Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hunched over your keyboard, you read through your email one last time, and clicked send.

With your latest op-ed submitted, you could finally decompress for a bit. You leaned back in your office chair, stretching your arms up with a deep breath, loudly sighing out your exhale. This article in particular had been a stressful endeavor, as it was the largest publication you’d written for yet. Working as a sociology professor was rewarding, but respect in academia was primarily gained through being published; and since you weren’t a researcher, writing articles was your ticket to creating change and advocating for better understanding and unity among humans and shifters.

It wasn’t hard to understand why you’d chosen this field of study. You’d grown up in a wolf pack yourself; however, you were never able to shift nor had a second gender present itself. It seemed, by all accounts, that you were a typical human. Everyone around you was surprised by this; you’d grown taller than any of the other girls in your extended pack (and many of the boys, too) and had an athletic build that many assumed would make you a great alpha. As a kid, the constant praise from the adults made it difficult to make friends; and when you didn't present, it only got worse (much worse). Moving away for school helped you see that you were better off on your own.

So you committed yourself to your education, seeking the answers for why you were the way you were. When you didn't find them, you buried yourself in your work teaching, hoping at the very least that you could improve human/shifter relations and perhaps find a purpose in your otherness. And for the most part, you were content with this life — you had made a nice home for yourself, a good career, and a few acquaintances you could go out with on occasion.

An alarm on your phone reminded you that it was time to get to your next class on pack dynamics and their wider influence on society. Satisfied you'd check this big item off your to-do list, you closed your laptop and gathered your things to carry on with your day.

“Any other questions on secondary alpha roles?" A young man in the front row raised his hand. "Yes, go ahead,” you nodded toward him.

“What about a small pack with multiple alphas? What should be the role of the secondary alphas?”

“That’s a great question. Just how small are you thinking?"

"Seven. Three alphas, two betas, and two omegas."

"Oh, wow, I can see why you'd be curious. The thing is, in modern society, those roles totally depend on the needs of the pack and the pack alpha. Everybody has their individual strengths and weaknesses; maybe the pack alpha is a physical or intellectual leader, but is unable to provide or protect in other ways. Perhaps they can lead with division of labor at home, or the care of omegas. It's all about delegating."

The young man was playing with his lip ring as he took down notes.

“I’m um, I’m a shifter. And an alpha," he explained nervously. "I’m the youngest in my pack, but our eldest alpha isn’t actually our pack alpha—he stepped down to let another alpha be the leader, because we agreed he’d be best at it, but I know that’s a weird set up, and so I just don’t know—” you smiled gently as he continued to ramble about his situation.

As much as you avoided playing favorites, you couldn’t help but be fond of Jungkook. He'd been an engaged student all semester, and you were pleased he was opening up and sharing his experience. You’d suspected he was a young alpha, but had no idea about the interesting dynamics of his pack, and it certainly piqued your interest.

“Thanks for sharing, Jungkook. Although the pack structure you’ve described is uncommon, it's not unheard of. Selecting a pack alpha based on leadership qualities shows you’re a member of a progressive pack; although there isn’t conclusive research on the subject yet, anecdotally, encouraging and supporting individual strengths rather than basing roles on seniority has been shown to create a more tight-knit and conflict-free living situation. I’d love to learn more if you’re open to discussing it sometime.”

He beamed a bright smile that made him look more like a rabbit than wolf.

“Okay! Thanks, professor!”

You smirked at his overflowing enthusiasm and continued with your lecture, wondering how soon the young man would be showing up at your office door.

A couple days later, the editor had sent you a link to the online version of the article you’d submitted, so you gave it a quick review. Although you knew better, you decided to take a look at the comment section, too.

A wave of nausea overwhelmed you. Every time an article of yours was published, there were always disgusting and bigoted comments from shifters and humans alike — but violent threats were relatively new and had only started since you’d been getting more national recognition. This one had a few, but one user in particular seemed to have a lot of rage toward your ideas. A light knock on the office door broke your internal spiral, and you quickly shut your laptop.

“Come in — oh hi, Jungkook. What’s on your mind?” He once again toyed with his lip ring, a nervous habit, you assumed.

“It's your office hours, right? I just wanted to follow up about what we were talking about in the last class, if that’s okay?”

"Yeah, of course! Here, have a seat — do you need anything to drink? I have a few things in the mini fridge here..." 

Once you'd gotten him settled in and comfortable, you spent close to an hour hearing about his pack and the role he played in it. Though he was the maknae, the next two in age were both omegas; this was good, you pointed out, because he could still satisfy a lot of alpha providing instincts with day-to-day acts of service and not be treated as the baby. The eldest alpha, who he reiterated was not the pack leader, held the role of working with one of the betas to manage the house and finances. The other beta sounded like the lifeblood of the group, constantly providing energy and support to the others. It was clear Jungkook really looked up to their pack alpha above all, who had been the reason he joined the pack in the first place — he spoke very highly of him and his leadership style. It warmed your heart to hear about the supportive and loving environment he had at home. You had to admit, you were a little jealous; you realized that for the first time in a long time, you felt the acute loss of a pack and you longed for that sense of community and belonging.

“Jungkook, I don’t think you have any reason to worry about your standing or contributions in your pack. It sounds like you have a really wonderful family who cares very much for you. You’re still very young, and packs grow over time; you’ll continue to adapt.”

“Thanks professor. I really hope I can introduce them to you someday, I think you’d really like everybody!”

“If they’re as sweet as you, I’m sure we’d get along great.”

His doe eyes suddenly lit up with an idea. “Actually! My hyungs are taking me out to dinner next weekend to celebrate the end of the semester. Will you come?”

“I don’t know if that’s appropriate, Jungkook…”

“Please? What if I turn in my final paper early so you can grade it before? I already have an A in your class, I swear I’m not trying to suck up!”

You laughed and waved a hand to calm him down. “It’s very kind of you, but I don’t want to intrude on a pack event.”

“They already told me I can invite whoever I want, but I don’t really talk to many people outside of class and so I want to invite you. Please?”

Out of excuses, you sighed and shrugged your shoulders. “You’re a very persistent young man.”

There was that bunny smile again, but somehow it was a little more smug this time. He wrote down the details on one of your post-it notes and sprinkled on a last bit of puppy dog eyes to make sure you would feel too guilty to back out. After he’d left your office, you were stuck processing how you had just let yourself be suckered into an uncomfortable dinner, anxious for the following weekend.

Chapter Text

After a busy week of grading final papers and interfacing with the usual wave of anxious students, the night of Jungkook’s dinner suddenly arrived. It had taken forever to choose an outfit that felt appropriate for such a weird occasion, but eventually you settled on a classic black dress, arriving at the restaurant only five minutes late (wildly successful, in your book). You searched the tables for a pack-sized group and eventually caught your student’s bambi eyes peering over the other patrons, before he spotted you and excitedly waved you over.

“Professor, you made it! Thank you for coming!” Jungkook stood up and bowed deeply.

“Jungkook, your manners are impeccable, but you don't have to be so formal when we’re not at the university.” It was then that you got a good look at the other six men at the table, who were in varying stages of standing to greet you. Each one of them was absurdly good-looking in his own way; it was hard for your eyes to focus on any one of them for too long. You introduced yourself to each of them in turn, finally arriving at the last member of the group: the tallest of the bunch, with hair dyed silver. He was clearly muscular, the form-fitting black turtleneck he wore doing nothing to conceal his broad chest. You reached out to shake his hand and nearly gasped when you made contact. What felt like an electric current ran from your fingertips in his hand all the way up your arm, settling somewhere in your ribs. Your expression much have showed your surprise, because his eyes widened as well. You took a deep breath to collect yourself before putting on a pleasant smile and politely asking him, “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name. Could you repeat it?”

"Kim Namjoon," he said, and you realized his grip was still firm around your hand. You cleared your throat and he pulled away, flexing his fingers wide. “Please, sit.” He pulled out your chair, seating you between himself and your (now former) student. The moment of tension did not go unnoticed by a few of the pack members; you tried not to think too much of the quirked eyebrows and amused smirks you saw as a couple of their gazes flitted between you. Oh great, they’re all going to go home and talk about how thirsty I am for this dude I just met, you thought to yourself, trying not to blush.

Namjoon took a swig of his whiskey. “Guys, given our guest’s field of study, perhaps it would help her catch up if we clue her in on our dynamics,” he suggested before turning to you and offering a kind smile. You were distraught to discover that not only was he smoldering hot — he had the cutest dimples you’d ever seen. The duality nearly gave you whiplash.

“If you don’t mind, I am certainly interested! It might also be helpful to know everyone’s age?”

They obliged, going around the table in age order. The eldest, Seokjin, was a beta; the next, Yoongi, was an alpha. This must be the one Jungkook spoke about in class, you realized. As if reading your mind, Yoongi fixed you with a stare that was difficult to read, but you didn’t hold his eyes for long before a literal ray of sunshine in human form chimed in: Hoseok, another beta. His smile was wide and welcoming, putting you slightly more at ease. Namjoon next to you introduced himself as the pack alpha, and while it was initially surprising he held the leadership position with three older pack members (including another alpha), you could see he carried himself with authority. The next in age were two omegas, Jimin and Taehyung. Beside each other, they almost looked like yin and yang; Jimin was fair and blonde, radiating sweetness with a flirtatious smile, while Taehyung’s dark wavy hair that hung low over his eyes and his soft, deep voice lent him an air of mystery. The familiar Jungkook rounded out the pack as the maknae.

“Thank you all for sharing with me, I’ll do my best to remember all of that! I’m ‘92 as well, but a few months older than Seokjin-ssi.”

“Please, call me Jin. May we call you noona?”

“I would like that! Especially now that Jungkook is no longer my student, we can speak more casually.”

“About that… I may have signed up for your other class next semester, Professor Noona,” the youngest admitted sheepishly. “You’re my favorite teacher I’ve had and I’ve learned so much! I wanted to take your class on gender equality, too.”

“Kiss ass,” Yoongi interjected dryly. The rest of the packmates laughed and you couldn’t help but chuckle, too. 

“Well, luckily for both of us I have a Teaching Assistant for that class next semester, so I will let them handle the grading to avoid any favoritism. I look forward to having you back in class, JK.”

He preened at this before the eldest cut in, “Aish that’s enough about school, let’s eat.”

Dinner was a flurry of conversation, clinking dishes, and outrageous laughter (seriously, it was like half of these guys had the most ridiculous and contagious laughs you’d ever heard). They never made you feel like an outsider to their conversations and asked you all kinds of questions: about your work, your friends, where you grew up. You were notably cagey about the latter subject, but they respected your privacy and didn’t press you further. Bottles of wine made the rounds, and despite taking regular sips your glass never seemed to empty. Your eyes landed on the two omegas, whose expressions had mischief written all over them.

You leaned slightly into Namjoon’s space to voice your suspicions. “Not to be a snitch, but I think those two are trying to get me drunk.”

The alpha’s eyes flicked over to assess the duo before they met yours over his own glass, his intense stare giving you a small shiver before he softened his gaze with a smile. “They’re almost always up to something,” he began conspiratorially, “but if you need backup, tag me in.” The space between you had significantly decreased in the course of this sidebar, and what was left of it felt like it had been charged with static electricity. You were pretty sure if you touched Namjoon’s skin, you would get a small shock. The spell was broken when Jimin called your name to draw attention his way.

“Noona, are you free next weekend? We’re going to karaoke for Jin’s birthday, you should totally join us!”

“Oh! That’s very sweet of you to offer, but I wouldn’t want to—”

“Noona, please come! How can you resist celebrating this handsome face?! I would love to have you at my party and you can’t disappoint the birthday boy.”

“Yeah Noona, you can do a duet with me! Maybe ‘A Whole New World’? Jimin is tired of being Jasmine,” Taehyung egged on.

You gave Namjoon a side-eye in an attempt to request the backup you had just been offered. He seemed to be weighing his next move when Jungkook leaned over you to grab his arm and beg, “Please, hyung! Make her come!”

