Chapter Text
The traveling party was ushered into the Kang omega dorms to soak up heat and eradicate their bone-deep chill. The full-time residents emptied the living space just inside to allow the reunited Kims to converse in relative privacy.
A dorm head showed everyone to their rooms first, and while Doyeon and Mirae stayed in their lodging, Jimin was happy to cozy up to the Jeons beside the communal fireplace. Seokjin took the liberty of bringing everyone food, so they didn’t have to wander out to the dining hall. Jimin thanked him profusely, then asked if Seokjin could bring some to the Ta family, reminding the head omega of their guests. Seokjin was happy to oblige.
He kissed his little brother’s head before heading upstairs to his own room to retire.
Once alone and settled, Jimin let Taehyung hold Haesung, murmuring to the younger omega about their journey, leaving out the worst of it. Meanwhile, Yoongi seemed to be taking a mini nap on the couch at Jimin’s side, an arm slung over his mate’s shoulders and his head rested against the back cushion, his eyes shut.
Jungkook was preoccupied with Chunhwa, playing with her on the rug. She was able to hold herself on her hands and knees for a short while, and Jungkook couldn’t quit laughing at how she rocked herself back and forth. His reflexes were still quick; he rushed forward to catch Chunhwa when she rocked too far and nearly fell on her face. The alpha plucked her up, and she blinked at him, unfazed. Jungkook settled her in his lap with a sigh, and she pulled his thumb to her mouth to gnaw on.
“He looks good,” Taehyung whispered, brushing against Haesung’s cheek, the pup fading in and out of sleep. “He really made it through that cold weather, huh?”
“I’m as shocked as you,” Jimin confessed. “We really wrapped him up every morning, and I kept him in my chest fur. God, I was so paranoid, but none of his fingers turned blue, and he wasn’t too cold to sleep. I think all the movement helped, rocking him around so he could take longer naps.”
Taehyung nodded. “Chunhwa cried most the way. She’s usually not that fussy, but… it was a lot.”
Jimin squeezed his friend’s shoulder. “I’m glad you guys got here safe, though. How long did the trip take you?”
“Seven, no—eight days,” he replied with a pinch to his brow. “We probably could’ve made it on the seventh day, but we didn’t wanna risk getting caught near the mountain’s peak in the dark. I guess the temperature really drops up there. It’d be bad for the young ones.”
Taehyung grasped Haesung’s little hand, playing with his lax fingers, smiling to himself. It’d been a while since Chunhwa was that small.
“He’s really so cute, Jimin,” he huffed.
Jimin scooted in closer to smooth a fingertip over Haesung’s brows, then down his nose. “Thanks,” he said, his chest puffing out a bit with pride.
“How was the labor?”
Jimin pulled his hand back, shoulders hunching. He sighed. “Awful.”
Sympathy pinched Taehyung’s expression. “Was it long?”
“Not really. I mean, I ignored the contractions for a few hours, but the labor didn’t last through the night or anything like that. I was just under a lot of stress, and I couldn’t feel safe. That’s never a condition you want to be in when you know a pup’s coming. Then, um, I lost a lot of blood while I was pushing. I passed out a few minutes after he was born.”
“Minie,” Taehyung whispered, more worried than before. “Was there something wrong?”
“Hemorrhaging, I think,” Jimin shrugged. “I wasn’t awake during the panic. It really freaked Yoongi out, though. I guess my body got pretty cold, and my breathing was shallow. The medic was scared I might die.”
“The recovery must’ve been bad, too.”
“Yeah, now that I was awake for,” Jimin chuckled. “I couldn’t walk for a while, and god, everything really does hurt for days. Poor Jungkookie had to carry me a lot, since Yoongi was busy being a single parent.” Jimin bit his lower lip. “I still feel so bad I couldn’t be there for them. I couldn’t really hold Haesung, I kept falling back asleep. I hate feeling so useless.”
“Hey,” Taehyung coaxed. “The worst of it is over. It wasn’t your fault what happened, and you can be here for him now.”
Jimin met Taehyung’s gaze, and he offered a wan smile.
They heard Chunhwa beginning to fuss below them, and Taehyung exhaled. “She’s probably hungry,” he muttered, gently lifting Haesung and passing him back to his father.
Jungkook shushed the baby and rocked her as he rose and walked over. “She’s absolutely starving, Tae,” Jungkook groaned, lowering their squirmy daughter into Taehyung’s awaiting arms.
Taehyung rolled his eyes, and Jungkook chuckled. “Yeah, I’ll bet she is. She sucks me dry every damn day,” he whined, his touch delicate despite his exasperation. He ensured she rested comfortably in the crook of his arm as she started to nurse.
Jungkook simply sat at Taehyung’s legs, laying his cheek on his mate’s thigh. He happily sighed as Taehyung threaded his fingers through the alpha’s hair.
The dorm’s front door cracked open, a gust of frigid air swirling among them, carrying murmurs from outside. Jimin looked up, securing his hold on Haesung, the pup’s nose brushing against his neck. He heard the scuff of boots, saw two figures, one tall and lanky, the other short and bundled up to the chin.
“I just don’t think—”
“Eomma?” Jimin’s voice broke, cutting her off.
Sooyun’s head whipped up, a second of shock and contemplation passing before recognition flashed across her expression, tears springing to her eyes. She staggered a step, clutching onto Hyunjae’s arm for leverage. “You’re here,” she warbled.
Jimin rushed to stand, swaying, his movement jarring Yoongi awake. He stumbled over to the entryway, falling into his mother’s arms, already crying. He clung to Sooyun’s snow-dusted coat, his mother’s embrace a bit lighter, conscious of the pup between them.
