Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

In the name of Lura, our blessed teacher, we wolves can live.

All is blessed by the divine sun and moon, all share life, the space to coexist, a space known as Dretna, the home of wolf culture, a country that sits in the middle of a split world.

But, the sun and moon no longer parent the world, letting life dictate its course.

The divine history of sun birthing life, and the moon elevating life, these stories of legends and old, they have become chains that bind tightly into rigid stereotypes for wolf kind.

Chains that never once become lax, always rigid, stubborn, like the ones that cling to them.

Now, a hundred years into a peaceful treaty of cohabitation with those called human kind and wolf kind, Dretna has become stagnant with no change.

The sun and moon bore the start, but now it’s up to humans and wolves to figure out the end together.

An end that should be free from chains, both from humans and fellow wolves.

~

“Why do I always have to go to the islands?” Yoongi overhears a groan of complaint from the cubicle next to his own, and can’t help but slowly lean back in his chair to stare at the male pressing his face down onto his own desk.

“Because you’re the youngest?” Yoongi states, amused, as Jungkook’s mop of dark, thick, black hair covers his face as he continues to groan into the wooden desk, almost hitting his keyboard in the process.

“I hate boats, they knock me sick,” Jungkook’s whine comes from the hunched form.

Yoongi reaches out and pats the younger wolf’s back the once, before rolling back to his computer where he was doing the ball-aching task of writing in all the names and numbers from his most recent census check-up from one of the wild packs outside of the city.

Being a Data Collector allows you to travel across the country, visiting packs you only normally hear or read about in documentaries and books on nomadic wolf life in the deep forests and mountains, and even visiting the isolated packs of wolves that live in the islands littering out into the sea.

It’s a job that really opens your eyes to the world, especially when all you have known is city life due to being born in one, and it sometimes feels like Yoongi hasn’t completely gotten over experiencing culture shock.

But, being a Data Collector also means you have to painstakingly manually type up every single name, age, occupation title, rank, region, and pack name, into a document that you then have to send off to the census board where it is officially submitted into the system that monitors every single wolf in Dretna, before joining along with the mass numbers from other countries.

Monitoring is a strong word, more like trace every wolf to appease the treaty that the humans drafted up centuries ago to allow a semi-peaceful acceptance so that humans and wolves could live together.

So, here Yoongi was, at the age of twenty-eight, a single omega (much to his mother’s frustration because she keeps hustling his ass to have pups), typing out names of faces he barely remembers because he meets so many damn wolves, wondering if it’s too late to change his occupation because the numbness in his ass is starting to question it.

If you were to ask eighteen-year-old Min Yoongi where he saw himself in ten years’ time, he’d have told you that he would be following his mother’s footsteps into the slightly political scene of education that shapes the humans’ views and education on just what wolves are.

Instead, Yoongi got himself ‘fired’ within his first month of being her shadow because, ‘apparently’, he didn’t have the patience or calmness to be dealing with ignorant humans that are still convinced – after co-existing for nearly a hundred years – that omegas are the submissive ranks, and that male omegas are an oddity for their ability to own two reproductive systems.

A ‘submissive oddity’. Eighteen-year-old Yoongi nearly tore out some throats that day.

As a male omega with those two reproductive systems, Yoongi had naturally spoken up to his gendered rank’s defence, and may have used some colourful phrases and words in the process.

Even to this day, Yoongi has little patience for humans. In his eyes, they’ve had a hundred fucking years to educate themselves on wolf history, biology differences, and language, so they have no fucking excuse of still being ignorant.

“You’re doing that creepy look to yourself again,” Jungkook’s voice interrupts Yoongi’s trip down memory lane, and without looking, he kicks the alpha’s cubicle wall, making it violently shake, and for the male to squeak as he stabilises it.

“Haven’t you got a ferry to catch?” Yoongi retorts back in his bored, lazy, drawl as his vision threatens to blur if he stares at his damn computer monitor for a second longer.

“No, shut up. I don’t want to go,” comes the whining again, making Yoongi laugh, despite this being a running routine with them whenever the alpha is tasked with travelling to the packs on the islands surrounding their coastlines.

“You’re acting like a pup. Aren’t you twenty-four?”

“Age is nothing but a number.”

“Numbers that are fast disappearing if you don’t hustle your ass to the ferry terminal,” Yoongi teases, looking back at the sighing alpha as Jungkook sags into his chair, looking up at the ceiling as if it could save him from making that journey. “Which island are you collecting from, anyway?”

“Gutenvell,” Jungkook huffs out, shaking his black hair off his face, his gaze shifting to look at Yoongi instead, “I’m going to the support pack. You ever been?”

Yoongi shakes his head. Yoongi is not often tasked with visiting support packs, unfortunately. His ass is always assigned to birth packs, or social ones that have no established mates or pups in it.

Yoongi watches as Jungkook pouts up at the ceiling, his eyes fixed on it. It doesn’t matter how many times he sees it; he’s always taken by the birthmarks that all wolves carry in their eyes. Birthmarks that state their ranks at birth, way before puberty does when their own individual scent manifests from the neutrality scent of puphood.

Rich brown eyes, where one iris is marked in half with a striking ice blue, represents the rank of alphas, the only wolves to possess dominance, dominance that only should be used for safety breaches to a pack, or to another’s wolf safety.

Rich brown eyes, where one full iris is a lighter shade of brown that compliments the other deeper darker brown iris, represents the rank of betas, wolves that are highly intelligent since they are intrinsically suited to mentally challenging roles.

Rich brown eyes, where one iris is marked in half with variant shades of green, represents the rank of omegas, wolves that are the most emotionally-instinctive connected to wolf instincts and assertive nature - more so than an alphas, whose instinct is laced the need to protect - so omegas are emotionally stronger than any other rank.

The icy blue in Jungkook’s eyes makes the alpha even more stunning when you pair it with his thick, black, hair that has never seen a hint of chemical colouring in its life, and the natural broadness and mass of alpha genetics making the younger’s body highly desirable to humans and wolves.

But, not to Yoongi. The kid is too damn tall, and Yoongi’s natural spitfireness hates his lacking height from his mother’s side of the family, so being paired up with Jungkook in a nonplatonic way is simply out of the question.

“Blink, or you’ll go blind,” Jungkook teases. “I think you need a break, old man.”

“It’s my first day back in the office and I already need a vacation from this fucking thing,” Yoongi snarls at his computer, even if he is still tired from his late-night arrival back into the city.

“You should’ve drove back slower,” Jungkook says as he unwillingly heaves himself to his feet, his computer now shutdown, as he reaches for his leather jacket hanging up on his cubicle wall.

“The southern wild packs are too wild, they make my teeth ache from how hard I grind them whenever I see their pack laws counteract the real laws,” Yoongi says as he stands up too with the intentions of getting a drink from the office floor kitchenette to delay the inevitable of sitting at his desk for another three hours until his work day ends.

Jungkook nods in agreement, frowning hard, as they both walk into the aisle of the office floor, bypassing other cubicles.

“We’re all taught and brought up knowing the laws regarding discrimination to our ranks, and yet, those fucking wild packs use that shitty loophole of it being pack law for them to twist it,” Jungkook vents thickly, his scent of honeydew melon and slight vanilla sharpening with his anger.

It itches Yoongi’s nose as his wolf instincts notes the shift in emotions, but Yoongi easily quietens the urge to comfort the younger alpha.

Contrary to what humans still like to believe, despite the numerous amounts of evidence shoved down their throats, wolves do not have a split personality where each form has a separate temperament.

Wolves are simply born with an intrinsic knowledge of pure instinct and senses, which are amplified in their wolf form. Depending on the rank you’re born with, the way your instinct responds to certain stimuli will vary.

Yoongi appreciates the fact that omegas are emotionally stronger and deeply connected to their baser nurturing wolf instincts, but, sometimes, his responses to certain stimuli – such as Jungkook’s spike of annoyance – is bothersome because the alpha doesn’t need to be pandered to like he’s a pup.

“Did I tell you about the asshole High Alpha that told me that I’m too pretty to be travelling around to different packs, and that I should be policing their pack instead of all of Dretna’s packs,” Yoongi shares the anecdote from his recent job, and grins at Jungkook’s response.

Jungkook’s jaw is tight as he grinds out, “did you report him? High Alpha my fucking ass, he needs to be policed on how to wash his mouth out with several bars of soap.”

“Oh, but aren’t omegas more important to safe-guard the pups growth and education because we’re oh-so connected to our nurturing instincts and empathy?” Yoongi plays back, tone heavy and sarcastic of the never-ending obstacles and limitations most omegas face in some wild packs.

“At least island wolves have a brain cell to know that a pack benefits from an omega guiding its boarders and laws, rather than forced to remain behind them, supressed,” Jungkook sighs out, still agitated from hearing of Yoongi’s most recent case of rank baiting.

“Wild packs are getting there. Slowly. But getting there,” Yoongi points out as they come to the fork in the aisles where the left will take Jungkook to the elevators, and the right will lead Yoongi to the kitchenette and the box full of instant bitter black coffee that Yoongi severely needs to get through his work.

“If they develop any slower, we’ll all be extinct by the time they catch up with the times.”

Yoongi sniggers at that, reaching out to lightly smack fists with the younger male. “Don’t forget to take motion sickness tablets. The weather is shit today.”

Jungkook pulls a pinched face, already looking peaky, as he departs from Yoongi with a shudder.

Yoongi drags his feet to the kitchenette and grabs his usual cup, one gifted from Jungkook which reads: don’t let the green eyes fool you, I’ll rip your eyes out if you touch my coffee.

It had made Yoongi and a few other omegas on the floor chuckle when Jungkook had proudly gifted to him as he stated, ‘it’s you in a cup, how could I not buy it’.

Pouring three of the small black and red packets of instant black coffee, Yoongi groans along with the hot water machine as it gurgles out the steaming water into his cup.

Back to the grind of staring at his screen and mindlessly typing up personal information from his file.

At least this time he only has one file.

A few weeks prior, he had a birth pack that resulted in three files being filled.

Yoongi was sick of his life by the time he finished that assignment, and never wanted to see another blue folder again in his life.

Yoongi blows on his coffee as he walks back to his cubicle, inhaling the bitter scent of the instant coffee, and feels it perk his eyes open a little more, as he sits down back at his desk.