Namjoon choked at those words for a moment; when he'd collected himself, he replied quietly, “As much as I’d like to, I would never make Noona do anything she doesn’t actually want.” Jungkook changed tactics and hit you with his big, puppy eyes full force.

You sighed and threw your hands in the air, fully defeated. “Fine, I’ll join. But—” you pointed at Taehyung, “I am not a soprano, so you need to pick a duet with a lower register.”

Jin did a kind of victory fist-pump. “Great! Give Joon-ah your number, he’s in charge of corralling everybody for plans. He can text you the info.” The man next to you nodded, unlocking his phone and handing it over to you. Once you keyed in your number, calling yourself to give you his, you slid it back to him on the table — you weren’t ready to risk it changing hands, worried how you might react to skin-to-skin contact after a few drinks. With glasses empty and the bill paid, you stood to follow the group out of the restaurant when Jin suddenly appeared by your side, offering his arm. "My lady?"

You smiled and walked outside arm-in-arm with him; well, he moreso wobbled, obviously feeling the effects of the wine, and you did your best to steady him. "You're not driving, are you Jin?"

"No no no my sweet Noona, Yoongles is my chauffeur tonight. I would ask you to continue the evening with us but I am a gentleman. Who promptly falls asleep after two glasses of wine. Goodnight!" He laid a rather loud kiss on your cheek and you couldn't help but giggle.

Before you could say your goodbyes to the others, Namjoon put his hand on your shoulder. “It’s late. How are you getting home?”

“I was going to get a cab.”

“Okay, good.” He gave a quick nod before stepping toward the street to flag one down himself. Once it pulled to the curb, he opened the car door and gave you a once-over, his lingering gaze far more intoxicating than the wine had been.

“You have my number now. Will you text me to let me know you got home safely?”

“Y-yeah, sure. Thank you.”

The ride home was a blur. Your mind was reeling; were you that touch-starved that a handshake and pleasant conversation with a hot guy could get you this worked up? You found yourself on autopilot while you reflected on the evening, barely registering entering your apartment and moving through your evening routine. It wasn’t until you were in bed with your tea and your book that you saw the two notifications on your phone.

11:32 PM

Namjoon: you make it home okay?

 

12:15 AM

Namjoon: noona?

Shit . You weren’t used to someone checking in on you. It seemed like you had worried a protective pack alpha, which you knew was unkind. You snapped a photo of your book in your lap and your mug in hand and guiltily typed out your delayed reply.

12:23 AM

You: Yes, everything is fine - sorry I forgot to text. All settled. [image attachment]

 

Namjoon: I’m glad you’re safe.

 

Namjoon: I loved The Midnight Library, by the way. great book. you’ll have to let me know when you finish it.

 

You: I will. Goodnight!

 

Namjoon: sweet dreams

You cracked open your book, but once you’d read the same sentence over and over again you realized your mind was too occupied with thoughts of the group you’d met tonight to get any reading done. You turned out the lights and settled under the covers, trying to remember as many details from the evening as possible and already anticipating seeing them again next weekend. Wanting to make sure you were confident in knowing their names and faces, you drifted off to sleep cycling through them like a chant.

Kim Namjoon…Kim Seokjin…Min Yoongi…Jung Hoseok…Park Jimin…Kim Taehyung…Jeon Jungkook……… Kim Namjoon…

Chapter Text

With the semester over, you decided to dedicate your first week of break to deep-cleaning the apartment. It started out with catching up on the basics: laundry, dusting, vacuuming. By day three, you were nearly through your audiobook and had moved on to cleaning tile grout with a toothbrush. Thursday you found yourself tackling the many expired condiments and leftovers in your fridge. Loading the now-emptied containers into the dishwasher, you let your mind wander. Is adulthood just unloading and reloading the dishwasher endlessly until we die? And apparently the dishwasher has a filter I’m supposed to clean? What other appliances have filters I don’t know about? Is my apartment just full of dusty, moldy mystery filters?

Thank god your phone started buzzing in your back pocket to break you out of that spiral.

Unknown number: what about “You’re the One That I Want” ? or “Señorita” ? 

Unknown number (2): I feel compelled to reassure you that your presence is the only present I need tomorrow! Unless you feel like giving this handsome face a smooch, which is only natural and encouraged. Especially after you hear me crush a power ballad. Okay see you later bye bye

Unknown number (3): what are you wearing tomorrow? I want to match your vibe. or maybe you can match mine? I’m feeling very disco, do you have any cute flared pants you can wear? or sequins? lmk

Unknown number (4): can’t wait to c u!!! wear comfy shoes and maybe we can go dancing after karaoke!!!

Namjoon: I’m so sorry. the heathens stole my phone to get your number. btw please don’t feel pressured to come to karaoke if you don’t want to. but we all want you to.

 

Chuckling to yourself, you used context clues to figure out who the unknown numbers were. Taehyung and Jin you were sure about. Process of elimination removed Namjoon, and you couldn’t see Yoongi or Jungkook sending those messages either. You opted to leave some mystery to the ones who had commandeered your number and only replied to Namjoon. 

You: I couldn’t bear to disappoint Jin, Jimin, Taehyung and Hoseok now. You must let them get away with everything. 

Namjoon: you have no idea. the maknaes are going to make me go gray early. 

You: Your hair is already gray…? 

Namjoon: it’s silver and it’s intentional, there’s a distinct difference

You: Fair enough. 

 

Despite having a fairly relaxing day, you were still somehow running late as ever. You were in the midst of trying to figure out what the hell to wear when Namjoon texted you that they were on their way, so you went with your gut and picked your favorite jumpsuit. Yes, this was frequently in rotation on nights out, but the guys had never seen you wear it so it may as well have been new. And you looked hot as hell in it. A quick swipe of lipstick to complete the look and you were on your way. Luckily, they had chosen a convenient location – the karaoke bar was a walkable couple blocks from your apartment and the brisk winter air was refreshing after your scramble.

“Oooooh Noona, you look beautiful tonight!” Taehyung greeted you with a hug and a kiss on the cheek like you were old friends rather than acquaintances who’d met only a week ago. Jimin appeared and grabbed your hand to give you a little twirl, then linked your arm in his to pull you toward the rest of the group. “This jumpsuit is sexy as fuck,” he told you, suddenly getting the look of mischief you were rapidly becoming familiar with. Turning to Namjoon, he asked, “Hyung, doesn’t she look stunning tonight?”

The alpha froze like a deer in headlights before deflecting. “Jiminie, don’t harass our guest. Glad you could make it, Noona.”

“Noona! You got your dancing shoes on?”

“Sorry Hoseok, my dancing mostly looks like one of those waving inflatable tube guys.”

“Aw I bet I could teach you a thing or two sometime! And you can call me Hobi if you want!”

Yoongi gave you a short nod in greeting, and Jungkook a bright smile and wave, before you made your way to the birthday boy. Jin was sitting in the thick of it all and waved you close, before pulling you down into his lap.

“Ooof— you guys are really affectionate, aren’t you?”

“Is that a problem?” Jin’s full lips pouted. Between his expression and the birthday hat on his head, he looked like a broad-shoulder toddler.

“Not a problem, I’m just not used to it. It’s kinda nice, actually.”

Drinks arrived and as they started filling the table, you slid off of Jin’s lap into a seat between him and the pack alpha. Namjoon’s gaze was fixed on his shoes and he quietly said “I’m sorry if Jimin made you uncomfortable. He’s an outrageous flirt, but he’s harmless. And spoken for, actually.” 

“Oh, don’t tell me that!” You fidgeted with a piece of lint on your leg, adding quietly, “I can’t use it as a confidence boost if he flirts with everybody. Is he mated?”

He laughed and finally met your eyes. “Yeah, he and Yoongi-hyung have been together a number of years. And he may be a flirt but he’s an honest one. You do look beautiful tonight, Noona.”

“Thank you,” you muttered as you quickly looked at anything but the dimples sitting next to you. It was suddenly like heat was radiating off of his arm next to yours, and you were grateful that Yoongi had just poured soju into the glass in front of you and everyone appeared to be gearing up to toast the eldest.

They toasted Jin's health. They toasted his beauty. They toasted his “terrible” sense of humor. They toasted him six ways to Sunday and you soon realized you might have an issue keeping up if someone didn’t start singing soon. Before anyone could refill your glass, you snuck over to select a song. You weren’t quite ready to try to actually sing in front of them, but you wanted to get their attention away from the soju, so you queued up Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” Your nerves were creeping in, and it felt appropriate to your current situation. As the music started up and their heads turned, you let muscle memory take over.

You didn’t look up at them until the “mom’s spaghetti” line, but when you did, you saw nothing but shock, delight, and awe. One corner of Yoongi’s mouth was pulled into an amused smirk, Jin’s mouth had formed a perfect “O,” and Namjoon’s jaw was on the floor. The maknaes were just screaming unintelligibly. When the first chorus rolled around, Hoseok jumped up to join you as your hype man, and you found it was much easier to perform for just him rather than the whole audience. As the song faded out, he picked you up and spun you around, crying “Noona! You are such a badass!”

The plan worked, everyone crowding around to make song selections, and soon performances were in full swing. Taehyung once again demanded you duet “You’re the One That I Want,” and you did your best Sandy-strut, finger on his chest. Jimin’s disco mood got you to sing “Mamma Mia” with him. You were delighted to discover that Namjoon, Yoongi, and Hoseok were all really excellent rappers. You finally committed to a solo number, going with “Truth Hurts.” If you weren’t singing at the top of your lungs, you were cheering for the others. Eventually you collapsed into a seat next to Jin, out of breath and sweaty from all the excitement. When was the last time I had this much fun? Have I ever had this much fun?

You looked at Jin, his face alight with laughter. The rosy pink hair he was sporting brought out the color of his full lips, and you made a decision. You took another shot of soju before turning to face him.

“Do you want your birthday present now, or later?”

“My— what?”

“Your birthday present.”

“Noona, I told you not to get me anything!”

“You told me not to get you anything with one exception. So, do you want it, or not?”

His brows knit together in confusion before you saw the lightbulb go off in his brain. “Really?”

“Don’t make me overthink it or I’ll retract my offer.” He smiled and didn’t hesitate, taking your face in his hands and brought his lips to yours. You melted into him, the soft press of his lips, before you both broke away giggling.

Jimin gasped. “My turn next! I want to kiss Noona!”

“This is not a kissing booth!” you objected. “You’ll just have to wait until it’s your birthday.”

“But my birthday isn’t until October! That’s not fair!”

“Hmm. Maybe New Year’s then.” That seemed to placate him, and he resumed choosing his next song. It was then you felt eyes on you from across the room and you caught Namjoon: his stare was intense, his jaw tight. Looking for an escape, you quickly stood up, almost losing your balance in the process. You made your way to the door but were stopped by arms wrapped around your middle. “Taetae let go of me! I just need to go pee. I promise I’ll be right back!”

You made your way down the hall to the bathroom with heavy footsteps. One look in the mirror and you knew: Oh. I am wasted. Your lipstick was smudged, eye makeup creasing from sweat. It was probably a good idea to make a graceful exit while you still could (if you still could, after that little display). For a moment, you considered just slipping out the back, but then you remembered your coat was still in the room. So you powdered your face to try and salvage your makeup, fixed your lipstick, and reentered the room to try and quietly grab your coat and sneak out. It was Jungkook who spotted you creeping toward the exit.

“Noona, are you leaving?”

“Yeah, this has been so fun, but I just think I’ve had enough to drink and I need to call it a night. I live really close by though so I’m just going to walk home!” You turned to leave, but were blocked by a tall man with a firm chest.

“Not alone you’re not.”

You met his eyes, up for the challenge. “I’m a big girl Namjoon, I walk alllll by myself everywhere.” You wobbled slightly and Jungkook steadied you. The pack alpha was unmoved, and now you were locked in some kind of standoff.

“How about if we walk back with you?” Yoongi suggested. “We could all do with some fresh air,” he added, side-eyeing a very flushed Hoseok, who had sat down about 20 minutes ago and currently looked like he was dissociating.