“Jimin, my baby,” Sooyun uttered, wiping at his tears. “Look at you, you’re home.” She kissed his cheeks, clutching at him and nuzzling against his skin.
Hyunjae grasped Jimin’s shoulder and turned him toward her, and Jimin simply sobbed at the sight of her—even thinner than he remembered, a bit pale, like she had just recently been sick. He sniffled and tried to rein himself in, dabbing under his eyes. “T-this is Haesung,” he stuttered out, pulling his son away from his neck. “He’s a w-week old. Well, a bit m-m-more.”
Sooyun blinked rapidly through the moisture in her eyes to get a better look at him, grasping Haesung’s fist, the baby groggy and confused by the commotion. “Oh, he’s gorgeous,” she just about wailed. “Has he been good? Have you all been okay?”
“Yes, Eomma, we’re alright,” Jimin nodded, pulling his lip between his teeth to worry it. “We’re so tired, but we’re okay.”
“And he’s healthy?” Hyunjae prompted, only slightly choked up. “Chaewon cleared you to leave?”
“Yes, yeah. She was great, she—I feel awful we had to leave her behind.”
Hyunjae gently shushed him, rubbing along Jimin’s back like when he was a kid, trembling over a nightmare. “I’m proud of you for getting here. Has he been eating enough? Does he have all his fingers and toes?”
“God, does he?” Jimin mumbled, sniffling some more. “I can’t remember if I checked.”
“You can give an examination later,” Sooyun scolded. “He’s got such full cheeks—of course he’s been eating enough.”
“He does look like you,” Hyunjae observed. She pet Jimin’s head, ruffling his hair. “Are you recovered?”
“Mostly,” Yoongi answered in Jimin’s stead, standing behind quietly. He muffled a yawn. “He should really be resting more now that the trip’s over.”
“Yoonie!” Sooyun began to cry all over again. She stepped forward and smothered him in an embrace. “I’m so happy to see you. You’ve been so brave.” She clutched the back of his shirt, scenting him like she would her own children. She lowered her voice. “Thank you for getting my baby home safe.”
Yoongi smiled down at her. “You know I’ll always take care of him.”
Sooyun grasped his hand, and Yoongi squeezed it.
When they broke apart, Hyunjae was watching the alpha. Yoongi approached slowly, and Jae offered out a hand to shake. When Yoongi clutched it, however, something crumbled within her, and she changed her mind, pulling him against her chest. The hug was brief, but it spoke volumes.
Jimin returned his attention to Sooyun. “Where’s Jihyun?”
“Still at our settlement,” she said, nodding in the direction from which they came—eastward. “He should be back tomorrow afternoon. He’s been putting in a lot of work, helping build up communal buildings and houses.”
“There’s some stuff left over from a pack that lived there decades ago,” Hyunjae added. “But they were smaller than we are. It’s nice to have a pre-existing frame for piping, and a soon to be functional dining hall.”
“There was a pack here before?” Jimin questioned, brows pinched.
“They partially merged with the Kangs, and the rest went south. I guess the conditions were too rough for them, and I can imagine why. It takes large numbers to survive up here.”
Sooyun nodded along. “I suspect that’s a big reason why the Kangs are okay with us moving into the area. They need the extra help and support.” She cleared her throat, glancing around to see if any Kang omegas were around. “Their birth rate has been low lately. You’ll notice how empty this dorm is.”
“Well, it is mating season,” Hyunjae added. “Winter’s when everyone wants a mate to snuggle up to.”
“Sure, but…” Sooyun drifted off.
“There’s less wolves here than you thought?” Yoongi filled in, curious himself.
Hyunjae hummed in affirmation. “They’re, what, sixty or seventy percent of our size? And we’re really not that big of a pack, compared to some down south.”
“Hope that doesn’t bode badly for us,” Jimin murmured.
“Birthrates can fluctuate,” Hyunjae assured him. “It looks like they’ve got quite a few toddler-age pups, but not a lot of babies at the moment. They might just be in the middle of a generational shift.”
“Don’t worry, Min,” Yoongi said, settling at his side and holding his hip. “We can handle a little extra cold. We’ve lived through worse.”
“Now that’s an understatement,” Hyunjae snorted.
Jimin managed a smile, and he stroked Haesung’s back, hearing the baby’s measured breathing against his chest. He was well and truly asleep now.
“We can talk tomorrow,” Sooyun said gently, taking note of Jimin’s tired eyes and the quiet settling throughout the room.
Jimin nodded, glancing back to see if the Jeons were heading to bed, too, only to find that they’d already left. They could all use the extra rest.
Their room was small—a single dresser, a bed that could barely fit two, and a wall mirror. Jimin was just grateful he’d brought along so many furs and blankets, because the chill from outside had no problem seeping through the windowpane.
Someone had come in and left a crib while they were out in the common room for a while. Jimin lined it with his softest blanket, relieved that he wouldn’t have to keep Haesung next to him all night. He was paranoid about smothering his baby or hurting him in some way while he slept, the worry constantly waking him. Maybe now he could properly rest.
Jimin changed into comfortable night clothes and settled at the head of the bed to feed Haesung before laying him down. Even once the pup was done nursing, Jimin sang him a quiet lullaby, letting the soft tune ease his own nerves.
He rocked Haesung, bending over to press his forehead to his son’s, whispering the lyrics from some song Hyunjae used to sing him as a kid.
He heard the creak of floorboards throughout the building, a resident directly above them pacing for a few minutes before finally settling down. While the noise seemed to put Yoongi on guard, Jimin didn’t mind it. It reminded him of the years he lived in their own dorm, the comfort he felt in knowing he wasn’t alone.