Glancing at his thick diary that holds nearly all of his assignments, dated and named, Yoongi wonders when he’ll get the pleasure of witnessing a support pack for himself, instead of always dealing with social and birth packs.

Support packs aren’t as common as they appear to be, since there is still a slight social stigma connected to it. For some wolves – read, traditionalists – they think packs like these are unnatural and that the wolves that work in a support pack are the government’s dogs, being paid to spy and pry on wolf issues.

But, support packs, are…. well, support packs. They exist as temporary packs, packs with a focus on building recovery, rather than focusing on socialising, or building families.

Yoongi only knows of them, though. He’s never actually visited a support pack because support packs only accept a temporary wolf into its pack if the support wolves find a scent compatible for their nurturing skills to aid the wolf’s recovery. If they don’t, then the wolf is refused, and is directed to another support pack.

It’s very different from how social packs are formed - which are constant with social changes, you just really have to befriend other wolves to be accepted into a social pack until you decide to move on and leave it - compared to how birth packs work, where you’re either born into it, or are mated into an established pack that has families within it.

Support packs sit in the middle, almost how island wolves do, which is maybe why most support packs can be found on islands, a disconnect from the cities and the wild regions of endless forests and mountains.

Yoongi isn’t going to lie, his curiosity is very high to see a support pack in action. He finds the ability for any wolf, really, to willingly be scented and to scent in such an intimate context of a wolf’s health and general well-being, fascinating.

He knows that support wolves are trained by others like them, and may have traditional schooling from a city or town, but….Yoongi is still fucking curious to know how – mainly - Support Alphas steel their instinct when faced with a wolf that may have suffered a trauma, and needs comfort and a shoulder to hold on to.

Alphas and omegas are the most emotionally influenced ranks in wolf society, with omegas being more naturally influenced due to their deeper connection to wolf instinct and empathy, but alphas are still emotional wolves that rather spill their own blood if it meant that another wolf wouldn’t be in distress.

The only clear distinction from omegas and alphas is the simple fact that alphas have dominance, a specific vocal tone and scent that triggers a submissive response in the other ranks.

Apart from that distinction, alphas and omegas are the same, emotionally.

Physically…..well, that is another distinction, especially if you’re a male omega.

For some male omegas, they are born with two sets of reproductive systems - male genitalia and a recessive ovary and womb that only become dormant during a season cycle due to some chemical in the brain that releases, allowing that additional reproductive system to become active.

From how Yoongi was taught about his additional sex organs in a very scientific way, but Yoongi understands it more crudely – his season cycle hits, triggering a little chemical switch in some part of his brain, that then tells his ass to shut shop and go to sleep because no food will be ingested so no worries about pooping anytime soon, which then allows his sleeping ovary and womb to wake up with lovely cramps, and the finishing touch is his ass becomes a temporary slick passage for if he wants to indeed get pregnant, in which a microscopic muscle near his prostate will slip open to allow sperm into his womb.

Yoongi should’ve wrote educational books just like his mother, at least his explanation is understandable to hormonal teenagers that are going through puberty, even as it borders along the lines of being crass.

Yoongi pauses in typing at the passing thought of season cycles, and unlocks his phone to check his cycle tracker to make sure that he’s taken his cycle pill this morning.

Yoongi has been taking cycle pills ever since he had his first season cycle at the age of fourteen, and almost kissed the floor of his family home with sweet relief that his cycle wasn’t sexually charged as textbooks had made it out to be.

For humans, the easiest way to understand season cycles is like this – hormone-driven cycles where your body craves to procreate, or makes you feel incredibly annoyed at your body if you have no interest in doing that at all.

Yoongi’s brother - who is a beta - has no interest in pups or sex in general - which is probably why Yoongi’s mother hustles Yoongi’s ass, now that he thinks about it – so, season cycles are always a nuisance to his older brother, even though he takes hormone suppressing pills to stop his season cycle for periods of time.

Yoongi’s mother, who is a sort-of lecturer for their political party in the education department, has wrote about this so many times in her education books that Yoongi could easily recite it himself since she often used him as a tester to make sure that eight-year-old Yoongi knew what the fuck she was telling him.

Alphas season cycles are called, ‘ruts’, and alphas can be sexually active, with the craving for constant affection, and have a vast hunger to match the relentless energy. Some ruts can be more sexually charged since this really depends on the wolf, rather than the wolf’s rank, and some ruts can simply be the alpha wanting to cling to a nest made by its mate, by or another wolf that they seek comfort from.

Season cycles for alphas are basically, ‘please touch me, I don’t care if it’s a cuddle or a hard fuck, just touch me please, or I will combust’, as his mother had put it, once upon a time.

Betas…..Yoongi really feels for betas because their season cycles aren’t like alphas or omegas - which happens twice a year for them – since betas are the only rank capable of impregnating or becoming pregnant outside of season cycles, which means they….don’t really have a ‘specific’ season time period.

Betas season cycles are called, ‘periods’ – which had confused the fuck out of teenage Yoongi when he learnt that human females also have something called a ‘period’ - and betas suffer from something commonly called, ‘hormone sickness’, as their bodies ready for a fertility window where conception is higher due it not following the standard season cycle.

This is where betas and humans share the title - if a female beta doesn’t conceive, they will have a menstrual period just like female humans, and if a male beta doesn’t relieve themselves a lot (either to conceive, or not) their dicks will become tender and sore, a ‘clogged-feeling’ from the extra sperm produced from the hormone sickness, as his brother had once described to him since he has no desire to masturbate or impregnate someone.

Yoongi may be an omega, but he doesn’t have to deal with a sore dick and literal blue balls if he doesn’t unload all of his sperm.

Yoongi only has to deal with being horny (maybe, it’s happened the once so far) and cramping (always, unfortunately) from his womb as it wakes up from its slumber as his ass turns into a slicked, temporary, vagina-like passage.

Yoongi has strong feelings about his second reproduction system – both in protecting himself from judgemental humans that have their own shit they need to get over first, and why is it only male omegas born like this.

He’s not alone in questioning why it’s only male omegas that are born with two sets of reproduction systems, it’s been debated and theorised for as long as educating about it became a thing.

Wolf history likes to dictate that male omegas became what they are today for two reasons, mainly.

The first reason being, that a male omega was born with both – kinda how some wolves can be born missing a finger which results in missing a claw in their wolf form, as his mother had tried to explain it to him – and that general breeding produced this new line of male omegas alongside male wolves that don’t have it.

Yoongi still finds it hard to believe that an entire branch of male omegas exists because of one past omega.  

The second reason is the more glorified one, one that some male omegas take great pride in: birth-rates were really dire at one point in their history (which is true, based on songs and stories passed down from different wolf generations), and that the ‘magic’ of their existence birthed the opportunity for male omegas to conceive and produce offspring from the sun and moon.

The ‘magic’ nature of wolf stories and songs is so deeply ingrained into their history, of how the ‘magic’ of the moon and sun birthed their entire existence and more, Yoongi has learnt from his past mistakes to never question if it is all really true, when he has been labelled as a skreta in the past as a teenager, which in wulften means to be a betrayer of wolf identity and pride.

Just like humans, with their vast differences of religions, wolves are very protective when it comes to stories regarding their ancestors, stories that involve terms such as ‘magic’.

So, Yoongi doesn’t understand the second possible origin story of how some male omegas have two reproductive systems because of his sceptic nature, and nor does he like how it has become his rank’s historical identity.

In Yoongi’s opinion, it’s all just simple evolution which has allowed for some male omegas to be further ahead than everyone else, but he can’t say that out loud in case purists around him jump down his throat for not believing in his wolf ancestry history and he gets called a skreta again.  

Locking his phone after he’s checked to see if he’s marked that he has taken his season cycle pill that helps regulate his cycle so he knows the exact date it will start in a few months’ time, Yoongi forces himself to return back to his work.

Omega season cycles are called, ‘heats’, and while it can be like an alpha’s rut – possible high sex drive, clinginess for affection and attention, and a rejecting stomach for food - because omegas are so deeply in tune with their wolf senses, a heat can be absolutely brutal and raw with intensity and sensitivity to everything around them.

Humans like to believe – despite all the fucking evidence that wolf society continues to provide them with – that omegas are the sexual wolves, since they are oh-so deeply connected to their wolf’s instincts and nature, it must mean that omegas season cycles are a mess of slick and cum.

It’s human media’s fault, really, and Yoongi fucking detests this stereotype pinned on his rank.

Because of the way human media has painted omegas to be, it’s become a never-ending mantra of wolves saying, ‘but for some omegas that can be the reality of their cycles, just like how ruts can be vastly different, depending on the individual alpha’.

Yoongi, during one heat cycle, was so annoyed by the sound of his own breathing that he was half tempted to suffocate himself to stop the grating noise.

Heats are honestly just omegas being completely overwhelmed by everything around them, and of their own bodies, because they’re just too damn aware of everything and are snappy as a result of it.

Oh, and the cramping is ridiculously painful too.

Yoongi had also learned a lot from his older sibling in terms of dealing with a shitty cycle when he was growing up, which is why he’s so thorough with taking his pill so that he can be well prepared for it.

Yoongi checks the time in the corner of his screen, and almost chugs a still too hot mouthful of coffee when he sees that not even five minutes have passed.

Maybe he does need another job

His ass may not be able to take sitting at a desk much longer.

“Welcome to Gutenvell Port. Please check in at the Visitor Centre which is directly ahead as you exit the dock. If you require gifts or food, local shops are located within the port for you to purchase. If you have a cargo shipment due for arrival, please head for the Cargo Dock, located to the far right. Thank you, and we hope you enjoy your time on Gutenvell Island.”

Jungkook has only been to this island once before, to visit the Velli pack to the north of the island, a birth pack that lives almost like wild packs do in rustic log cabins, but are very fond of their wide screen TVs and fast internet, whereas wild packs aren’t.

But, he’s no stranger to visiting the many islands dotting their coastlines, so you would think that he’d be used to seasickness.

Sadly, not.

Jungkook bows his head at the male beta that stands at the end of the ramp, directing the flow of small foot traffic in the only direction possible as they all walk down the long strip of a wooden dock.

Jungkook has noticed throughout his nearly three years of doing this job that islands all tend to follow the same look.

There is always a mix-match of shipping containers and cabin-shaped buildings, most often the shipping containers are outfitted with wood to make it look less marine line, and more rustic.