Everyone was in agreement, so the eight of you walked to your apartment, you leading the way bolstered by Taehyung and Jungkook. The fresh air was sobering, and you suddenly realized you were parched and imagined the others were too.

“Would you all like to come up for a little bit, have some water? I also have beer if that’s what you guys would prefer.” After you struggled with your keys for a minute, you all piled into your tiny home. You were shocked to find that it could actually fit all eight of you, although it was definitely cozy. Their voices overlapped in compliments about your place and how nice it was, appreciating your knickknacks and decor.

“Thanks! I just deep-cleaned this week! Did you guys know that refrigerators have filters?” The boys settled in and you continued listing all of the household filters you’d discovered yesterday as you pulled out beers and water.

Yoongi was, in general, hesitant about new people. There wasn't anything wrong with you, per se, but he did feel concern that his experience as an alpha was one you'd poke at. The first time you'd looked at him at dinner, he had the distinct feeling he was being studied. However, he seemed to be the only one in his pack who felt that way. When you left to get drinks, Jin followed, probably wanting a closer look at your kitchen and the contents of your fridge. The younger ones made themselves comfortable on the couch, each grabbing a throw pillow to cuddle; Hoseok had opened the balcony door, still looking like he needed the fresh air. Yoongi decided to peruse the vinyl collection he spotted out of the corner of his eyes, and he was impressed to find a wide variety of genres. Your taste wasn't half bad. He selected an album and set it on the turntable, before discovering Namjoon deeply engrossed in examining the contents of your bookshelf. The older alpha rolled his eyes; it was obvious Joon was smitten with you, and was now having a field day being in your space. He watched his dongsaeng continue to admire the art on your walls, the thriving plants that seemed to cover every available surface. And once you and Jin entered the room, drinks in hand, he watched him admire you . You were clearly drunk, and yet the perfect hostess. It seemed second-nature for you to make sure those around you were comfortable and had what they needed. Yoongi smirked; their pack alpha was absolutely fucked. 

The eight of you chatted amongst yourselves for a while, the vibe much calmer than it had been back at the bar. You were finally having some kind of breakthrough conversation with Yoongi, who seemed impressed with your music collection, when Jungkook asked you a question from across the room.

“Professor Noona? Do you live here all by yourself?”

“No boyfriend or girlfriend?” Jimin added on.

“Nope. Just lil ol’ me.”

“Yah! How can an eligible bachelorette like you not have a line of suitors out the door?” Jin feigned outrage on your behalf.

“I didn’t say I don’t date, just that I’m not in a relationship. Being in a relationship would mean sacrificing the time I have for work, or hobbies; I just haven’t found somebody yet who seems worth it.”

“Wow, Noona is so wise,” Hoseok nodded approvingly. 

“But now you’ll have even less time to find someone with seven new friends!” interjected Taehyung, his face tinted pink from the alcohol. “I demand to see you at least twice a week.”

“Aw, you’re sweet, Taetae.” He replied with a big, boxy smile.

“Does your family live close by?” Namjoon asked.

“No, they don’t.”

“Noona?” Jungkook’s voice was quiet. “If you live alone and your family is far… who takes care of you?”

You tilted your head. “How do you mean?”

“When you’re sick, or sad, or tired, or just have a bad day… who helps? Do you call a friend?” 

“I take care of myself, Jungkook.”

“Even if you’re sick? If you had the flu you would still have to cook and clean up and nurse yourself back to health?” 

You nodded and tried to ignore the pang in your chest. Nobody likes being alone, and you did have a couple friends — but you were independent, a caretaker by nature, and couldn’t stand the idea of asking for help. It was the looks on their faces that really hurt: pity . A couple of them even looked angry, which just confused you. Before your emotions could bubble to the surface, you made eye contact with Yoongi — who you suspected to be the most likely introvert ally — and faked a rather dramatic yawn. He got the hint. Bless him.

“Guys, it’s getting really late. I think it’s about time we thank Noona for her hospitality and head home.”

Hobi, who’d probably been ready to head home for a while now, nodded slowly, but he was the only one. The younger men whined and complained and attached themselves to you like koalas, while Namjoon momentarily looked like he wanted to challenge Yoongi before coming to his senses. They each in turn said their goodbyes, Jin taking his time to give you a nice long hug and his thanks for joining the celebration, only releasing you when you pinky-promised you’d respond to his texts next time and come over for dinner soon.

Once you had your place to yourself again, you locked up and retreated to your room. As you washed your face and went through your bedtime routine, Jungkook’s words echoed in your mind and you could feel your spirit sinking. Maybe you weren’t a wolf, who required the structure and support of a pack, but humans are social creatures too. You thought about lone wolves, the negative, often tragic impact that being without a pack had on them. You didn’t want to admit to yourself that it was hard always being your own caretaker, that leaning on someone else just meant ordering takeout rather than cooking.

You got under the covers and hugged a pillow close as you continued spiraling. When was the last time I actually made plans with friends? Got asked on a date? Talked to anyone from home? As you drifted off to a restless sleep, one question kept repeating in your mind: am I a lone wolf?

Chapter Text

You kept a low profile for a few days after the abrupt end to the karaoke night, and were thankful that the guys were giving you space as well. At least, most of them were. 

1:32 PM

Jin: hello Noona! 

2:13 PM

Jin: how have you been??

2:46 PM

Jin: I am cooking my world wide famous carbonara tonight. please come have some

3:03 PM

Jin: none of these fools appreciate my cooking enough. Jungkook inhales 3 servings in 90 seconds and I’m like, did you even taste it???

Jin: as a woman of class and sophistication I know you would not do this to me

3:17 PM

Jin: if you don’t respond I’ll just keep texting you 

Jin: Noona

Jin: Noona

Jin: Noonanoonanoonanoonanoona...

3:23 PM

You: okay, okay! I surrender!

You: Since I’m currently looking at an empty fridge, I guess I’m in. What time should I be there, and can I bring anything?

3:30 PM

Jin: Wonderful! You can come over at 7, I’ll send you the address. The only thing you need to bring is yourself :)

You put your phone down and sighed, looking again in your fridge and cabinets. Like hell I’m not going to bring anything. Luckily, you at least had ingredients for your go-to dessert: brown butter chocolate chip cookies. If you worked fast, they’d be cool just in time for you to leave. You flipped on your favorite playlist and hopped to it, having the recipe memorized at this point. While the oven preheated, you got the butter browning on the stove and pulled out the mixer to start the dough.

A few hours later, you stood anxiously outside the pack house, warm container of cookies in hand. The door opened within a second of you ringing the doorbell, Jungkook on the other side. 

“Good evening, Professor Noona! Welcome! May I take your coat?” the young man bowed deeply.

“Uh… sure? Thanks, Jungkook. What’s with the formality?”

His eyes grew wide, looking over his shoulder before he leaned toward you to whisper conspiratorially: “Jin-hyung threatened us if we weren’t on our best behavior tonight. He said, and I quote, ‘I need a normal adult friend I can talk to outside of this house and if any of you idiots fuck that up I will feed you nothing but plain rice for a week.’ Please don’t tell him I told you.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Jungkook hung your coat and took the cookies into the kitchen, pointing you in the direction of a large, circular dining table where Namjoon sat. Arching a brow at the pack leader, you gestured to the large table and said, “King Arthur, I presume?” There was no limit to the corny jokes you would tell if your reward was seeing those dimples. He laughed and pulled out the chair next to him and replied, “Guinevere, my lady?”

“Oh I would much rather be Morgan le Fay," you told him as you sat down. "It’s my life’s aspiration to have strangers think I’m a mysterious witch or enchantress.”

“Remind me not to get on your bad side,” he grinned.

“Noona’s here!” Jimin appeared and leaned down to hug your shoulders from behind.

“And she brought cookies!” Taehyung added as he slipped into the seat on your other side.

“These aren't half bad, Noona,” Yoongi entered the room with a half-eaten cookie in his hand.

“Yah! Dinner first!” Jin snatched the treat from his hand, before devouring it himself.

Jin was an excellent cook, and by the end of the meal you were thankful you’d worn stretchy leggings instead of jeans. Much of conversation was spent getting to know the pack members more, including what they each did for a living. Namjoon managed the business side of a contemporary art gallery; Taehyung was apparently a model, and even picked up an acting gig here and there; and Jin worked for a video game developer, as well as being the day-to-day manager of the pack house.

Jungkook was obviously a student, but you learned he also earned quite a bit of money gaming on the side. Your face must have shown your confusion, because Yoongi leaned across Namjoon to explain, “I don’t really get how he gets paid for that, either. He’s explained it but it just makes me feel old and out-of-touch so I just nod along.” Yoongi himself was apparently a successful music producer; he made his own tracks, but also hired out his skills to other artists and the occasional corporate music gig when he had some free time and wanted extra cash. You learned he also took the role of managing the pack’s finances, and was pretty good at making wise investments. The more you interacted with and learned about Yoongi, the more intrigued you were.

His mate, Jimin, ran a dance studio along with Hoseok; apparently they were both gifted dancers and teachers, with strengths in different styles of movement. “We do a recital every spring, Noona! You should come!” 

“Noona! I wanted to remind you of my offer to give you a dance lesson. You should come by the studio sometime and Jiminie and I can show you a thing or two,” Hobi added with a grin.

“That’s a kind offer, which you may regret once I’ve stepped on all your toes.”

It was hard to admit how much you were enjoying this evening. For someone who considered themself to be happily independent, you were surprised by how naturally you fell into a rhythm with the group, how nice it was to not eat alone. The pack obviously not only loved each other, as a family typically does, but truly liked each other too. You would have been happy just to be a fly on the wall. Once dinner died down and everyone had apparently eaten their fill, you collected the dirty dishes and took them to the kitchen. When you turned on the sink to begin washing them, there was an uproar of the men telling you to stop what you were doing and sit back down.

“You fed me! The least I can do is help clean up!”

“Absolutely not! I want this woman removed from my kitchen at once!” the eldest demanded, and you were suddenly flanked by the two youngest, who each grabbed an arm and escorted you to the living room. They pushed you onto the couch next to Namjoon, and before you could move they grabbed a nearby blanket and wrapped it so tightly around your legs that you were pretty sure you wouldn’t be able to get up without first flopping onto the floor and wriggling around like a worm.

“You get kicked out of the kitchen too?” Namjoon asked.

“It seems your hyung takes hosting guests very seriously. What’s your excuse?”

“Uh, let’s just say I… am not the most spatially-aware person.”

“Please elaborate.”

“I’ve broken a dish or two in my time. More than two. Enough for Jin-hyung to banish me from the kitchen permanently.”

“Are you actually clumsy, or are you an evil genius who figured out how to get out of ever doing the dishes?”

“Whoaaaa, you might be onto something! Namjoonie-hyung is actually a genius. Like for real,” Jungkook radiated pride for his pack alpha, who was blushing furiously. 

“Oh yeah? So all that remains for me to see is if you use that big brain of yours for good or evil. Which is it, Namjoonie?”

Before he could answer, the rest of the members joined you. Hoseok was carrying the cookies you’d made, now nicely arranged on a plate. With Jin’s blessing, everyone finally got to try one and you enjoyed basking in their compliments as they got their first taste. “These are the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had,” gushed Taehyung. “What’s your secret?!” 

“It’s an old family recipe. I won’t be revealing it to anyone but my own future family.” 

“That’s okay, I can wait,” Tae replied with a glint in his eye. You looked at him suspiciously, rolling your eyes when he reciprocated with a kissy face.

“I’m going to be honest with you guys: I’m dangerously close to a food coma. I think it’s time for me to head home.” What initially felt like a normal full stomach was now feeling bloated and very uncomfortable, and you were ready to be pantless in your own space.

“Okay Noona, if that’s what you want. Can one of us drive you?” offered Hoseok. 

