course, he thought that with time, Jimin would fully
open up to him, that he’d come to feel the same way at some point. He hadn’t been expecting
it right now. “I’ve never felt this way before. I’ve never even liked anyone. You’re the first
person that’s touched me in years . So, I don’t know what love feels like. But I feel it here,”
he says, placing his hand on his chest. “And my wolf knows, too. Instinct, huh? My wolf
knows you’re the one I’m meant to be with and I trust that. I trust you. I love you, too,
Jeongguk-ah.”

Jeongguk can’t even bring himself to reply. He’s so overwhelmed by Jimin’s words that all he
can think about is kissing him and never stopping. So, he leans forward and kisses him.
Jimin’s mouth parts instantly, letting him in. He moves, loving the way Jimin holds on to him
as he heads towards the bedroom. Maybe he should have showed that to Jimin before
attacking him with his mouth earlier, but Jeongguk honestly can’t find it in himself to care
right now.

They have time for that. Later. The rest of the day. Tomorrow morning. There’s time.

Jimin bounces on the bed, giggles so nicely that Jeongguk loses it for a couple of seconds.
But then his gaze turns heated and he grows serious as Jeongguk crawls over his body. He
settles on his knees in between Jimin’s legs. Urgently, he tugs at Jimin’s shirt, helps him take
it over his head and then settles back so he can look at him. He’s a sight for sore eyes.

Jeongguk will never move on from how absolutely beautiful Jimin is. His blond hair falls in a
halo around his pretty face and his gaze gleams with excitement, his hands resting at either
side of his body. Jeongguk reaches forward, hands falling to Jimin’s hipbones. Jimin gasps,
body squirming and Jeongguk nibbles on his lower lip trying to decide what he wants to do
first. He wants to touch him all over, trace every inch of skin with his fingertips and then with
his mouth. But then he also wants to focus here, where Jimin seems to be so sensitive. His
scent glands, probably. Not every wolf has them there, but Jimin does. He remembers Jimin
told him once when they were younger.

Finally deciding that he can get to his scent glands along the way, he moves his hands up
Jimin’s toned abdomen. Muscle tenses under his touch, back arching in a way that has
Jeongguk staring, mesmerized. It’s as if he can’t stop looking at Jimin. Every little thing he
sees makes him feel ten times more in love. It’s like falling for him over and over again. It’s
never ending. It’s overwhelming in the best of ways

“You’re so beautiful,” Jeongguk voices out, moving up until he’s hovering over Jimin’s body,
then sliding his hands down his arms until he reaches his hands. Their fingers intertwine as
Jimin stares down at him. “I want to touch you for hours. I want to make you feel good. Can
I, baby? Can I make you feel good?”

Jimin’s expression turns nervous, but he nods and squeezes Jeongguk’s fingers. Jeongguk
squeezes back and this time he reaches for Jimin’s shorts. They’re a bit too big on him, so
they slide effortlessly off his thighs. And then he’s naked. They don’t tend to wear underwear
all that much, since they’re getting undressed pretty frequently to shift. Even though this isn’t
the first time he’s seeing Jimin completely naked, something about the intimacy of the
moment makes it different.
And it’s obvious that Jimin notices that too because his knees close up, his head tilting to the
side and eyes closing. His cheeks are a soft shade of pink and Jeongguk has a mini heart
attack because he’s so cute. So embarrassed even though they’ve already done this before,
have held onto each other tight in the lake while being naked, have touched and gotten a bit
worked up. Still, he gets it. It’s different. It feels so much more intense and nerve-wracking.

He places his hands on Jimin’s knees and spreads them open. Jimin’s head snaps back in his
direction.

“Jeongguk―” he starts, but stops talking when Jeongguk leans down and places a soft kiss
on the inside of his knee.

“Mm?”

He doesn’t reply verbally to the calling of his name, just kisses Jimin’s knee again and makes
the same sound, looking up between his eyelashes when Jimin fails to respond a second time
around.

“What is it, baby?” He asks, letting his tongue slip past his lips so he can lick at Jimin’s skin.

Jimin makes a soft sound, hands fisting the sheets. There’s something so sexy about him
being like this, so sensitive and naked, squirming under Jeongguk’s touch, holding on for
dear life.

“You too,” Jimin breathes out, trying but failing to keep his eyes open when Jeongguk moves
further down, near the inside of his thigh. He nibbles there playfully, loving how the soft skin
feels. “Get undressed, Jeongguk,” he pleads. “I want to―I―”

He doesn’t finish talking, back arching off the bed when Jeongguk moves further down, lips
now nearing his hip bone. Now that Jeongguk has him here, on his bed, he wants to spend
hours worshiping his body and making him feel so good he can’t even get up tomorrow.
Maybe that’s not wise, though. And yet, he can’t help but let his body guide him. He’s eager
to please. Eager to make Jimin feel good.

“On it, baby.”

He tugs at his clothes, gets it off his body as quick as he can, eager to go back to Jimin. It
falls to the ground somewhere and then he’s in between his legs again, this time laying on his
belly so he can properly kiss the spots he wants to. Jimin looks down at him, eyes the
slightest bit wide and he whines when Jeongguk’s mouth falls to his hipbone. The sensitive
skin tastes so much like him, Jeongguk can’t help but groan. His scent explodes on his
tongue, even more intense than it is when he’s scenting his neck.

“Fuck, you taste so good,” he mumbles, licking and licking. It’s impossible to stop. He sucks
on the skin again and Jimin whimpers this time around, fingers shooting out to fist
Jeongguk’s hair. He holds on tight, thighs closing around his cheeks. “Keep them open,” he
murmurs, placing his hands on the insides of his thighs and pushing them apart. Jimin gasps
when Jeongguk sucks again and once more, his thighs start to close. This time, Jeongguk’s
hands are there to stop them and he keeps them like that, moving to the other hipbone,
sucking just as harshly. “Does it feel good?”

He knows it does, Jimin’s reactions are enough to know that. But he wants Jimin to say it. He
wants to hear how good he feels.

“Yes,” Jimin breathes out, his fingers tugging at his hair so hard that it hurts a little bit. But he
doesn’t mind. He likes the feeling all too much. “But I―” Jimin tries, voice cutting off when
Jeongguk attacks his scent gland once more. “It feels so good ,” he whines, the muscles of his
thighs tensing under Jeongguk’s hands. “But I want to touch you.” His voice sounds
pleading, his hands keep tugging. “I want to touch you, too. Jeongguk, please.”

“In a little bit, baby,” he whispers, moving his way down because Jimin seems to be getting
overwhelmed quickly. “I want to take my time kissing every inch of your body.”

Words die off Jimin’s lips when Jeongguk finds his ankles and starts kissing. Once side first,
kisses and kisses and gentle nips against the scent glands he has there. All of them are so
sensitive, although they don’t seem as sensitive as the ones he has on his hipbones. Once he’s
done with both, he trails up to his calves, reaches his knee. Then the other side as well.

He spends an extra long time on his thighs because they feel so soft under his teeth. He has to
stop himself several times from biting down hard enough to leave a mark. And all through
out, Jimin’s gasps turn to whines. Those whines turn into loud whimpers, followed by moans
that make everything in Jeongguk’s body pull tight.

By the time he’s on top of him, mouth connecting with the crook of his neck, Jimin is
covered in a thin layer of sweat, he’s half hard and he’s desperately grasping at Jeongguk, as
if he’s not already pressed tightly to his body. It’s like he can’t get enough of it and even
though Jeongguk is ready to give him the whole world, he teases him about it.

“Eager, baby?” He asks, mouthing at his scent gland while Jimin’s legs wrap around his hips
and press him closer. Being naked in this position makes it easy enough for Jeongguk to feel
pleasure and even though they don’t move quite yet, a pleasant tingle moves up his spine as
the feeling of Jimin’s warm body under his. “Do you like it that much?”

Jimin makes a sound, something between a whine and a moan, but otherwise doesn’t
respond. His fingernails dig into Jeongguk’s shoulder blades, though and his hps finally
move, lift off the bed, drag against Jeongguk’s. Pleasuring Jimin was his intent here, but now
that he’s trapped in between his thighs, bodies slippery against each other, he finds that he
doesn’t particularly want to move away. Instead, he gets more comfortable, makes sure that
Jimin’s body is fully covered by his.

“Do you?” He asks again, forearm on the bed, next to his head. He gently grasps his chin
with his other hand, making Jimin’s eyes open and focus on him. “Tell me, baby. Do you like
it?”

“I do,” Jimin mumbles, nodding, wrapping his arms around Jeongguk’s shoulder. “I like it.
Keep going,” he pleads.
“You like it when I scent you here?” He asks softly, placing a soft kiss against Jimin’s scent
gland. Jimin tilts his head to the side instantly, so pliant. Jeongguk growls because he can’t
help it and bites down on the skin. Once more, it’s a bit harder than usual, but one of Jimin’s
hands tangles with his long hair and keeps him there. “When I bite you? This is where I’ll
bite you when we mate, baby. I think it’ll hurt at first, but I’ve heard that the feeling
afterwards is so perfect. You’ll feel me everywhere. I’ll feel you everywhere. We’ll be one.”

“I want that,” Jimin says, lips pressing to Jeongguk’s shoulder, teeth nipping at his skin too.
Although he’s distracted and he soon enough drops his head to the pillow again, exposing his
neck as if he wants more. Jeongguk gives him more. “I want you. Please, Jeongguk? You said
you wanted to make me feel good. I want you so much. Touch me more. I can’t―”

“Patience, baby,” he whispers, leaning back so he can place kisses across Jimin’s jaw. Up he
goes until he reaches under his earlobe and then down until he reaches his chin. He bites
there playfully and Jimin’s hand slides down to his cheek, his other hand settling in between
his shoulder blades. Their eyes meet briefly and remain open as Jeongguk’s lips press to
Jimin’s. But soon enough they both are too overwhelmed by the feeling to keep their eyes
open. And so, they let them fall shut, lips moving against each other, bodies starting to move
as well.

Jeongguk has never been with anyone before. His ruts have always been spent alone―and
often, he spent those thinking about Jimin. So all he’s ever done is use his hand or a pillow or
a toy. And, he knows Jimin hasn’t done anything with anyone either, because of the curse.
But their bodies move on their own, pushed forward by instinct, seeking out pleasure.

And it’s enough. Even though there’s more they could be doing, just being pressed to Jimin
like this makes him feel so much. And he’s perfectly content being held, perfectly content
dragging his hips against him and hearing the way he moans. It drives him crazy. He wants to
pull more of those sounds out of Jimin’s pretty and plump lips.

“Ah, hyung. You feel so good, I―” he cuts himself off, getting distracted easily, Jimin’s
mouth moving against his. He nibbles and sucks on his lower lip, tugs at it until Jimin groans.
And when he stops, Jimin licks at his parted lips, whispers how good it feels. “Yeah?”
Jeongguk asks, a little bit overwhelmed by all this pleasure that feels more intense than
anything he’s felt before.

It’s unlike the way it feels when he touches himself. It’s better, especially because Jimin is
feeling good too and he’s so vocal about it. He keeps touching Jeongguk all over, as if he
can’t keep his hands still, as if he doesn’t know what to do with himself.

“Slower, baby,” he whispers, reaching down and placing his hand on Jimin’s hip. His body
jerks, but when Jeongguk squeezes and drags his hips slowly against his, Jimin settles down
with a shudder. “Like that,” he says, pressing his cheek against Jimin’s and closing his eyes.

He wants to keep kissing him, but maybe it’s because this is the first time he’s feeling
anything like this, maybe that’s why he’s already feeling too overwhelmed, too close . He
doesn’t want to come yet. He wants to drag this moment out as long as possible.
“But it feels so good,” Jimin whines. His hand slides down Jeongguk’s spine and settles on
his ass, pushing him down as he lifts his hips off the bed. Jeongguk grunts, chest heaving. He
slumps down, struggling to keep his cool.

“Yeah, but I―” he tries, his words cut off by his moan when Jimin squeezes at his ass cheek,
a pleasant tingle moving up his body. “It feels too good,” he whispers, burrowing his face in
Jimin’s neck.

“Jeongguk,” Jimin pleads.

Jeongguk turns them around. Jimin yelps when he’s suddenly on Jeongguk’s lap, but he sits
up quickly and wraps his arm around Jimin’s waist.

“Slow,” he orders softly, placing a kiss on Jimin’s jaw. He wraps his hand around both their
cocks and it’s a bit of a struggle because his hand is big enough to hold both of them
properly, especially when they’re already slippery because of their pre-cum. But Jimin’s hand
moves forward and covers what’s left to cover, fingers sliding in between Jeongguk’s.

They stroke upwards together and Jeongguk sighs, dropping his forehead on Jimin’s shoulder.
Jimin’s gaze is focused downwards, seemingly mesmerized by the sight. So, Jeongguk tilts
his head to the side so he can continue looking, nose close to Jimin’s neck. He wants to scent
him, but he also doesn’t want to look away.

Another stroke, one more. They move together. And it feels good. Jeongguk feels the
tightness in his belly, thighs trembling slightly as the pleasure grows. He thought this would
make it easier to hold back, the other position far too arousing, making it so easy to imagine
what it would be like to fuck Jimin. But this is ever more overwhelming because Jimin looks
so sinful on his lap. His hand is on Jeongguk’s forearm, his legs are wrapped around him,
he’s settled close enough that their bodies are touching in every single spot and every time his
body jerks, Jeongguk can feel his muscles tensing, can see the way his belly sinks and his
hips push forward, into his hand.

“Hyung,” he murmurs, letting go and stopping Jimin’s hands.

“ No ,” Jimin whines, eyes meeting his quickly. “It feels good, Jeongguk. I want to―”

“I just,” Jeongguk interrupts, pressing his forehead to Jimin’s, closing his eyes. “I don’t want
it to end too soon,” he confesses.

Jimin is quiet for a long moment, but soon enough he leans forward and places a kiss on
Jeongguk’s lips, making his eyes open again to look at him.

“If it does, we can do it again.” Jeongguk feels his lips tug up into a grin. Jimin smiles shyly.
“And again,” he adds, leaning forward to peck his lips once more. “And again. As many
times as we want. We have time. We have time, Jeongguk-ah.”

Neither of them mentions that there’s the fear of waking up one day and realizing that they
can’t touch each other again. Neither of them mentions the worry of what will happen after, if
they’ll find a way to fix things. It doesn’t matter. Not right now. This is the moment Jeongguk
wants to focus on. This is what he wants to get lost in: Jimin. Always Jimin.

“Yeah,” he replies, kissing him again. “We can do it again. I’ll spend hours learning all the
places you like to be kissed the most. And then I’ll focus on those spots until you’re too
overwhelmed, begging me to stop.”

“Yes, yes,” Jimin says, nodding eagerly. “I want that. I want you always.”

“God, I want you always, too,” Jeongguk confesses.

He kisses Jimin again and this time he doesn’t stop. He changes their positions again, already
missing too much the way they were moving against each other before. Jimin gasps, head
ending up right on the corner of the bed, half off the edge, just hanging there, neck exposed
for Jeongguk to do as he pleases.

And Jimin doesn’t move. He sighs when Jeongguk moves for his neck again, wraps his legs
around his waist and lets him do as he pleases. Jeongguk takes, but he also gives. He bites
down and nibbles as his hips thrust forward at a much faster pace. The movement is drawn
out, pleasurable in a way that has his thighs shaking within seconds.

It doesn’t matter anymore. He wants them to come together. But, most of all, he wants to
watch Jimin come. He wants to see the expression he makes and the way his body moves. He
wants to see him fall over the edge and catch him as he does. Gosh, he wants to fall with him.