Jimin felt Haesung’s small puffs of breath against his nose, the baby’s chest rising steadily as he fell into the grasp of sleep. Jimin pressed his lips together but continued to hum, kissing Haesung between his brows before straightening. He hefted himself off the mattress with a huff, the crib set less than a foot away from his side of the bed. Jimin carefully laid the pup down, stroked his temple, and heaved an exhale.
Yoongi, who had been sorting through their belongings and folding clothes into the dresser, noticed Jimin climbing into bed, and stopped his ministrations. He retreated to bed himself, and they blew out the two candles illuminating the room.
Under the sheets, Jimin wiggled over to rest his cheek on Yoongi’s chest, listening to his heartbeat. His vision blurred as he stared out at the dark room.
Yoongi placed a palm on Jimin’s neck, rubbing a thumb along his nape.
There was a bump to the wall on their right, because, of course, Taehyung was staying in the room right next to them. Taehyung had boasted earlier he reserved the room just for them. A sweet gesture in theory, but not so much in practicality.
The walls were rather thin, and a couple moans resonated through it.
Jimin rolled his eyes, grumbling to himself. “The first night, really?”
Yoongi snorted, lightly pinching Jimin’s shoulder. “Funny, coming from the horniest person I think I’ve ever met.”
“Listen, it’s not about horniness. I just don’t see how Jungkook has the energy for sex, especially with Taehyung. He’s a lot to handle,” Jimin complained.
“It’s been over a month, cut them some slack.”
Jimin pouted, although he was aware Yoongi couldn’t actually see it.
“What, you wanna make some noise, too? Just to get back at them?”
“No,” Jimin mumbled, dejected. “I’m too tired. And my body still sucks.”
“What does that even mean?” Yoongi chuckled. “It’s a functional body.”
Jimin rolled off Yoongi’s chest and onto his side, facing away from the Jeons’ room. “Do you wanna do something?”
“Not really. I’m only teasing you, pup.”
Jimin didn’t respond. He tucked his hands under his pillow and scowled at the wooden slats of the wall. He wasn’t upset at Yoongi, or really even at Taehyung. He supposed he was just frustrated with his slow recovery, and the fact that his body felt foreign to him. He still couldn’t bear to look at himself naked in a mirror for too long.
Yoongi rolled along after Jimin, hugging his waist and slotting his chin over Jimin’s shoulder. He kissed the omega’s jaw a couple times, then shifted a bit to get comfortable in the new position.
Jimin took a deep breath, deflating. He turned his head up, trying to get a look at his mate. Yoongi noticed and propped himself up on an elbow.
“’M sorry,” Jimin whispered.
Yoongi simply smiled at him. He leaned down and kissed Jimin sweetly, and the latter found himself purring into it a couple moments later.
“Can you scent me?” Jimin added, slightly shy about the request.
“Of course,” Yoongi murmured, nuzzling down into Jimin’s neck. He inhaled Jimin’s scent, his body relaxing against the omega’s. Then he kissed along the sensitive skin, lingering on his mating mark and leaving a little bruise right beside it.
Relaxation seeped into Jimin’s limbs, and he shut his eyes, Yoongi’s scent now surrounding him. He was asleep in a matter of minutes.
☽○☾
Taehyung showed them to the Kangs’ dining hall the following morning, where Jimin learned Seokjin and a few more of their cooks had been helping out in the kitchens to keep up with the influx of new mouths to feed.
Jimin nursed Haesung before they left the dorm, so the baby was wide awake and sated. Yoongi held him as they settled at a table, Jimin and Taehyung leaving again to gather plates for everyone.
“You still smell like sex,” Jimin stated off-handedly as they reached the breakfast layout.
“I know you’re trying to complain, but I don’t care,” Taehyung chirped, scooping up a big portion of eggs, likely for Jungkook. “I can’t even describe how touch-starved I’ve been.” He turned to Jimin and gave him a tight smile. “I’d say sorry for keeping you up, but I’m really not.”
Jimin blew fringe out of his hair. “I guess I’d just forgotten how loud you are. Which is ridiculous—I shared a wall with you for six years.”
Taehyung snorted. “Maybe you wouldn’t be so grumpy if you got laid yourself.”
“You don’t know what I’ve been up to.”
Taehyung scanned him up and down, arching a brow. “You healed yet?”
“There’s more than one way to get off, Tae.”
“Sure, but we both know it’s not as good as—”
“I don’t think this is appropriate mealtime talk, boys,” Seokjin stated behind them.
Jimin startled, whipping around with a serving spoon pointed at Seokjin.
Seokjin stumbled back a step, both palms raised. “Cool it, I wasn’t trying to sneak up on you.”
Jimin’s chest heaved a couple a times. Okay, maybe he was still on edge from his trip. He made a swift glance toward their table, reminding himself Haesung was okay. “Sorry,” he muttered, retuning the spoon to its correct tray.
Seokjin merely patted Jimin’s shoulder, his expression sympathetic, almost pitying, and he turned to his brother. “Anyway, could you take Haeju off Namjoon’s hands during dinner today? He needs to meet with the pack alphas, and honestly, he’s getting frazzled. He’s not used to being alone with the baby for so long.”
“Sure,” Taehyung replied. “It’ll be okay if I feed him? What’re his favorite foods now?”
“Just stick to rice and some smashed veggies. He loves rice.”
“Sounds good,” Taehyung hummed.
Seokjin thanked Taehyung and ruffled his hair, stepping away to return to the kitchen.
Jimin watched the eldest leave with wide eyes. “You guys seem to be on good terms.”
“Mm. I guess you could say we’ve been bonding.”
“Color me shocked.”
“Well, I needed his help on the way here, and we started talking about how we’d like our kids to be friends. It’s good to have cousins you can play with, that you actually enjoy the company of. So, that means we need to get along, too,” Taehyung explained, nonchalant about the whole ordeal.