The containers make sense, due to the constant shipments back and forth from the mainland, so it’s not as if they’re lacking any, and it is easier to place the containers from a ship, rather than driving large trucks through the tight roads inland of the islands with building materials.

Jungkook comes from a city, was born and raised in the capital, but his parents made sure that he got as much access to the forests and mountains in the form of weekend hikes since they were paranoid (yes, Jungkook can call his parents that because it was slightly suffocating as a pup) that his growth would be stunted if he was cooped up playing in the streets and apartment building, with no large park areas to play in.

As a pup, Jungkook found that hard to believe that his size in both forms wasn’t the same as those that live in the wilds.

And then he became a Data Collector and sharply changed his mind when he saw how massive some of the wild wolves can be.

So, his parents’ paranoia was justified, but the end result was inevitable.

Living in a city just affects a wolf’s growth, no matter how many weekend trips to the mountains you take as a pup to avoid it.

Jungkook isn’t small, he towers over Yoongi easily, but there is a difference with them being city wolves, one that always causes his eye to twitch whenever he catches wild alphas eyeing him up with pity, or slight challenge to belittle him.

Jungkook has never shifted in front of a wild pack, so he can’t really measure up the difference in his wolf form, but in his neutral human-shape form, Jungkook’s mass and build is a lot slender compared to wild wolves, despite him hitting the gym harder to make up the difference.

The brine air and the cool breeze does help with the nauseated fog that is clouding his head as Jungkook heads straight for the visiting centre to register his visit, and to see if his guide is already here, waiting for him.

The building structure is of a container, with large, wide, glass windows facing the dock, but the roofing and the exterior are of a dark wood, almost like the dark brown bark that is on the trees more to the south of the mainland.

Jungkook steps through the automatic doors, smelling the standard neutral air all commercial and communal buildings are ventilated with to prevent oversaturation of scents, and doesn’t recognise any of the three members of staff that are at the reception desk.

Some of the passengers are talking to two staff, leaving the third empty, as Jungkook heads straight for the male.

“Hello, welcome to Gutenvell, may I ask the reason for your visit today?” the male politely and warmly asks, smiling, and despite the ventilated air removing personal scents, Jungkook knows the wolf’s rank due to the splotches of shades of green in his eyes.

Jungkook unearths his identification card that hangs around his neck, the one stating his governmental job title, name, age, and hands it over to the omega, who takes it from him.

“I’m here to collect data from the Vellga Pack,” Jungkook states softly, trying his best to smile, even as his head still feels cloudy from nausea.

“Your visit has been authorised for a full night’s stay, with an early return back to the mainland, correct?” the omega asks as he begins to type at his computer, double checking, as Jungkook nods.

“According to our records, this is your second time, yes?”

Jungkook nods again. “I visited the Velli Pack, last time.”

“It’s been some time since your visit, do you need a map of the island, just in case?” the omega asks, already leaning to procure a map from behind the desk.

Jungkook shakes his head. He hasn’t got the time to explore this time around.

“Your guide is already waiting outside in the car parking area at bay three, and this is your visiting pass,” the omega talks as he stamps a small card with today’s date, before handing it over to Jungkook, along with his ID, “please bring it tomorrow so that you can be logged out of the island’s system.”

Jungkook nods, hooking it back over his head, and pocketing the visiting pass into his leather jacket’s pocket, “thank you, have a nice day.”

“Vellswa,” the omega replies back with, and Jungkook briefly freezes at the unfamiliar expression as he moves to the right, where another set of glass doors lead out into the car park.

Jungkook’s brain is itching, trying to recall what the wulften dialectal expression means, as he pushes open the door, looking for the correct parking bay for his guide.

Outside, where the air is not ventilated, Jungkook is smacked with the soft scent of oranges - not too overwhelming, or too diluted, but perfectly balanced scent notes.

Jungkook swallows as his mouth waters slightly at the appealing scent of a beta nearby as he heads for the jeep parked in bay three.

Jungkook startles the male sitting in the driver’s seat, the window half down as he knocks on it.

The scent of soft oranges remains strong as the beta smiles at him, his brown and light brown eyes crinkling slightly with it, and his rich brown hair pushed up off his face with a red bandana band, and into a slight bun.

Jungkook follows the wave for him to get in via the front passenger’s side, and shrugs off his backpack as he pulls open the door, before heaving himself up into the jeep.

“Jeon Jungkook?” the beta asks as Jungkook shuts the door, and Jungkook blinks at the out of place accent, a rough accent mostly associated with wild wolves, and not the lilted way island wolves speak.

“That’s me. Kim Taehyung?” Jungkook ask, recalling the name that was on his assignment detail form.

Taehyung nods, and to Jungkook’s shock, leans slightly towards him to sniff the air.

“You city wolves always confuse me,” Taehyung states in a curious, but polite, tone. “So many scents.”

“Your accent is not what I was expecting,” Jungkook states back, trying to even the sudden straightforward playing field.

Taehyung smirks at that as he starts the engine. “And here I thought my accent was smoothing out.”

“Maybe it is. I just know the accent well,” Jungkook reassures politely, fastening his seatbelt, as Taehyung reverses out of the parking bay.

“How long have you been a Data Collector?” Taehyung asks as he drives them to the only set of gates in the port, gates that open as the wolf outside waves friendly at Taehyung as he drives them through it and out onto the only main road on the island.

Jungkook is distracted as he takes in the trees, the lushness of their leaves, as they drive down the smooth tarmac road.

The island isn’t small, and is quite decent for its size to allow three packs to co-exist without being on top of each other.

“Coming up three years,” Jungkook answers, looking from the views they’re driving by, to glance at Taehyung’s relaxed form.

“Dunno how you do it, all that travelling around and meeting so many wolves,” Taehyung states bluntly, making Jungkook laugh at the slight contradictory to the wolf’s words.

“Aren’t you a Support Beta?” Jungkook states, amused. “You meet just as many wolves as I do.”

“That’s different. I know the wolf’s scent that I’ll be helping,” Taehyung corrects as he shifts gears, “I haven’t been a support wolf for long, so I haven’t had that many clients.”

Jungkook recalls the details on his form, how the pack has only been established for three years now.

“When did you join the pack?”

“Already starting your collecting, huh?” Taehyung teases as he drives them around tight bends.

Jungkook holds onto the handle above the door to stop himself from hitting against the door as the bends get tighter.

“Just curious,” Jungkook huffs back, smiling.

“A year,” Taehyung hums back as the jeep straightens back onto a straight road. “I had training from my birth pack since I showed early signs to be a Support, but I was mainly a Hunter, so I was split between the two. You know how wild packs can be about certain ranks doing certain roles. Suffocating.”

Jungkook hums without commenting, despite agreeing to the male’s opinion.

“I was tired of being forced to ignore my ability to be a decent Support, so when I saw that there was a job going here as a Support from the official job board online, I came and aced my interview, and here I am, a year later as a Support and also as an Angler…..which is a work in progress. Hunting in water is a lot different than hunting on land, let me tell you that.”

Jungkook can’t help but chuckle at the ending remark and the beta’s tone.

Jungkook notes a sign, the third one he’s seen so far as they’ve been driving, that states how many miles to the pack that he’s visiting as Taehyung turns off the main road, as they begin to slow and onto a slightly rougher one.

“Are there any guests in the pack at the moment?” Jungkook questions, wanting to be mindful and respectful.

Taehyung nods. “One. She arrived a week ago, so she’s settled.”

Jungkook makes a mental note of that as the road continues to be dense with trees on either side of the rough road.

“Have you been to the island before?” Taehyung questions, his speed slowing.

“Once, to the Velli Pack,” Jungkook answers, shifting forward at seeing the brown wooden gate up ahead of them. “The pack grounds are contained?”

“For the most part, yes. It’s a precaution to keep our guests feeling safe, but not caged in. The surrounding packs know this is an official support pack, so they don’t come this far south of the island,” Taehyung answers the closer they get to the wooden slatted gate.

The gate’s slats have enough space between each slat to see through onto the pack ground’s, but enough to still give security too.

Taehyung presses a button on a remote that sits in a holder on the dashboard, and Jungkook hears a machinal hum as the gate pulls open to the side, giving way for Taehyung to drive through, before pressing the button again to shut the gate behind them.

“Welcome to Support Vellga,” Taehyung announces cheerfully as he parks the jeep into a parking spot of the courtyard-like area, opposite where the back of a long, sizeable, charcoal black shipping container sits as the main building.

Jungkook has seen packs use shipping containers before, but it never ceases to amaze him the creativity that wolves have to create homes from these hulking husks of steel.

This building has been tweaked by having the flat roof of the container removed and arched up to not make it feel claustrophobic inside, and the pale wood used for the roofing instead compliments the charcoal metal.

The same pale wood on the roof is brought down the metal sides as decoration, framing the glass door that would allow you to see down the long length of the building if it wasn’t so densely frosted.

Jungkook follows after Taehyung up the slight step that leads to the frosted glass door, stepping inside the building and immediately smelling the neutral air ventilation, designating this as a communal area.

Jungkook closes the door behind him, the weight of the door not heavy as it would seem, the click soft, as he takes in the building, the open ceiling that the arched roof gives it.

He can see that there is a slight open kitchen area that sits at the far back with an island to it, as well as a floor pit table area that sits into the ground with plenty of padding of bright, loud, colourful pillows, and before that, sits the obvious entertainment area with a two small sofas, and a wall mounted TV.

Despite the slight chill outside, inside is well insulated, the walls an off-white colouring, allowing the décor to bring in the vibrancy of tones and colour, the wooden floor a warm tone.

“The High Alpha of the pack should be in the office, if you’ll just follow me,” Taehyung smiles as Jungkook takes in the space, nodding for him to follow towards a room that sits next to the open kitchen.

Jungkook notices, as they walk down the length of the building, that there are wide sliding doors to the left and right side of the building, leading out to different areas of the pack grounds, judging from what he sees through either one of them.

Taehyung knocks on the only wooden door that Jungkook has seen since arriving, and hears an answering call come from within.

Jungkook barely as time to ready himself for meeting the support pack’s High Alpha as he hurries in after Taehyung.

Jungkook blinks at the sharp difference this room is compared to the previous - which is more open, bright, and neutral tones (if you ignore the floor pillows and padding) - the same neutral air is present, meaning this room too is used for communal use, despite its obvious office appearance.