“Thank you, but a brisk walk would do me good. Thanks for inviting me over, the company was almost as wonderful as the carbonara. Your Jin-hyung is an incredible cook, and you all better appreciate him or you’ll have me to answer to.” Jin’s neck and ears turned pink in bashful pride. "Um, Namjoon... can you untangle me from this blanket?"

They each said their goodbyes, the omegas kissing your cheeks, and Namjoon walked you to the door. As you turned to leave, he grabbed your arm. “Noona? Will you please text me when you get home safely? Or call us if you need us on your walk back?” 

“I promise, I won’t forget this time.” 

Namjoon raised a brow and extended his pinky finger. You linked it with yours, briefly smiling at him before saying goodnight.

Chapter Text

After your dinner at the pack house, a few of the guys started texting you more regularly. Hobi would often wish you good morning and send some positive vibes for the day (typically in the form of an encouraging or silly gif). Taehyung would send funny (and often weird) memes and TikToks. Yoongi even sent you a link to his last mixtape. With so much of your focus being on work lately, you hadn’t done the best job keeping in touch with your few friends, so it was nice to know someone was thinking of you and to feel included. You did your best to reply or at least acknowledge their messages.

Sipping your coffee, you found your own perfect gif to send to Hobi before deciding it might be a good idea to catch up on some emails. You tried to avoid it as much as possible over breaks, but had to keep up at least a little or else you’d be overwhelmed at the start of the semester. Most of it was administrative stuff from the university; some questions from students, including a couple of requests for recommendations. There were a few emails in response to your most recent article that were largely unintelligible (seriously, you know it’s a poorly written email when I can’t tell what point they’re trying to argue) but you had even more responses that were positive and supportive. There was one subject line containing language that made your stomach turn, clearly from an anti-shifter human, which you flagged as spam. Research showed that a healthy majority of the population supported equality and unity between shifters and humans, but as with any social issue, there were extremists at either end of the spectrum who liked to share their opinions on the matter. This kind of rhetoric wasn’t new to you, but having people find your work email address to argue with you directly was.

Next was another email from a sender you didn’t recognize with the subject line “Shifter Business.” Sounding a little more innocuous, you opened it up to discover a chilling message. 

Keep your filthy human nose out of wolf business if you know what’s good for you. I'm are watching. 

You closed your laptop and took a deep breath. I think that’s enough email for today. Suddenly the apartment felt claustrophobic. You paced around, unsure of what to do with the anxious energy creeping in. Deciding a workout might be a good distraction from the bigots of the world, you changed and headed out to a nearby boxing gym to take your fear and rage out on a punching bag. Rage coursed through you, both at the injustices of the world as well as in your own life. On one hand, you felt as though you should be resentful towards shifters and pack life, having not fit in in your own. But the time you'd been spending with the guys had instead made you long for that sense of community and belonging more than ever. Lost in your thoughts, you were startled by a gentle tap on your shoulder. You turned around and were surprised to see Jungkook, who looked surprised at first until his expression turned bashful.

“Hi Professor Noona! I wasn’t expecting you! I’m sorry to interrupt. I was just looking for a sparring partner, I didn’t know it was you from behind, you were kicking ass! Anyway, would you maybe want to spar with me? If you don’t want to, that's totally okay!” 

“Hey, Jungkook! Fancy seeing you here. Sure, I’d be down to spar. I should warn you I have a lot of pent-up aggression right now, though.” 

“You can take it out on me, Noona! Let’s get it! You can hit first.” He started hopping with excitement as you followed him to the ring, collecting pads as he went. Raising his hands to accept your hits, his initial excitement turned to wide-eyed shock when he felt the force of your first few punches.

“Whoa whoa whoa! You weren’t kidding!” He signaled for you to throw in a kick as well; he got his pad ready, but your roundhouse ended up knocking him off-balance and he fell to the floor.

“Noona, that was badass. I had no idea you were so strong! Are you sure you’re not secretly an alpha?” You knew he didn’t mean anything by it, but when you thought about all the expectations of your original pack that you hadn’t met, you felt the energy drain from your limbs. I would have been happy with any designation, you thought. Offering a hand to pull Jungkook to his feet, you ignored his comment and instead suggested you switch to let him start throwing punches. The two of you went back and forth a few times, and once you got into a rhythm it was easier to empty your mind from anything that wasn’t in front of you. You finally had to be the one to surrender; you just didn’t have the same endurance that he did. 

As you tried to sip your water instead of drowning yourself in it like you wanted, Jungkook started his excitable rambling. “That was so fun! Can we do it again sometime? None of the guys ever want to spar with me. And you’re like, really good at this!” 

“Sure we can. It’s always nice to have a workout buddy, and I haven’t been up against anyone but a heavy bag in a long time before today.”

“Awesome!” he smiled. “But Noona… if you don’t mind me asking, did something upset you today? You don't have to tell me about it if you don’t want to, but I’m happy to listen if it helps.” 

“Thanks, JK. I don’t really want to talk about it now, but you’ve already helped more than you know.”

He stood a little straighter, puffing out his chest a bit as he smiled with pride, not even knowing what he’d done right. 

You said your goodbyes and returned to your apartment to make an attempt at some self-care. You lit candles, took an extra long shower, used your favorite body scrub. Afterwards, you put on a sheet mask, made a cup of tea, and curled up on the couch to look for something to watch. But as soon as your mind was unoccupied, your thoughts wandered back to that email and your heart rate increased. The walls once again felt as if they were closing in, and every little noise you heard felt like a threat. As if the universe was throwing you a lifeline, your phone suddenly dinged. 

8:03pm

Unknown number: Hi Professor Noona, it’s JK! Is it okay for me to text you?? Thanks again for sparring with me today! We’re gonna play Mario Kart tonight if you wanna come over and blow off some more steam! Jin-hyung and I get pretty competitive

You: Actually, that does sound like fun. I’ll see you in a little bit. 

Upon arriving at the house, you learned that Namjoon, Yoongi, and Hoseok were out for the evening and you’d be playing with Jin and the maknaes: a recipe for chaos and the perfect distraction. You tried not to read too much into your initial disappointment that not everyone was home.

Jimin brought out a few bottles of Soju, setting a rule that the losers of each round would have to take a shot. You were no slouch when it came to Mario Kart, but Jin obviously was a big gamer. The two of you and Jungkook, who seemed to excel at almost everything, were in a constant battle for first place. You were pretty sure Jimin, who obviously knew who he was up against, had designed the drinking game with the full intent of getting hammered. He and Taehyung were all too happy to take their loser shots, and it wasn’t long before you were all practically rolling around on the floor, howling with laughter over who knows what. The longer you played, the more competitive and worked up you all got, constantly sabotaging and running into each other’s characters. In a particularly contentious round, you had a stunning come-from-behind victory despite Jin hitting you with a blue turtle shell. As you crossed the finish line, Jimin tackled you in drunken joy (completely abandoning his own controller). You lay there giggling with the young man’s body on top of yours and decided to tickle him in retaliation; this was a mistake. 

The tickling escalated into a full wrestling match, and you rolled over to pin Jimin on his back. You couldn’t help but laugh at the look of shock on his face, but it shouldn’t have been that surprising. You were clearly taller than him, and although he was incredibly fit, you’d already proven your strength to one of his packmates today. Taehyung quickly jumped to Jimin’s defense, knocking you sideways off of his friend and initiating a dogpile on top of you. There was a scramble until Jungkook had you flat on your back, arms pinned above your head, while Jimin tickled your sides and Jin attempted to restrain Taehyung from outnumbering you further. Amidst the chaos, none of you noticed the other three pack members return home.

“What’s happening here and why wasn’t I invited?!” Hobi rushed to join the shenanigans. “Oh! Hi Noona! Didn’t expect to see you mixed up with these fools!”

A deep growl reverberated from the doorway. Namjoon’s unreadable expression quickly sobered you, and when you followed his gaze you realized as a result of the tickling tussle your shirt had ridden halfway up your stomach. You quickly averted your eyes from his and Jungkook rolled off of you so you could sit up, adjusting your clothes and smoothing your hair. 

In embarrassment, you kept your eyes trained on the floor. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize how late it’d gotten. I better head home.”

“No, you don’t have to go!” Hobi exclaimed. 

“Yah! Don’t let these three ruin our fun,” Jin added. “If you don't want them here I will banish them without a second's hesitation!"

“It’s not that!” you replied. “I just don’t want to intrude on anyone’s space or overstay my welcome, especially if not everyone knew I would be here.” Timidly, your eyes met Namjoon’s, who had let out another low growl before Yoongi smacked his arm. 

“Quit with the noise Joon-ah, she doesn’t get what you’re grumpy about and she thinks you’re mad at her being here, dummy.” Namjoon’s eyes grew wide in realization, and suddenly you weren’t the only one flushed with embarrassment. He walked over to you, extending a hand to help you off the floor. It felt as though there were magnets in each of your palms; even once you were standing, you didn’t want to let go, and you thought back to that handshake at your first meeting.

“Hey, I’m sorry Noona,” Namjoon said quietly. “I was just mad at myself for making you feel like we wanted you to leave; we’re all happy to have you here. That growl was out of frustration with myself, not directed at you.”

“Then what was that first one for?”

He cleared his throat, appearing to choose his words carefully, before Jimin interrupted. “It's because you were outnumbered! Hyung probably thought we were picking on you. But you should know Joonie, she started it!”

Rolling your eyes, you turned an accusing finger in his direction. “You were the one who tackled me first!”

“Yeah, to celebrate your win! I don’t think I’m in the wrong here. Sorry for being a supportive friend, I guess,” he elbowed you playfully. You turned, splaying your fingers wide and threatening to tickle him again, when Jin wrapped his arms around you to pin your arms at your side, Jimin gloating in his safety.

“Oh you’re no fun!” you pouted. In an effort to escape, you decided to go dead weight on Jin, knocking you both down to the floor in a fit of giggles. Yoongi looked down at the two of you with a disinterested look. “Have fun you weirdos. I’m going to bed.”

“Me too,” Jimin said and he sidled up to his mate, giving him a puppy-eyed look. “I want some cuddles!”

“Well, I want to stay up and hang with Noona,” Hobi smiled at you. 

“You can watch us play Mario Kart, hyung!” Jungkook chimed.

“Why can’t Hobi just play with us since Jimin is going to bed?”

“I’m not much of a gamer, so I will be your cheerleader! Team Noona all the way!”

“She doesn’t need a cheerleader, I’m the one who’s getting their butt kicked,” pouted Taehyung.

“Cheer up, buttercup!” you teasingly tapped his nose with your index finger. Relenting, he handed your controller back to you and Jin started up another round. Hoseok stuck close to you, offering encouragement as much as possible, and you attributed your current winning streak to his support. A winning streak that was horribly and embarrassingly broken when Namjoon returned to the room, settling into a nearby armchair. He had changed into a large hoodie and sweatpants, looking very cozy with a book in hand. Although he had set himself up to read, your peripheral vision was hyper-sensitive to the fact that he hadn’t turned a page in quite some time. His presence somehow put you on edge; you were suddenly more aware of your posture, quieter in your jeering against your competitors. By the time Hobi finally stood and stretched and said goodnight, your nerves were feeling a little frayed from feeling (or wishing) the pack alpha’s eyes on you.

“I think it’s time for me to head to bed too.” You stood to collect your belongings and make your exit, until an idea popped into your head. “It’s a little late, do you guys mind if I wait here while I call a cab?” The question may have been directed at the group, but you addressed it to Namjoon, who took the bait.

"Save your money, I'll walk you home. If... if that's okay, with you, of course."

Trying to contain your smile, you nodded and exchanged goodbyes with the boys who were still awake and the two of you made your way back to your apartment. After you nearly tripped over an uneven spot of the sidewalk, Namjoon insisted you walk arm in arm; you let him believe it was more to do with the empty bottles of soju he'd spied than your own lack of coordination, grateful for the excuse to be close to him. The conversation was casual: you talked about how long you’d lived in this neighborhood, your hometowns, and favorite spots nearby. You discovered you shared a favorite cafe, one that was full of plants and cozy seats and felt more like a greenhouse than a coffee shop. Talking to Namjoon was easy and natural, and before you knew it your apartment building was in sight.