“Makes sense you’d connect over having kids,” Jimin said, lifting his two plates stacked with food.
Taehyung was ready, too, and he followed after Jimin. “I’m glad we’re making the effort. It’s nice to have a brother again.”
When they returned, Chunhwa had a firm hold on Jungkook’s nose, and Haesung was staring at her from across the table with huge, brown eyes. He casually had a fist curl in Yoongi’s sleeve, but he was totally enraptured by the sight of another pup.
“You guys doing okay?” Taehyung asked, setting down his plates.
Jimin did the same, ready to relinquish Haesung from Yoongi’s hold and give his mate a break. His shoulders shot up in defense and his heart skipped a beat, though, when he heard an excited screech from the dining hall’s entryway.
Hoseok was dashing toward them, and before Jimin could formulate a greeting, he was swept into a hug, Hoseok absolutely squealing against his ear. “By the moon, you’re alive! And not pregnant!” He continued spinning Jimin around, and the omega clung to his biceps for dear life. “My favorite teammate has returned to me,” he crooned.
“Your favorite?” Jungkook enunciated. “He hasn’t hunted with us in a whole year—”
“Shush, Kookie. You’re just jealous,” Hoseok retorted, finally setting Jimin on his feet. He immediately squished Jimin’s cheeks, beaming at him. “How are you?”
“Uh, winded,” Jimin replied honestly, blinking at the alpha, trying to regain his sense of gravity. A red spot on Hoseok’s neck caught Jimin’s eye, and he squinted, not sure he was seeing it correctly. Jimin gasped and grabbed Hoseok by the nape, yanking him closer to examine the mating mark. “Jung Hoseok, you did not get mated while I was gone.”
The scar still looked fresh, and Jimin resisted poking at it.
“He did,” Taehyung sighed. “I was at the ceremony.”
Jimin gawked, and he lightly smacked Hoseok’s chest. While he circulated through the shock, he also felt a sadness sinking inside him, like he had really missed out on something important. Most wolves only got mated once, and Jimin couldn’t be there for one of his best friend’s ceremonies. His throat tightened, and Jimin couldn’t utter a response.
Hoseok noticed how Jimin’s expression shifted, and his own softened in response. “I know you wanted to be there, but it wasn’t under ideal circumstances. A portion of the pack got pretty sick towards the end of our trip, and Taeseob was one of them. Even after we got here, his condition worsened, and it didn’t help that the head healer was ill, too.”
Jimin paled. That’s why Hyunjae had looked sickly. But that must have been weeks ago—could she really have been struggling with it for that long?
“It was a nasty bug,” Taehyung agreed. “I was lucky to avoid it, but we had some close calls.”
Hoseok nodded. “I was so grateful when Taeseob started to get better. It reminded us how quickly things can go bad, so we did just went for it. We didn’t plan that far ahead, didn’t even have that many people at our ceremony. But it made sense for us, so—anyway, I’m sorry, Jimin.”
Jimin shook his head, his lips pressed in a thin line, “No, I get it,” he murmured. He released his grip on Hoseok. “As long as you’re happy.”
Hoseok smiled and pinched Jimin’s cheek again, just for good measure.
Jungkook cleared his throat. “I still haven’t received a proper greeting.”
Jimin rolled his eyes, and Hoseok moved away to approach Jungkook. The elder hunter wrapped his arms around Jungkook’s shoulders and squeezed the air right out of the younger.
Jungkook pretended to be annoyed by the excessive physicality, but Jimin could see how his body relaxed into the touch, and how he subtly placed a hand over Hoseok’s.
Jimin was glad Chunhwa was no longer in Jungkook’s lap. No one wanted her getting strangled with love, too.
“Where are the others?” Yoongi piped in, holding Haesung against his stomach and bouncing the pup on his thigh.
“They’re out at our territory,” Hoseok informed, releasing Jungkook to settle at the seat beside him. “I was there a couple days back. Just about everyone’s helping build the camp up before the worst of winter hits.”
“Eomma said Jihyun’s been helping a lot?” Jimin asked.
“Oh yeah, he barely comes back over here,” Hoseok answered. “Wheein and Hyejin are almost done with their house, so they’re basically there all the time, too.”
“They’re finally moving in together?” Jungkook balked.
“Now’s a better time than any,” Yoongi surmised. “I guess I ought to head there myself, soon. I’d rather not live in that omega dorm for too long—feels like an invasion of their privacy.”
“Plus, only omegas can bathe in there,” Taehyung pointed out. “Namjoon and the other alphas have had to trek over to the alpha dorm to bathe, which is basically on the other side of the territory.”
Jimin grimaced, imagining making that walk back in the frigid air while still a bit damp. “I’m sure they’re not happy having babies hanging around, too,” he added.
Taehyung shrugged. “Some of the omegas still get excited to see Chunhwa, but yeah, it’s no fun for anyone listening to her cry in the middle of the night.”
“Are my parents out at our new territory, too?” Jungkook said, brows raised.
“They were actually the first to get their house done. Which, y’know, makes sense; carpenters and all that,” Hoseok replied. He reached over to steal a mouthful of friend potatoes from Jungkook’s plate. “Nice place, too.”
Jimin turned toward Yoongi, and their eyes met. The omega exhaled, knowing Yoongi was right—they really should get on that task, even if it meant Yoongi leaving him for days on end. As much as Jimin wanted to lend a hand, too, he had the clarity to acknowledge he was in no condition for manual labor, especially with how much Haesung demanded his attention.
And the sooner they had a house of their own, the better.