The office is completely outfitted in wood – walls, floor, and ceiling - creating a much more rustic and lived in feeling with its wall length of shelves that hold books, magazines, and a few boardgame boxes.  

The desk is facing the two small couches that sit in front of it, a tree stump coffee table in the middle of the sofas.

Jungkook’s gaze snaps to the alpha approaching them, takes in the grinning male that is slightly shorter than himself, but his presence makes up for it.

The alpha has slight waves to his deep brown hair, a wave that looks like the male’s hair has just had his hands scrunching in it, mussing it up to have a tussled-look, and his skin is slightly tanned, allowing the blue pigment of his eye birthmarks to stand out even more against his brown eyes. 

“Gutenvell, Jeon Jungkook. My name is Jung Hoseok,” the alpha grins as he reaches out to shake Jungkook’s hand, and Jungkook is only slightly delayed in the accepting it as he’s hit with a second dialectal expression that he can’t recall the meaning of.

It’s the name of the island, yes, but island wolves tend to use dialectal expressions for names too.

Jungkook knows he was taught the meaning the last time he was here…..but….

“Sorry, my ignorance is showing, I’ve forgotten some of the local dialect,” Jungkook apologises earnestly with hot cheeks as he shakes the alpha’s hand.

“Understandable, it is your second time here,” Hoseok reassures him, taking no offence to his honesty. “It just means peaceful welcome.”

And just like that, the expression from earlier clicks into place.

Peace on your journey.

Jungkook takes the offered seat that Hoseok waves to one of the sofas, sitting opposite the male, with Taehyung remaining standing.

“Since this is your first time to the pack, I will give you the same introduction we give to our guests,” Hoseok smiles, looking at ease as he sits back against the sofa, and Jungkook tries to relax, following the older alpha’s vibes.

Island wolves tend to be chiller than wild wolves, but Jungkook doesn’t like to stereotype, so he treats every wolf with caution and polite respect that his father drilled into him whilst growing up.

“Support Vellga is a respite for wolves that have suffered trauma, in any form, and needs to disconnect from their current living situation in order to find peace and to seek healing,” Hoseok begins, the alpha’s tone soft and pleasant to listen to, “our Supports in this pack are trained vocationally, and also naturally, so there is a variety of support on offer.”

“The Supports in this pack also permanently live within the pack grounds, and have their own distinguished roles here, as well as being a Support,” Hoseok explains. “This allows us to keep the pack small and intimate, rather than overwhelming with a high number of wolves.”

Jungkook nods along. So far, this sounds like the standard for a support pack.

“Our clients – guests - they have full use and access to this building, as well as their side of the pack grounds too, which is to the left, where the seafront is,” Hoseok points to their left, where the wide window behind them is, showcasing smaller container units dotted around the land, and the glistening of the sea water in the distance.

“The only part that guests are not permitted access to are the Supports residential area, which is to the right of the building. That is also where most of our resources are kept and made.”

“Taehyung mentioned there is a guest present?” Jungkook asks, and Hoseok nods. “You’re aware that I will have to take her details too, as required by the law.”

Hoseok nods again. “I’m aware, and so is she.”

Jungkook lets out a small exhale of relief.

So far, so good.

“Taehyung will be your guide for your visit. He’ll show you to your den, and also give you a tour around the entire pack ground’s. When you’re ready to begin, this office is yours for the taking,” Hoseok smiles, rising to his feet, with Jungkook rushing to follow.

A quick glance to the beta confirms that Taehyung was already aware of this plan as he smiles at Jungkook.

“Vellga is open to you, whatever you need, just ask,” Hoseok says, reaching out to pat Jungkook’s arm, as he moves back to the desk.

Jungkook takes the cue to leave, following after an amused-looking Taehyung.

“You sure you’ve been doing this for nearly three years?” Taehyung asks as soon as the door is shut behind them, moving to lead Jungkook to the doors that lead to the guest living area.

“I have learnt that meeting a High – regardless if they’re an alpha, beta, or omega – never goes the same way twice,” Jungkook answers, sliding the glass door shut behind them, and taking in the true scents of brine and bark as nature welcomes them once more outside.

The scent of soft oranges is also reintroduced to his senses, startling him once more at how much he reacts to Taehyung’s scent as he walks side-by-side the tall male.

“The fencing can’t be seen, but it surrounds the pack grounds boundaries,” Taehyung begins his tour, and Jungkook has to force himself to not focus on the tantalising scent of soft oranges. “The dens contain scents well, so it allows us to minimise space here, and use most of it for recreational use.”

The sounds of their feet lightly echo in dull thumps as they walk along the wooden walkway that branches from the main building, and to the four den units clustered near each other, but with enough space in between each container to not be intrusive.

The den units all have the same styling and size, but from what Jungkook can see through the massive glassed front of each of them is that the insides of each unit are renovated differently.

The outside of the shipping containers are completely covered in wooden panels, making it seem like a box-shaped cabin, than a shipping container, and one of the den units has a small staircase that leads up onto the roof that has rails and the tuffs of green peeking over the edges of it.

“You’re in den three,” Taehyung states as they walk away from the main walkway and up the wooden path to the glassed front of the den they’re approaching.

Jungkook watches as Taehyung unearths a key with a blue wrist tie on it, and unlocks the door and holds it open for Jungkook to enter first.

Jungkook steps in, and is immediately hit with the strong scent of neutraliser that removes even the strongest of scents.

“Sorry, it does wear off,” Taehyung apologises as he notices Jungkook’s scrunched up nose. “I was in here doing last minute checks this morning and had to remove my scent, so that’s why it’s so strong. Normally, it wouldn’t be, since we always make sure there is enough breathing space between each new guest.”

 “It’s fine, just wasn’t expecting it,” Jungkook reassures as he looks around, not moving any further in because he still has his boots on.

His den is, what Jungkook can only describe as, quaint.

There is a small, basic, kitchen to his right, as soon as you enter, and to the left side of the den there is a small set of steps (no handrail, and Jungkook has to smother his instinctual urge to point it out as a potential safety hazard) that leads up to a miniature balcony-landing area that has a comfy-looking chair in the corner, a circle table to eat at, and a cushioned bench against the right-side wall with plenty of pillows to create a cosy comfort fort.

Back onto the floor below, there is a sight that he isn’t used to seeing in a shipping container.

“Is that the bedroom?” Jungkook questions to the closed door that is under the landing, noting that there is a slight decline as there are two steps leading down to it.

Taehyung hums from behind him. “This den has an underlayer, allowing for a more den-like bedroom without being terrifyingly suffocating. The bathroom is located on the other side of it.”

Jungkook ignores the stupid twitch his gut makes at the word ‘den-like’ as his nose continues to try and greedily inhale more of the soft oranges scent that should be giving him a headache, since normal oranges tend to do.

But, his head is crystal clear, and a little too focused on the beta behind him.

“I’ll investigate it later,” Jungkook smiles as he turns to Taehyung, moving to leave, and tries not hurry after the male in order to stay close to the beta’s soothing scent as he shuts and locks his door behind him.

“The wrist tie is there in case you’re forgetful,” Taehyung teases as Jungkook shoves the key into his jeans pocket.

“I’m still young, my mind isn’t wandering just yet,” Jungkook jokes back, as Taehyung begins his tour, taking him away from the dens, and towards the water.

“The form said you’re twenty-four?” Taehyung questions, and Jungkook nods, already knowing where this is going by the smile that appears on the beta’s face, “that makes me older.”

“So, your mind is the one wandering.”

 “Oh, it wanders, just not in the way you’re thinking,” comes back the cheeky retort, and it catches Jungkook off guard, feels his neck heating up because now his head is slowly shifting from ‘work mode’ to ‘play mode’.

Jungkook shifts his backpack on his bag, distracting himself. “You said that you’re the pack’s Angler?”

Taehyung sighs, long and heavy, as he nods. “Yeah. It’s a good thing that we don’t totally rely on my shitty skills of catching fish, otherwise we’d have starved by now. But, I’m getting better, according to Jin.”

“Jin?” Jungkook questions, pulling up the pack’s previous data collection sheet in his mind. “He’s the Lead Support, correct?”

“Yep, that’s him, Kim Seokjin, resident boss of us Supports, and resident Healer too, just in case.”

“Just in case, considering what I’m hearing of your skill,” Jungkook can’t help but tease, making Taehyung grin.

“You have no idea how accurate that is, I’m surprised I haven’t managed to strangle myself with the fishing wire.”

“Well, there is time,” Jungkook teases a little more, completely out of ‘work mode’ now, unable to contain the polite, impersonal, professionalism he’s known for.

Taehyung’s scent becomes a little stronger even as the wind shifts away from them.

“You have a cheekiness to you, Mr Data Collector, one that I’m rather enjoying seeing,” Taehyung warmly states, and Jungkook hopes to the high skies that his scent is behaving and not betraying the way he’s reacting to the beta’s presence.

Jungkook is honestly glad when Taehyung becomes more focused on the tour of the pack grounds, it means he can push himself back into ‘work mode’.

“Do you want to start from seniority, or with our guest first?” Taehyung questions from the office doorway, watching as Jungkook situates himself on the sofa, his file, papers, and pen on his lap, ready.

“Seniority, please,” Jungkook answers with a smile, and watches as Taehyung disappears, closing the door behind him, and leaving him alone for the first time since arriving at the pack.

Jungkook isn’t left waiting long when the door opens again and in comes the High Alpha.

“How did you find the pack grounds?” Hoseok asks him with a warm smile as he sits across from Jungkook.

“Relaxing. I can see why there is a high demand for your support,” Jungkook compliments him, and Hoseok dips his head in an almost shy acknowledgement of it.

“Thank you. How would you like to start this?” Hoseok questions, curious. “Most collectors have their own method.”

“Mine is simple, I’ll just be asking the routine questions of yourself, and also of the pack, since you are the High Alpha,” Jungkook begins, clicking his pen, and putting a pillow on his lap so that his file and papers are higher up to make it easier for him to write.

“You can use the desk,” Hoseok points out softly.

Jungkook shakes his head, smiling. “It’s fine, this is how I tend to do it.”

“You prefer equal balance, rather than the typical, ‘I’m a governmental worker and therefor I am higher than you’.”

Jungkook bites back a smile at that. “Something like that.”

Hoseok hums out as he relaxes. “Shall we begin? The pack is small, so this shouldn’t take too much of your time, allowing you to have a break.”