“Fuck,” he grunts, biting down on Jimin’s collarbone. Jimin whimpers and Jeongguk doesn’t
let go. He’s so overwhelmed by the never ending pleasure taking over his body. “So good,
baby. So―I can’t―”

Jimin says something, but Jeongguk doesn’t quite catch it. But his fingernails are digging into
his back and his hips are also moving, barely managing to keep up with Jeongguk’s ruthless
pace. He snaps his hips forward, marveling in the pleasure that’s moving down his body in
waves.

He leans back when he hears Jimin’s moans escalate, grow so loud that he has to place his
hand on his mouth.

“Everybody will hear you, hyung,” he teases, holding himself up with a hand on the mattress.

Like this, when he looks down, he can see perfectly the way their hips are moving together,
cocks brushing against each other. They’re sweating so much that their skin is too slippery,
but Jeongguk likes it. It’s the reason he got them both naked, even though they’re just
grinding against each other. He wanted to feel every inch of Jimin’s body, engrave it in his
memory so he can never forget about it.

Jimin’s eyes close and his moans are muffled by Jeongguk’s hand. One of Jimin’s hands
wraps around Jeongguk’s wrist, holding onto him tightly, the other one on his hip, losely
touching the skin. It’s almost as if he’s moaning louder, as if he’s trying to rile Jeongguk up.
And it works because Jeongguk has to pull his hand away. Jimin’s tongue is still out of his
mouth because he licked at Jeongguk’s palm. He looks so sexy, lips swollen, cheeks flushed,
his whole body covered in sweat.

At the end, Jeongguk can’t even say anything about Jimin’s teasing. He shakes his head and
slumps down against him, moving his hips in circles as he feels his orgasm starting to build.
Jimin whimpers, his hands are on Jeongguk’s ass cheeks now and he’s pushing him down,
pushing up with his hips. He’s moving desperately, he’s seeking his high. Jeongguk watches
him, holding himself up on his forearms.

And, there’s something so mesmerizing about the way Jimin’s back arches even more as he
comes. He gasps, his body shakes and then he’s coming in between them, thighs trembling,
tightening around Jeongguk’s waist, ankles digging into the low of his back. His nails dig
into Jeongguk’s back, undoubtedly leaving marks behind. But he doesn’t mind. Not at all. He
keeps going until he comes too, hips coming to a stop over Jimin’s.

Burrowing his face in Jimin’s neck, he trembles against him, feeling the pleasure all the way
down to his toes, curling so hard it almost hurts. He shakes violently over Jimin, biting down
on his neck to ground himself. A weak whine leaves Jimin’s mouth, seemingly already too
exhausted to even move. Jeongguk keeps shaking because it just feels too good. It sends a
shiver down his body and his hips start moving again when his orgasm starts to drift away
because he doesn’t want it to end.

A whimper leaves his mouth, something between frustration and oversensitivity taking over
his body. Jimin’s hands smooth down his back, a gentle back and forth that calms him down
after a few seconds. And only then does he slump down fully, exhausted and sated. He sighs
happily, rubbing his cheek up and down Jimin’s neck.

Then, they lie there, letting their bodies relax, their heartbeats settle. Jimin’s hands continue
to move up and down his back and Jeongguk continues to scent him thoroughly,
overwhelmed still, despite the fact that it’s already over.

Only after a while do they move, Jeongguk mumbling that they should clean up. The shower
together, hands brushing against each other softly as they wash away the remnants of cum
and sweat. Jeongguk gives Jimin a shirt and shorts and they change the sheets with sheepish
smiles when they realize they made a mess.

“Next time I’ll think about that before jumping you,” Jeongguk says, wrapping an arm
around Jimin’s waist and throwing him onto the bed.

Jimin laughs softly, bouncing on the bed briefly before Jeongguk slips onto it too. Jimin rolls
onto his side and Jeongguk quicky wraps his arms around him to pull him to his chest. Now
that they’re both sated and exhausted from traveling for days, the shower has made them
drowsy and Jeongguk feels his body pleasantly relaxed.

He sighs in content and burrows his face in Jimin’s neck, grumbling softly and nipping
playfully at his skin. Jimin’s arm slides under his and his hand fists the back of his shirt. It’s
something that Jeongguk is now realizing he does a lot, as if he needs to hold onto him like
that in order to feel safe or calm. Jeongguk leans back enough that he can look into his eyes
and cards his fingers softly through his hair, pushing it back and out of his face. It’s already
mostly dry, smooth like silk in between Jeongguk’s fingers.

“I love you,” he murmurs, smiling when Jimin’s eyes flutter closed and an easy smile takes
over his lip. The fingers tightened around Jeongguk’s shirt relax and he just settles his hand
there.

“I love you, too,” he whispers back.

Jeongguk wants to fall asleep and wake up with Jimin. But he also doesn’t want to fall asleep
because he wants to stay focused on touching Jimin, on kisses him now and then while
tangling his fingers with his hair.

“Did you go often to the city?” Jeongguk asks, gently observing a strand of blond hair. “I was
a bit surprised when I saw your hair that day. I didn’t know you wanted to dye it.”

“I did it without thinking,” Jimin replies sleepily. He keeps his eyes closed, as if he’s too tired
to open them again. “It was hard at first, being alone. I would go to the city whenever it was
too lonely and I bought hair dye because I wanted to forget about what I left behind. I thought
it might help.”

Jeongguk leans forward to place a kiss on his exposed forehead. Even though hearing about
these things makes him sad, it’s nice knowing about everything that Jimin did while they
were away from each other. He wants to know everything, even the things that hurt the most,
even the things that might frustrate him because he wishes he could have helped. He wants to
know everything there is to know about Jimin.

“Did it?” He asks softly.

Jimin shakes his head. “Not really. But I liked how I looked, so I kept going back to buy
more.”

“I like it,” Jeongguk comments, cupping Jimin’s cheek and brushing his thumb back and
forth alone his cheek bone. “I suits you. Although I’m sure any hair color would suit you,
anyway.”

“I tried pink once,” Jimin says, lips pulling up into a smile as if it’s a fond memory. Jeongguk
tries to picture him with pink hair and suddenly wishes he could have seen it with his own
eyes. “I liked it, too. But it stood out too much when I went into the city and I was worried it
would end up with disaster. I don’t know. Humans are too curious. What if one of them
reached out and touched me or something?”

Jeongguk hums, still a bit distracted by the thought of Jimin with pink hair. He wonders if he
looked as beautiful as Jeongguk is imagining in his head right now. When he fails to reply,
Jimin’s hand falls to his cheek and he realizes he’s opened his eyes to look at him.

“I’ll buy you pink hair dye if you ever want,” he replies. “I bet you looked stunning.”
Jimin laughs and Jeongguk grins. Silence settles over them again. They just stare at each
other, touching the other’s face, occasionally leaning in to kiss softly. They’re too exhausted
to last much longer awake. They exchange a few more words, but Jeongguk starts to drift off
to sleep and as it happens, Jimin’s face burrows in his neck, the warmth it brings to his chest
the last thing Jeongguk remembers as he finally dozes off.

↢↣

Jimin’s nervousness is palpable in the air around them. His foot is moving up and down and
Jeongguk has to reach out to place his hand on it to stop him. Jimin looks towards him,
apologetic. But Jeongguk just smiles and leans towards him, placing a kiss on his cheeks.

“It’s okay, hyung,” he reassures. “I’m right here.”

Jeongguk’s smile grows when Jimin’s hand turns his around and he intertwines their fingers.
He squeezes reassuringly and leans forward again, this time aiming for Jimin’s lips. Jimin’s
eyes flutter shut so beautifully that Jeongguk grins against his mouth. And Jimin smiles back,
leaning away and staring at him with that gaze that does things to Jeongguk. Everything
about him makes Jeongguk feel like that.

“I love you,” Jimin whispers.

“I love you too,” he whispers back, just as the door opens and Jimin’s parents walk in.

“Sorry for the long wait,” his father says, settling on the empty couch next to his wife.

“Jimin-ah,” his mother says, her voice sad and her expression worried. Jimin shows her a
tentative smile and her eyes drift down to where they’re holding hands. Jeongguk notices the
way she relaxes, as if that calms her down and eases her worries.

Jeongguk clears his throat. “It’s okay. We understand things are busy with the pack. Thank
you for agreeing to talk with us.”

Jimin’s father nods.

“Of course, we’re happy to help,” he replies. “We actually started looking into the curse after
Jimin left. The curse was meant to be directed towards us, but inevitably involved Jimin. I
assume he’s told you about that?”

“Yes, I have,” Jimin says, leaning into Jeongguk. So, Jeongguk releases his pheromones,
hoping it’ll give him the reassurance he needs. Sure enough, Jimin’s hand relaxes in
Jeongguk’s and he goes on without a shaky voice. “Jeongguk knows everything I know,” he
adds, glancing towards him. Jeongguk gives him a small smile, prompting him to continue.
“We talked a bit about how we think we break the curse and we’d like to know about the
witch who cursed you. If we can find them, maybe we can convince them to reverse it.”
“We’ve tried talking to her,” Jimin’s mother jumps in. “All we know is that she belongs to the
Kim clan and it’s so far away we couldn’t afford to leave to search for her with everything
going on with the pack. The only time we talked to her was when you were born, Jimin-ah,”
she explains. “We didn’t know if you’d present as an omega, but we were worried about what
might happen if you did.”

Jeongguk stores the information in his head, listening attentively and hoping that something
will help them in some way. It feels like Jimin is only now starting to warm up to his parents
again and Jeongguk wants to give him his space. Living five years away from them, having
left because of a curse that was supposed to hurt them but ended up involving Jimin.
Jeongguk hasn’t asked much about it because he has a feeling Jimin isn’t ready to talk about
it, but maybe he blames them for it, for the way it changed his life and the decisions he had to
make.

“And she didn’t want to break the curse?” Jimin asks.

But, why? Why did this witch curse them? That’s something that Jeongguk knows Jimin’s
parents haven’t told him. It’s the question that matters the most because it’ll let them know
what made her angry and if there’s a way to solve it.

“She didn’t,” Jimin’s father replies. “We begged for her forgiveness, but she said she
wouldn’t go back on the curse.”

“Why did she curse you?” Jimin asks.

The question seems to startle Jimin’s parents. They both look at each other and a somber
expression takes over his mother’s face. She looks away, as if she refuses to talk about it and
Jeongguk’s eyebrows furrow. He figured it was something bad, considering the curse and
what it did to Jimin.

“For Jimin to be suffering through this, it must be something bad, right?” Jeongguk presses.
“If we’re going to be able to look for this which, we really need to know everything there is
to know. I don’t want us to end up in some sort of trap because there’s stuff we don’t know.”

Jimin continues to look at his parents, his worry now evident in his expression. All Jeongguk
can hope is that it’s not something that will somehow break him more, that will ruin the
things they’ve slowly started to build. He doesn’t want Jimin to be sad again when it’s taken
him so long to smile and be happy.

“When my father was going to step down from his position as pack alpha, he started to give
me more tasks, asked me to look over the pack every once in a while,” Jimin’s father finally
starts to respond. “I made a decision I regret up to this day,” he says, his gaze apologetic and
focused on Jimin. Jeongguk squeezes Jimin’s hand briefly, hoping to give him some support
before his father continues. “A witch clan was attacking hikers passing through their territory.
I was tipped off, told it was the Kim clan. And I ordered an attack. Back then, the treaty
between witches and wolves was not yet established and the attacks potentially put us at risk,
too. The government always keeps an eye on us, so we didn’t want to risk it.”
Jeongguk doesn’t like where this is going, but now that he’s talking, Jimin seems eager to
know more. He’s leaning forward, letting go of Jeongguk’s hand, fully focused on the
conversation. His scent shifts, turns sour, angry. And sad. Jeongguk doesn’t reach out for him
because he can tell he’s let go because he needs space. Instead, he leans back and intertwines
his own fingers.

“You used to attack witch clans?” Jimin asks.

His father grimaces. His mother is looking down at her lap, seemingly too ashamed to even
look up.

“The situation was tense between us,” Jimin’s father responds. “It wasn’t the first time
something like that was happening. Sometimes they would attack us and we’d fight back.
That was before―”

“The treaty was established,” Jimin finishes for him. “I got that. And what happened after
you ordered the attack?”

Jimin’s father clears his throat. “It was violent fight, wolves and witches died. In between
them was the witch’s mother―she was the clan leader.” Jimin doesn’t seem satisfied with the
response. His eyebrows furrow and his head tilts to the side, as if he’s thinking about it more
deeply, trying to figure out more just with the words his father has given him. “It was a
mistake,” his father says. “The word I’d gotten that the Kim clan was the one responsible of
the attacks wasn’t true. The clan that was behind the attacks was further into the woods.”

Realization downs on both him and Jimin at the same time. Jimin’s back straightens, hand
moving up to cover his mouth. Jeongguk wasn’t expecting it to go in that direction. A
mistake like that one, attacking a clan that had done nothing wrong and causing so many
deaths. Jeongguk glances towards Jimin and finds that he’s no longer angry. He’s sad,
disappointed.

“So, the witch cursed you for ordering the attack?” Jeongguk asks, sensing that Jimin is too
shocked to ask more.

“We were leading the attack,” Jimin’s mother voices out, speaking up for the first time in
several minutes. “We had plans to talk, too. But it got too violent too quick. Things weren’t
as nice as they are right now. We were struggling to survive, humans were also trying to hunt
us down. Fights were a usual between species.”

“The clan leader died by my hands,” his father says. Jimin’s gaze snaps to him, eyes
widening. The violent past isn’t something new to them. They knew things weren’t always
the way they are now. Growing up, parents always taught their pups about it. But knowing
that your parents were directly involved in death and fights is somehow different. Jeongguk’s
heart hurts for JImin. “I was protecting your mother. If I hadn’t intervened, she would have
killed her.”

Jimin’s mother looks at her husband, reaching out to brush her fingers across his forearm.
Loving gazes are shared, but Jeongguk is more focused on Jimin and the way his hands are
now shaking, fingers closing in fists.
“She cursed you because you killed her mother,” he voices out. “It makes sense, a loved one
for a loved one. Something for you both to worry over for years .” He shakes his head, hands
slipping into his hair, pushing it back. They slide back down to his face and he covers it for a
moment. Jeongguk leans forward, ready to reach out for him if he needs it. “I was expecting
something bad, I just―” he stops, shaking his head again.

When he stops covering his face with his hands and straightens his back again, his eyes are
glistening with tears. Jeongguk places his hand on the low of his back. Jimin tenses, as if he’d
forgotten Jeongguk could touch him without getting hurt. He’s shaking real bad now.
Jeongguk releases his pheromones, but it doesn’t seem to do anything to calm Jimin down.

“Jimin, we’re sorry,” Jimin’s father says. “I know this is hard to digest and it’s the reason we
didn’t tell you when―”

“You should have told me, anyway!” Jimin exclaims. He stands up, tears sliding down his
cheeks. He seems angry and sad all at the same time and Jeongguk gently stands up as well,
staying close to Jimin. “I was eighteen when I left, you can’t say I was too young. I was old
enough.”

His shoulders slump, as if he’s too tired to even be angry.

“Please, don’t be angry, Jimin-ah,” his mother says, standing up as well. Jeongguk glances
her way, but she’s just standing there, desperation in her gaze. “I know it’s hard to
understand, but things were different back then.”

“I’m more disappointed about the fact that you didn’t tell me,” Jimin says. After the first few
tears rolled down his cheeks, no more came out. He’s looking at his mother with that
disappointment in his gaze. “I understand things were different, but you should have told me.
What if the witch decided the curse wasn’t enough? What if she’d come back and hurt me? I
wouldn’t have even known why.”

There’s a beat of silence. Jeongguk is so focused on Jimin that he doesn’t really notice his
mother stepping forward. It’s a mistake on his part. He notices too late and by the time he
reaches his hand out to stop her, she’s already too close . It’s just a brief brush of her fingers
against Jimin’s forearm and Jimin jerks away so violently that he bumps into Jeongguk’s
chest.