Hyunjae finally got her chance to give Haesung a thorough check-up that evening, her and Jimin sitting in the dorm common area, Yoongi busy making that dreaded trek to the alpha dorm for a bath. Jimin kept checking out the window, worried when he noticed it start to snow around seven o’clock.
“He’ll be okay walking back, right?” Jimin asked, squinting into the dark night, only to see thick flakes drifting in the distance.
“He’s an adult, he can take care of himself,” Hyunjae snorted. “You’re acting like you didn’t spend multiple nights sleeping outside.”
Jimin pouted and turned back around, finding Haesung laid out on the couch between them. He tilted his head up to look at Jimin, reflecting his papa’s blooming smile.
Hyunjae had already felt around his body, examining his weight and proportions—and yes, she counted all his fingers and toes. Now she simply tickled his stomach, watching him kick around. “Funny boy,” she cooed.
She leaned over and snapped her fingers by his right ear. It took a couple tries before he leaned into the sound, acknowledging it. She tested out his left side. “You haven’t noticed any issues with his hearing or sight?”
“Nope.” Jimin combed his fingers through the pup’s thin hair. “The only issue is that I think he sleeps too much?”
Hyunjae sat back and chuckled. “He’s supposed to sleep a lot, Jimin. He’s in a stage of rapid growth.”
“I know,” Jimin huffed. “But he doesn’t wake up every couple hours at night like he’s supposed to it. It’s more like three to four hours.”
“Every baby is different,” Hyunjae assured. “It’s okay, just take it as a blessing. You both get more rest this way.”
“I remember Jihyun waking up so frequently—”
Hyunjae clucked her tongue and patted Jimin’s thigh. “Seriously, don’t worry. Your baby is totally fine, as far as I can see.”
Jimin folded his hands in his lap and nodded. “Okay, if you’re sure.”
Hyunjae hummed, bent down, and picked Haesung up. She rested him on her knee, supporting his back, and bounced him. She made faces at the baby, and Jimin could hear Haesung’s responding coos and squeals. “When exactly was he born?” She asked, straightening out her expression.
“Last day of October.”
“Ah, so only a little early.”
“Yeah. I was kinda in denial about the labor,” Jimin admitted.
“I understand. It’s scary; no one’s ever entirely ready for it, even when it’s not your first baby. When Sooyun was in labor with Jihyun, she kept insisting, ‘Tomorrow. It can wait ‘til tomorrow.’ All the way up until she was pushing,” Hyunjae said with clear bemusement. She glanced away from Haesung, toward Jimin. “You didn’t feel very safe there, did you?”
“No,” Jimin quietly replied.
“Something like that can stress you out even more, make you want to postpone the birth. I’ve heard it feels easier to protect your baby when they’re still inside you.” She paused, and she cuddled Haesung against her chest. “Listen, I know you’re well on your way to recovery, but please let me know if anything feels off. If you feel like your recovery is stunted, or you’ve got extreme symptoms, come to me. Labor isn’t always the worst of it, and I want to make be certain we address any problems as early as we can, okay?”
“Okay, Ma,” Jimin replied with a small smile. He felt so much safer and more secure with Hyunjae around. Although the prospect of going through another pregnancy was pretty scary, he was glad that he would at least have his mother the whole way through in the future.
Haesung started to squirm in Hyunjae’s hold, a rising whine in his chest.
“He’s probably hungry,” Jimin said, reaching out to take him, rocking the baby as his fussing grew louder. “Thanks for the examination, Jae.” He slid off the couch, hoping to nurse his pup in private.”
“Of course,” Hyunjae replied. “Have a good night. I’m sure Yoongi will be back soon.”
Jimin offered her a short wave, wandering back to his room, Yoongi joining him only minutes later.
☽○☾
They rested for a full three days before Yoongi decided it was time he head out and “make himself useful.” Jimin thought it wouldn’t hurt if he stuck around a little longer, but he also knew his mate’s determination to care for his pack, as well as his own family.
Jungkook was set to leave with him, eager to see his parents.
They planned to leave early in the morning, Yoongi rousing with the sunrise to finish packing. He was dressed and ready to head out, but he woke Jimin to say goodbye.
Jimin sat up, buried in blankets, and rubbed at his blurry eyes. “Stay and cuddle for an hour,” he grumbled. “Tell Jungkook you’re not ready yet.”
Yoongi chuckled, sitting on the edge of the mattress. He leaned in to give Jimin a kiss, and the omega wound his arms around Yoongi’s neck, flopping back and yanking the alpha down with him.
“Jimin,” he mumbled between kisses, “I gotta go.”
“No,” Jimin whined, cold and needy. He snuck a hand down Yoongi’s shirt, grazing his nails along his mate’s back. Whenever Yoongi tried to pull away, he followed after him with more and more sweet kisses. “If you stay,” Jimin whispered against the alpha’s lips, “I’ll let you fuck me.”
Yoongi snorted in amusement. “Uh huh.”
“I will,” Jimin insisted. He reached his other hand up Yoongi’s shirt, too, running palm over his warm abdomen. “’M not lying. I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Yoongi sighed, hovering over Jimin and resting on his forearms. “You drive a hard bargain,” he said, pausing to suck on Jimin’s plush bottom lip. “A very hard bargain.” He skimmed his fingers through Jimin’s hair, twirling it into his grasp and lightly tugging.
Jimin moaned, hooking one leg over Yoongi’s hip, attempting to pull him closer. He ran his tongue along the roof of Yoongi’s mouth. He felt the shudder running through the alpha’s body under his own palms, and Jimin was fairly certain his methods of persuasion were a success.
Then Yoongi leaned away an inch, gave Jimin a peck, and pulled back completely.
Jimin released a little noise of protest, disoriented and chilly again.