Jungkook blinks. “I don’t-”

Hoseok’s knowing grin makes him falter. “Support Alpha, remember? I know the tell-tale signs of an overworked wolf very well, no matter how subtle.”

Jungkook looks down at his papers at that, not denying or confirming anything since the truth is pretty damn clear.

“I’ll begin with just cross-checking information from the previous visit,” Jungkook begins as he pulls out a form that was under the blank one, and hears a hum in response.

“Can you tell me your social security number?” Jungkook asks, eyes on the 12-digit code that all wolves and humans have.

Hoseok rattles off his code with ease, and Jungkook moves on.

“Your birthday has passed, so you’re now twenty-seven years old, correct?”

“Correct.”

Jungkook starts writing.

“You’re still the High Alpha of Support Vellga, a title you have had since the establishment of it.”

“Correct. I have a year and a half left before nominations of change happen within the pack,” Hoseok says, tone soft with amusement, and if Jungkook believes his ears, fondness too.

Jungkook isn’t unused to wolves taking a liking to him when he does his work due to the manner he speaks and works, but his gut feeling this time doesn’t feel like this is the usual, ‘you’re a soft alpha, you’d fit in well here’.

“You’re also a Support Alpha, too?”

“Yep, that hasn’t changed,” Hoseok confirms.

“Are you still unmated?” Jungkook asks, hating that he has to ask so bluntly.

It can always become tense, depending on the answer.

“No mate. It’s hard for mating to be a priority when you’re living in a support pack, I guess.”

Jungkook nods, filling in the form that is a fresher copy of the previous one from the last data collection visit.

“No pups?” Jungkook asks, hand paused.

Just because the alpha isn’t mated, doesn’t rule out casual sex.

Hoseok’s voice is thick with more amusement as he answers, “unless you count Taehyung when he acts like one when he’s throwing a tantrum in the sea, then no.”

Jungkook smiles at the image, already knowing it’s true from what he’s seen of Taehyung’s personality.

“Just to confirm, your birth pack is the Velli Pack,” Jungkook asks, looking up, trying to pull old memories, to see if he can recall any hazy faces of meeting the male during his visit to that pack a few years ago.

“It is. I left the pack when I was twenty to move to Selta Island, where I worked as a Support too.”

Jungkook nods, giving up on searching his memories since the male would’ve been long gone at that point of Jungkook’s visit.

“I just need to mark the confirmation that I detect no false scent of you potentially hiding a mate scent,” Jungkook says, straightening, as he meets the alpha’s gaze.

“I’m always curious how that feels for you, to scent for that on strangers,” Hoseok muses, elbows leaning onto his knees, his neck angled, not in a submissive gesture but a displaying one, to allow the scent gland to be directed to Jungkook.

Jungkook leans, inhaling deeply so he can catch it over the scent of the neutraliser, and only detects the alpha’s scent of plums and soft vanilla, with no chemical smells that he’s been trained to sniff out.

Jungkook checks the box that clears Hoseok from falsifying his scent.

“It can be tense, depending on the wolf I have to verify. You’d be amazed how some really do try to hide secret relationships since they are the ones that don’t agree with the treaty.”

“The treaty has allowed us to live and walk down city streets without fear of aggression from humans for a hundred years, but, it’s usually wolves that haven’t stepped a foot into a town or city that fear the unknown,” Hoseok sighs out as he stops displaying his neck, watching as Jungkook writes additional notes that were missing from the previous form.

“I take no joy in reporting wolves that do try to falsify details, but the law is the law, and if I suspect foul play, then they are the ones that have to face the consequences,” Jungkook sighs out too, signing his signature at the bottom of the pages, before turning it around for the wolf to read and sign too.

Hoseok does so without even checking what Jungkook has been writing down, and again, Jungkook’s chest tugs at the open display of trust and ease, ignoring the way his baser wolf instincts are seeing the other alpha as an ally, rather than as a potential hostile.

It’s a familiar tug, one that he’s felt only once before, and it makes Jungkook ignore it because he’s here to work.

“I’ll go get Jin for you,” Hoseok grins as he hands back the file and paper, standing up to leave.

Jungkook nods his head, hands busy filing away the two forms, and retrieving the next wolf’s forms as he tracks the sound of Hoseok leaving.

Jungkook skims his eyes over the previous visit’s form, and swallows as he notes down some of the details for the wolf he is about to meet.

A small bubble of sadness wells in the bottom of his tummy as he reads over the words relating to mateship status.

Mateless

That bubble of sadness only grows as he reads the details behind the wolf’s loss of a mate.

Sometimes, this job reminds him of how invasive this treaty is, that wolves that have suffered a loss, albeit a mate or pups, have to constantly speak of it every time a Data Collector comes around.

Two times a year, you have to open up your grief for the sake of filling in a form to confirm something that can never be returned.

It’s not fair, really.

Jungkook sighs as he readies to face an interview where he’s going to have to ask the question that shouldn’t need to be asked.

“Wow, that’s a heavy sigh from such a young face,” an unfamiliar voice says, and Jungkook glances at the silent male that is entering the room.

Jungkook takes in the tall, broad, male that swiftly comes over to sit down across from him, a tired sigh leaving his lips, as he removes the thin-rimmed silver glasses off his face to rub his eye that holds the blue pigment of an alpha’s birthmark.

“Kim Seokjin?” Jungkook asks, just to be sure, as the alpha’s spicy tangy scent hits his nose, before it’ll soon be gone as the air ventilation makes the room neutral once more.

“I was him when I woke up this morning,” comes the grinning retort, and Jungkook can’t share the ease that the alpha is radiating because he knows that he’s only going to make the wolf uncomfortable.

“Jeon Jungkook,” Jungkook introduces himself. “I’ll make this fast, since this isn’t the most entertaining thing to do.”

“Take all the time that you need. I have nothing better to do today,” Jin waves off, stretching his arms back on the sofa as he truly gets himself comfortable.

Jungkook starts with cross-checking the wolf’s social security number, and age, which remains the same as the previous visit due to it not arriving yet, before moving on to check the wolf’s additional titles.

“Lead Support, Support Alpha, and also Lead Healer,” Jin hums as Jungkook writes. “I’m the only wolf in the pack that has three titles.”

“You’re listed as the High Alpha’s Second, as well, is this because you two are the ones that established the pack?” Jungkook questions as he checks the previous visit’s form.

“It’s because of me that Hoseok wanted to establish an official support pack on the island, instead of the unofficial one that used to be located further into the island,” Jin answers with ease, and Jungkook can feel his gaze as he nods and writes, the bubble in his tummy rippling.

“You’re from the Velli Pack too, correct?”

“Yep. Left when I was……nineteen. It’s been nearly ten years since I left.”

Jungkook wants to avoid the next question, but knows that he can’t.

“I’m still mateless. I’m too damn busy making sure Taehyung doesn’t put a fishing hook in his eye, and that Namjoon doesn’t cut off a finger with his garden shears,” Jin beats Jungkook to it in the most straightforward manner, it takes Jungkook aback as he looks up at the male.

“Oh,” is the only thing that comes out of his damn mouth as the alpha smiles at him, gaze knowing.

“It’s a shitty feeling for both of us to talk about the death of a loved one. I’ve learnt over the years to dive straight into the uncomfortable waters, instead of toeing in slowly, drawing the discomfort out.”

Jungkook nods in understanding, seeing the male’s point of view.

“I don’t have pups either. So that hasn’t changed in the last few months as well,” Jin states as Jungkook quickly writes.

“I just need to verify your scent…” Jungkook winces, sending an apologetic look to the alpha, who waves it off as he leans all the way over the coffee table for Jungkook to be smacked in the face with tangy spices.

Jungkook wordlessly checks the box that clarifies the wolf’s details are indeed correct.

“You city wolves are so polite, it never fails to amuse me,” Jin states as he straightens, standing up, after signing the form where he too didn’t look over Jungkook’s notes.

Jungkook can’t help but let out the slightly embarrassed laugh at that, knowing what the wolf is referring to.

City wolves are known to have stunted senses, along with stunted physical growth, so when strong scents do manage to penetrate their senses, the natural reflex to lean away when it is triggered.

“It’s been awhile since I last encountered an alpha with spicy undertones,” Jungkook comments as the wolf’s scent tickles lightly in his nose.

“You should smell my mother’s, she’s pure spice,” Jin comments with a smirk, handing back the papers and pen.

“I’ll go get Namjoon for you. It was nice meeting you, Jungkook,” Jin says as he leaves, and Jungkook smiles, saying the same thing back.

The door shuts, and Jungkook rubs his chest where his instinct is prodding him to take notice of what his wolf instincts are whining at him.

Despite scenting no sadness from Jin, his instinct to comfort the wolf for his loss of losing a mate still rings deeply in his chest, along with the same feeling that Hoseok gave him, the same ally feeling.

When the door opens, five minutes later, Jungkook glances to see another tall male, one that has a slight half-up ponytail due to how thick his brown hair is, but the length isn’t long enough to hit his shoulders, it’s just really thick.

“Kim Namjoon,” the wolf introduces himself with a warm smile, and the male’s brown and green eyes crinkle up with it as two dimples form on his cheeks,

Jungkook grins back at the omega, getting a faint scent of rich earthy mint as the male sits down on the edge of the sofa.

At Jungkook’s confused look, Namjoon holds up dirt covered hands, and Jungkook notes more on the knees of his jeans.

“I’m the Lead Gardener, and Hoseok would nag me all damn day if I get soil on his sofa,” Namjoon chuckles, explaining his awkward position.

“Oh? What do you grow?” Jungkook can’t help but blurt out, and then mentally chastises himself for it.

“Mainly citruses and herbs, but our oranges and lemons really grow well due to the soil on the island. Has Taehyung let you taste some yet?” Namjoon questions, his eyes lighting up with pride at his produce.

Jungkook firmly ignores the part of brain that has started to associate anything relating to oranges with Taehyung, and shakes his head.

“No, but I’d love to try some of your produce. Nothing beats organically grown.”

“I agree. Cities and towns buy from us a lot, but then they smother it in chemicals to make sure it doesn’t spoil, which is ridiculous because it makes produce spoil faster,” Namjoon huffs out, and Jungkook can’t help but smile at the look of irritation that slips through the omega’s expression.

“Anyway, don’t get me started on that, I’ll have you here all day,” Namjoon laughs, trying to get himself comfortable while balancing his tall body on the edge of the sofa.