And then there’s screaming. His mother doubles over, falling to her knees and cradling her
hand to her chest. She’s shaking so violently that Jeongguk almost thinks the worse is
happening. Her husband is on the floor with her instantly, hugging her tight, asking her if
she’s okay.

Jeongguk holds Jimin’s shoulders, but Jimin is staring wide-eyed, lips parted. As the shock
slowly disappears, his eyebrows furrow and his eyes fill with tears again.

“I’m sorry,” he breathes out. It’s not his fault. Jeongguk wants to tell him that. It was her who
reached out. Jeongguk is angry, but he’s trying so hard to control himself. Why would she
ever put Jimin in that situation, knowing what it would do to him? “I’m sorry, I―” He cuts
himself off, shoulders shaking again.
Jeongguk slides his arm around his waist, holding him up when his knees seem to give in.
Jimin leans into him, covering his mouth with both his hands. Panic is taking over his
expression, his eyes frantic as they move around the room. But there’s nothing he can do.
And it’s over already, anyway. Jimin’s mother isn’t shaking anymore. Just a brush of fingers,
the pain can’t last too long.

And even though Jeongguk has been aware all of this time that things like this could still
happen, he had forgotten how it was. He’d forgotten how Jimin reacted, how panic took over
him, how he wanted to help even if there wasn’t a way for him to do so. Jeongguk places
Jimin behind himself, shielding him from his parents because right now they feel like a threat
to him and Jeongguk wants to keep him safe.

“How dare you?” He asks, shaking his head. Both Jimin’s mother and father look up. Her
eyes are glossy and tears are streaming down her cheeks, but Jeongguk has a feeling it isn’t
about the pain. It’s about the situation and everything that led to this, to Jimin’s pain, to his
suffering. “You knew how this would hurt him, why would you ever do something like that?”
He demands to know. He’s aware that he’s raising his voice at two of the leaders of their
pack, but he can’t help it. He hates the fact that Jimin is in pain because of them and reaching
out to touch him was stepping over a line.

“I thought that there was a chance the curse had disappeared,” his mother replies. She sounds
breathless and she’s still trembling, holding onto her husband’s hand. “ You can touch him. I
just wanted to know―”

“You can’t,” Jeongguk interrupts, struggling to keep his cool. “Don’t ever try that again
unless you know that the curse is gone. You don’t know how hard it’s been for Jimin. He left
five years ago and you didn’t even make an effort to look for him. He’s been alone all this
time, he hasn’t felt this fear of someone touching him and getting hurt. I hate the fact that
he’s hurting right now.”

“He left a letter!” She exclaims. “We didn’t go looking for him because he asked us not to.
We didn’t even know where to start looking.”

“I would have gone looking, either way,” he says. “I would have searched for him until I
found him and I would have made him understand that he has nothing to fear because this is
his pack. Now that he’s back, you should be focusing on that, on taking his fear away, not
making it worse.”

She doesn’t say anything else after that, just looks away and covers her lips with her hand,
more tears streaming down her cheeks. Jeongguk turns around. He was worried today would
end up hurting Jimin in some way, he just didn’t know something like this would happen.
And he wishes he’d been more focused so he could have prevented Jimin from getting hurt.
He wraps his arms around Jimin, cradling his head against his chest. Jimin’s shoulders are
shaking and Jeongguk knows that he’s crying. He slides his arm down until it’s around
Jimin’s waist and picks him up.

People are looking at them as they leave the house, but Jeongguk pays them no mind as he
heads back to their home. Jimin doesn’t so much as move in his arms, just keeps crying
silently into his chest, his fingers fisting the front of Jeongguk’s shirt.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he promises against his ear, placing a kiss to his temple before
focusing back on his steps.

It takes him a few minutes to get them home. Once they’re there, he doesn’t let go of Jimin as
he opens the door and kicks it shut with his ankle. He drops down on the bed with his arms
still wrapped around Jimin and even though Jimin yelps in surprise, he doesn’t stop crying as
Jeongguk rolls onto his side and holds him against his chest.

Nothing is said for a long time. Jimin keeps crying and Jeongguk keeps holding him, but his
brain is running wild. So many thoughts are going through him. All the pain he could have
avoided Jimin, all the things he could have said. He’s glad that he can help in a way, even if
it’s small. He’s glad he can at least hold Jimin like this when he needs it. Just thinking about
him being all alone all those years, without anybody to hold him, drives his alpha crazy.

He deserves so much better than having been alone all that time. He slides his fingers up
Jimin’s nape, slipping them in between his strands of blond hair. He leans forward to place a
kiss on his forehead and keeps his mouth there, closing his eyes, trying to calm his racing
heart. He can’t helo but think about what would have happened if he hadn’t been able to
touch Jimin, if the touch would have brought him pain. He’d reached out to touch him
without really thinking about it. If he’d gotten hurt, what would have happened to Jimin?

He clenches his jaw. That was a mistake, too. Something he shouldn’t have done. He’s glad it
turned out okay, he’s glad that they discovered something that seemed so impossible―that he
could touch Jimin without a problem. But if that hadn’t been the case, just thinking about
how it could have turned out makes his heart constrict.

“I’m sorry,” Jeongguk whispers, after a long time. Jimin’s eyes lift to his, his eyebrows
furrowing with confusion.

Tears are no longer falling down his cheeks, but his eyes are still glossy and his expression is
still sad. He’s trembling, as if scared. Jeongguk wants to take his fear away even if he doesn’t
know how.

“Why are you apologizing?” Jimin asks, reaching up and cupping Jeongguk’s cheek.
Jeongguk closes his eyes and wraps his fingers around Jimin’s wrist. “You have nothing to
apologize for, Jeongguk-ah. You didn’t―”

“I do, actually,” Jeongguk interrupts. He struggles to find the right words for a moment.
“That day I touched you. I shouldn't have. I didn’t do it with intent, obviously. I wasn’t even
thinking. But I should have been thinking. I should have thought about what it would do to
you if I’d ended up getting hurt. Don’t get me wrong, hyung. I would go through the pain
every single day if I had to. But seeing you hurt because of it, seeing you cry, it breaks me. I
can’t . I never want you to be sad. When you cry, I feel so powerless. Sometimes, I wish I
could take you away somewhere nobody can hurt you, somewhere you can only ever know
happiness. I want that for you, hyung. I want you to be happy.”

He opens his eyes, then. Tears fall again, but Jeongguk knows that this time it’s not because
he’s sad. He’s looking at him with this expression, so soft but so strangely overwhelming. It’s
as if he’s holding a million emotions in his eyes and Jeongguk can’t even look away. He’s so
in love with Jimin that it sometimes hurts. It feels as if his heart is being ripped out of his
chest. It’s not bad, no. It’s good. It’s so good. But it’s so overwhelming. Sometimes Jeongguk
can’t believe how overwhelming it is to love Jimin and to want to give him the world.

“You always talk like that,” Jimin whispers. His voice is so low Jeongguk has to lean even
closer to be able to hear him. “As if I’m the one getting hurt when it’s my skin that hurts
people.” Because Jimin is the one getting hurt. He’s the one that had to leave, the one who
has to be alone. He was forced to live a life on his own and it’s unfair. “You’ve never once
made me feel as if I’m the one who’s the problem, Jeongguk. And I think that’s why I fell in
love with you. Because with you I’ve only ever felt safe, at home. So, don’t apologize,” he
pleads. He brushes his thumb back and forth across Jeongguk’s cheekbones, making it hard to
keep his eyes open, even if he wants to keep staring at Jimin’s beautiful face. “Don’t
apologize for giving me the one thing I wanted and needed the most. You gave me hope,
something I’d lost such a long time ago. Hope that I could have a normal life, hope that I
could experience all the things I’d lost when I presented. Hope that I could still have a pack, a
family. And you gave me you ,” he murmurs. He leans forward, pecks Jeongguk’s lips and
Jeongguk’s heart jumps in his chest. It’s beating so fast, he wonders if Jimin can hear it. “I
have you and that’s enough, even if I never have everything else I just said.”

Jeongguk leans down, slides further down on the bed so he can press his face to Jimin’s warm
neck. He burrows his face against his skin and tightens his hold around his waist. Jimin’s
fingers slide into his hair, his leg hooking over Jeongguk’s hip, body flush against his. It’s so
nice holding each other like this, it’s so nice having Jimin’s words now swimming around in
his brain, engraved there so he never forgets.

He’s always been Jimin’s, even when neither of them knew. They were meant to be. And
even if it’s been a long ride, even if things have been messed up until now, he’s glad that it all
led to them being together, to them holding on to each other. He didn’t want to question it
before and he doesn’t want to question it now. Why he can touch Jimin, why he’s the only
one. The only thing that matters is finding the witch and asking her to break the curse. Until
then, Jeongguk doesn’t want to question anything, he wants to hold onto Jimin for as long as
he can.

“I also should have gone looking for you sooner,” he whispers. It’s as if now that he’s started
apologizing, he can’t stop. “I was angry at you at first. I hated that you’d left me and that I
had no idea where you were. I presented about a year after you left and a struggled a lot
through all the changes. Then, I just figured you’d come back. So, I waited. I asked your
parents, but all they would tell me was that they didn’t know. You’d just disappeared in the
middle of the night. Then my father started to give me tasks, he wanted me to start
experiencing the role of a leader. And I so so busy for a while, trying my best to make him
and my mom proud. I couldn’t go looking for you even if I wanted to because my parents
needed me here.

“When the chance popped up I took it immediately. The survey around the area would give
me a chance to look for you. I didn’t really think I’d find you. I thought you would be
somewhere so far away I wouldn’t be able to. But my wolf kept guiding me, taking me
further and further until I was almost at the limit of the territory I was supposed to explore.
And then you were there. I just―I should have gone looking for you sooner. I’m sorry about
that, too.”

Jimin’s lips press to the top of his head, his hold tightens all over and he rubs his cheek back
and forth over his head. They’re so close, but it feels as if they’re not close enough. Jeongguk
wants so many things, but the worry about the future is bigger right now. They need to solve
it before they can take any more steps. He knows this, but it doesn’t stop his alpha from
wanting more. It doesn’t stop him from wanting to mate Jimin, to tie them together so they
can never be away from each other again.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help you through those changes,” Jimin eventually says. He
sounds much calmer, no more tears nor sadness tainting his voice. Jeongguk closes his eyes
and breathes him in. He smells nice. He smells so intensely sometimes, Jeongguk can’t
believe he’s real. But he is, he’s so real under his hands. “And not searching for me isn’t
something you have to apologize for. I wasn’t expecting anyone too. I was running away so I
didn’t hurt anyone. I missed you, I missed you so much. But it’s nothing you have to say
sorry for.”

Jeongguk nods. He sighs and finally presses his nose to Jimin’s scent gland. And Jimin’s
reaction, as always, makes Jeongguk’s heart beat faster. A sharp intake of air, fingers
tightening in Jeongguk’s hair, body arching into his. He mouths at the skin instantly, wanting
more of Jimin’s strong reactions.

“I love you,” he breathes against his skin. “I love you so much, baby.”

“I love you too, Jeongguk-ah,” Jimin replies, tugging at his hair strands, tilting his head back.
He places a kiss on his lips. “I love you so much I want to spend the rest of my life with
you.”

Jeongguk closes his eyes, the words washing over him. His alpha claws at his chest for more,
but he ignores it for now. He and Jimin will have everything they want later. For now, he
wants this .

“Tell me more,” he whispers.

Jimin laughs softly. And his smile is so big, so genuine. Jeongguk wants to stay in this
moment forever.

“More about how much I want you?” Jimin asks, his expression enderead, but also teasing.
“Oh, I want you a lot, alpha . I want you, always. I want―”

His words are interrupted by his gasp when Jeongguk rolls over and settles on top of his
body.

“Say that again,” he growls, chest heaving, a shudder rolling down his body when Jimin tilts
his head back and slightly to the side, presenting his neck for him. “Fuck, you have no idea
what you do to me.”
He fists the sheets at either side of Jimin’s head, holding himself up on his forearms,
struggling to hold back.

“Alpha?” Jimin asks, reaching up, slipping his hand into his hair again and pulling him down.
“Scent me, alpha. Take away all the fear and all the pain. Make it so that you’re the only
thing I can think about. Please?” He finishes with such a soft plea that Jeongguk’s resolve
breaks.

“I’ll give you anything you want,” he mutters. He bites down on Jimin’s scent gland, hard
enough that Jimin surely feels it everywhere. He groans and his back arches and his arms
wrap around Jeongguk, nails digging into his shoulder blades. “I’ll give you everything,
always.”

Jimin nods and he tilts his head further back and Jeongguk growls again.

“Thank you,” Jimin breathes out.

That makes Jeongguk freeze. He looks up, finds that Jimin is already looking at him. “What
are you thanking me for?” He asks softly, eyebrows furrowing.

Jimin smiles and it’s the most beautiful thing Jeongguk has ever seen in his life.

“For finding me.”

Jeongguk leans down and pecks his lips.

“Thank you for existing,” he murmurs back.

Jimin laughs and his eyes are shining with happiness and Jeongguk has never been more in
love with him.

“You’re such a smooth talker, aren’t you?”

“Hm,” Jeongguk hums, placing kiss after kiss all the way across Jimin’s jaw. “And you love
me.”

“I do,” Jimin whispers, arms wrapping tighter around him. Jeongguk slumps down, body
molding with Jimin’s and he burrows his face in his neck, warmth spreading all over his
body. “I love you a lot.”

Jeongguk smiles against his neck. “I love you, too.”

 Chapter 3

Jimin feels extremely nervous as he looks around the cottage.

He’s only been living here for three days, but he doesn’t particularly want to leave it behind.
It’s so cozy, so familiar, even though he barely knows the place. It’s just that, it’s where
Jeongguk lives. It’s the place he’s been living in for a while now and it’s the place that’s
meant to be theirs. His home. Next to Jeongguk. He doesn’t want to go because he’s scared
they won’t find what they’re looking for and they’ll end up coming back to something
entirely different to what they’re hoping for.

“Stop thinking about it,” Jeongguk murmurs, arms suddenly wrapped around Jimin’s waist
from behind. He hooks his chin over his shoulder and squeezes around him, making Jimin’s
eyes flutter closed. It’s always nice when Jeongguk is touching him. It’s a feeling he still
can’t quite believe he gets to experience. It’s something that people probably take for granted,
but it’s something that will forever be engraved into his memory, even if things go wrong at
some point. It would hurt to lose it, but at least he’d have the memories. “We’ll figure out
what to do based on what happens, so I don’t want you to stress out about it when we haven’t
even gotten there, okay?” He asks, rubbing his nose back and forth across Jimin’s scent gland
and squeezing him tight one last time.

Jimin sighs and turns around as Jeongguk lets go of him. He’s close enough that when Jimin
is finally facing him, he has to tilt his head back a bit to look into his eyes.

“I know.” Reaching up to brush his fingers over Jeongguk’s cheek, he shows him a small
smile. “I can’t help it,” he says. “A part of me doesn’t want to go. I want to stay here, with
you.”

Jeongguk reaches up and wraps his fingers around Jimin’s wrist, turning his face so he can
press it into Jimin’s palm. He closes his eyes and breathes him in for a second before turning
to look at him again and leaving his palm on his cheek.

“We’ll still be together and if you’re missing home, I can just reach out and hold your hand
and give you some warmth,” Jeongguk suggests, smiling back.

Jimin stares at him for a second or two before he finally finds the right words to respond.

“Actually, just having you there is enough, you know?” He asks. Jeongguk opens his mouth
to reply, but Jimin quickly continues. “You’re my home, Jeongguk. Home is wherever you
are. And having you beside me will make this whole trip easier, even if I’m scared of what
will happen when we get to where we’re heading.”