“Thank you for walking me home. I really enjoy talking with you.” Standing on your toes, you wrapped your arms around his shoulders in a hug, quickly kissing him on the cheek as you parted. Before you could see his reaction, you hurried to the door, but you couldn’t resist looking back at him.

“Namjoon?”

“Yes, Noona?” 

“Text me when you get home so I know you’re safe?” 

With a wide smile and a small nod, he quietly replied, “I promise.”

Chapter Text

Namjoon was driving his packmates up the wall. There was no end to his movement: if he was standing, he was pacing. If he was sitting, his leg bounced and shook every nearby surface. His brows seemed to be stuck knitted together, deep in thought. It had been three days of constant fidgeting. Although everyone noticed their leader seemed on edge, they had simply exchanged looks and left well enough alone. Jin was the first to crack. “Yah! Namjoon! What is wrong with you lately? Quit it with the bouncing!“ 

“Hm?” the younger man looked up from his phone, unaware that his restlessness was palpable to the entire pack. “Sorry hyung, I was just reading.” Lie. I was thinking about Noona kissing me, wishing I'd paid more attention to how her lips felt on my cheek. That way I could think about how they would feel everywhere else. I was thinking about how I don’t even remember walking home, just that I couldn’t wait to get back just so I could text her.

Jungkook peered over Namjoon’s shoulder and smiled wide. “I knew it! You’re into Professor Noona!”

“Literally everyone knows it, JK. Except maybe Noona herself,” Yoongi rolled his eyes. 

“What?! No I'm not— I’m just reading one of her articles—”

“You’re reading her bio. And staring at her picture.”

Namjoon flung his phone across the table in frustration. Yoongi smirked and sat down across from him before asking the obvious: “why don’t you just ask her out?”

Yoongi felt the vibrations of Namjoon’s leg beginning to bounce again. He watched the younger man clench his jaw, avoiding the others’ eyes. “It’s complicated.”

“What’s complicated about it? She obviously has a lot of similar interests. And she's clearly into you, too.” 

"What— what makes you say that?"

"Aish Joonie, because we all have eyes," mocked Jin. "Not to mention our noses, I mean every time you so much as brush up against her it's like—"

“That's enough, hyung."

“Hey.” Yoongi leaned forward until he was in Namjoon’s field of vision. “You can talk to me.” Namjoon paused in consideration before jerking his head down the hall and simply saying “Studio.”

Yoongi followed him to the small office they had converted to a makeshift studio for Yoongi to work in; Namjoon often joined him on his personal tracks. It was fairly well soundproofed, much to Jungkook and Jin’s chagrin (who were definitely not trying to eavesdrop). After settling onto the couch, Yoongi poured them each a glass of whiskey from the bottle he kept hidden in this sacred space. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“I think I've found my mate.”

“Okay. Say more words.”

“I mean, you know how fascinated I’ve been by Kookie’s recaps of his lectures. He’s always been a good student but I don’t think another teacher has ever captured his interest like that before. So when he told us he invited her to dinner, I started reading through the articles she’s published, and ended up reading her doctoral thesis… and hyung, she’s brilliant. I just wanted to be able to pick her brain about a few things, but then I saw her, and… she’s gorgeous, and unique, and charming, and funny…” Namjoon trailed off as redness creeped up his neck, hiding his face behind his hands. “When I shook her hand that night at dinner, it was like… I don’t know. I felt something like I’ve never felt before. I can't stop thinking about her, and when she's nearby it feels like all of my nerve endings are on fire.”

Yoongi took a sip from his drink as he processed this. “So... what’s the problem?”

"She's... she's a human?"

“Does that bother you?”

“No! But… I’m afraid to explore it because… what if she isn’t open to pack life, if she doesn't get the way we share everything, or doesn't get along with someone in the pack? I don’t know if humans can feel any effects of the mating pull at all; what if I really fall for her and my mate rejects me? How the hell are you supposed to approach a mate if she doesn’t know she’s your mate? ” 

“Those are weak excuses. Everyone is clearly obsessed with her and they haven't scared her off, so you know she has great Luna potential. As far as pack dynamics go, she literally teaches the subject. Don't undermine her by assuming she would be in the dark.  Joon-ah, this isn’t the first time I’ve told you this and I’m sure it won’t be the last: you’re overthinking things. Yes, you’d be miserable if she were to reject you. But it seems like you’ll also be miserable if you don’t try. The only positive outcome starts with you getting to know her.”

The younger man nodded, deep in thought. “I just don’t want to get my hopes up, but... I really feel like she's the one.”

“Then quit whining and send her a damn text.”

Chapter Text

4:17pm

Namjoon: can you help me with something? I noticed when we were at your place that you’re very good with plants.

You: I can try my best!

Namjoon: it’s my fiddle leaf. it just started dropping leaves the other day out of nowhere. [photo attachment]

You: hmm. Is it near an air vent?

Namjoon: yeah, how did you know?

You: This has happened to me before. They just really hate that dry air blowing on them. If you move it away from the vent it should do better! Maybe put a humidifier nearby for the winter.

Namjoon: thank you, I’ll try that! I owe you one. do you accept coffee as payment for your consultation services?

You: I prefer it, actually. 

Namjoon: tomorrow? that cafe we both like?

“I finished The Midnight Library, by the way,” you said over your vanilla hazelnut latte. Namjoon sat across from you sipping his americano, tucked into a corner of your mutually favorite plant-filled coffee shop. Both of you had long legs, and you were hyper-aware that your knees nearly touched under the table. 

“Oh! What did you think?” he asked. You'd noticed that when he asked questions, it came from a place of genuine curiosity, not just politeness.

“It was definitely an interesting take on an afterlife. I know they had nods to It’s a Wonderful Life throughout, so obviously the movie was influential to the story, but it felt a little heavy-handed at times. And the ending was a little too tidy. But overall I enjoyed it; it got me thinking and feeling which is what I always hope a book will do.”

“I haven’t seen that movie, so it’s interesting to hear how it influenced your feelings about the book.” 

“You haven’t seen it?! It’s one of my favorite classics — you should definitely watch it with the holidays coming up.”

“You’ll have to show it to me. Maybe you can come over to the house for a movie night?”

The hopeful tone in his voice made your heart swell. “Yeah, I would like that. Your pack is a lot of fun.”

“I know we can be an overwhelming bunch at times.”

“A bit. Not all packs are so welcoming to outsiders.”

“No, they’re not. I like to think we’re different, though.

“You are. Almost suspiciously so.”

Namjoon’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “What’s suspicious?”

“It’s one thing to be kind to a dinner guest. But you all just…” you trailed off, unsure you wanted to finish that thought. “Do you regularly invite people over to the pack house?”

“No. Not typically,” he admitted. 

“So why me? Why have you all been so quick to welcome me in and try to befriend me?”

Namjoon sipped his coffee, choosing his next words carefully. “After Jungkook told us he wanted to invite you to dinner, I read a couple of your op-ed articles. I could tell from your positions and the passion that you write with that you were a kind person and sympathetic to shifters. I also trust Jungkook as a good judge of character, and he obviously likes you.” He paused to take another drink. “At the restaurant, it just felt like you clicked with us. The rest of the pack was receptive to you being there because JK and I were, but I think everyone just genuinely enjoyed your company. And once the betas and omegas of our pack decide they like somebody, they tend to go all in.”

“What about Yoongi?”

“Yoongi is a little slower to open up to people, and I think he was… concerned about your potential professional interest in his designation and position in the pack. But you don’t treat him any differently so it seems you’ve won him over, too. He was really impressed by your music collection.”

“He thought I would judge him? Or pry?”

“Well, it’s pretty unusual for an elder alpha to step aside for a younger one to lead the pack.”

“Unusual, but not unheard of. I trust he made the choice that was best for him as well as for the pack.” You avoided his eyes and added, “I’m the last person to judge someone for not fitting into others' expectations.”

He considered your response, tried to decode what was hidden in your statement. “What sparked your interest in this field of study, anyway?”

Your gaze wandered out the window. “It’s… complicated. The short answer is, I’ve always been drawn to the innate sense of belonging that comes with being part of a pack. Maybe even a bit envious of it.”

“Did you not have a close community growing up?”

“Yes and no. It was there, but I was different from everyone else. That’s the part that’s complicated.”

You were feeling increasingly edgy, and he seemed to understand you didn’t want to discuss it further. “I’m sorry you went through that. I hope you know that wolf or not, you’re welcome with us.”

“I don’t need your pity, Namjoon,” you snapped. He raised his hands in surrender before laying them on the table. 

“I’m not pitying you. Like I said, we enjoy your company, and I think you feel the same. I can see you’re independent and resilient and I would never want to discount that or change that. But humans are social creatures too, and I just want you to know we’re in your corner. We want to be your friends— no ulterior motive.” His gentle tone caused you to deflate slightly, feeling foolish for your overreaction.

You reached out to place your hands on top of his. “I appreciate what you’re saying and I’m sorry for being defensive. I think when I compare the friendships I’ve had in life to the bond you all share, it just pales in comparison.” As you spoke, he flipped his hand so your palms connected, and rubbed your wrists with his thumbs to provide some comfort. “I’m not, like, alone per se, but I don’t have the kind of people in my life that I could just… invite over to sit in silence while we’re both on our phones, if that makes sense. Or feel comfortable calling if I need help with something. I guess I’ve been feeling insecure about that since Jungkook asked when you all were at my apartment.”

He started down at your hand in his, quiet and deep in thought, before you suddenly felt self-conscious and pulled away. Namjoon looked up at you with a soft smile. 

“Whether you find ‘your people’ with us or elsewhere, you deserve to be supported and cared for. I hope you know that.” 

“I thought this coffee was meant to be a reward for saving your plant, not a therapy session,” you said with a wry smile.

“What can I say? I like to multitask. Actually, that does remind me of something I wanted to ask— are you any good with orchids?”

Chapter Text

Namjoon mentioned to his packmates that he wanted to have you over for a movie night so you could show them It’s a Wonderful Life, and they insisted it happen as soon as possible. The omegas were on a mission to bring the living room to maximum coziness; Taehyung (with Jungkook’s help) was stringing up Christmas lights while Jimin brought every blanket he could find in the house into the living room to form a nest. Jin was in the kitchen, making a large batch of hot chocolate and popcorn, while Hobi bullied Yoongi into helping him tidy up a bit. Namjoon was watering his plants as he thought about what you’d said over coffee — about how his pack was different. As he fondly watched them bustle around, he felt proud of the home they’d made here. Once everyone’s tasks were completed, Jimin started directing them to where he wanted them to sit in the nest, having built it with a seating arrangement in mind.

Namjoon was so lost in his thoughts that he was startled by the knock at the door signaling your arrival. Jimin rushed to open it, and you stood on the other side in a cozy looking sweater and leggings, a container of sugar cookies in your hand. “Hi Noona! Come see the nest I made for the movie!” You handed off the container to Jin as Jimin pulled you by the hand to the living room.

“Oooh what a beautiful nest, Jiminie!” you fussed over him. “You did such a good job making it cozy in here, it’s perfect.” His eyes turned to crescents as he smiled wide, swinging your hands back and forth. A few of the guys were already situated in the nest, and they waved hello and offered greetings.

“Here Noona, I saved your seat!” Jungkook patted the spot between himself and Namjoon, who shot a warning glare at the meddlesome maknae before handing you the fluffiest of the throw blankets. It wasn’t much, but his wolf was happy to provide you with some form of comfort. The rest of the guys entered the room with the hot chocolate and popcorn, handing out mugs and settling in.

"Noona, thank you for recommending this movie; I love it and I've been trying to convince them to watch it with me for years," said Taehyung.

"Wait, you've seen it before?!" you asked.

"Yeah, I really like old school stuff... black and white movies, jazz, whatever."

"That's very cool of you, Tae! I think you and I must both be old souls."