Not wanting to prolong the awkward balancing act that the omega is currently doing, Jungkook flies through the social security, the wolf’s age which has changed to being twenty-seven since the last data collection visit.

“Your titles haven’t changed, I’m going to assume?” Jungkook questions, looking up.

Namjoon nods. “Lead Gardener, and Support Omega.”

Jungkook glances down at the box specifically for omegas when it comes to titles, and gives the omega an apologetic look that makes Namjoon smile reassuringly at him.

“It’s fine, I’m long used to this question,” the male reassures him.

“Do you feel your title has caused you discrimination within pack living?” Jungkook asks the question all omegas are required to answer.

The question is mainly there for wild packs, where having an interview with a Data Collector could be their only chance of speaking up without an overbearing High to hear it.

“No, my title has not caused any discrimination due to my rank,” Namjoon answers honestly, and Jungkook nods, writing the male’s words down.

“Are you mated?”

“Nope. Free and single, but too busy to mingle.”

Jungkook knows that feeling all too well.

“Pups?” Jungkook questions, looking up to see the omega smirking.

“I have a non-biological grown pup in the form of Kim Taehyung, does that count?” Jungkook laughs, since this is the second time the beta has been referred to as a pup.

“Kim Taehyung is, technically, the youngest of the pack, right?” Jungkook questions, and Namjoon nods.

“And he plays on it whenever he wants to get out of chores, but he forgets that we all know him so well, know his endearing ways. But, he’s a rough one, our Taehyung. I’m sure you can tell due to his accent that he’s from a wild birth pack,” Jungkook nods, and Namjoon continues, “He was supposed to be the next in line to be Lead Hunter, but left it all behind him once he was able to get a job outside his birth pack.”

Jungkook bites the inside of his lips as he listens. He knows too well how wild packs live like, and how it does push some wolves into leaving birth packs because of how suffocating, and narrow-minded, it can be.

“Which is why the beta is struggling so hard with his Angler title – he was next in line to be Lead Hunter, but he can’t snag a fish without diving after it,” Namjoon chuckles fondly, making a similar smile appear on Jungkook’s face.

Namjoon doesn’t do what Jin did by leaning over the table for Jungkook to catch his scent in the neutral air since the wolf is sitting so close to the edge of the sofa, so he only has to display his neck for Jungkook to check the box on the form that Namjoon’s details are verified.

“Taehyung will be next, due to Jimin being out on the water with his guest,” Namjoon informs Jungkook as he hands him back the form, all signed.

Again, the omega chooses not to look at Jungkook’s writing, and Jungkook is starting to wonder if he needs to inform Hoseok of making sure that his pack members remember to check future forms.

Namjoon leaves with the promise of tracking down Taehyung, and Jungkook rearranges his order of forms, putting Park Jimin’s and the spare blank form for the guest under the file for later.

Jungkook jumps, startled, by the sudden entrance of soft oranges and the scent of herbal tea.

“Figured you were gonna dehydrate yourself before giving yourself a break, so I hope you like homemade lemon tea,” Taehyung grins, sitting opposite Jungkook, and placing a glass cup onto the coffee table.

Now that the beta mentions it, Jungkook’s mouth is super dry, a side effect from the over-processed air.

“I bet you’re glad that this is a small pack, huh?” Taehyung teases as he blows on his own glass cup.

Jungkook picks up the delicate-looking cup, and inhales, taking apart the scents before the ventilation system strips the tea of it.

“Is honey in this?” Jungkook questions, meeting Taehyung’s fixed gaze on him.

Taehyung hums, waiting.

Jungkook takes a careful sip, mindful of the hot water, and feels his taste buds tickle to life at the contrasting taste of sweet and a little bitterness.

His face must be doing something because Taehyung looks smug from behind his own cup as he takes a sip too.

“If you want to take some back, we have some in stock,” Taehyung says as Jungkook takes one more sip before putting his cup back onto the table.

Jungkook is glad he has semi-hot water in his mouth to prevent what his traitor of a brain wanted to respond with.

“What time should I anticipate for Jimin to be free?” Jungkook questions, picking up his pen again.

“Maybe another hour or so,” Taehyung says as he glances out of the window, studying the waterfront that they can see from this distance.

Jungkook is waiting for the distracting, teasing, scent of soft oranges to be sucked away, making the room neutral again, but all he can smell is Taehyung.

“At least now I can smell just your scent, and not the thousand others clinging to you,” Taehyung comments lightly as he settles into the cushions, crossing a leg slightly over his left knee.

Jungkook pauses, heart rate spiking.

Taehyung shouldn’t be able to even smell Jungkook at this point, due to how long he’s been sat in the office, and yet, the beta is saying that he can smell Jungkook’s scent.

“Honeydew, with a slight hint of smooth vanilla,” Taehyung continues, before taking another sip of his honey and lemon tea.

Jungkook’s heart kicks hard in his chest.

“S-shall we start?” Jungkook says instead, mouth feeling drier than before he started drinking the tea.

Jungkook firmly ignores the way dark brown and light brown eyes fixate on him as he goes through Taehyung’s social security number, age, and titles within the pack.

Jungkook’s mouth dries further as he pauses on the next question.

“Are you mated?”

Jungkook almost pulls the muscles in his neck from how fast he whips his head up to gawp at the wolf before him.

“Excuse me?” Jungkook blurts out, convinced that he’s heard the question wrong.

Taehyung puts his now empty glass cup onto the table, and doesn’t move to relax back as he props up his chin as he leans his elbows onto the leg that is crossed over his left knee.

“I can’t smell another wolf’s scent on you,” Taehyung muses, blatantly scenting the air as Jungkook continues to blink at the beta.

“Not mated,” Jungkook is amazed at himself for saying it like a normal wolf, and not stuttering it out.

“Me neither,” Taehyung grins as he slowly leans back to rest against the cushions.

Jungkook frantically writes it down, ignoring the excitement thumping through him.

“Pups?” Jungkook asks, the back of his throat tightening, as he forces his gaze to remain down as he pretends to look over his writing.

“One day, maybe. Depends on my mate, you know? Do you want pups?”

Jungkook hisses as his pen jerks across the paper, taken aback for the second time in the span of a minute as he quickly scribbles over his mistake.

Jungkook is used to flirting and being flirted at, but Taehyung’s scent and tone is screwing up with Jungkook’s usual calmness of professionalism.

“Maybe, depends on my mate,” Jungkook answers back as he finishes writing Taehyung’s answers.

“For a city wolf, you’re quite big, you know?” Taehyung comments in a low hum, and Jungkook has to put his pen down as a slow, hot, burn crawls up the back of his nape as he looks up at the beta.

“Are you like this with all the Data Collectors?” Jungkook asks, curious, and desperate to shut down the way his gut is responding to Taehyung’s slightly layered tone.

“I’m not a breta, I’m not a fan of collecting notches with my bed,” Taehyung retorts with a laugh, and Jungkook panics because that is not what he was referring to, “but, my mama taught me that when a scent catches your nose, you grab it with all your claws.”

Jungkook’s panic dies, and his wolf instincts roar to life.

Even the ventilation system can’t fully erase the spike of Jungkook’s scent as he breathes through the shuddering feeling of his senses responding to an equally interested scent.

Both of them are staring at one another, both responding to the attraction that has been toying with their wolf instincts.

“Isn’t it outside of Beckoning Season?” Jungkook states neutrally, testing the waters, his job completely forgotten.

Taehyung’s lips twitch into an amused smirk. “Only wild packs follow those archaic seasons. I may be wild, but the rest of us can Beckon whenever we desire to, or are you a traditionalist, Jungkook?”

Jungkook has always avoid Beckoning Season for as long as he can remember, avoided being a giver and a receiver.

High school does that to you, avoiding oversaturated scented gifts of courtship proposals from wolves and humans that want to date you.

“Not a traditionalist,” Jungkook answers softly, “just cautious.”

“Why? Ah, are you one of those alphas that thinks they can only find their ‘true’ mate with an omega, like how our history used to be?” Taehyung questions, curious, and not at all harshly like his words can be taken.

Jungkook scoffs at that. “I don’t buy into the ‘one true omega/alpha’ propaganda. I’m attracted to whoever catches my attention.”

“And what does, ‘catching your attention’, require?” comes Taehyung’s low voice.

Jungkook can practically taste soft oranges on his tongue.

“I-”

Both of them jump out of their skins when Namjoon all but waltzes in, the door wide open due to his fast entrance, and yanks a spluttering Taehyung up and off the sofa by his left arm within a blink of an eye.

“I can smell you two outside this room, so this interview is over,” Namjoon’s gaze is stern, the greens in his brown eyes digging deep into Jungkook’s core, saturating a coldness of embarrassment through him as he realises that both he and Taehyung had been throwing their scent at each other, ruining the neutral air of a communal space.

Jungkook can hear his father already scolding him, since that is the most basic wolf etiquette to learn once you hit puberty and develop your own scent from the neutral scent of puphood.

Hoseok is standing at the door, a hardness in his gaze that is fixed to Taehyung, and not to Jungkook.

“You know the importance to our rules of scent throwing in communal spaces whilst a guest is here, Taehyung,” Hoseok scolds the beta as Namjoon pushes the wolf towards the door with a shake of his head, his gaze fond, despite the slight sternness that was just present to the omega’s gaze.

“Can’t control nature, Seok,” Taehyung states, tone completely unapologetic, as he looks back at Jungkook, “I’ll sign the form later, yeah?”

Jungkook nods, trying hard not to feel like a disobedient pup as Namjoon and Taehyung leave the office.

Hoseok shakes his head with fondness as he fiddles with a dial on the wall, and Jungkook hears a slight vacuum sound above him, and shudders as a rush of coldness hits him.

“I’d advise you to finish your work first, before engaging with Taehyung again,” Hoseok states as the scent of chemical neutraliser cleanses the room.

“I apologise for my behaviour,” Jungkook rushes out as he stands up, clutching the file and paper to his chest as he averts his stare from being too direct with the High Alpha.

“Granted that you know not to stink up a communal area since that is what we’re taught first as pups, but other than that, you’ve done nothing wrong, Jungkook,” Hoseok says, leaning against the doorway.

Jungkook thinks otherwise, already scathingly chastising himself in his mind.