They don’t have a clear idea of where that is. They know which way they’re supposed to go,
based on what his parents told them. But all the information they have is that they’re looking
for the Kim clan and that they have to go somewhere north. Hopefully, they’ll find their way
and maybe other packs willing to point them in the right direction.
“When you say things like that, it makes me want to sit you down so you can keep going,”
Jeongguk says. He leans forward and pecks Jimin’s lips so quickly that he startles, blinking
back at him with surprise while Jeongguk just keeps going as if he didn’t just move so fast.
“It does things to my heart, hyung. Makes me want to take you back to bed and never let you
leave.”

Jimin feels his cheeks heat up at Jeongguk’s words. They’ve only been intimate with each
other once―Jimin has been having a really hard time keeping his mind off of it―and they
don’t really have the time for more right now, but he can’t help thinking about it. It pops into
his mind, the desire to have Jeongguk’s hands on his body, touching him like that all over
again, giving him more.

But he’s still hesitant. There’s a part of him that still feels like all of this is too good to be
true. How is it possible that Jeongguk is the only person who can touch him? Why? That’s the
real question, the question he knows Jeongguk is also asking himself. If there’s a chance that
they might not be able to touch again in the future, Jimin is too scared of what it’ll do to him.
Losing what he’s grown to like so much, what’s made everything feel less dull, what’s given
him hope. He doesn’t want that. It would break him, that much he knows.

“When we come back,” Jeongguk whispers, leaning forward and distracting him from his
thoughts. Jimin’s lips part with anticipation, but Jeongguk doesn’t kiss him just yet. “I’ll do
that, hm? I’ll keep you in bed for days and not let you go.”

Jimin bites down on the inside of his cheek nervously. He hopes that things will go well so
that when they come back, he can fully let go of all the fear he has, so he can live the way he
wants to, without any worry, completely happy next to Jeongguk.

“I like the sound of that,” he mumbles, tilting his head back and placing a kiss on Jeongguk’s
lips. “I’m looking forward to it.”

They haven’t spoken about what they’ll do. But Jimin doesn’t want to talk about it just yet.
When they’re closer, maybe. When the inevitable is close, then he’ll have no other choice but
to talk about it. Until then, he smiles as Jeongguk grumbles and steps closer, wrapping his
arms around his waist and kissing him again, this time deeply.

It’s a slow kiss, full of emotions. Both of them are nervous, he knows. But at least they’ll be
going together. Jimin sighs when Jeongguk’s hand disappears under his shirt and loosely
hangs his arms around his shoulders, wanting to touch him more, but knowing that if he does,
they’ll end up getting distracted.

And they should be leaving already, they’ve waited long enough. He leans back and smiles
when Jeongguk leans forward again for more. His lips end up on the corner of Jimin’s mouth
when he turns his head to the side and points an accusatory finger at him.

“Don’t distract me, we should have left already,” he says, sticking his tongue out at
Jeongguk.

He’s grateful, though. Jeongguk always does such a good job at taking away his worry. He
just has to smile and Jimin can stop thinking about what’s to come.
“It’s not my fault you looked so sexy this morning,” he replies, pecking his lips again, even
though Jimin tries to avoid it. He laughs when Jimin pouts. “How could I have known that
my shirt would look so good on you freshly woken up?”

Jimin rolls his eyes this time. Jeongguk never stops himself from saying these things and
Jimin doesn’t mind. He likes hearing Jeongguk say all of these things. He loves him. Even if
they were away from each other for so long, only just recently saw each other. Just like
Jeongguk said, his wolf knew. The tug and the feeling he has in his chest whenever he’s with
him is enough for him to know that Jeongguk is meant to be beside him.

“Well, the faster we leave, the faster we get back,” he replies. This time, he’s the one to lean
into Jeongguk, but he stops before their lips meet and grins when Jeongguk’s eyebrows
furrow and his arms tighten around him in protest. “And the faster we get back, the faster you
can see me wearing your shirts in the morning.”

Jeongguk squints his eyes at him, but then he smiles widely and pecks his lips again, winning
himself another protest from Jimin as he lets go.

“Come on, we have to hurry,” he says, reaching for his hand and tugging him out of the
house.

Their backpacks are already settled outside. Because it’s a long trip, they’re traveling in
human form. It’s further away than Jimin’s cottage was and after thinking about it for a while,
they decided it was the best way. It’ll take them a bit longer, but it’ll get them there safe and
they’ll be able to take food and clothes.

It’ll also give them time to talk about everything they’ve been ignoring up to this moment,
everything that neither of them wants to acknowledge.

After saying goodbye to Jeongguk’s parents, they leave the camp.

Despite what happened, Jimin isn’t angry with his parents. He’s a bit sad, still, but he knows
it’s not his fault that his mother felt that pain. She’s the one who reached out to him even
though she knew what would happen. And even though it’s their fault that Jimin is cursed, he
doesn’t blame them. He’s not angry about it. His disappointment in their failing to tell him
about the reasons behind the curse will slowly leave his body, he knows this. Because they’re
his family and if everything goes the way they hope, he’ll finally be able to touch them and
scent him the way he’s wanted all these years.

It’s a seven day journey heading in the direction they were told to go. Since they’re so
attuned to the woods, they’re expecting it to all go smooth and easy. And sure enough, the
first couple of days, everything goes perfectly fine. They talk a lot, always avoiding the main
subject. But they talk about so many things that Jimin ends up briefly forgetting about it.
They talk about the five years they were away, about the things they did and the way things
changed.

Jimin loves learning new things about Jeongguk, learning about everything he missed during
the time they were away from each other. Jeongguk tells him about presenting, about the
changes he went through, about his first rut and how difficult it ended up being. About
waiting for him. In every sense of the world. Jimin would be lying if he said that didn’t make
him feel a certain type of way. He’s not nervous around Jeongguk and he’s not particularly
nervous about being with him at some point when things aren’t as complicated as they are
right now. But knowing that both he and Jeongguk will be experiencing that type of thing for
the first time together makes his heart beat faster and his omega claw at his chest.

It’s as if he can never get enough of Jeongguk. He wants to kiss him all day, touch him every
second, have Jeongguk’s hands on him as well.

“What are you thinking about?” Jeongguk asks, startling him. He feels his cheeks heat up,
even though there’s no way Jeongguk can know what was going through his head. “I hope
not about what we agreed to not think about?” He adds.

He reaches up and cards his fingers through Jimin’s hair, showing him a smile. They started
off holding hands, but they need both of them to navigate safely through the woods, so
they’ve been touching occasionally as they go.

“Just…” Jimin trails off, looking ahead of him. For the past four days, they’ve been walking
non stop during the day, only woods surrounding them. Jimin would be lying if he said he
isn’t grateful about it. It was difficult going from absolute silence in his little home to the
busy life of a pack. “About the future,” he finally confesses. It’s sort of true, anyway.
“Nothing bad, though,” he adds, when Jeongguk reaches out for his hand. They walk a bit
slower, but he knows neither of them minds.

Jeongguk seems content to know that. He nods and looks ahead, walking like that with Jimin
for a couple of seconds. Eventually, though, he speaks up again.

“Can I ask you something?” Jimin nods, focusing on him, even though it makes it difficult to
walk properly without tripping over roots and uneven ground. “When the curse is broken,” he
begins. Jimin makes no move to correct him. Even if there’s a chance it won’t happen,
thinking positively makes both of them feel better. “What’s the first thing you’ll do?”

Jimin wasn’t expecting that question. As a matter of fact, he’s never thought about it. In
general, he knows there are a lot of things he’s always wanted to do, things he could do if he
wasn’t cursed. But the first thing he wants to do specifically? A smile settles on his lips and
he looks ahead again, feeling Jeongguk’s gaze falling to him.

“I want to say mate you, but it’s not like I’m expecting that to happen immediately after the
curse is gone,” he replies. “Let’s say the thing I want to do the most is that. Mate you. Also,
touch you all day. And kiss you. Make love to you. I―”

“I said the first thing,” Jeongguk interrupts, stopping him suddenly and wrapping his arms
around him. It’s difficult with the backpack on, but he slips his hands under it, placing them
directly over Jimin’s back. “Why are you trying to rile me up, hyung? It makes me want to do
things to you.”

Jimin takes a deep breath. He places his hands on Jeongguk’s shoulders and looks into his
eyes.
“What things?”

His voice sounds a little bit breathless and Jimin feels his cheeks heat up when Jeongguk’s
nostrils flare, undoubtedly smelling the shift in his scent. He clears his throat and closes his
eyes for a brief second, as if he needs it to collect himself. Jimin loves that he can do that to
him, he loves how much Jeongguk wants him, just as much as he wants him back.

“You know what things,” Jeongguk murmurs, leaning forward and placing his cheek right
against Jimin’s. The next time he speaks, his lips brush against Jimin’s ear. “Things like pick
you up and pin you to the wall. Or better yet, pin you to the bed.” His voice is a rough caress
against Jimin’s skin and it makes his heart rate pick up instantly. “Take your clothes off so I
can touch and kiss every inch of your body.”

“You’ve done that,” Jimin points out, eyes fluttering closed, fingers fisting Jeongguk’s shirt
because he just can’t help it.

“I’ll do it again and again,” Jeongguk says. His lips fall to Jimin’s shoulder and he leaves a
gentle kiss there. It does nothing to calm Jimin’s rapidly beating heart. “I’ll do more to you,
baby. I’ll do everything you let me. And I’ll make love to you, too.”

Jimin slides his hands up Jeongguk’s neck and quickly cups his cheeks to bring him closer.
He kisses him slowly, letting his tongue slip into his mouth. Jeongguk grunts and his hands
slide to Jimin’s hips, gripping them tightly as he kisses back just as intensely. They get lost in
each other just as quickly as they always do. They stumble and trip and almost fall.
Jeongguk’s hand moves to his ass and Jimin moans softly into his mouth.

“Fuck, you’re always distracting me,” Jeongguk mumbles, but he doesn’t sound bothered at
all and it makes Jimin smile.

They’re always distracting each other, that much is true. Maybe it’s because of how things
have always been for him, Jimin can’t be sure. But he knows he has this need to constantly be
touching Jeongguk, remind himself somehow that he can . He has Jeongguk. And even if it’s
all he ever gets to have, he’ll be happy with it. There’s nothing he wants more than Jeongguk.
He can live through it if he has him by his side.

For that, of course, he’d have to have the security that he’ll never lose him. And he doesn’t
know if he will.

The thought is enough to distract him and he leans away from Jeongguk, feeling dizzy
because of the intensity of their kiss.

“You’re the one distracting me,” he replies, placing his hands on Jeongguk’s chest and
struggling to catch his breath. “Come on, we can’t stop. We have to keep a steady pace so we
get there in the next few days.”

Jeongguk looks at him for a second too long, as if he’s trying to figure out something. Jimin
wonders if he can tell. If, even though he obviously can’t read Jimin’s mind, he somehow can
always tell what’s going on through his head. Jimin cups his cheek and Jeongguk clears his
throat.
“Sorry, sometimes I just can’t stop kissing you,” Jeongguk finally responds.

“Don’t apologize for that,” Jimin says. “I sometimes wish it was all we had to do.”

Jeongguk laughs softly. He leans forward and scents Jimin briefly, rubbing his nose back and
forth before moving back away.

“Okay, let’s keep going.”

They don’t hold hands this time around, just keep heading forward. They’ve been doing good
time. Enough that they might end up getting there sooner than planned.

“Well,” Jeongguk speaks up after a while. “What more will you do when she breaks the
curse?”

Jimin goes for a safer answer this time. “When we get back to the camp, I will touch
everyone at least once. Scent them so I can feel closer to them. I want to go to the city and get
a tattoo. I’ve always wanted one but, obviously, I’ve never been able to get one.”

“Really?” Jeongguk asks, an excited gleam in his eyes when Jimin looks towards him. “I’ve
always wanted one too. Maybe we can get one together.”

Jimin grins. “Sounds perfect to me.”

They grow silent again. And it’s perfectly fine for a while. They focus on their path and
occasionally reach out to each other to touch briefly, trying not to get distracted all over
again. Jimin nibbles on his lip nervously. There’s another question that should be asked and
soon enough, he can’t help but voice it out.

“And if she doesn’t break it?” He asks softly.

Jeongguk looks at him. His expression tells Jimin that he didn’t want to ask that. And even
though Jimin doesn’t want to talk about it either, he knows they have to. It’s a big possibility
and it’s better to talk about it now than delay it any further.

“I don’t know what happens then, hyung,” Jeongguk whispers, looking ahead of him. “I
guess…it depends on you.”

Jimin’s eyebrows furrow. He reaches up to fiddle with his shirt just to give his hands
something to do.

“The first thing I’ll do is ask her why you can touch me,” he says softly. “If she tells us,
maybe there’s a way we can make sure it stays that way.”

“Would you…” Jeongguk starts, clearing his throat before going on. “If she says there’s a
chance it’ll change, that I might not be able to touch you anymore in the future, would you
leave me?”

Jimin doesn’t respond immediately. And maybe that’s what makes Jeongguk panic because
he’s suddenly reaching out for him and grabbing him by the shoulders, looking into his eyes
with a pleading gaze.

“Don’t, hyung,” he whispers. “We could figure out a way to make it work. I don’t― please .
You can’t leave me, not again. I can’t be without you. I love you too much, I think it would
break me.”

Jimin shakes his head and reaches up to cup his cheeks. “I’m not leaving you,” he says.
“Jeongguk, calm down,” he pleads, searching for his eyes. “I love you too much, too. And I
think it would break me as well, not being able to touch you anymore. I don’t know if there’s
a way we can figure it out if she says that. But I don’t want to think about that possibility. It’s
something I’m really hoping will never happen.”

Jeongguk wraps his arms around him and hugs him tightly. Jimin can feel his desperation in
that hug and he hugs him back just as desperately, reassuring him with gentle words. He
doesn’t know what he’ll do. He knows he won’t run away and even if it would be too painful,
he would want to stay with Jeongguk. Because he doesn’t have an answer for it right now, he
doesn’t want to think about it any further.

“Come on, Jeongguk-ah,” he whispers, leaning away and reaching for his hand. “Let’s not
think about that, hm? You said we should figure that out based on what happens. We still
have a few more days left of traveling before we have to know. I want us to enjoy this time
together, what’s left of our trip. We’ll talk about the rest when we have to.”

Jeongguk looks conflicted, but he nods. The start walking again, this time with their fingers
intertwined, their bodies close enough that every time they take a step, their shoulders brush
together. It’s more difficult and it slows them down, but neither of them mentions it. They
very much prefer to be together in that moment.

And even though Jimin doesn’t want to think about it, the thoughts keep invading his brain
the rest of the way.

↢↣

Jimin knows they’ve reached their destination when they step into a new clearing. He can
sense the witches even though they aren’t in sight. There are cottages in the clearing, the
same way the pack is organized. He’s not sure what he was expecting, but once they’re there,
they both pause, as if unsure of how to proceed.

There’s a chance this isn’t the clan they’re looking for. There could be more witch clans
nearby. But Jimin has hope that they’re long journey is finally over so he can know once and
for all what will happen in the future.

As they step further into the clearing, heading for the first few cottages, witches start to step
out of their homes. It’s just after lunch time and since they weren’t out, Jimin guesses they
were all resting after eating. Or maybe their lives are different to those the pack has,
considering the fact that they have magic.

It’s obvious pretty quickly that the witches are wary of them. Despite the treaty, their species
haven’t always gotten along and they tend not to mix together, even if they’re supposed to be
friendly with each other.

“Stop right there, wolves,” one of the witches says. He’s older than the few he has around
him. “What is your business here?”

Jimin glances at Jeongguk. They don’t have a particular plan as to what to say, but he figures
going with the truth is the best option.

“We’re looking for a witch,” Jimin replies, raising his voice so they can hear him from across
the clearing. They’re still too far away, but the next time he steps forward, he sees them all
stiffen.