"We're kindred spirits, Noona." His declaration was punctuated by his boxy grin, and your heart warmed in affection for the young man. Jungkook hit play, and the darkened room was bathed in the glow of the screen.

Knowing you loved this movie, Namjoon did his best to give it his full attention. But with you so close by, his peripheral vision was on high alert, glancing over every time you moved, even slightly. He could tell which parts of the movie were your favorites from the looks you and Taehyung would exchange before a scene, and he also started to pick up on corresponding changes in your scent: a vanilla-y sweetness rolling off of you at certain moments. He paid special attention during a scene where you smelled the sweetest yet: the two leads walking home after a school dance.

What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.

I'll take it. Then what?

Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair... am I talking too much?

He watched you smile to yourself again and let out a dreamy sigh. You set aside your empty mug and curled further into the fuzzy blanket, and it made him glow with pride to see you so clearly content here in his home, with his pack. Looking around the room, it already seemed so natural for you to be here. You fit in like a puzzle piece he didn't realize he was missing, and Namjoon found himself thinking of all the ways he might convince you to stay and what that future might look like. The others would periodically turn to you with a smile to ask you a question, but otherwise everyone’s attention was focused on the screen. He tried his best to do the same.

As the credits rolled, Namjoon realized he was going to need to rewatch the last thirty minutes of the movie. He hadn’t been able to pay attention to a single word of it, because your contented sighs had grown into deep, even breaths and you had nodded off, using his shoulder as a pillow. He was trying his best to contain his smile, to act cool, be chill and totally nonchalant about this fact, but was failing miserably. Ignoring the snickering of his packmates, he decided to take a risk and wrap an arm around you to gently pull you closer. You moved pliantly, nuzzling your face into his chest and draping an arm across his stomach. The others were struggling to keep their laughter quiet at their leader’s wide-eyed reaction, but a few snorts escaped anyway. Namjoon glared at them, raising a single finger to his lips to quiet them. He mouthed to Jungkook to put another movie on to let you sleep, and he obliged.

As you lay there, tucked against his side, Namjoon’s heart felt like it was going to burst. He took a deep breath of your scent, once again noting something like vanilla and…. coffee? There was also an undercurrent of something else he couldn’t quite place. He had to actively contain the wolf inside trying to claw its way to the surface, wanting so badly to make you his mate, to make this pack your family. To take care of you, provide for you. Namjoon looked down at your head resting on his chest and listened to your steady breathing, and made you a silent promise. I’ll give you the moon.

Eyes still closed, you heard movement and hushed voices around you. The last thing I remember was watching the movie, and then… wait. You were draped across somebody, your arm hugging them close and your leg resting between theirs. There were also arms wrapped around you. Who were you sleeping on? Your head was resting on their chest, and you heard their heartbeat speed up in time with your own. Duh. They can sense you’re awake, no use in pretending anymore. But you wished you could stay like this; it was so nice to be held in this way. You blinked your eyes open slowly and discovered it was Namjoon you had fallen asleep on. You sprung up from the nest quickly, flushed with embarrassment and praying you hadn’t drooled in your sleep.

“I’m so sorry! I can’t believe I dozed off. I just stayed up late last night working on my syllabi for next semester, and I guess I was more tired than I realized, and I—”

“Noona, it’s okay, it’s okay,” Namjoon soothed. 

“It’s really late now. You should just sleep here,” said Hobi as he finished gathering the mugs and bowls from around the room.

You chewed your lip, exhausted but unsure. “I really don’t want to impose any more than I already have.”

“I’ve already made up the guest bed in the study, so it would be more of an imposition if you didn’t use it!” Jin suddenly appeared from the hallway. It looked as though the rest of the pack had already retired to their respective rooms. You weighed your options. It’s definitely too late for me to walk home alone, and I don’t want to make anyone drive or walk me back. And who knows how long it’ll take to get a cab. And I'm so sleepy.

“Okay,” you finally agreed. “But I’m making breakfast in the morning.” You raised a brow at Jin waiting for him to accept this compromise, and he nodded. 

Hobi gave a bright smile. “Yay! Our first sleepover with Noona!” He rushed over to give you a hug, and as you said goodnight he added a kiss on your temple for good measure. You turned to wish Namjoon goodnight as well; his large hands gently gripped your arms above your elbows as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to your forehead. "Goodnight, Noona. I'm glad you're here." You turned away before he could see the redness in your cheeks that hadn't been there when Hoseok kissed you.

“There are some fresh towels on the bed for you and a shirt you can sleep in,” Jin said as he showed you to the room. The “study” seemed to function as a home office and library of sorts, with a couch that converted into a bed. You felt right at home surrounded by the bookshelves, and wondered which ones of the varied collection belonged to who. Among the shelves were framed photos of the pack throughout the years; a few with Jungkook looking as young as fifteen. You laughed at some of the fashion choices they'd made through the years, but admired the obvious closeness that they shared. Even from their body language in these still images, you could see their bond strengthening over time. If Jin noticed the bittersweet feelings rising within you, he was kind enough to say nothing.

“You’re welcome to the bathroom across the hall, we have extra toiletries and toothbrushes under the sink. And if you need anything else my room is right next door.”

“Thanks, Jin. Goodnight,” you gave him a quick peck on the cheek and giggled at the pleased look on his face.

Once you were sure everyone else was in their rooms and you wouldn’t be hogging the bathroom, you tiptoed out to wash your face and brush your teeth. You returned to the study and slipped on the large t-shirt that had been left out for you. You weren’t sure who it belonged to, but it was definitely oversized on them too— it was long and baggy enough that you felt comfortable stripping out of your bra and leggings to sleep. You doubted anyone would burst into the room in the night, but at least if they did you would be modestly covered. 

Snuggling under the covers, you were pleased to discover that for a convertible couch the bed was very comfortable, as were the pillows. Jin had also left a glass of water and a phone charger on the end table for you, and a post-it note with their wi-fi password. The pack definitely knew how to host. Despite your natural inclination to minimize yourself and your needs, afraid to be a burden, you felt genuinely welcomed and accepted here. As you thought about the men sleeping in the other rooms, you were surprised to realize how quickly you had accepted them as well. Your mind wandered, imagining what the future might look like with them in your life. You rolled onto your side and looked out the window to see a bright, beautiful full moon, and your last thought before drifting off to sleep was: I’ll take it.

Chapter Text

Light poured into the study, shining into your face. You knew you should have gotten up to close the curtain last night, but you were enjoying the view of the moon too much. Stretching out like a starfish, you decided to start waking your body up for the day; despite the sun's early wake up call, you felt surprisingly rested. Before going across the hall to brush your teeth and get yourself looking presentable, you pulled on your leggings and put your bra back on, opting to stick with the t-shirt on for now as it was pretty warm in the house. 

When you padded into the kitchen, you saw that Yoongi was already sitting at the table, cup of coffee in hand. He looked up from his phone as you entered, giving you a slight nod. “There’s still some coffee in the pot, if you want it. Mugs are in the cabinet above it.”

You thanked him and poured yourself a cup before joining him at the table, where he was staring into his mug and tapping the side with his finger.

"You sleep okay?" he asked without looking up.

"Yeah, I slept great. You guys are wonderful and thoughtful hosts."

"Jin-hyung's skills go to waste most of the time; we don't have many guests. I'm sure you made his entire week just by staying over." He looked deep in thought for a long moment, before he seemed to resolve whatever conflict was in his head and he raised his eyes to yours. “Noona…. Namjoon told me some of what you talked about over coffee the other day. About me. I just wanted to say thanks.”

You tilted your head in curiosity at the change in subject. “You don’t need to thank me for anything, Yoongi. Whatever path you chose, it was the right one for you. And like I told Namjoon and Jungkook— you’re not the only one who has gone against tradition that way, and in my opinion it leads to a socially and mentally healthier pack.”

“Not everyone is so understanding. The expectations put on us because of our designations can be really hard to deal with. Especially when you don’t live up to them. Me stepping aside for Namjoon just added fuel to the fire of everyone thinking I was physically or mentally weak for an alpha. And all I could think was, why do you care? I don’t get why everyone thinks I should have to live up to their expectations of what I should have been just because of my designation. Do you know what I mean?”

“I actually understand more than you know.”

“No offense, but I don’t think studying something is the same as a lived experience.”

You looked into your mug, as if the answers might be floating in the coffee. “No, it’s not. But I have my own lived experience… I just don't really talk about it.” 

Yoongi shot you a quizzical look. He could see from the way your posture had changed that whatever it was, it was weighing on you heavily. “You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to, but I’m here to listen. You shouldn’t have to carry stuff on your own.”

He remained silent while you waged an internal war with yourself. Vulnerability didn't come naturally to you, but you were so tired. So tired of trying to be strong, to be in control. Exhausted by the constant battle of being what you thought you were supposed to be, when really, you thought, all you wanted was to be held. Whether it was emotionally or physically, it didn't matter; you just wanted someone to help you with this burden. And here was a gentle man in front of you, who probably would understand better than anyone.

Resolutely, you lifted your chin and said, “I just don’t want everyone else to know, at least not right now. Will you promise to keep this between us?” 

“Of course.”

You looked into his eyes and extended your pinky finger. As he linked it with his own, you reminded him: “Pinky promises are sacred. Betraying that trust is something you can never recover from.” He nodded solemnly. 

“Okay, so. Here it goes. I actually grew up in a pack.” Immediately his brows shot up, clearly not expecting the direction this was going.

“It’s one of the backwoods old school ones, with a very strict hierarchy and shitty attitudes about ‘lower’ designations as well as humans. When I was growing up, I was always one of the tallest and strongest of the pups. Everyone always said when it was time for me to present, I was going to be this amazing alpha. My parents were so proud, kept pushing me to get stronger and smarter so I could be the best leader. The way the adults of the pack put those expectations on me… other pups started to resent me. I didn't have many friends. But then when my peers started growing into their designations and learning to shift, I fell behind. I went through normal puberty, but no wolf. My family just thought I was a late bloomer, that it would show up eventually. But once the others saw that I wasn’t a threat to them, that resentment took a cruel turn. Somehow, I was even lower than a human to them.” Your voice cracked, tears welling up in your eyes, and you paused to take a sip of coffee before pressing on. 

“As the years went on, my wolf never came and my pack just continually got more hostile. After a few... incidents, I knew I couldn't stay there. As soon as I was old enough, I left to go to school. When I got to the city I tried talking to as many doctors and experts as I could to find out what was wrong with me, but the best theory they could come up with was that some hormone just… never activated in me. They have no idea why. So, here I am." Your tears started to flow freely now. "I don't belong anywhere or to anyone. Not entirely human, not a wolf, and a disappointment to everyone I know.” 

“Fuck, jagiya." Yoongi reached out to take both your hands in his. "I’m sorry you went through all that. Nobody should be treated like that because of who they are — or aren’t. Look, you and I both know those expectations our packs placed on us were bullshit. Your pack is stuck in a backwards way of thinking, and you are not a disappointment to any one of us. And I’m not any less of an alpha for letting Namjoon lead. We can’t constantly worry about living up to others’ ideals. Every one of us in this pack cares about you, and likes you, just as you are.”

“Thanks, Yoongi,” you sniffed. “I hate to admit it, but I do feel a little lighter now that someone else knows and understands. Thank you for listening.”

“Anytime, Noona,” he gave your hands a comforting squeeze.

The two of you sat in companionable silence for a moment while you let your emotions even out, and a thought crossed your mind about something that Taehyung had said the night before.

“Kindred spirits,” you sniffed.

“Hm?”

“Last night, Taehyung said he and I were kindred spirits because we’re both old souls. But I think it’s really you and I that are the same.”

He smiled and scrunched his nose. “That was cheesy. But I think you’re right.”

Just then, you heard some stirring in another room; others were beginning to wake up. You quickly released Yoongi’s hands to wipe your tears from your cheeks. “I’m going to go splash some cold water on my face before anyone else sees me all worked up.” Yoongi nodded as you scurried back to the study. Although his exterior appeared unmoved, his mind was racing with the information you'd just given him. There was nothing his pack could do about the past, but there was something you'd said he thought the others might take issue with moving forward: I don't belong anywhere or to anyone. He smirked to himself; you had no idea how wrong you were about that.