“Hey, less of the inner scolding,” comes the alpha’s soft, but firm, voice, and Jungkook meets Hoseok’s gaze. “Your wolf instinct responds to a compatible mate whenever it scents it. You can’t predict the when and where’s of that happening.”

Jungkook’s cheeks burn at the insinuation of finding a compatible mate, rather than just finding another wolf attractive.

“Your job is pretty demanding, and yet you meet a lot of wolves, right?” Hoseok questions, throwing Jungkook off with the sharp change in direction.

“Yes?” He confirms, unsure of where this is going, and is starting to feel like he’s being counselled right now.

Hoseok smiles slowly, warm and encouraging. “I’ve only known you for a few hours, but even I can assume that none of the wolves you’ve met have produced a reaction from you like Taehyung did, right?”

Jungkook keeps his mouth shut, heart racing.

“You’re a wolf at the end of the day, Jungkook. Don’t become a caged one.”

Jungkook stares at the closed door, the alpha’s absence as hard hitting as his parting words.

Those words aren’t unfamiliar to Jungkook, he’s heard it plenty of times from family whenever he skips important holidays.

“Don’t become like humans, Jungkook. You’re a wolf, you were born to roam free, and not be confined to a desk, or a city. Don’t follow our mistakes in thinking the city holds all the answers to life.”

Jungkook slowly sits down, and stares at the tea on the table.

He’s twenty-four years old, and all he has to show is this job, really.

He’s an alpha in his prime, and yet, he’s been following the same routine for nearly three years.

Jungkook stares down at the forms on his lap, chewing on his lip, as he’s come face-to-face with something that he’s probably been hiding from.

He’s settled too easily, too soon.

And now he’s feeling a pull, a connection, that he hasn’t felt towards a lot of other wolves before.

A connection that his mother would always bring up whenever Jungkook brought friends home.

“If your instinct tells you another is an ally, believe it, and don’t let go. Your wolf instinct will guide you to those that you’re meant to have in your life, and not to waste it on those that aren’t to be trusted. In wulften, it’s called Zentt bond, which fits, don’t you think? Since to have a Zentt bond, you’re connecting instinctively via scent.”

Jungkook’s instinct did that when he first met Yoongi, and knew immediately that the omega was a lifelong friend, pack.

Three years later, they regularly meet outside of work, despite almost seeing each other’s faces all the damn time, and know each other’s families well enough to be invited to gatherings.

“Your wolf instinct is you without the baggage of living in a human world clouding its subconscious,” Jungkook whispers, reciting something a teacher would often tell them during one of his health and society classes, back in high school.

Jungkook lets out a heavy sigh as he leans and grabs his cup, drinking the now cold tea with a grimace.

He came to Gutenvell to do his job, not to have a quarter life crisis.

Yoongi is already yawning, and he’s only just arrived at his cubicle to start his shift.

With bleary eyes, he goes through the motions of turning on his computer, before dragging his feet to Jungkook’s cubicle to turn on his as well so that it’s up and running for him to start his paperwork.

Yoongi murmurs a few, ‘good mornings’ to the other wolves he passes as he goes to get his morning coffee from the kitchenette, and also a glass of cold water for him to sip on as well.

By the time he’s logged in and situated at his computer, willing himself to resume the work he couldn’t finish yesterday, Yoongi is already counting down the minutes until clocking out time.

“Maybe I should get a new job,” he sighs to himself as he cradles his morning coffee, ignoring the cat-shaped mirror that sits propped in the corner of his desk, another gimmick gift from Jungkook because of Yoongi’s habit of rolling straight out of bed without even looking at his reflection.

Yoongi eyes the paleness to his cheeks, the heavy purples under his eyes, and the limpness to his straight, black, hair, and lets out another sigh.

He needs to shift soon; his complexion is crying out for it.

“Mornin’,” comes an exhausted voice from behind him, and before Yoongi can even grunt one back, he’s rubbing his nose at the foreign scent clinging to Jungkook’s own.

“The fuck did you do on that island, roll around in orange peels?” Yoongi comments, rolling his chair to the cubicle wall to watch the tired younger wolf collapse in his chair, his hair a mess from maybe the ferry journey, or Jungkook’s own lack of self-care this morning.

Yoongi was expecting a sarcastic response, since a tired Jungkook is a snarky one, but all he gets is a wicked redness that ignites all the way up the alpha’s neck and cheeks.

Yoongi is old, but he ain’t naive.

Yoongi can’t help but slowly rake his gaze over the fidgeting alpha as he pulls off his leather jacket, revealing a T-shirt that he definitely hasn’t seen before, and he knows Jungkook’s style well enough to state that the earthy toned V-neck he’s wearing is not part of it.

“Or did you roll around in someone’s bed that smells of oranges?” Yoongi slowly states, watching the twitch Jungkook’s hands make as he types in his login details.

“I didn’t sleep with anyone,” Jungkook answers back, looking at him.

“Will the beta that I can scent on you appreciate you saying that or…?” Yoongi trails off, his nose identifying the citrus scent marker that is found in some betas.

Jungkook’s honeydew scent peeks through the soft orange smell, alerting Yoongi that the alpha is becoming a little stressed as lines appear on his face too.

“I didn’t have sex with him, we just talked since he was my guide. My trip there was less about work, and more about opening my eyes to how dull my life has become,” Jungkook sighs out, his back thumping heavily against the back of his chair.

“You’re twenty-four, pup. Your life has only just begun,” Yoongi murmurs, concerned.

“It feels like I’ve been going in circles, and it’s only because of that trip, that I’ve realised how I’ve settled myself into it.”

Yoongi eyes the wolf, noting the wording, his tone.

“Seeing island wolves was also a much-needed breather from the constant stuffiness we see in the cities and wild packs,” Jungkook continues, head titled back, revealing his arched neck, as he runs his hands through the thickness of his dark hair, messing it up further.

“Island wolves are known for their balanced nature,” Yoongi murmurs in agreement, still studying Jungkook’s movements.

“The pack was pretty solid; I can see why they’re a highly desired support pack. The wolves there are really….I dunno how to describe it.”

Yoongi agrees with his intuition. Jungkook has changed.

“Jungkook,” Yoongi softly calls for the alpha’s full attention, waiting until his head rolls Yoongi’s way, “did you connect with them?”

By the way Jungkook swallows, Yoongi gets his answer.

“All of them?” Yoongi asks gently, “and not just the beta.”

Jungkook nods in a slow, almost terrified, way, and Yoongi can relate to the confusion and maybe slight terror it feels to know that your instinct has deemed strangers to be ones that you’d step into a fire for.

Zentt Bonds are more commonly referred as the ‘connecting bond’, but connecting a Zentt bond is always something wolves hope for, but not always really care if it doesn’t happen when it comes to making groups of friends.

To connect to another wolf, you’re opening yourself up to a bond that can become set for life, platonically, or sometimes romantically.

Old stories used to dictate that this was how packs used to be formed, and how some mates were found, way before wolves learned how to shift between forms.

“You’re the last wolf that I felt connected to, and then I go to this island, and bam! I feel connected to all five of them,” Jungkook groans out, stressed, as he rubs his hands over his face.

“There’s nothing wrong with connecting to other wolves, Jungkook. It’s also okay to not do anything about it,” Yoongi says gently, “remember, your instinct is just that, and you don’t have to jump at everything it wants.”

“I know, but…it’s so rare for me to connect to one wolf, never mind five,” Jungkook rushes out, exasperated by his own response to the pack.

“Give yourself a chance to take this in, don’t go straight into anything, yeah?” Yoongi says, edging his chair back to his desk to the give the orange-smelling alpha some space.

Jungkook just sags in his chair, face tilted to the ceiling with a faraway look.

Yoongi stops keeping track of how many times the younger wolf in the cubicle beside his makes quiet, distracted, and sometimes stressed, sounds as he works, and Yoongi knows it’s more centred around the pack consuming his thoughts than the paperwork he’s typing up.

Honestly, as soon as it happened, Yoongi knew that something along these lines would happen eventually.

What he didn’t really expect was for how fast it would happen.

“You think I should leave this behind for the next wolf?” Jungkook questions, chewing his lower lip, as he holds a used notepad in one of his hands, the other hand is holding the small box into his side, a box that is full of items and objects that has cluttered his workspace and drawers for the last three years.

Yoongi rakes his gaze over the twenty-four-year-old that is dressed in comfortable sweats and a hoodie that is underneath a padded coat, and not his usual work attire of black jeans and some form of shirt or plain t-shirt that a jacket can smarten up, if needed.

Jungkook’s hair is hidden beneath the woolly hat he’s wearing due to the freezing temperatures outside as winter smacks into them.

“It can be their New Year’s present,” Yoongi says, taking it from the alpha’s hands and throwing it carelessly back into the drawer it was in.

Jungkook shuts the drawer, and Yoongi can tell by the repetitive swallowing the male is doing that he’s becoming a little emotional as the reality of his choice becomes more real as they both stare at the bare-looking cubicle.

“So, this is it, huh,” Jungkook states quietly, clutching the box with both hands now, holding it to his stomach, not meeting Yoongi’s gaze.

For the last three months, Yoongi has watched Jungkook go back and forth from following his curious intrigue about completely changing his lifestyle to discover if his instinct that told him that the support pack was a good match for him, and from backtracking from that intrigue with panicking feet because it would mean uprooting his entire life in the capital.

It was only at the start of December did Jungkook finally make his mind up and submitted his resignation.

And here he is, two weeks later, packing his work life into a box that will join the others in his empty apartment.

“You leaving for Gutenvell tomorrow?” Yoongi asks, despite knowing the answer, but doesn’t know what to say either as they both linger in the wolf’s cubicle.

Jungkook nods, his hands clutching the box tighter.

“Taehyung is picking me up at the port with a trailer for all of my stuff, despite me telling him that I’m leaving most behind in storage at my parents place since his place isn’t as big as my apartment.”

Yoongi nods along, familiar with the mentions of the pack members that Jungkook will soon be living with.

He knows of Taehyung and Hoseok the most, the former being the beta that Yoongi had scented on the alpha months back and is also Jungkook’s long distance boyfriend of two months, and the latter being the High Alpha of the support pack.

“Your parents seeing you off?” Yoongi asks as he follows Jungkook’s movements as he slowly turns to leave.

“Nah, I’m saying goodbye to them tonight. They’re just glad that I’m getting out of the city. They’ve been wanting me to make a move like this for years,” Jungkook huffs in a soft laugh as they walk past other cubicles, smiling and nodding goodbye to those that call it.