“I said, stop!” The man exclaims. He steps forward, raising his hands in front of his body, as
if shielding everybody else.

Jimin raises his hands and he feels Jeongguk do the same beside him. “We’re not looking for
trouble. All we want to do is talk. We were told the Kim clan was in this direction, is this―”

“Why are you looking for this witch?” The man asks. His hands are still raised in defense,
even though Jimin and Jeongguk are frozen in place. “Werewolves haven’t come around here
in a very long time.”

Jimin doesn’t particularly want to mention the curse. He doesn’t know how much he can say.
He hesitates, but Jeongguk is the one to speak up this time.

“We’re from the Jeon and Park pack,” he voices out. “We mean no harm. We’re looking for
her because we want to talk about a curse she cast on a werewolf couple many years ago. We
don’t have much information about her, so that’s all I can tell you. But it’s important that we
see her if she’s here.”

Silence follows. The witches all look at each other, exchange glances and soft murmurs that
even Jimin can’t catch from where he is. They really don’t have enough information and he’s
worried it’ll be what makes the witches send them away. They don’t even have the name of
the witch.

“She was the clan leader’s daughter,” he adds, when nobody says anything. “She cursed the
child of the couple, a curse that doesn’t allow anybody to touch them. This couple killed the
clan leader, that’s why she cast the curse.”

This time, the man lowers his hands. Jimin notices when realization dawns on him. He looks
back at the woman standing close to him and whispers something towards her. She nods and
the man turns around again as the woman disappears. She further and further in the clearing
until she disappears in between the woods.
Jimin is worried something bad will happen. Maybe they’ll be sent away, or maybe they’ll be
attacked.

“You must wait. Don’t come any closer or you’ll be considered a threat,” the man says.

Jimin turns his head towards Jeongguk. Jeongguk nods softly, answering his questioning
gaze. Jeongguk steps closer to him and even though the witch lifts his hands the slightest bit,
he leans into Jeongguk as they wait. The rest of the witches talk between themselves,
occasionally glancing their way as they wait. Jimin isn’t even sure of what they’re waiting
for, he just hopes it’s not something bad or dangerous.

Whatever the other witch ran to do is probably what they’re waiting for. It takes a few
minutes, but it feels like hours for Jimin. Jeongguk stays by his side, shifting on his feet as if
he can’t stay still. Jimin is also nervous because they literally have no idea what they’re even
waiting for.

Finally, the witch comes back. She’s running as she approaches the man and stops beside him
to whisper into his ear. Jimin stares, his body tense because he doesn’t know what’s going on.
Jeongguk is also tense beside him and he when the man turns to face them again, he leans
into Jimin, as if ready to reach out if something were to happen.

“The person you are looking for will meet with you,” he voices out. Jimin freezes, even
though the words are positive. “You must walk into the woods, go straight until you find the
only cottage that’s there. Kim Seokjin will be the one to answer the door.”

Kim Seokjin. Is that the witch that will guide them to the one who cursed Jimin? He wants to
ask but he’s too worried that if he does, they’ll be sent away. Just the fact that someone is
willing to talk to them is enough for now. He reaches for Jeongguk’s forearm and squeezes it
briefly, nodding when he looks at him.

“Thank you,” he voices out as they pass through.

The man nods and as they move further into the clearing, all the witches start to head back
into their homes. Jimin reaches out for Jeongguk’s hand because he just can’t help it. He’s
more nervous now than he was before. Things are going smoothly and he’s worried it’ll all
blow up in his face.

“It’s okay, hyung,” Jeongguk whispers, as they reach the end of the clearing and step into the
woods. “We figure it out as we go, remember?”

Jimin takes a deep breath and nods. They only walk for a few minutes before the cottage they
were told they’d find appears in their line of vision. Jimin wonders if this is the clan leader’s
cottage, if that’s why it’s further away from the rest of the clan.

The door opens as they’re walking up the three stairs and Jimin startles. Jeongguk’s hand
squeezes his and he tenses beside him. But the witch that’s looking back at them doesn’t
seem angry, doesn’t seem resentful. All he does is show them a small smile and gesture for
them to follow inside.
“Come now, I’ve been waiting for you,” he says.

He disappears back inside before Jimin can even think about what to reply to that. He glances
at Jeongguk and finds that his eyebrows are furrowed. He’s still tense, as if he too senses that
this feels too…okay. Maybe it’s because of everything he’s been through. When things are
going too well, he starts to fear the moment it will all blow up in his face.

“Jeongguk,” he says, when Jeongguk steps a step forward. He pauses, turning to face Jimin.
“I just,” he starts, taking a deep breath. “I love you.”

Jeongguk’s eyebrows furrow. “It’s all going to be okay, hyung. I’m here with you. I won’t let
anything happen to you, I promise.”

Jimin nods, even though he still feels nervous. Jeongguk places a kiss on his forehead and
tells him he loves him too before gently tugging at his hand. They step into the house
together, closing the door behind them. Jimin is aware that he’s squeezing Jeongguk’s hand in
his attempt to stay close to him and feel safe, but Jeongguk doesn’t seem to mind. He’s
holding on just as tight, walking with him into the living room.

He looks around because he can’t help it. The place is cozy, despite it being unfamiliar. It’s
decorated with a lot of color, plants around the ground, some floating from the ceiling. It
feels strangely calming and Jimin doesn’t particularly like the feeling right now.

Kim Seokjin―or so Jimin is assuming this person is that witch―walks into the living room
with a notebook in hand and gestures towards the biggest couch. It’s a very big cottage for
someone who seems to live alone. Jimin can’t hear any other footsteps or breathing in the
house. Maybe this isn’t something to worry about all that much, he doubts the witch will try
something dangerous with a notebook in hand. Unless it’s a curse. Worry settles in his chest
again.

Jeongguk squeezes his hand.

“Let’s take a seat?” He asks him softly.

Jimin hesitates, glancing towards the witch. He’s already seated, going through his notebook
and moving through the pages. They set their backpacks down by their feet and sit. As he
takes a seat next to Jeongguk, he wonders whatever he has in that notebook that is important
right now. Silence falls in between them, the only sound that can be heard is that of the pages
being turned.

Finally, it stops and the witch looks up. His eyes move in between both of them and then fall
down to where they’re holding hands. His eyebrows furrow and that doesn’t sit well with
Jimin.

“Are you Kim Seokjin?” He asks, trying to avert his attention.

It works. “That’s me,” he replies. “I’m assuming you were looking for my mother?” He
doesn’t wait for them to reply, just keeps talking. “She passed away a year ago. I’ve been
looking after her affairs since then. I was told you’re from the Jeon and Park pack. Which one
of you is cursed?”

Jimin clears his throat. He knows about the curse and he’s talking about his mother. Maybe
they’re not as far away from their answers as he thought.

“Was your mother the daughter of the Kim clan’s leader?” He asks.

“Yup,” Seokjin replies. He looks so strangely….cheerful. Especially considering the fact that
he’s in front of someone who his mother had very obviously hated.

“Doesn’t that make you the clan leader now?” Jeongguk asks. “Since she passed away.”

“Yeah, that would also be me,” Seokjin replies, nodding. He’s looking at his notebook again,
finger moving down the page he’s on. Jimin stares at him, completely confused by the way
things are going. He’s not sure what he expected, but this definitely isn’t it. “Let’s see,” he
adds, mumbling to himself. He stops on the bottom of the page and lifts his gaze, moving
from one to the other again before it falls to Jimin. “Park Jimin,” he says.

Jimin stiffens and the witch smiles, looking back down at his notebook.

“How do you know my name?” He asks.

“It’s written right here,” Seokjin responds.

He doesn’t lift his gaze as he does and Jimin tries his best to resist the urge to reach out and
take the notebook away from him.

“ Why? ”

Seokjin finally looks up. He closes the notebook and puts it aside, in between the couch’s arm
rest and his thigh.

“You know why ,” he replies. “My mother cursed you parents. Unfortunately, that resulted in
you having the curse.”

“How do you know he’s the one who’s cursed, is there a picture there or something?”
Jeongguk voices out.

Jimin can tell by his tone that he’s also wary about this whole situation. It’s just so strange.
Seokjin is…nice. And how can he be nice when his mother was someone unwilling to
forgive? There’s a pretty big chance that he’s just pretending to have fun. Jimin really hopes
not and he hopes that this nice behavior will continue and give them the results they want.

“I can feel the curse,” he replies. “It’s all over you, so dark and nerve wracking. I particularly
hate it. I don’t know what my mother was even thinking.” The last part he mumbles to
himself, shaking his head. He folds a leg over the other, intertwining his fingers. “Anyway,
why don’t we talk about why you’re here. Probably to get rid of the curse, isn’t that right?”
Jimin lets go of Jeongguk’s hand and leans forward to focus entirely on Seokjin. As he does,
the witch’s eyes move from him to the place where they were holding hands before. His
eyebrows furrow.

“You probably have more questions, though,” he goes on. “You must be from the Jeon pack,
isn’t that right?” Once more, he doesn’t give them time to respond before moving on.
“Curious about why you’re the only one who can touch Jimin?”

Jeongguk leans forward beside him, as if also completely focused now that Seokjin has said
those words. Jimin still doesn’t trust this whole situation, but he wants answers and
apparently, Seokjin isn’t all that unwilling to give them.

“What do you know about that?” He asks.

Seokjin shrugs and leans back, folding his arms across his chest. “Not all that much, just
theories I would suppose,” he replies. “Did you know one of your great great grandparents
fell in love with a witch?” He asks, his eyes now focused on Jeongguk. A glance towards him
lets Jimin know that his eyebrows are furrowed, confusion taking over his expression. “It
went down in history as one of those tragic love stories.” When Jimin glances at Jeongguk
again, he finds him looking back, shaking his head. “No?” Seokjin’s voice startles him. He
looks back towards him and finds him shaking his head as well. “Terrible, really. Anyway, let
me inform you about your genetic tree, hm? That love resulted in babies, as you must
imagine. Ever since then, the witch’s blood has been moving down generations. It’s possible
that with time, the blood has almost disappeared, but since you can touch Jimin despite the
curse…I would suppose you have it in you.”

“Does that mean any witch can touch me?” Jimin asks, unable to stop himself. All of this
information is given out to them so easily. And something that Jeongguk should have known,
something he was never told growing up.

“No, dear. You see, this witch in particular came from a clan that specialized in healing,” he
explains. “Their powers moved down the Jeon pack. Subdued, I would say. But strong
enough that…this is possible,” he explains. “As I said, I can’t be sure, but the way I think it
works goes like this: Jeongguk’s blood can heal him, allows his body to heal quickly
whenever he’s injured. So, when you touch him, even though you should be hurting him, the
cells in his body are working fast enough that he doesn’t feel pain for even a second. Don’t
you think that’s marvelous?” He asks, fingers intertwined on his lap, excitement evident in
his expression.

Jimin leans back, relaxing a little. Hopefully, he’s not making a mistake by trusting that this
witch doesn’t mean any harm. Not for now, at least. He’s telling them what they want to
know and that’s more than Jimin thought they’d get.

“How can I know you’re not lying?” Jeongguk asks. “Can’t there be another reason why I
don’t get hurt by Jimin’s curse?”

“You can always ask your family when you both go back,” Seokjin replies. “And, my mother
was very powerful, Jeongguk,” Seokjin points out. He doesn’t seem the slightest bit fazed. “I
assure you, her curse was meant to work on absolutely any being who put their hands on
Jimin. She just happened to forget there are always a few exceptions to look out for,” he
explains. “Especially with curses as powerful as this one.” When his eyes move to Jimin
again, he straightens his back, wary of what he’ll say next. “I’m so deeply sorry, Jimin. I can
only imagine how difficult life must have been for you since you presented. I was hoping
you’d come looking for me sooner.”

“Really?” He blurts out, taken aback. “You knew about me?”

Seokjin nods, leaning back again and seeming to get lost in thought for a moment. “Things
are a little bit different in witch clans. Unlike your packs, we don’t choose our leaders by
strength. It’s absolutely always something that moves down the same family. My
grandmother knew she’d be a clan leader since she was five and my mother too knew that
growing up. I did, too. When the clan leader dies, their powers and their memories, the curses
they’ve cast and the things they’ve done, all move down to the next leader. My mother was
full of anger with your clan. She cast a lot of curses during her time as leader. I’ve been
working through them the past year. People have come looking for me, asking for
forgiveness. I’ve given it to those who deserve it.

“Yours was the one that interested me the most, you see. I couldn’t fathom the idea of a
person not being able to be touched. I could only imagine how much pain that would bring
upon you. And when she passed, I kept wondering how long it would take you to come
looking for me. I know your parents begged my mother for forgiveness and she didn’t give it
to them. The curse has haunted you for years . And I believe it’s not your fault. What
happened in the past had nothing to do with you and it is unfair that you’ve had to live like
this for something your parents did in their past.”

Jimin’s chest constricts. He closes his hands in fists as he hears Seokjin’s words. He
sounds…genuine. He sounds regretful and he looks apologetic, almost a little bit ashamed by
his mother’s doing. It’s shocking to see. When his parents told him the witch didn’t want to
forgive them nor break the curse, a part of Jimin started to believe that he’d find that when he
came here. That he wouldn’t have a solution to the problem and that things would remain the
way they were. He feared it would end up worse, that the witch would make it so that not
even Jeongguk could touch him.

And here he is sitting in front of a nice witch, someone who thinks it’s unfair he had to go
through that all of these years.

“Does that mean you’ll break it?” He asks in a soft whisper. That’s the only thing he can say.
He doesn’t know how else to reply to what Seokjin has voiced out.

Seokjin smiles. “Well, absolutely.”

He stands up and claps his hands so suddenly that Jimin startles. Jeongguk tenses up beside
him, reaching out to place a hand on his thigh.

“You know this sounds a little bit suspicious, right?” He asks. He’s standing within a second,
stepping in front of Jimin. Jimin stands up as well, reaching out to fist the back of Jeongguk’s
shirt just to feel that he’s there, that they’re together. “How do we know you won’t hurt
Jimin? He’s been through enough, I won’t let you hurt him.”
“Relax, wolf,” Seokjin says, waving his hand in the air in a gesture of annoyance. “If I
wanted to hurt either of you, I would have done it by now. I have powers, I’m stronger than
both of you together. I’m the clan leader. I have no intention of bringing him any harm. I
want to break the curse. It’s easy, it won’t hurt a single bit and you’ll be good to go so you
can both live the life I’m sure you’ve been hoping for.”

Jeongguk steps forward, as if ready to reply, but Jimin tugs on his shirt. When Jeongguk turns
to look at him, he shakes his head. Even though he was wary at first, right now, he doesn’t
feel like they’re being tricked. Seokjin sounds genuine and, either way, this is the only option
they have, right? If they don’t do it, they’ll go back to the same future they saw ahead of
them. Like this, they get to live the way they wanted to. He wants to trust his instincts this
time around.

“I think we can trust him,” he whispers. “I’m scared too, but if he’s saying the truth…
Jeongguk, we could―” he cuts himself off, shaking his head. He turns him around so that
he’s shielded by his body and leans up to kiss his lips. “I want this.”

It only takes Jeongguk a second or two, but he’s quick to nod. He seems hesitant, but he
kisses Jimin’s forehead and turns around. He reaches for Jimin’s hand and holds it tightly.

“If you try anything funny, I don’t really care about the treaty, I will do anything to protect
Jimin,” he points out.

Seokjin snorts, as if Jeongguk’s words are funny to him. “I know you’re in love with him.
Don’t be such a show off,” he mumbles, shaking his head. “I know it might be hard to
believe. I can only imagine it’s difficult for you to accept something like this when
everything has always been so hard on you. But I don’t intend to play with your feelings, nor
am I lying. I will break the curse and you’ll be free to go. We’ll move on from the past that
hurt both of us and we’ll respect the treaty that has now been signed.”