Chapter Text

Namjoon woke up to the smell of bacon, pancakes, and a fresh pot of coffee wafting from the kitchen. Remembering that you had stayed over, he spent a little longer than usual getting dressed (even though it was just a t-shirt and sweatpants, he wanted to make sure it was a good t-shirt and sweatpants, free of any holes or stains and maybe a little more fitted). He washed his face and spent a little extra time brushing his teeth before making his way to the kitchen. As he rounded the corner, he quickly assessed that the three youngest were still asleep, and his hyungs were keeping you entertained. Yoongi and Hobi sat at the table, while you and Jin were at the stove. Your hair was pulled back from your bare face, and he admired your profile: the slope of your cheekbone, the swell of your lips. The broad-shouldered beta’s body was obscuring most of yours; but when he moved to grab something from the fridge, Namjoon saw you fully, standing at the stove flipping pancakes with practiced skill. You were wearing your leggings from the night before, but instead of the wool sweater you’d come over with, you now wore the oversized t-shirt that you presumably slept in. He did a double-take; it was his shirt. You had slept in his shirt. You were barefaced and barefoot in his home, laughing with his packmates, and wearing his clothes like it was the most natural thing in the world. You bent over to peek at something baking in the oven, and when Namjoon got a good look at your ass he finally broke.

“The baked apples need a few more minutes, I think,” you said as you stood up from the oven. You turned to see Namjoon standing in the kitchen doorway, completely frozen with his mouth hanging open slightly. 

“Good morning, Joon! There’s a fresh pot of coffee if you want some while we finish up here.”

He abruptly turned on his heels and exited the kitchen. He hadn’t even said so much as hi. Bewildered, you looked at the elder members of the pack, who began cackling with laughter.

“What the hell was that about? Did I miss something?” You heard the sound of a shower turning on and the laughter increased, Hobi clapping and rocking back and forth wildly.

“Please forgive Namjoonie, I think he just short-circuited. He’ll be fine after a, ah, quick… reset in the shower. Here, let me get you some more coffee,” Jin said as he reached for your empty mug.

When you turned back to the stove, Hobi leaned close to Yoongi. “Do you think he’s taking a cold shower, or using up all the hot water to… reset himself?” Yoongi smirked at the insinuation. Jimin entered a few moments later, looking like he was about to burst into a fit of giggles. Yoongi turned to Hobi and said, “Our room shares a wall with his shower. I think Jimin’s face answers your question.” Jimin looked you over, an “aha!” ghosting over his lips as he pieced together the course of events. He smirked as he approached. 

“I could get used to waking up to this view!” Jimin said as he came up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist.

“Don’t get too used to it— I’m not enough of a morning person to do this except for special occasions.”

“Well I, for one, am very appreciative. Thank you,” he said before giving you a quick peck on the cheek before finding a seat at the table.

Namjoon reappeared just as you were moving everything onto plates, avoiding everyone’s eyes and grabbing himself a cup of coffee before sitting down at the table.

“Jimin? Can you please go wake up Tae and Jungkook and tell them breakfast is ready?” you called over your shoulder.

“Sure thing, Luna!” he replied with a salute. A hush fell over the kitchen, and Namjoon’s head snapped up to look at the omega.

You turned to look at him, tilting your head in question. He smirked mischievously and said, “Why is everyone staring at me? All I said was ‘Sure thing, Noona.’” His gaze flicked to Namjoon, something like a challenge in his eyes.

You arched a brow but didn’t press the issue, setting the plates on the table. You returned to the counter to collect your coffee mug before sitting down. Taehyung appeared, followed by bleary-eyed Jungkook, with Jimin bringing up the rear. Taehyung sat between you and Hobi, wavy hair sticking out in every direction. He gave you a soft smile before nuzzling his face into your shoulder for a moment. You gave his head a little scratch and he hummed contentedly. Once everyone was settled, Namjoon cleared his throat from across the table, finally bringing himself to look at your face to ask, “How did you sleep?”

“Surprisingly well, actually. I usually have a hard time falling asleep in unfamiliar places, but I was very comfortable. Thank you all again for your hospitality. Also — thank you to whoever’s shirt I’m wearing.” 

Namjoon looked away awkwardly. “Ah, it’s uh, it’s mine."

“Oh! Can I take it home and wash it for you?”

“No no, that’s okay! Actually, I haven’t worn that one in awhile, you — you should just keep it. It looks better on you anyway.”

Taehyung watched this exchange and looked you up and down before turning to Hoseok with a look of confusion. He leaned over and whispered, “What’s he talking about? He wears that like, twice a week. I thought it was his favorite shirt.” You didn’t pick up on it, but the leader overheard and silenced the omega with a warning look from across the table. 

Namjoon was thankful that the rest of breakfast continued without incident. At least, until it was time to clean up. Much like your first visit to their home, you tried to start doing dishes and Jin flew into a tizzy. “Get out of my kitchen or I will never let you cook for us again!”

“No! You can’t tell me what to do!” you cried playfully in response. Jungkook was acting as a barrier to the dishwasher, holding you at arms length while you both laughed. He looked at Namjoon and said, “I could use a little help, hyung!”

You looked over your shoulder at Namjoon with a smirk, as if daring him to stand in your way. He wrapped his arms around your waist to pull you back from the maknae; once released, you charged at him like you were going to try to push him out of the kitchen instead. Namjoon ducked under your outreached arms, instead grabbing your legs and throwing you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Everyone laughed at the chaos of you dangling upside-down along his back.

“Okay, okay! Put me down, Joon,” you laughed, playfully slapping his behind.

“If I do, are you going to be a good girl?” he replied. You let out a small gasp at his choice of words, and an awkward silence fell over the kitchen. Shit. Way to make it weird, Namjoon. He took in a deep breath, preparing to try and smooth over the awkward situation he’d created; but when he did, he smelled… arousal?

oh. OH. Oh fuck. Were you… turned on by him calling you a good girl? Because he was definitely turned on calling you that.

He slowly set you back on your feet in front of him. You avoided his eyes, embarrassed by the kink you had inadvertently revealed to him, which he thought was probably for the best since he was short-circuiting again with this new information. He started trying to think of as many un-sexy things as he could to avoid his second boner of the morning. Clearly uncomfortable, you made a hurried excuse to leave.

“Okay, well, uh, if you guys aren’t going to let me clean up then I think I might head out, I need to catch up on a few things at home… you know, stuff to do to prep for next semester, I have a proposal out for a new article… laundry…”

Despite the lighthearted protests from the others, you gathered your things and made a swift exit.

As soon as the front door closed behind you, Namjoon rounded on Jin and the maknaes fled from the line of fire. “Okay, out with it. You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Whatever could you mean?”

“You could have picked anyone’s shirt.”

Jin shrugged. “It was in the laundry room and it looked like it would be a good size for her to sleep in, assuming she didn’t want to wear the same leggings all night. And you needed a push.”

“A push? To do what, exactly? Wait— are you suggesting she would have slept in only my shirt?!”

Hobi was now on the floor, howling with laughter as he watched Namjoon put the pieces together.

“Aish! You’ve been moping around here like a lovesick pup for weeks now,” Jin pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “I was giving you a push to finally admit to all of us that you want her to be your mate! We approve, by the way.”

Namjoon scowled accusingly at Yoongi, who raised his hands and shook his head in innocence. Hobi collected himself off the floor and joined in. “The maknaes have already started calling her Luna amongst themselves. I mean, you heard Jimin’s little stunt this morning.”

“Yeah, I’m going to kill him for that,” the alpha growled.

Jin was undeterred and continued listing your admirable qualities. “It would be nice to have someone else competent to help out in the kitchen. Besides you, obviously, Yoongs.”

“And she fits in with us so well! I know you felt that last night, too. She’s practically one of us already,” Hobi added.

“And clearly there’s a physical attraction there, considering both of you had, shall we say, strong reactions to the other this morning.”

“Hyungs, stop! I can’t talk to her about how I feel. She’s a human, so not only does she not feel the mating pull, she may even be freaked out by the intensity of it if she knew how I felt. I don’t want her to be at all pressured by me or pack dynamics that she doesn’t understand.” The pack alpha was obviously growing agitated with the conversation. 

Yoongi rolled his eyes and finally chimed in. “That’s bullshit and you know it. She understands this dynamic probably even better than we do. And how can you possibly know that her feelings aren’t equally intense? She’s clearly into you and she knows what comes with the territory. Don’t insult her by treating her like she’s naive.”

“This is too important, I’m not rushing into this. We’re going to continue courting her, slowly, until she asks for something more. End of discussion.” Namjoon walked out of the room with a frustrated grunt.

Exasperated, the pack hyungs exchanged wary looks. Yoongi sighed and looked down at his hands. “Yep, because not communicating always works out so well.”

Chapter Text

Jimin: Noona!!! You said at karaoke I could get a kiss for New Years and I just realized we’re going to be away :(

You: Guess you’re back to waiting till your birthday.

Jimin: :((((((

You: Where are you guys going?

Jimin: me and Taetae have a heat coming up, so we’re on our way to our cabin right now

You: All of you are going?

Jimin: yep! we all do heats together. I’m gonna have a busy few days if you know what I mean ;) ;) ;)

You: ha, sounds like you’ll have a fun start to the year. I’ll see you when you get back

Talk about great timing. You were on a deadline for a new article and had to prepare for the semester starting next week, and as much as you’d been enjoying spending time with the pack they were a big distraction from work. Having this uninterrupted time would be really helpful.

The problem was, even with them out of town and out of touch, they were somehow still distracting you. You caught yourself periodically wondering what they were up to, then feeling guilty about it. Heats were obviously a very personal time for wolves, and it felt like an invasion of privacy to even think about how they were spending it. It was totally wrong of you to imagine them all together in that circumstance, to wonder if it was a situation of alphas and betas working in rotating shifts to satisfy each omega, or if it was some kind of free-for-all. It was even more inappropriate to be turned on by those thoughts, to let your mind wander and imagine being in the middle of it all and what each of them was like in that regard. You slammed your computer closed, frustrated with your lack of progress and horny brain; you’d been feeling on edge since that morning Namjoon had manhandled you in the kitchen. 

Snap out of it, you thirsty bitch. Maybe you just needed a good orgasm to get this out of your head. God, when was the last time you’d even had sex? Without a convenient hookup to booty call, it seemed you would have to take matters into your own hands. You went to your bedroom, fished your vibrator out of the nightstand and got comfortable on the bed. Closing your eyes, you let your mind wander to everything you’d been guiltily avoiding, starting with Namjoon’s deep voice calling you a good girl like he had that morning. For most of your adult life, men had described you as intimidating. But the pack didn’t treat you like someone to approach with caution, and the casual contact that came naturally to them was more physical touch than you’d had in ages. And nobody had ever thrown you over their shoulder like that. It was probably even easy for him, you thought, reflecting on the taught muscles of his shoulders and back. I wonder how else he could throw me around.  

With the vibrator at its lowest setting, you teased yourself until wetness began to pool at your entrance. You moved the vibrator up toward your clit, imagining Namjoon’s long fingers touching you instead— or maybe even his mouth. What would those plush lips feel like against your skin? Your free hand moved up your body, your palm warm against your stomach, until you reached your chest. You pulled up your t-shirt to toy with your nipples and increased the speed of the vibrator, sighing as your pleasure built.

You felt the edges of your orgasm approaching, your toes pointing and legs tensing in pleasure. Panting, streams of yes, yes, fuck, please echoed in your empty apartment along with the lewd sounds of your wetness. Your hips began to writhe against the toy, chasing the high, when the vibrations abruptly ceased. The oncoming wave you had built up was quickly ebbing away, and you clicked the vibrator furiously, screaming in frustration and throwing it across the room when you finally realized the battery had died. Your climax faded as you stared at the ceiling, completely unsatisfied and even more frustrated than you had been moments ago.