“I have to turn down your offer this time, my love,” Yoongi exhaled, untangling Jimin’s limbs from himself and slipping off the bed. He bent over the crib, stroking a thumb against Haesung’s cheek, and moved toward the exit to pick up his packed bag. “You know it’s for the best.”
Jimin donned a pinched expression, and he tuned on his side, refusing to look at his mate. “You hate me,” he stated.
“I do not hate you, Min Jimin,” Yoongi sighed. Jimin could practically hear the eye roll in his tone. “Don’t be dramatic. I’ll come back in a couple days.”
Jimin pulled the sheets up to his chin. “Don’t get hurt,” he huffed.
“I’ll be careful,” he promised. “And I’ll find your brother, tell him we made it, since he hasn’t come back yet.”
“Thank you,” he grumbled.
Yoongi chuckled at his begrudging tone. “Bye, pup. I love you,” he said, exiting the door, clicking the door shut behind him.
Jimin whined to himself and burrowed deeper into his blankets, eager to fall back asleep.
Yoongi must have kept his promise, because at about four or five o’clock that same day, Jimin heard a couple raps at his room door. He had just changed Haesung’s diaper, so he finished hiking the baby’s pants up, and he left him sprawled out on the bed to go greet his visitor. He was expecting Taehyung or perhaps Sooyun, instead faced with a tall alpha, his hair and coat dusted with snow.
Jimin didn’t say a word, he simply lurched forward and embraced his brother, nuzzling into his chest.
Jihyun didn’t hesitate in hugging Jimin back, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw for himself that Jimin was alive and unharmed. He stroked the top of Jimin’s head as the omega started to cry, a dam of worry that had been building up since he last saw Jihyun suddenly bursting free.
“I nearly dropped a hammer on my foot when I saw your mate this morning,” Jihyun chuckled wetly. “Then I about had a heart attack after I noticed you weren’t with him.”
Jimin pinched his brother’s side, and Jihyun hissed, thrusting him away. “You didn’t come back here when you were supposed to!” Jimin warbled, feeling quite like a petulant child throwing a fit. “Eomma said you’d be here days ago. I kept waiting, and you just took your damn time.”
“I didn’t know you guys had made it already, I swear,” Jihyun replied. “I got caught up in work. It’s snowing more and more every day—I want the pack to be settled by early December.”
“You should check on your family more,” Jimin complained, puffing out his cheeks.
“Alright, alright. I’m sorry,” Jihyun quelled, ruffling Jimin’s hair. “Now where’s my nephew?”
Jimin immediately brightened, and he swiveled on his heel to retrieve Haesung, his son waiting so patiently behind him. Jimin proudly presented the pup to Jihyun, Haesung kicking his feet as he dangled from Jimin’s grasp, blowing spit bubbles as he took in the sight of this new alpha.
Jihyun leveled Jimin with an expression of mock disappointment. “He looks like Yoongi.”
Jimin would stomp on his brother’s foot if he were close enough. “Yes, obviously. Did you think he would come out looking like an exact copy of me?”
“I don’t know, I’ve seen it happen before.” He reached over to hold the pup, replacing Jimin’s hands under Haesung’s armpits. He seemed a bit awkward about it; Jimin figured he probably hadn’t held a baby in a long time, if ever. “I mean, look at that Jeon kid. She’s just a tiny version of Jungkook.”
“She might grow out of it,” Jimin shrugged.
Jihyun scoffed. “Doubtful.” He pulled Haesung closer, struggling to cradle him, rocking lightly to keep the infant from fussing. “Does he cry a lot?”
“Less than most babies, actually,” Jimin replied. He lingered close enough to keep a steady eye on the two. “And he eats a ton. I don’t know where he stores all that milk, because he’s not all that chubby.”
“He’s growing, Jimin. Babies grow a ton. Ma said the amount I ate as a baby genuinely concerned her.”
Jimin crossed his arms and snickered. “That’s because you’re an alpha. And also, you’re just greedy.”
“You think Haesung’s an alpha?” Jihyun asked, glossing over Jimin’s tacked-on insult.
“I don’t know,” Jimin shrugged. “I can’t say I care.”
“You should ask Ma. She’s got a good feel for these things.”
“I think I’d rather let him live his life than predict how he’s gonna turn out, y’know?” Jimin mused. “Plus, kids don’t start exhibiting alpha or omega traits until they’re toddlers or older. Eomma knew what I was when I was a few years old, not when I was a newborn.”
“Fair,” Jihyun shrugged off. “Well, despite how much he looks like Yoongi, I have to admit he is cute.”
“Oh yeah?” Jimin smirked.
“But that’s probably just because we share the same blood, and I’m clearly quite attractive.”
The corner of Jimin’s mouth twitched, but he maintained his smile. “Oh, Jihyun. I really am so glad to have you back in my life,” he exhaled.
☽○☾
Jimin was walking home from the dining hall one afternoon with his parents, Sooyun happy to hold and entertain Haesung along the way. Haesung seemed to be a fan of her long hair, grabbing onto a lock for a minute at a time, yanking at it whenever he pleased.
“Eomma, just push your hair back,” Jimin chided, extracting a fistful from his son’s unyielding grip.
“No, it’s okay,” Sooyun insisted. “He’s having fun.”
“His version of fun shouldn’t involve someone else being in pain,” Jimin grumbled. Yet, he let them be. At least the pup wasn’t crying or trying to eat the hair.
“I was talking to the head omega while getting food,” Hyunjae switched topics. “He’d asked if I’d met the new wolves yet? What does that mean? Where did we get new pack members?”
“Oh,” Jimin chirped, clapping his hands together, “I guess I should’ve mentioned it sooner. We picked up a couple wolves from a small pack on our way here.”