It hits Jimin then that there’s something they’ve looked over because of Seokjin’s so easy
going demeanor. It was his grandmother that was killed by Jimin’s parents. He lost someone,
too. Jimin wonders how young he was when he lost that someone.

“I’m sorry for what my parents did,” he says. Seokjin’s surprised expression only stays on his
face for a second. Then he smiles tightly and shakes his head.

“As I said, it is not your fault.”

Seokjin explains the process quickly. When he reaches out and lets his hand hover over
Jimin’s forehead, he can’t help but flinch. But Seokjin doesn’t touch him. All he does is
murmur words as a faint light leaves his palm and washes over him. It’s warm and it’s gentle
and Jimin doesn’t feel pain at all.

He only feels calmness and when it’s over―just a few seconds, like Seokjin explained, he
feels exactly the same way. Like a weight has been pulled off his shoulders. He realizes he’s
closed his eyes and opens them slowly.
Jeongguk is staring at him, worry all over his features. But Jimin feels fine. He doesn’t know,
though. He doesn’t know if the curse is gone. He opens his mouth to speak, but Seokjin
reaches out and wraps his fingers around his wrist. Jeongguk’s hand shoots out to stop him,
even if it’s too late and Jimin flinches back in surprise.

But nothing happens. Seokjin doesn’t double over in pain. All he does is smile and nod to
himself, letting go immediately.

“I apologize for that,” he says, turning around and reaching for his notebook. He opens it up
and a pen magically appears in between his fingers. “I had to be quick about it, just to make
sure it worked and avoid being jumped by your boyfriend.” He grows quiet as he writes
something down on the notebook. He closes it with a loud thump and it disappears with the
pen, just like that. Jimin stares, a little bit confused. That’s really it? It’s over? It can’t be. “
Finally , done with all her affairs. I can breathe .”

He drops down on the couch and sighs deeply, a smile on his lips. Jimin can suddenly see his
tired expression and the way his shoulders are slumped.

Whatever things he’s been taking care of must have been intense and difficult if he’s this tired
and relieved to be done. Jimin looks at Jeongguk and finds him staring back with the same
surprise he’s feeling.

“That’s it?” He asks, turning to Seokjin again.

Seokjin nods. “That’s it. Please don’t forget to close the door on your way out. I’m so
exhausted, I need a bubble bath.”

He doesn’t stand up, though. He closes his eyes and stays like that, as if completely forgetting
about their presence. He’s…a particular person. The way he speaks and acts is a little bit
startling, but Jimin doesn’t want to stay longer and risk him changing his mind about what
just happened. He tugs at Jeongguk and even though Jeongguk hesitates, he finally follows,
both of them picking up their backpacks.

“Thank you,” he calls out, as he reaches the door.

Seokjin lifts his hand and waves. That’s the last thing Jimin sees as he leaves the living room.
They close the door and start walking. Questions and doubts are floating in the air around
them, but the don’t immediately speak. They just start walking. They walk past the clearing
and keep going on a path back home. And even though Jimin tells himself they’ll talk about it
in a while, minutes go by and still, neither of them seems to know what to say.

↢↣

They end up not talking about it. They don’t really talk much on their way back to the camp.
Few words are exchanged here and there. But Jimin can’t quite believe that he’s actually not
cursed anymore and he knows Jeongguk too has his doubts. It feels too easy. Sure, Seokjin
touched him to prove it, but there’s always a chance he lied. Jimin doesn’t want to think that’s
a possibility, but the more he thinks about it, the more he worries.

And still, they don’t talk about it.

↢↣

When they arrive back at the camp, they still haven’t talked about it. They take less getting
there and when they do, wolves are already gather around, coming closer, curious about what
has resulted of their trip.

Jimin wishes suddenly that he and Jeongguk had talked about something, at least. Because
he’s still not used to this, to how loud and how intense everything is when he’s surrounded by
scents, by the pack. He leans closer to him and Jeongguk is quick to reach out for his hand,
squeezing it reassuringly.

Both his parents and Jeongguk’s make their way in between the crowd that’s formed close to
them. His mother looks apologetic, but Jimin doesn’t want to think about what happened
before he left. He just wants to know . He wants to know once and for all if things are really
normal now, if the curse is no longer there.

He clears his throat. “It’s supposed to be gone,” he murmurs.

I don’t know if it’s true. I have no idea if we were lied to , Jimin thinks. But he can’t voice it
out. He doesn’t know what to say. Jeongguk squeezes his hand again and does the talking.

“The witch that cursed you passed away a year ago,” he explains. “Her son has been taking
care of everything she left behind and he agreed to break the curse. It’s a little bit difficult to
believe, but…he touched Jimin. And nothing happened. So, we think it really is gone.”

But there’s a chance it’s not. The thing is, a part of Jimin thought it wouldn’t happen. He
thought he would never go back to the normality he used to have before he presented. Now
that it’s a possibility, he’s not quite sure of what to do. Theoretically, he had plans, hopes.
And yet, now that they can happen, he feels like he’s rooted to the ground, unable to move,
unable to have them. He’s just…he’s having a hard time accepting the fact that he might
actually be free now.

“Really?” Jimin’s mother asks, stepping forward instantly.

Jimin tenses and takes a step back because he just can’t help it. “We don’t know, though. I’m
worried we might have been lied to. It just…it feels too easy. I want to make sure, first.”

“Yeah,” Jeongguk agrees, nodding and settling in front of him. He grasps his shoulders and
looks into his eyes. “It’s okay, hyung. Look at me,” he whispers, lowering his voice only for
him to hear. “Breathe. Let’s―”
“I’ll touch him, then,” Taehyung says. He steps in between the wolves and settles close to
them, keeping enough distance that Jimin isn’t scared of him getting hurt by accident. “I want
to be the one. So we can confirm.”

“No,” Jimin says, shaking his head. “I don’t want to hurt you, I can’t―”

“But, you said the witch touched you,” Taehyung interrupts. “Hopefully, he didn’t lie. If you
want to make sure, you have to try it. It’s the only way to know. Let me do it, Jimin-ah. It’ll
be fast. And you’re my best friend. I want to do this. Please, let me.”

Jimin looks at Jeongguk, feeling a sense of desperation taking over his body. He doesn’t
know what to do. He knows somebody has to touch him for them to confirm if the curse is
really gone. But he’s too scared. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone.

“We have to do it,” Jeongguk whispers. “Even if it isn’t him, somebody has to touch you,
hyung.”

“It’ll be okay, Jiminie,” Taehyung reassures. He steps closer and even though Jimin doesn’t
mean to, he tenses. Taehyung lifts his hands, shows them both to him before he stretches one
forward and lets it hang in the air between them. “Do it fast. I want to hug you again and I
won’t miss the chance if the curse is gone.”

Everybody around them is quiet, as if they’re holding their breaths, waiting to see if Jimin is
finally free. Jimin is scared out of his mind. He wishes he and Jeongguk had stayed far away,
had talked before coming here. But there’s nothing he can do about it now. So he closes his
eyes and takes a deep breath, trying to settle down his rapidly beating heart.

“I’m scared,” he whispers.

“It’ll be okay, hyung,” Jeongguk murmurs. His lips press to his temple. “We’ll figure it out.
I’ll always be here for that, you know it.”

He opens his eyes and finds Jeongguk looking at him. Another deep breath and he forces
himself to relax. He reaches out before he can stop himself, but he doesn’t touch Taehyung.
His hand hovers close. And even though Taehyung should be, he doesn’t seem the slightest
bit scared nor worried. He’s smiling. He nods.

Jimin holds his breath as he finally grasps Taehyung’s hand. He flinches, as if his body is
used to that type of reaction whenever he touches someone. But Taehyung doesn’t scream.
He doesn’t cry. He’s still standing there, smiling . No pain. Jimin’s eyes fill with tears.

And then Taehyung’s arms around him and it feels a little bit as if the world is crumbling
down around him. It feels so good, being enveloped by his arms, arms he’s missed so much.
He’s warm and he smells nice and he’s so familiar. His pack. Taehyung squeezes him tightly,
tells him he’s so glad that the curse is gone.

But then more wolves are trying to touch him, to hug him, to scent him. It happens the way
he imagined. He’d told Jeongguk he wanted to touch and scent everyone and that’s exactly
what happens. He loses Jeongguk in between the bodies, but he doesn’t mind for a little bit
because he hasn’t felt anything like this in such a long time. It reminds him of how things
were when he hadn’t presented yet. And he’s missed it so much. It’s overwhelming. But it’s
good.

His wolf grows familiar with the other wolves, lets them in again and everybody lets him in
as well. His parents hug him too and even though his mother tries to apologize again, he
shakes his head and tells her he doesn’t want to talk about it right now. He wants to focus on
this, engrave it in his memory forever.

It feels like hours go by. They all touch him and scent him and connect to him. And by the
time Jeongguk is in front of him again, Jimin feels a little bit as if he’s floating. The world
doesn’t feel as dull and worrying as it did before.

“ Baby ,” Jeongguk whispers, wrapping his arms around Jimin’s waist and picking him up
briefly.

People give them privacy and Jimin realizes that he’s crying. It’s been so long. The curse is
really gone. He’s free. He can touch people again. He can stay. He can have everything he
wanted. He can have the future he wanted to have with Jeongguk.

“I can’t believe it,” he mumbles, pressing his forehead to Jeongguk’s neck. He’s not sure
when they took the backpacks off, but this time he doesn’t find anything in the way when he
hugs Jeongguk back. “It’s so…I didn’t think―”

“I know,” Jeongguk says, when Jimin doesn’t continue. He doesn’t even know what to say.
He’s in awe and he’s completely in love with this feeling. He’s missed the freedom. He feels
like he finally has his life back. He’s finally…complete. “How are you feeling?” Jeongguk
asks, leaning back and cupping his cheek.

There’s nobody around anymore, but all their scents linger. It’s so intense he feels dizzy.

“Okay,” he whispers, smiling to himself. “So happy, Jeongguk-ah.”

Jeongguk smiles and leans forward to place a kiss on his forehead. “I’m so glad you’re
happy,” he murmurs. “It’s what you deserve. Come on, hyung. I’ll take you home. I’m
worried you’ll wolf will be overwhelmed because of all the scents.”

Right. Jimin had forgotten about the way his body had reacted when Jeongguk came into his
life again after so many years without being in contact with the intense scent. And now he’s
been scented by the whole pack. He feels good, though. A little bit dizzy, but maybe that’s
because of his euphoric he’s feeling. No more fears, no more worries. It’s perfect, all he could
have wished for.

And he’s grateful it’s all finally gone. He can finally breathe , too.

“Okay,” he whispers.

As Jeongguk guides him back to their home, Jimin feels like he’s floating. It’s been two
weeks, but it feels like it’s been less. It feels as if time has flown by. Jimin feels like there are
a million things he wants to do and yet, what he wants the most is to lie down. Because now
exhaustion is finally washing over him. They’ve both been traveling non stop for days and all
the scenting really was overwhelming.

Too much is happening and Jimin wants to take his time processing it all. But it’s hard, it’s
intense. He stumbles a little on his way up the stairs to their front door and it makes him
giggle. Jeongguk laughs and shakes his head, wrapping an arm around Jimin’s waist to help
him into the house.

But once the door closes behind him, he tugs Jeongguk closer and wraps his arms around
him. They stumble and his back hits the door, but Jeongguk is there to hold him tightly,
hugging him to his chest.

“I’m so happy,” he whispers, fisting the back of Jeongguk’s shirt. He’s pretty sure he’s crying
again, but this time around, he’s crying happy tears. “I can’t believe it, Jeongguk. I’m scared
I’m dreaming. I don’t ever want to wake up.”

“You’re not, hyung,” Jeongguk reassures. His fingers tangle with Jimin’s hair strands and he
tilts his head back to look into his eyes. “You’re not dreaming. You can have everything you
wanted. You don’t have to be scared anymore.”

Jimin nods and cries silently into Jeongguk’s collarbone. He really doesn’t have to be
anymore. He can finally be happy.

“Thank you,” he mumbles, rubbing his cheek against Jeongguk’s neck. “Ever since you came
into my life again…I just―thank you. Thank you for being with me and giving me hope,
Jeongguk-ah. You have no idea how much you mean to me, I want to be with you forever.”

Jeongguk squeezes his arms tight around him. “I want to be with you forever too, baby,” he
whispers into his ear. “We can have that now. We can have whatever we want.”

Jimin tilts his head back. “Scent me,” he pleads. “I think we were so shocked while coming
back, we didn’t even talk much. I miss you. I want to feel you everywhere.”

“Fuck, I know,” Jeongguk mumbles, leaning forward and giving Jimin what he wants. “I was
going crazy inside my head. It just felt too easy, I was worried. I was so scared, hyung. I’m so
happy that things turned out this way because this is all I want for you. I want you to never be
scared again. I want you to be the happiest person alive.”

Jimin slips his hands under Jeongguk’s shirt and digs his nails into his skin. Even though he’s
been touching him for a long while now, it feels different this time around. There’s no curse.
There’s no possibility that he might not have this one day. And even then, his desperation is
the same. His desire to touch Jeongguk all over is so intense he can’t let him go.

“I want all of that for you, too,” Jimin whispers. “We can have that together. We can have it
all, Jeongguk-ah.”

Jeongguk nods and nibbles on his scent gland softly, reaches down and picks him up from the
ground. Almost on instinct, Jimin’s legs wrap around his waist and his fingers slip into his
hair. Jeongguk groans as he makes his way towards the bedroom. He doesn’t even need to see
where he’s going as he does so, quickly pinning Jimin to the bed. He loves the feeling of
Jeongguk’s body on top of him, covering him entirely, warming him up.

He parts his legs and makes space for him to settle comfortably against him. He tugs at his
shirt and takes it off. Jeongguk stares down at him with amber eyes, an intensity in them that
Jimin is sure he also holds. He touches Jeongguk’s chest with shaky fingertips.

“It feels different,” he whispers.

Jeongguk shudders, eyes closing. He looks overwhelmed and his jaw clenches as Jimin’s
fingers continue their path down his abdomen.

“Yeah,” he breathes out. “It feels more intense.”

Jimin nods. Intense but good. So good. Better than anything he could have expected. He’s
free and the feeling is the best thing in the world.

“Kiss me,” he pleads. “And touch me. Don’t stop touching me.”

Jeongguk does as he’s told. He kisses Jimin and undresses him and then they spend hours
exploring skin all over again, as if it’s the first time. They overwhelm each other and drive
each other crazy until they can’t keep their hands to themselves anymore. It doesn’t go
further than kisses and touches, groping at each other until they both shudder with their
release. They’ll get there. They’ll get to where they both want.

But for now, this is enough. And Jimin is happier than he ever thought he could be.

↢↣

Jimin shifts and a million sensations rush through his body in a matter of seconds. His skin
feels so sensitive the simple brush of his shirt over it makes his head spin. He knows what it
means, but his sleepy brain doesn’t catch up to it immediately. It takes him a while to fully
wake up.

Between soft sighs and more shifting around, he starts to feel hot and bothered, sweat making
his shirt cling to his body in a way he doesn’t particularly enjoy. It feels too hot.

A low moan leaves his lips when he realizes he’s being pinned down by Jeongguk’s arm. His
body is pressed to him and he’s hugging him from behind. It feels pleasant, but it’s also
overwhelming. Jeongguk’s nose is pressed to his nape and every time he exhales, a shiver
slides down Jimin’s body.

His hand shoots out to wrap around Jeongguk’s forearm and he tilts his head back,
overwhelmed. The feeling is slowly starting to grow. There’s heat in his groin, his muscles
feel tense and Jeongguk’s hips feel so arousing pressed to his ass.
His eyes shoot open. He tries to turn but Jeongguk’s arm is squeezing around his waist so
strongly that he can’t. Jeongguk is hard and the room smells so heavily of musky pheromones
that there’s no mistaking what it means. They knew it would happen, but Jimin wasn’t
expecting to wake up to it right now. They thought it would hit sometime during the
weekend―it’s here four days early.