“You ready to start a new job, one that involves too many numbers?” Yoongi teases the younger, watching Jungkook’s face pull slightly.

“I haven’t touched maths since I left high school, so….no, not really, but Hoseok said that if my training to be the pack’s Treasurer doesn’t work out, I can always train to be a Support since I have the temperament for it, apparently,” Jungkook shrugs softly as they turn towards the elevator.

“Better you than me, maths is like another language to me,” Yoongi says, making the alpha laugh. “But that means he trusts you already, to offer you that role.”

“I know, and I’m trying hard not to freak out about it,” Jungkook sighs out, familiar stress lines appearing as Yoongi hits the call button for him. “I mean, I’m not shit at maths, I did alright for my level in school, but….being a Treasurer is a big role, and I’m not sure I-”

“Jungkook, the wolf wouldn’t have offered you it if he didn’t think you weren’t capable of doing it,” Yoongi gently cuts off the alpha’s panicky rambling. “He’s giving you time to train for the role, to familiarise yourself with the demands of keeping track of the pack’s money flow and accounts. He wants you to excel at this, instead of being an asshole by throwing you into it.”

Jungkook lets out a shaky sigh, swallowing thickly, as the doors open and they both get into the elevator.

“I know, but all I know is collecting data, and here I am, about to be the sole wolf responsible for the pack’s finances,” Jungkook says as they descend down, heading for the building’s main reception area where Jungkook will hand in his identification card as his job as a Data Collector comes to an end.

“Well, in some ways, it’ll be the same, but without dealing with shitheads that we sometimes have to deal with,” Yoongi points out, “so, you’re not completely going into this blind.”

“True,” Jungkook hums, and both of them become silent as they step out of the elevator and head through the body scanners that all governmental buildings have (blame the humans that liked to bring weapons into work places for no logical reason whatsoever) and towards the large reception area that is for the entire building.

Yoongi takes the box from the alpha, watches him head for the desks, and tries to breathe through the slight tightness to the back of his throat as he comes face-to-face with his own goodbye to the younger wolf as Jungkook hands over his card.

It’s going to be strange not seeing the wolf’s face near enough every day, nor smell the other’s familiar scent.

It’s going to be even stranger whenever Yoongi is out, having a drink after work, and finding himself missing an alpha-shaped presence.

In just three years, Jungkook became a part of his life, that even now, Yoongi’s mother is still disappointed that they never became more than friends.

And now he’s saying goodbye to the wolf.

Granted, they can always meet up, whether that means Yoongi travelling to Gutenvell, or Jungkook coming back to the capital, but that requires time on both ends, time that Yoongi can’t always guarantee with how sudden his assignments can be sent to him.

“That felt weird, and a little dejavu-ish,” Jungkook states as he takes the box from Yoongi, now both of them heading to the large automatic glass doors that lead out of the building.

Yoongi isn’t ready.

He’s suddenly not ready to part from the wolf that is like a little brother to him.

“You better let me meet the wolf before you decide to mate,” Yoongi blurts out, almost causing the alpha to drop his box onto his own toes as he jerks away with a strangled sound as his face and neck turns bright red as he gawps at Yoongi.

“One, I never said we were gonna mate, and two, what the fuck,” Jungkook chokes out, his eyes wide, his tone surprised and nervously high.

“I’m just sayin’,” Yoongi grins, endeared at the younger wolf’s reaction, “that if I get a Mating Ceremony invitation without meeting your soon-to-be mate, I’m gonna drown you in the sea.”

“I’m saying goodbye now, bye,” Jungkook states with still red cheeks and a flustered expression as he pretends to head for the steps leading down onto the street.

Yoongi laughs as he grabs a hold of the wolf’s elbow, and Jungkook halts, grinning too, as he turns to face Yoongi.

“I wouldn’t pull a stunt like that to you, we connected for a reason, and I’ll honour that for as long as I live,” Jungkook says in a soft shy way that makes Yoongi’s baser instincts squirm with a huge swell of affectionate love for the wolf.

“Good, because as your best friend, I need to threaten his life if he dares to break your heart.”

Yoongi’s heart kicks in his chest at the sight of glistening tears in the male’s brown and blue eyes, the scent of honeydew spiking slightly, and this time, Yoongi allows his own scent to reach out to blanket the other’s, comforting the wolf with his scent.

“It’s gonna be so fucking strange not having that scent stuck up my nose,” Jungkook teases as he bends to put the box onto the floor, eyeing Yoongi with plenty of intentional warning for what he’s going to do next.

Yoongi – who is not big on public displays of anything, but is a huge snuggler behind closed doors – is the one to open his arms first.

Jungkook’s bulk and height almost knocks him back a few steps as he’s hit in the face with honeydew.

“Brat, my scent is perfect, you have no taste,” Yoongi berates playfully as they hug.

“You smell like that cologne that all human male’s seem obsessed with,” Jungkook retorts back, just as playfully, hugging Yoongi tighter.

“Not my fault cedarwood is an excellent choice for a base note.”

Jungkook snorts into his hair, and steps back, breaking the hug, and bending down to pick up his box again.

The unshed tears are still there in the alpha’s eyes, and Yoongi knows they’re in his own too.

“You’re trading one long distant relationship for another,” Yoongi jokes as the goodbye peaks, the end approaching fast.

Jungkook laughs again at that, sniffling slightly, as he fixes his grip on the box.

Yoongi’s smile falters, his throat tightening. “You better take care of yourself, yeah?”

Jungkook bobs his head rapidly, eyes filling more with building tears. “You too. You better report every piece of shit that treats you like you’re beneath them. I’m not a Data Collector anymore, so now I can beat the shit out of wolves, if you want me to.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes at that, but the words mean a lot, despite his response.

“You forget that I’m a lot older than you, but yes, I promise,” Yoongi adds on as he sees the slight narrowing of Jungkook’s gaze.

“I mean it, Yoongi. Your habit of withholding information isn’t safe when it comes to shitheads that think the law is beneath them,” Jungkook begins, a familiar lecture that the alpha has made over the years, one that Yoongi knows word for word.

“I can handle shitheads, you know that,” Yoongi reassures pointedly. “I’ve kicked plenty of roaming dicks that tried to be domineering and failed.”

Jungkook doesn’t say anything, just continues to level his narrowed, worried, gaze on him.

“I swear it on Lura,” Yoongi swears softly, meaning it.

Despite his own scepticism about most of wolf history whenever ‘magic’ is tied to it, he knows that Jungkook values the meaning behind Lura and respects the alpha’s values, so now Jungkook knows that the omega means business since wolves only ever swear upon Lura unless they truly intend to keep the vow.

Lura, their most famous story that humans have twisted into some pathetic cliché for wolf kind being reliant on the moon to shift, or for their behaviours.

Lura is one their most sacred, cherished, stories, one that has been passed down for as long as wolves can remember.

The story goes like this.

Back when the world was rich with energy that came from the moons and sun as it nurtured it, growing forms of life that no longer exist, Lura was a wolf, but a special one. Lura was a celestial being that was born from the magic of the moon, but granted knowledge from the magic of the sun. Lura was sent to teach wolves how to heal the itching in their muscles, the itch that was created by the sun’s magic that would allow them a human form, and she taught wolves how to embrace the sun’s magic by using the moon’s guidance, using its magic when the moon was the brightest in the sky.

Over time, wolves began to shift into their other form, their human form that was granted to them by the sun’s magic. The better they become at shifting through different moon phases, the less and less Lura was seen, until, one day, Lura was never seen again.

Lura taught them a survival skill that wouldn’t be needed for many years, and it’s why wolves value and cherish the story, why there is a dedicated day in the calendar to celebrate the gift Lura gave them.

Lura was their teacher, and now is a protector for the knowledge bestowed upon all wolves.

“I swear upon Lura,” Yoongi vows again, watching the worry and narrowness leave Jungkook’s gaze as he relaxes.

“Thank you,” Jungkook says earnestly, tone gentle. “You know I wouldn’t have-”

“I know,” Yoongi says just as gentle, smiling at the wolf, “it just shows how much I have you wrapped around my finger, huh?”

Yoongi’s light joke does the job in breaking the slight heaviness that had crept into the goodbye as Jungkook rolls his eyes with a loud snort.

“You better get going, I have work to do, unlike someone,” Yoongi teases, taking a small step back to the building, the end of their goodbye now here.

For a split second, Yoongi thinks Jungkook’s eyes are finally going to admit defeat in holding back the tears still present as the alpha inhales sharply at the small step back.

But then Jungkook gives him a smile that radiates softness, even if it is tinted with sadness, as they come to the end of the life chapter that they’ve been sharing for the last three years.

“Remember to eat solid food, and not just live on coffee,” Jungkook teases as he moves to step down the concrete steps that lead down onto the street below.

“Remember to practise how to swim, you’re stuck on an island now, you may get washed away,” Yoongi teases back, grinning at Jungkook’s laugh that echoes slightly around the space as the alpha balances the box in one arm as he waves goodbye with his free hand as he steps down onto the steps.

Yoongi’s chest kicks once more as he waves back, watching as Jungkook turns his back to him, and slowly disappears from Yoongi’s sight.

Yoongi clutches the lanyard his own card is attached to around his neck as he breathes through the impulse of worry that hits him hard in the chest as the goodbye becomes final.

“He’ll be okay,” he whispers to himself, the freezing wind only now just hitting him as he violently shudders, his work attire painfully thin for the winter weather as he rushes back inside.

For the rest of the day, Yoongi can’t help but stare at the emptiness that the cubicle next to his own radiates with now.

For the rest of the day, Yoongi has to bite back moments where the small sense of loss brought on by his instinct of viewing Jungkook as part of his pack keeps kicking his heart.

He’s stronger than his omega instincts, he’s stronger than his deep connection to his wolf nature.

Jungkook isn’t dead, he’s just moving onto better things, experiencing life outside of the cities.

Which is something Yoongi should do himself, but still hasn’t changed a thing about his mundane routine.

Yoongi hates to admit it, but…Jungkook was the only thing in his life that made it less mundane, and now…now Yoongi has to remember how he went about his days before he met the younger wolf.

Yoongi wonders if the sense of loss is more towards losing Jungkook’s closeness, or losing part of his routine that kept life from being so crippling dull.

He thinks it’s both.