Sooyun gawked at Jimin. “That is so dangerous.”
“No, they’re good people, really,” Jimin insisted. “Mirae, she’s pregnant, and that old pack is not good about omegas doing what they want. And since, y’know, our pack is pretty lax with that stuff, I figured I’d help.”
“Jimin—”
Hyunjae cut her mate off. “He’s got a big heart, Sooyun. We already knew this. Hey, nothing sketchy has happened, right?”
“Yet,” Sooyun emphasized, her lips pursed. “What if they’re spies?”
Jimin pinched the bridge of his nose. “What would be the purpose of that?”
“I don’t know, I just—there are bad people in the world, Jimin, even if they don’t seem that way at first.”
“Well, I know Mirae’s actually pregnant. I can smell it in her scent,” Jimin argued. “Just wait ‘til you meet them, you’ll understand. They’re so friendly, and Mirae’s mate saved me on our hike up the mountain. They caught me when I slipped on some rocks.”
Sooyun’s brows shot up to her hairline. “You slipped? Where was Yoongi?”
“Scouting out a trail. Don’t blame him,” Jimin replied, scowling at his mother. “It’s past, alright? You don’t have to worry about it.”
Sooyun shook her head. “Every day, you cause me stress.”
“You’re being dramatic, shortie,” Hyunjae stated, her tone humorous. “Give the kid a break. He’s under a whole lot of stress, too.”
“Thank you, Ma,” Jimin said, raising his chin and taking a couple steps ahead of his parents.
He could see a couple taking shape through the winter’s fog, their silhouette almost identical to his own parents—tall and short, pressed close together. Once he could make out their faces, Jimin perked up and pointed their way. “That’s them: Mirae and Doyeon. You can meet ‘em now.”
Jimin hastened his pace and waved the couple over, Mirae spotting him first and excitedly waving back. She nudged her mate and steered them toward Jimin’s family.
He could hear snow crunching under the wolves’ feet as they neared. At the same time, Hyunjae halted behind Jimin, Sooyun slowing when she noticed her mate’s expression of unfiltered shock.
“What’s wrong?” Sooyun whispered, gripping Hyunjae’s forearm. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I have,” Hyunjae stated dully, her brows knitting together, confusion falling upon her. “Jimin, where did you say you found these two?”
“The Im Pack,” Jimin slowly replied, glancing between both couples. “Do you… know them?”
“My sister, that’s—I—that’s not my sister,” Hyunjae stuttered, as if she was trying to convince herself.
Mirae rushed towards them, worry marring her face. “Are you guys okay? You look sick,” she directed at the healer.
Doyeon had noticed Hyunjae’s scrutinizing stare and had stalled in their tracks, too.
“What pack is Doyeon originally from?” Jimin asked carefully, still gauging his alpha mother’s expression.
“The Song Pack. Why?”
There was glint of recognition behind Hyunjae’s eyes, and she took a jolted step forward. Gaining confidence, she continued walking, approaching Doyeon. Her breathing was shallow with nerves. “Park Doyeon?” She asked, voice raspy.
“Not… not anymore,” Doyeon stated, their expression muddled by confusion, but there was something more to it, like maybe they were catching on. “But that was my birth name. W-who are you?”
“Hyunjae,” she answered, and Jimin could tell his mother was getting choked up. “I—god, you look just like her. I wish she could see you now.”
“Park Hyunjae,” Doyeon filled in, tears springing to their eyes as their resolve crumpled, realization washing over them. “By the goddess. My—” They never finished that phrase, simply stepping forward, hugging Hyunjae.
Hyunjae held them just as tight.
Mirae leaned into Jimin, unsure whether or not she should be concerned for her mate. “What?” She whispered.
Jimin couldn’t force away the smile dawning in his expression. “It looks like my mother is Doyeon’s aunt.”
The three omegas held back, letting those two have their moment alone. When the alphas broke from their hug, they exchanged some hushed words, then Hyunjae laughed, wiping tears from her cheeks.
“Do you… would you want to take a walk?” Doyeon asked, their volume not as quiet now. “Mirae—”
Mirae shook her head, reflecting Doyeon’s awe and joy. “You two go ahead. Sounds like you have a lot to catch up on.”
☽○☾
Over the next three weeks, Yoongi would come and go—for every day he spent with Jimin, it was another three or four away. Jimin hated how much time they had to spend apart, but he reminded himself how much harder it was for Yoongi. While Jimin got to be with Haesung, his parents, and Taehyung, Yoongi was hard at work, dealing with the strain of distance in their bond alone.
To celebrate Haesung turning a month old, Yoongi stayed for a couple nights, rather than just one. They spent all day pampering their baby—playing with him, telling him stories, laying in bed for hours simply cuddling. It was a kind of bliss Jimin hadn’t experienced before.
Every single day, Jimin swore he fell more in love with Haesung.
Yoongi gave Jimin updates on their cabin each time he returned. Although he couldn’t dedicate all of his energy to the house, because communal buildings like the infirmary and childcare centers still required windows and insulation, he still kept it at the top of his priority list. Once it was habitable, there wouldn’t have to be any more back and forth—their family would be in the same area full-time.
After just the first week of this new routine, Jimin and Taehyung started sleeping in the same bed when neither of their mates were around. It was not only comforting to both the lonely omegas, but it was beneficial for them to be sharing body heat as the temperatures continued to fall. Similarly, they helped take care of each other’s babies. Jimin could leave Haesung with Taehyung while he bathed, or Jimin could hold the pups during mealtimes while Taehyung gathered them food.
It was strange, in that spending so much time with Taehyung was reminiscent of his teen years, yet the addition of a couple infants added quite the twist.