When he shifts again, trying to turn towards Jeongguk, he freezes. All the feelings from
before, when he was waking up, come rushing back to him. There’s slick in between his ass
cheeks and he’s half hard in his pants. This is also something they were expecting, but having
it happen is wildly different.

Jeongguk’s pre-rut must have started sometime during the night and the intense pheromones
triggered Jimin’s heat. He feels so overly sensitive he slumps down again, exhausted. Every
little breath of Jeongguk against his skin drives his omega crazy.

He groans and shifts. Jeongguk makes a sound, something between a growl and a moan,
before tightening his hold around him. It seems to be what wakes him because his hand fists
the front of Jimin’s shirt, his hips press forward and a soft exhale leaves his mouth.

“ Baby .”

Jimin has loved that word since the first time Jeongguk used it. He loves the way it sounds
coming out of his mouth and right now, it sounds so fucking sexy he can’t help but whine,
reaching up to cover his face with his hands. Even though they’ve been intimate before, this
is different. They’re going to spend a much more intimate time together, they’re going to
mate . Jimin can’t help but be nervous, even though he trusts Jeongguk with his whole being.

“You smell so good,” Jeongguk says, teeth nibbling on Jimin’s nape. It makes a shudder slide
down his body. In this moment, every little touch is enough to drive him closer to the edge. “I
can smell how wet you are, I can’t―” Jeongguk cuts himself off and suddenly, Jimin is on
his back, staring up at a Jeongguk that looks so wild and sexy. His long hair is a mess of curls
that stick out here and there, his cheeks are flushed, lips parted. His eyes are that golden color
that lets Jimin know how aroused he is. “You’re shaking,” he whispers, his voice rough.

His fingers brush over Jimin’s cheekbone, touching him so gently in comparison to the way
his eyes are staring at him. Hungry, lustful.

“My body is sensitive,” he mumbles, closing his eyes and struggling to catch his breath when
Jeongguk’s fingers move down and down to his chin, under his jaw, spreading around his
neck. “It feels so good whenever you touch me.”

A whimper leaves his lips, so loud that he can’t help the way his cheeks heat up. Jeongguk
moves his thumb back and forth over Jimin’s pulse before letting go and reaching down. He
spreads Jimin’s thighs, making that warmth spread down his neck to the rest of his body.

“I want to eat you up, I want to taste you,” Jeongguk mumbles, his words a bit distracted, his
eyes wandering down Jimin’s body. “You smell so good it’s driving my alpha crazy.”
Jimin doesn’t really get a chance to respond. Jeongguk sits back on his knees and reaches for
the hem of Jimin’s shirt―which is actually Jeongguk’s oversized one. He’s wearing boxer
briefs only and he feels strangely exposed, even though Jeongguk has seen him naked a lot of
times already. It’s just because of the way he’s looking down at him. His gaze is so intense it
burns all over Jimin’s skin.

He holds the shirt above his chest, fisting it as his other hand falls to his belly. He tells Jimin
that he’s so hot and Jimin once more doesn’t get to respond before Jeongguk’s hand starts to
explore. It moves up, brushes over his chest. It’s brief, but he thumbs at his nipples as he goes
and it makes Jimin arch, thighs closing around Jeongguk’s hips.

If anybody is hot, it’s him. He looks so wild sitting up like that, his eyes following the
movement of his hand. He settles on Jimin’s waist, squeezes briefly before going for his hip.
He squeezes there, too and then traces the waistband of Jimin’s briefs. He groans, hips lifting
off the bed.

Without giving Jimin time to breathe, he leans forward and lets go of his shirt. His hand falls
to the bed, right beside Jimin’s waist and the other one slips under his briefs, circling his
cock.

“Fuck,” he breathes out, hips lifting again, thrusting into his hand.

“I need to get off,” Jeongguk mutters, but he’s focused on what he’s doing, head hanging low,
hair falling over his face. Jimin can’t really see him properly. All he can see is the way his
hand is moving in his briefs, stroking him at a slow pace.

“Let’s get off,” Jimin whispers, reaching up for his cheeks. When Jeongguk looks up, his
golden eyes make Jimin’s heart beat faster.

“I just―” Jeongguk starts, shaking his head. His hand isn’t moving anymore and Jimin can’t
help but move his hips, seeking out more. “I want to touch you first. I want to see the way
you react whenever I touch your sensitive skin. I want to drive you crazy.”

He drops down on Jimin’s body and he grunts at the sudden weight. But he doesn’t mind it.
He hooks his ankles together behind Jeongguk and wraps his arms around his shoulders to
hold on tight.

“We have time,” he whispers. And this time around, it’s true. They have forever. They have
plans that they can actually follow. There are no fears. There’s only a happy future ahead of
them. “I think you’re still in pre-rut. So we can―”

His voice is cut off by his own yelp. In a fast movement, Jeongguk has already turned him
around. Thumbs hook under his briefs and they’re tugged down. Even though the room
already smells heavily of both of them, the second it happens, his scent permeates the air,
invading every corner. Jeongguk groans. Then he’s moving again. He lifts Jimin’s hips, puts
him on his knees and places a hand in between his shoulder blades, pushing his chest down,
arching his back.
Jimin didn’t think he had a thing for being manhandled by Jeongguk, but apparently he does.
All the moving him around has made his body heat up even more and this position is making
his cheeks heat up, toes curling at the thought of what Jeongguk wants to do.

“What―” he tries to ask, but Jeongguk’s hands fall to his ass cheeks and he finds himself
speechless, too focused on the movement going on behind him to say anything else.

“Stay still,” Jeongguk orders softly. So softly it feels like a caress against Jimin’s skin, his
breath fanning over his ass cheeks. “I want to eat you out.”

“Fuck, okay,” he mutters, arms stretched above him, back arched. His fingers fist the pillow
just to give himself something to hold on to. “You really― oh my god .”

Jeongguk’s mouth wastes no time and Jimin has never felt anything like this before. His
nervousness has died down because all he can focus on is the feeling of Jeongguk’s mouth on
him, his hands on him, his scent invading his senses. Jeongguk’s hands spread his ass cheeks
and his tongue flattens against his hole, licking, making a weird feeling bubble up his belly.

Good weird. So good.

“Baby, I can’t even―” Jeongguk starts, but he doesn’t seem capable of finishing the
sentence. He dives back down before Jimin can ask him to continue. “Does it feel good?” He
asks, licking again, making Jimin’s hips push back on their own.

Good is an understatement. He can. Barely hold still. He can barely think . All there is is
pleasure. Pleasure everywhere, tingling up his spine, slipping down his thighs. He’s shaking
again and he’s embarrassingly turned on, enough that he doesn’t think he’ll last much longer
if Jeongguk keeps this up.

It’s as if he knows where to touch, how to touch, to drive Jimin crazy. And maybe it’s
something instinctual because neither of them have ever been with anybody else. And still,
Jimin’s body is guiding him.

“Tell me,” Jeongguk says, pausing. He gives soft licks, not enough, not nearly as much as he
was giving Jimin before. Jimin whines.

“Jeongguk,” he pleads.

“Tell me,” Jeongguk repeats, licking again, still not enough.

“It does,” he replies quickly. “It feels so good, please don’t stop.”

Jeongguk groans and gives him more. “I’ll give you anything you want, always.”

Jimin’s legs feel weak and soon enough his knees start to give, they slide apart, his body
starts to flatten out against the bed and his thighs start to tremble with pleasure. The sound
doesn’t help. It’s so arousing and so wet and Jeongguk’s tongue slips past his rim and Jimin
swears he sees stars.
“Can’t―I’m gonna―” he tries to voice out, but he can’t. His words are muffled by the pillow
he’s holding onto tightly. He squeezes his fingers around the fabric, pushing his hips back to
seek more. “ Jeongguk .”

Again, he’s manhandled into a different position. He’s on his back again and Jeongguk is
sitting back on his hunches, in between his legs. He’s dressed the same way Jimin is. And he
looks so sexy as he lifts his shirt up, bites down on it to hold it up and reaches into his briefs.
He’s fully hard already and when he strokes once, his abs tighten, his hips jerk forward. Jimin
guesses he won’t last much longer either.

He slides forward until his hips are pressed to Jimin’s ass and uses both his hands to hold
both of their cocks. And even though Jimin is feeling pleasure, he’s mostly lost in the way
Jeongguk reacts to his own pleasure. His eyebrows furrow and his eyes close and he groans
and pushes his hips into his hands as if it’s the best thing he’s ever felt and Jimin feels that
way, too.

Every stroke feels so intense, makes his thighs tremble and his back arch. All he can do in
this position is touch Jeongguk’s hips, hold onto him, touch his skin and mumble how good it
feels.

“Yeah?” Jeongguk asks, grunting as his hips move forward in waves, slow but steady, a
promise of what’s to come when they’re both lost in their rut and heat, when they finally take
that final step. Jimin can almost imagine how it will feel to have Jeongguk inside of him and
he already wants it so badly. “Tell me, baby. Don’t stop telling me, I want to hear it all.”

Jimin does. Over and over again, he voices out how good it feels. His moans and whines turn
louder as the pleasure starts to build inside of him. It doesn’t take them long. Jeongguk’s
thrusting, the way he’s moving, the way their bodies are heated and desperate. The sensitivity
of his skin. It all drives him to the edge.

He closes his eyes and his back arches as his orgasm hits him like a train in movement. His
body jerks and a moan leaves his mouth, mouth hanging open as it washes over him. He can
feel his cum falling on his belly, can hear Jeongguk’s groan, feels his shudder and then feels
more cum on his belly, on his chest.

It doesn’t last long enough, but it’s so intense it leaves Jimin shaking, body jerking as
Jeongguk slumps forward and falls over him. He’s heavy but it’s a nice feeling. His face
burrows in Jimin’s neck and he grumbles, sounding so sated. He was careful with his shirt,
but it’s undoubtedly getting dirty now. Jimin doesn’t particularly care. They’ll get naked soon
enough and it’ll be impossible to stay clean with all the arousal they’ll share.

“You feel so good,” Jeongguk mumbles, nibbling on his neck again. “So warm, I want to stay
here forever.”

Jimin smiles to himself. “Yeah, I want you here forever, too.”

Jeongguk rubs his nose back and forth across Jimin’s scent gland. Even though he just came,
he feels the way his body reacts to it, heat spreading across his belly, thighs tightening around
Jeongguk’s hips. He fists the back of his shirt and turns his head to the side, settling his nose
under Jeongguk’s earlobe. Jeongguk shudders.

“I love you,” he murmurs.

Jimin kisses the spot next. “I love you, too.”

It seems that getting off together really helped them both calm down for a while because
Jimin doesn’t feel as desperate as before. And Jeongguk seems to have settled as well. His rut
must have not started yet, but it’s just a matter of time. And Jimin’s heat is also close to
starting.

“What should we do?” Jeongguk asks after a few seconds. “I don’t want to get out of bed but
I also want us to shower together. But that’s useless because we’ll end up getting all dirty
again anyway.”

Jimin laughs. His heats are always like that, too. They make him too exhausted and they
make it hard to think without feeling even more tired. He slips his fingers into Jeongguk’s
hair and tugs at it gently. Jeongguk groans and burrows his face deeper into Jimin’s neck.
There’s something so pleasant about being like this, with each other, just touching, just
cuddling.

“We can shower together just for the hell of it,” Jimin suggests. “Maybe we can get dirty in
the shower.” He feels Jeongguk’s cock twitch against his belly and he smiles to himself.
“Yeah, I like the sound of it, too,” he whispers.

“I think my rut is starting,” Jeongguk mumbles. “It might start while we’re showering,” he
says. Jimin feels his hands sliding across his sides. He slips his hands under Jeongguk’s shirt
as well, touching his heated skin. “I want you, baby.”

“I want you, too.”

He feels so at ease with Jeongguk, there’s no room for nervousness. Maybe when the time
comes he will be. But now, he feels perfectly content and relaxed in his arms.

“Okay, shower,” Jeongguk announces.

It’s a struggle to get out of bed, so they end up dragging each other out. It’s a mess of laughs
and gentle touches. Jeongguk gets him naked on their way towards the bathroom and Jimin
tugs at his clothes once they’re there. They only have towels, but they don’t need more.
They’ll be spending the rest of their time naked and it’ll stay that way for the next couple of
days.

And by the end of it, they’ll be mated.

It’s only been a little over a week since they came back from their long trip to search for the
witch that cursed Jimin. After the initial surprise that came with it wore out, they sat down to
talk about the future, the one they had wanted but didn’t know if they could have.

Now, it’s all possible.

They had decided to mate when Jeongguk’s rut hit, since it would surely trigger Jimin’s heat
earlier. The perfect timing for them to mate. Jimin is sure of what he wants and that’s a life
beside Jeongguk. Jeongguk is the person that makes him the happiest, the person who gave
him hope and has stayed beside him despite everything.

“What are you thinking about?” Jeongguk asks, his hands on Jimin’s hips.

The water is running, warming up a bit. Since their bodies are already hot, they need it to be
refreshing.

“About us mating,” he murmurs, wrapping his arms around Jeongguk’s shoulders.

Jeongguk scrunches his nose and leans forward to press a kiss to the corner of Jimin’s mouth.
“Don’t rile me up again, we haven’t even gotten into the shower.”

Jimin laughs, shaking his head. “I didn’t even do anything?”

“You talked about mating,” Jeongguk argues, wrapping an arm around his hips and squeezing
tightly. “It makes me think about sinking my teeth in your neck, hyung.”

Jimin hums and slips his fingers into Jeongguk’s hair.

“Soon,” he mumbles.

Soon, really soon. For now, he wants to enjoy this moment. He wants to enjoy all the
moments he and Jeongguk will have up until the moment they finally mate and then
everything that will follow.

“Lets get in,” Jeongguk says, tugging at him with a lazy smile.

He looks tired. But he looks so happy. Jimin feels the exact same way. He feels like they’re in
a bubble, like there’s nothing that can interrupt the moment they’re sharing. As the cool water
falls over him and Jeongguk wraps himself around him, he feels a shudder trail down his
body. It’s refreshing, but Jeongguk’s touch is distracting.

And as the minutes go by, Jimin’s body is starting to become hotter, arousal is taking over
their scents again and he knows that soon enough they won’t be able to hold back any longer.

“You smell so good,” Jeongguk whispers, turning him around and pressing his face to Jimin’s
neck. His hands slide down his front, reach his hips and squeeze, move further down to his
thighs. “I like you like this, so slippery,” he adds, licking at Jimin’s neck, right over his scent
gland. Jimin tilts his head back with a sigh.

“We’re supposed to be showering,” he mumbles.

But he doesn’t really care. Jeongguk’s hands feel nice on his body, even if he’s too sensitive.

“How sensitive are you?” Jeongguk asks, as if reading his mind. He doesn’t even respond to
Jimin’s previous words.
Again, he doesn’t really care. “ Really sensitive,” he replies breathlessly. “When you touch
here,” he says, placing his hand on Jeongguk’s, where he’s holding onto his hip. “I feel it
here,” he goes on, reaching for the other hand and settling it on his chest. “And when you
touch here,” he starts up again, moving Jeongguk’s hand to his belly. “I feel it here,” he
finishes, moving Jeongguk’s other hand to his neck. “Everywhere. I feel you everywhere,
Jeongguk-ah.”

Jeongguk groans and he turns Jimin around quickly. He gets so handsy during his rut, Jimin
is starting to understand. Moves him around as he wishes, as if he weighs nothing. His hands
fall to his ass cheeks and Jimin gasps, hands falling to Jeongguk’s chest to hold himself up.

“I want you to always feel me everywhere,” Jeongguk mumbles, kissing him. Jimin parts his
lips for him, kisses him back desperately. A hand slips into Jeongguk’s hair and tugs harshly.
His other hand moves to his back and digs into his skin. “If I touched you for long enough,
do you think you could come?” He asks. “Just by having my fingers and mouth on your scent
glands. Do you think you could?”

Jimin has no idea. He can’t even think properly when Jeongguk is kissing him like this.
Touching him so desperately. He presses Jimin forward against his hips, groans into his
mouth, licks and nibbles on his lower lip, tugs it into his mouth until it almost hurts. But it’s
good. It’s so good.

“Dunno,” he mutters. “Maybe―”

“Maybe,” Jeongguk interrupts, before he can go on. “Lets test it out later,” he pleads.

Apparently, rut driven Jeongguk is also horny 95% of the time. And once more, Jimin doesn’t
care.

“Now,” he asks. “Please?”

“Shower,” Jeongguk grumbles, but he sounds like he hates the fact that they’re just
showering right now.

It makes Jimin laugh and, despite the fact that they’re basically groping each other instead of
showering, Jeongguk grins against his mouth, laughing softly too. This is what Jimin loves
about having Jeongguk. Everything feels so natural and so perfect. All they have to do is give
themselves to the other and their bodies do the rest of the work. Kisses, touches, soft
murmurs.

Jeongguk’s fingers slip in between his ass cheeks and Jimin’s body jerks in surprise.
Somewhere in between getting the water warmed up and getting into the shower he must
have started to slick up because the touch is slippery and Jeongguk slips a tentative finger
inside of him. It meets no resistance, but Jimin’s nails dig into Jeongguk’s back in surprise.

“Jeongguk,” he whispers, already breathless, chest heaving. “Are we― ah .”

“Just want to prep you so I can fuck you as soon as we get to the bed,” Jeongguk says, teeth
biting down on Jimin’s scent gland. “I can’t wait to be inside of you, baby.”
He sounds much more desperate than he was before. And Jimin too is feeling hotter, more
urgent. Aroused. They haven’t showered, but at least they’ve freshened up and that’s all that
matters. Jimin wants to go to the bed now .

“Lets go now,” he pleads.

“Patience, baby,” Jeongguk says, kissing him again. He pulls his finger out and then thrusts it
back in slowly. It’s not enough. More , Jimin pleads. “Patience,” Jeongguk repeats.

But the next time he’s pushing two fingers in and Jimin absolutely can’t have patience
anymore. He squeezes both his arms around his shoulders and rubs his cheek against
Jeongguk’s. Even though he won’t have stability, he lifts a leg and wraps it around
Jeongguk’s hip so he can feel him deeper. It works. Jeongguk’s fingers spread inside of him
and work him open.

“Fuck,” he mumbles, nibbling on Jeongguk’s neck because that helps him stay focused, not
lose control. Normally, it’s Jeongguk who’s constantly nibbling on his skin. But right now,
Jimin is just losing himself to pleasure. “ Deeper ,” he pleads.

Jeongguk gives him that. His fingers curl inside of him and easily find the spot that makes his
muscles tense.

“There?” He asks. Jimin can feel his smile against his skin. “You like that?”

Yes, yes . Jimin can’t even speak up anymore. He’s shaking because Jeongguk is rubbing his
fingers against the same spot, attacking Jimin’s prostate in a way that’s making his body jerk
and heat up far too fast. Despite the water pouring down on them, he can hear the squelching
sound of Jeongguk’s fingers moving inside of him and he feels it everywhere, too. There’s so
much pleasure. Every time he thinks he can’t feel it any more intensely, Jeongguk touches
him in a new way that makes it too hard to breathe.

“Oh my god, Jeongguk if you keep going I don’t think I can―” he cuts himself off with a
moan, forehead falling to Jeongguk’s collarbone.

His leg falls to the ground and he feels himself losing strength. But Jeongguk is there. He
wraps his other arm around his waist. He picks him up and Jimin instinctively wraps his legs
around his waist. He holds himself there as Jeongguk turns off the shower, steps out without
losing his balance for a single second and without taking his fingers out of Jimin.

Shower be damned, he lets him fall on the bed. Only then does he take his fingers out of
Jimin and there’s something so sinful about the way he takes both fingers into his mouth and
sucks on them for a second. Then he grins and Jimin can’t stop staring at his golden eyes, at
his wonderful body. He’s standing there in all his naked glory, already half hard and he smells
so strongly Jimin has no doubt he’s already in rut.

He’s in heat, too. His body is reacting to Jeongguk’s pheromones and Jeongguk’s body is also
reacting to Jimin’s pheromones. They’re lost in each other and Jimin loves it.

“Come here,” he pleads.

Jeongguk does. He crawls onto the bed, settles in between Jimin’s legs on his knees and
wraps his hand around his cock. Suddenly, Jimin is too distracted by the sight to say or do
anything. He stares. Jeongguk strokes himself slowly, teeth biting down on his lower lip. His
eyebrows are furrowed and his expression is so sexy Jimin momentarily doesn’t know if he
should keep looking at his cock or instead focus on his face.

In the end, he doesn’t have to decide. Jeongguk leans over him and places a hand on the
mattress, right next to Jimin’s waist.

“I want to take my time with you, but I also want to fuck you so hard you don’t stop
screaming my name,” Jeongguk murmurs, lining himself up to Jimin’s hole.

Jimin isn’t quite sure of how they got here. They were supposed to be showering, but he had
a feeling they wouldn’t make it far with how quickly they were getting worked up. And now
he’s here and this is finally happening. It’s their first time, but their bodies are moving on
their own, guiding them. Jimin doesn’t know if he wants to take his time. All he knows is that
he wants Jeongguk in however way he can have him.

“We’ll be here at least two days,” he says, reaching up and cupping Jeongguk’s cheeks. “I
want you in as many ways as I can have you, so just come here. I want to feel you inside of
me, Jeongguk. I want you to fuck me. I need you, alpha.”

As the seconds go by, he starts to feel more worked up and needy. He wants Jeongguk so
badly his omega is clawing at his chest, begging for more. The beginning of his heat is
always like this. Too much arousal, not enough strength to make himself feel good. But now
Jeongguk is here and his hips are tensing, pushing forward, a moan getting stuck in his throat.

Jimin feels it all over his body, the way his muscles pull and he clenches at the sudden
invasion. But Jeongguk keeps going slowly, keeps pushing in despite the groan that leaves his
mouth and the way his arm looses strength. It slips up and he ends up covering Jimin’s body
with his, settled in between his thighs, hips flush against Jimin’s ass.

It feels so…full. Jeongguk is shaking. He’s shaking so hard over Jimin. But then Jimin
realizes that it feels that strong because he too is shaking. Jeongguk burrows his face in
Jimin’s neck.

“ Fuck , I need a second,” Jeongguk mumbles into his skin.

But now that Jeongguk is inside of him, Jimin needs more. He’s so lost in the feeling and
Jeongguk isn’t even moving. The slight uncomfortable feeling was only there for a few
seconds and now all he wants is more .

His hands slide down Jeongguk’s back, feel the tense muscles as he goes, reaching the low of
his back, slipping further down. He squeezes at Jeongguk’s ass cheeks and gasps when it
makes Jeongguk’s hips push forward, deeper inside of him even though it doesn’t seem
possible.

Like this, he’s settled right against his prostate and the feeling sends a shudder down Jimin’s
body, back arching.
Jeongguk groans.

“I swear to god, hyung. If you move again I’m gonna lose it,” he breathes out, biting down on
Jimin’s neck.

And it’s not a gentle nor playful nibble. No . It’s a bite strong enough that Jimin goes pliant,
toes curling, body tensing. It’s somehow just as pleasurable as everything else Jeongguk has
done up to this moment. So pleasurable that he feels his orgasm start to build.

“No, I―” he tries, gasping when Jeongguk bites down a little bit harder. “I’ll come,” he
blurts out. “It feels too good. Jeongguk it’s―” he cuts himself off with a moan.

Jeongguk stops biting, licks soothingly on the sensitive skin. It still feels too intense. Jimin
tries not to move, but he can’t. He can’t stop.

“I know,” Jeongguk whines, nose tracing a path up Jimin’s throat, reaching his jaw. He kisses
him and grunts into his mouth, body still shaking. “It’s too good. It’s so good. If I start
moving now, it’s over, baby. I swear, I can’t hold back any longer.”

“Don’t hold back,” Jimin pleads. “I want you. Alpha , please.”

He knows that is enough to push Jeongguk forward. He groans and mumbles something
about loving how that sounds coming out of his mouth. Finally, Jeongguk moves. And it
sends pleasure all over Jimin’s body. He doesn’t stop then. Just like he said, he can’t hold
back. Jimin’s back arches off the bed because all there is is pleasure.

Pleasure on every single part of his body. Jeongguk’s hand is gripping his hip, holding
himself up on his other forearm, hand under Jimin’s nape. He holds him in place as he kisses
him, groaning into his mouth. His hips snap forward in a rapid pace, over and over again.
And each time, he hits all the right places. Jimin’s toes curl and his body tenses.

He tightens his legs around Jeongguk’s hips and squeezes at his ass cheeks again, marveling
in the way it prompts Jeongguk forward. He moves faster. His hips move in waves, pause just
the briefest of seconds when he’s settled deep inside of Jimin before they pull out quickly.
Then back inside. Jimin can’t breathe. And he’s getting closer far too quickly. But he knows
Jeongguk is getting there too because he keeps tensing, stopping, huffing in what seems to be
frustration.

And yet, he always keeps going. He kisses Jimin and they grow distracted, moans spilled into
the other’s mouth, hands sliding against slippery skin. Jimin pulls at Jeongguk’s hair
desperately, loves the way the damp strands tangle with his fingers and the way it makes
Jeongguk moan. He’s being so loud. Jimin can’t even find it within himself to be
embarrassed. He’s too turned on to care and too close to the edge to worry about it.

“ Jeongguk ,” his voice breaks towards the end, nails digging into the skin of his back so hard
he’s sure it must hurt. Jeongguk doesn’t seem to mind, though.

“I want to knot you,” Jeongguk groans. He slows down and Jimin whimpers, shaking his
head, asking him not to stop. “It just―it’s too intense,” Jeongguk blurts out. He lifts himself
up on both his forearms and Jimin stares up at him, mesmerized by his beautiful face twisted
with pleasure. His eyes are closed, but he knows he’d find golden if they were open. “I’m too
sensitive. I’m gonna― ah .”

Jimin feels it then. Jeongguk’s knot forming inside of him, locking them together. He can’t
thrust anymore because he’s stuck in place. Instead, he’s driving himself to his orgasm by
moving his hips in slow circles, somehow moaning louder. And Jimin knows why. It feels
more intense like that. It feels ten times more pleasurable.

He angles his hips upwards and Jimin gasps. He feels fuller now and Jeongguk’s knot is still
swelling. He’s nestled right against his prostate and every time he moves his hips, Jimin sees
stars. His head is spinning, he feels dizzy with pleasure and he can’t breathe properly.

Jimin can’t speak. He can’t do anything but feel . Jeongguk comes with a soft cry, kissing
Jimin as if to drown his moans down as he shakes with his orgasm. When Jimin feels him
coming inside of him, his body is pushed over the edge. Jeongguk’s knot locks them together
and he’s right against his prostate and the pleasure is too intense for him to hold back. His
body shakes violently, Jeongguk has slumped down, no longer able to hold himself up on his
forearms.

And that only makes him press deeper inside of him, only makes Jimin moan again, feeling
the pleasure everywhere. Jeongguk doesn’t stop moving. His hips continue to move in those
slow circles, as if he wants to draw out their orgasms. And even though Jimin’s body quickly
grows oversensitive, he doesn’t want him to stop.

"That feels so good,” Jeongguk mutters, hips coming to a stop briefly. Just briefly enough
that Jimin protests with a soft whine. Jeongguk moves them again. Once. Both of them
tremble and moan. “It’s so tight .”

Jimin feels the same way. He’s so full and every time he so much as shifts, he feels it
everywhere. Even though he already came and it feels as if it’s over, each movement makes it
seem as if he’s coming all over again. It’s too much pleasure. He tries to catch his breath,
smoothing his hands up and down Jeongguk’s back.

“It feels like it hasn’t ended,” he mumbles tiredly. He feels exhausted all of a sudden, much
more than before.

Jeongguk mumbles something and moves again. Every muscle in Jimin’s body tenses. Then
Jeongguk stops and slumps over him, as if he’s finally grown too tired to keep going. Jimin
slips his fingers into his hair and tilts his head to the side, brushing his nose against his scent
gland, breathing him in.

He knows this momentarily calmness won’t last much longer, but he wants to enjoy it while
it does. A few seconds, minutes. He can’t be sure. Jeongguk’s knot comes down, but he
remains hard and just a couple of thrusts gets both of them going again. And again.

From them on, it doesn’t stop. There’s just Jeongguk and the pleasure he brings with his
hands, with his mouth, with his cock. Time flies by, but Jimin feels it as if it’s days. Days and
days getting lost in Jeongguk.
They go from desperate and urgent to slow and gentle. They grow too tired to move, make
each other come with their hands, just by touching, just by kissing. Everything blurs, but
through out it all, there’s Jeongguk and how perfect it feels to be with him.

“Baby,” Jeongguk mumbles. By then, Jimin isn’t sure of how long has gone by. But he’s on
his lap right now and his arms are hanging loosely around his shoulders. He feels exhausted
and he doesn’t feel as desperate anymore, although he loves the pleasure tingling up his spine
when Jeongguk’s hips lift off the bed and his cock pushes deeper into him. “I think it’s time.”

That makes Jimin open his eyes. He leans back and looks into Jeongguk’s eyes.

“Are you going to mate me?” He asks softly, leaning forward to peck his lips. “I want you.
I’ve wanted you for so long.”

“You have me,” Jeongguk reassures. His mouth moves down Jimin’s skin, over his chin and
across his jaw. He nibbles a path down his neck until he reaches his scent gland. He mouths
on the skin slowly, making Jimin’s muscles tense. “I’m yours. I’ll be yours always.”

“And I’ll be yours,” he mumbles, but he has a feeling his words get lost in between the sighs
that escape his lips.

Jeongguk nibbles on his scent gland, as if teasing him. Jimin is having a hard time focusing.
He’s feeling pleasure and at the same time, he’s waiting for the bite, for the painful feeling of
his skin breaking and the intensity of the bond forming afterwards. In the end, it happens
suddenly. Jeongguk gives him no warning.

He bites down and Jimin gasps, head falling back as the skin breaks. It hurts. But just for a
brief second. Then, it feels as if he’s floating. Jeongguk groans and his knot starts to swell.
He’s locked inside of him for what feels like the millionth time already. But it’s so good. It
pushes Jimin over the edge, his hips moving on their own, back and forth, in slow circles,
drawing out the pleasure.

The bond is only half formed, but it already feels so intense. It’s as if Jeongguk is
everywhere. Jimin can feel his heart beating rapidly, he can feel the emotions swirling in his
chest. He can feel all of it.

“Bite me back,” Jeongguk pleads. “Please, baby. Please .”

Jimin does. He bites down hard enough to break skin and Jeongguk gasps, forehead falling
over his collarbone. He spreads his hands over Jimin’s back, leaning into him and breathes
him in as the bond finally connects them. The same feeling as before hits Jimin, only this
time it’s ten times more intense. He holds onto Jeongguk for dear life, keeps his teeth on his
skin because he doesn’t want to let go just yet.

It’s overwhelming in the best of ways and Jimin can’t quite believe that he’s actually here,
that everything turned out like this. He’s glad Jeongguk came looking for him. He’s glad
Jeongguk found him and gave him hope again. Now, he never has to be scared again. He
never has to be alone.
He has Jeongguk. Forever. And he’s never been happier.
End Notes

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