It was also interesting how attuned Jimin became to what exactly Haesung’s crying sounded like. At first, they would wake in the middle of the night and take a minute to deduct which baby needed attention. As time passed, though, Jimin could rouse, hear the wails, and quickly determine whether or not the fussy baby was his responsibility.
Once, Jimin nudged Taehyung awake, whispering, “It’s Chunhwa this time.”
To which Taehyung replied, “You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Can we pretend she’s yours, anyway?”
Jimin snorted and nearly shoved Taehyung out of bed. “Only if you wanna handle mine in an hour or so.”
Taehyung grumbled to himself as he pulled back the sheets and waddled to the crib on his side.
Jihyun seemed to have met his goal, because by early December, all of the community buildings were finished, as well as many as the homes. Families were already moving out of the dorm, the Ta family and Jimin’s parents included. With the infirmary completed, Hyunjae needed to be around to occupy it, rather than taking up space in the Kangs’ infirmary.
While Namjoon moved into the new territory with much of his pack, Seokjin stayed behind to watch over the remaining wolves here, keeping Haeju with him. In turn, there were some afternoons and evenings that Jimin and Taehyung found themselves caring for three pups instead of two.
In the second week of December, Yoongi came back following a four-day absence. It was evening, and Jimin had dozed off into a quick nap while relaxing on the bed, Haesung softly snoring beside him.
Jimin was woken by the creak of the bedroom door, and he instinctively curled around Haesung, blinking against the lamplight a moment later to see who had entered.
Yoongi was just tugging off his heavy coat and stepping out of his snow-packed boots.
“Yoonie?” Jimin slurred. Although his vision was still blurry, he could scent that it was indeed his mate.
“Hey. You had a long day?” He asked quietly, moving over and settling at the foot of the bed.
“Mm. There was one point I was watching both Chunhwa and Haesungie—” Jimin yawned, “and they both started crying. I almost cried, too. I didn’t know what to do with myself,” Jimin lightly laughed, amused now that he was past that temporary panic. “I’m glad Tae had only left for the bathroom.”
Yoongi nodded. He crawled forward, then laid out on Haesung’s other side. “How’s the little guy?”
“Good. He had a really long nap yesterday. God, it was perfect. I could fold some clothes, eat a snack, even read a bit of a book Seokjin lent to me.”
Yoongi chuckled and rested a palm on Haesung’s belly. “I’m glad,” he mumbled. “I’ve got some exciting news.”
Jimin propped himself up on an elbow, a brow arched in inquiry. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Our cabin’s done,” he said with a growing smile. “Well, mostly. Jihyun’s installing a couple windows tomorrow, but after that, we’re free to move in.”
Jimin felt a tremor of excitement run down his spine. He sat up and moved around the baby, flopping down right on top of Yoongi. “That is exciting. You haven’t told me much about what it looks like. Trying to keep this one a surprise, too?” He teased.
He felt Yoongi’s rumble emanating from his chest. “I suppose so. I can tell you there are three bedrooms.”
“Three?” Jimin echoed, voice pitched with enthusiasm. “Wow, that’s handy.”
“I mean, not that we’re in any rush to fill all of them.”
“No, of course not,” Jimin replied with a grin, scrunching his nose up. “I bet Haesung will be grateful that he won’t have to share a room with whichever pup comes after him.”
“Did you mind sharing a room with your brother all that much?” Yoongi asked. He wrapped his arms around Jimin’s waist, threading his fingers together and resting them on his lower back.
“It wouldn’t have been so bad if he wasn’t such a crybaby,” Jimin huffed. “He crawled into my bed so often.”
“We’ll just tell the kids to come sleep with us when they have nightmares,” Yoongi assured.
“Okay, but we should also teach them to knock,” Jimin added with a snicker. “For their own sake. I’d rather not traumatize them.”
Yoongi released a muffled laugh, too, his chest falling as he exhaled a heavy breath.
Jimin folded his hands atop Yoongi’s chest and rested his chin there, looking up at his mate from under his lashes. “You tired?”
“Always,” Yoongi said. He began to run his fingers along Jimin’s spine, pausing to dig his nails into Jimin’s skin a little when he felt the omega shiver under his touch. He lifted his head to nuzzle into Jimin’s check, taking a few deep breaths. “You smell good.”
“I smell like milk,” Jimin reminded.
Yoongi suddenly gripped Jimin by the rear to hike him up further, giving himself easier access to Jimin’s neck. Jimin cut off a gasp of surprise over the sudden movement, but he offered no protest.
“Your scent’s still underneath it,” Yoongi mumbled, words almost slurred. He pressed his lips to Jimin’s scent gland, then laved his tongue over it.
Jimin clutched Yoongi’s shoulder, his body alight with nerves.
As Yoongi sucked on his neck, the alpha’s own scent began to flood Jimin’s senses, strong and heady. He felt his muscles relaxing, his breathing evening out—the effect of Yoongi’s scent on Jimin was more overpowering than normal, and there was a sharp hint to it that Jimin couldn’t pinpoint immediately.
His mate trailed down his neck, leaving red and purple marks along the way, his grip only tightening around Jimin’s waist.
Oh. Jimin’s breath stuttered in his chest. He squeezed Yoongi’s shoulder to try to garner his attention, fighting away the fog in his own head. “Baby,” Jimin stated, the utterance softer than he was intending.
After no response, Jimin pushed himself off his mate’s chest, arms trembling as he supported himself against the mattress. Looking down, he could see how much Yoongi’s pupils had dilated, the alpha clearly confused and frustrated by the sudden space between them.
The elder tugged Jimin’s hips lower, growling as the omega continued to hold himself up.
Jimin shook his head, hissing in return, hoping to break through the alpha’s daze. “Yoongi, I think your rut’s coming—and soon.”