New Year’s Eve is overrated; the parties are always overhyped, overcrowded, and overpriced. Which is why you’d denied the invitation from your friend Sooyeon to go out, and instead opted to ring in the new year in the comfort of home. You’d finally been able to buckle down and focus on submitting your newest piece and your lessons were largely planned for the semester; if ever called for drinking a bottle of champagne on your own, now was the time. Smooching a stranger didn’t sound appealing to you, anyway — after you had playfully offered up a New Year’s kiss to Jimin at karaoke, you’d secretly hoped you’d be celebrating with the pack, but they wouldn’t be back for another couple days. So instead, you were spending the evening journaling and scrapbooking some highlights and photos from the year, with a marathon of favorite movies playing in the background.

12:02am

[You were added to a group chat]

Hobi: happy new year!!!! wish u were here [photo attachment]

Hobi had sent a selfie of the group, with the exception of Jimin and Taehyung. All of them were smiling and holding a glass of champagne, raised in a toast. You zoomed in on each of their faces in turn, feeling your heart expand at the sight of them as more notifications rolled in.

Jin: happy new year, Noona!!

Jungkook: HAPPY NEW YEAR PROF NOONA, SEE YOU SOON

Jungkook: MINNIE AND TAE WOULD SAY HI BUT THEYRE SLEEPING

You: omg jk why are you yelling at me

Jungkook: SORRY

Yoongi: happy new year.

Namjoon: happy new year, noona. I hope you’re having fun celebrating. be safe tonight

You stood up from the couch and felt a little lightheaded. Right. I have almost finished a bottle of champagne by myself. I am drunk. Moving to the nearest mirror, you quickly ran your fingers through your hair, made sure your brows were somewhat tamed, and gave your cheeks a quick pinch for a blush before sitting back on the couch to take a picture to send to them in return. You held up your own glass of champagne in a toast and snapped the photo.

You: Happy new year, I hope you’re having lots of fun without me :( [photo attachment]

Hobi: oooooh noona are you drunk right now?!

You: shhhh it’s a secret.

Jin: if I’d known you’d feel left out we would have brought you along ;) 

You: you’re such a tease 

Yoongi: looks like you know how to make your own fun anyway

Hobi: OMG noona!!! u lil minx!

Jin: lol Joonie is gonna short-circuit again

Namjoon: guys leave her alone

Namjoon: and me. leave me alone also.

Jungkook: what are we even talking about

Equally confused as Jungkook, you looked back at the photo, zooming in to make sure there was nothing on your face or illicit in the background, and— fuck. Your vibrator, which had so rudely failed you a couple nights prior, was currently charging on the end table next to you… and the hot pink silicone toy was very visible in the photo.

You: …. Fuck me. -_-

Jin: happy to help!

Hobi: LOL

Yoongi: seems like you’ve got that covered

Namjoon: GUYS seriously

Jungkook: …..?

You: welp, on that humiliating start to the year, I think I should take my leave from this conversation

Yoongi: I’m sorry if I embarrassed you, Noona. That wasn’t my intent. I forget that not everybody jokes so casually about things like that.

You: all good, Yoongi

Jin: If it makes you feel any better, this morning Jungkook tried to do some fancy shower sex with Tae and ended up falling out of the bathtub, took the entire shower curtain down with him, and bonked his head. I had to check him for a concussion.

Jungkook: HYUNG SERIOUSLY?

Jungkook: WHY

You: weirdly, that does make me feel better

Jungkook: glad I could help, I guess

Namjoon: change of subject: we’ll be back in town the day after tomorrow. see you soon

You: can’t wait :)

Chapter Text

The first day of the semester, you were in your office reviewing rosters and getting yourself organized when there was a light knock. Standing in your doorway was Namjoon, two to-go cups of coffee in his hand and a bashful smile on his face.

“Joon! This is a nice surprise. What are you doing here?”

“I gave JK a ride to campus and wanted to make sure his favorite professor was properly caffeinated for the first day back,” he said as you stood from your desk to accept the offered cup. 

“That was very thoughtful, thank you,” you smiled shyly. “Oh! And you remembered my order, wow!” 

“Vanilla hazelnut latte with oat milk,” he said with a blush. He shuffled half a step closer to you, and you suddenly remembered the last time you saw him was what you were now dubbing the kitchen incident and the only time you’d spoken since was the horrifying vibrator incident. How the hell were you supposed to have a normal conversation now?

“Well, I—”

“I was wondering—“

“Oh sorry—“

“—sorry!” 

Namjoon cleared his throat. “I know you have a busy day, so I won’t keep you. But I just… wanted to see you. To say hi, I mean. A-and, you know, the coffee.”

“I’m glad you did,” you admitted quietly. A calendar reminder dinged on your computer, signaling that class would be starting in 15 minutes. “I… better get ready for class. I’ll talk to you later?” 

“Yeah, definitely.” He studied your face for a moment, as if weighing a decision, before he gently placed a hand on your upper arm and gave it a gentle squeeze before turning and leaving. 

Slightly stunned by the whole visit, you looked down at the coffee in your hand and noticed a small note scribbled on the side: Fighting! ❤️ KNJ

You traced your finger over the heart, lost in thought for a few moments. The calendar reminder dinged again; you pulled yourself together, collected your things, and headed over to the large lecture hall. 

“Good morning class, and welcome to Intersectional Pack Dynamics. If you’re in this class, I trust you all have taken the prerequisite course, Dr. Woo’s Intro to Feminism. That foundation will be vital to the discussions we have this semester, as we will be largely focused on how gender and pack designations intersect and influence each other.”

Jungkook sat in the front row, looking alert and smiling up at you expectantly. 

“When we talk about creating a more equitable world, we have to acknowledge that individuals often experience layers of oppression. An individual who is subjected to a pack hierarchy based on their designation also experiences potential privilege or discrimination based on their sex, gender, race, and many other societal identifiers. That said, I want to make sure we are all on the same page. In this class we will have uncomfortable conversations. We’re going to talk about privilege, misogyny, racism, and many other ways society divides us. It’s complicated, and it’ll be difficult. Our collective goal is to understand how we can begin to better foster equity in society, and what barriers stand in our way.” 

Jungkook suddenly sat up straighter, his brow furrowed in confusion, but he wasn’t looking at you. You could see his nostrils flaring, like he was sniffing something out. He turned slightly, trying to look at the students behind him in the large lecture hall. It was hard for you to determine what — or who — he was looking for, the lights pointed at you from the rear of the room making it difficult for you to distinguish anyone too far back.

At the end of class, Jungkook approached you with a slight bow.

“Hi, Jungkook,” you smiled. “Is everything okay?”

“No, not really,” he said. “During class I smelled something really rancid. I couldn’t find who it was coming from, but it smelled like a wolf, and he was angry . It happened when you were starting to dig into equity, I don’t know if it was just someone hateful or what but it really freaked me out.”

“Like I said, we have hard conversations in this class, and it’s going to piss some people off. If someone was that mad just about the intro, I’m sure they’ll be dropping the class before the week is out.”

“This was more than that. There was something really threatening about it, and I’m worried it was directed at you .”

“I appreciate you watching out for me, JK. But I’m okay. The ire of bigots comes with the job.” 

The young man’s expression was still troubled, but he didn’t press the issue further.

You’d probably forgotten about the conversation by the end of the day, but Jungkook lay awake that night, thinking still about it. His instincts were screaming at him that something was off, but without anything to back it up he worried he would just come off as paranoid if he brought it up to his packmates.

Since that day he’d realized you were mostly alone, he’d felt a primal need to take care of you and provide for you. Namjoon-hyung said this was normal for an alpha, particularly when there was an opportunity for a new packmate. In his mind, you were already well on your way to being part of the pack. They all cared for you; from the moment the rest of the pack met you, it felt like you were always meant to be with them. More than that — he hoped in his heart you would be their Luna, the pack alpha’s mate and something of a matriarch of the group. No, something was definitely unsettling about that smell, and he was going to trust his instincts. With nothing to go off of, he decided he would just stick close to you to keep an eye on things. Maybe he would move seats in class, in case there was another opportunity to sniff the threat out. There was a study area down the hall from your office where he could post up between classes; that could be his “home base” for the semester. If you caught wind of what he was trying to do, you would definitely tell him to stop, so he would need to be discreet in learning your comings and goings. Whatever it was, he was going to do everything in his power to keep you safe.

Chapter Text

As the first week of the semester wrapped up, Jimin and Hobi finally coerced you into plans to go out dancing. Truthfully, it didn't end up being that hard of a sell; they seemed to sense that you would be ready to cut loose after the first week back. Saturday night rolled around to find them submerged in your closet, desperately looking for something nightlife-appropriate. There was an ever-growing pile of rejected items building up on your bed; the blouse you were currently wearing joined the heap when Jimin handed you a cropped, long sleeve top to try on.

“I haven’t been to a club in years,” you whined as you tugged down the skirt they’d selected. It felt might tighter and shorter than when you'd last worn it; frankly, you'd forgotten it was still in your closet until they found it wedged between your more professional dresses. “I feel ridiculous.”

“You look hot, ” Jimin praised as he snapped a picture. “We’re just going out to dance and have fun! It’ll be great! This place plays the best music.”

“Once Jiminie and I teach you some moves, you’ll want to go out dancing all the time.” Hobi gave you a twirl and you heard Jimin take a few more pictures. 

“Ooooh I’m sending this one to the pack!” 

“Let me see first.” You peered over his shoulder to look at the picture; your long legs were on full display, and Hoseok’s arm wrapped around your waist accentuated the curves of your body. “Huh. I do look pretty hot,” you giggled as he hit send.

Taehyung: so pretty noona 😍😍😍

Jungkook: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Jin: have fun you crazy kids! 😘💜

Yoongi: nice 👍

Namjoon: 😳

Jin: I think we lost Joon again

You blushed at the praise, enjoying the ego boost. “Can you two just help me get ready all the time? It’s so much easier than having to make decisions myself. Plus having seven hype men really helps.”

“When was the last time you went on a shopping spree, Noona?” Jimin asked. “Your closet is looking a little…”

“Sad? Drab? Dated? It’s been a while since I bought anything that wasn’t for work,” you admitted. “I just get overwhelmed, and I don’t really know what looks good. It’s hard to find the right fit.”

“Let me take you shopping sometime! I know a few stores that will definitely suit you.”

“That sounds nice,” you smiled. “Okay, what do we think? Am I ready?”

Hobi held a couple accessories out to you. “Here Noona, put on these shoes aaaaand… these earrings and then I think we are good to go!”  

By club standards, it was still pretty early in the evening when the three of you arrived. This was by design, so there would be more room for the dance lesson. After collecting drinks at the bar, you claimed an open area of the dance floor. Jimin stood in front of you and opened his arms, while Hobi stood behind you to guide your limbs and move your hips like you were a marionette. The drinks and your embarrassed laughter quickly loosened you up, and you realized that once you got on beat you weren’t half bad. The two men took turns partnering you, twirling you between them. Flirtatious and encouraging by nature, they knew how to make you feel good in your skin; sexy , even. Hobi was right — you were definitely down to go out with them anytime. 

Around midnight, the club was getting a little too crowded for your enthusiastic dancing, everyone around you opting to grind close to one another instead. At this point, you were ready for a break anyway. “Anyone want another round?” Hobi asked. 

“Sure! But I need to visit the ladies’ room first,” you replied.

“You two go ahead, I’ll hold down our spot here,” Jimin said with a thumbs-up.

Hoseok made his way to the bar while you squeezed through the crowd to join the women waiting in a line for the restroom. You were out of breath from the dance lesson, and someone handed you a few paper towels to dab away the sheen of sweat on your face. There is nowhere as friendly or supportive as a women’s restroom at a bar, you thought. Everyone around you was fussing over each other, showering strangers with compliments. The world would be a better place if more of us acted like drunk girls in the bathroom. Once you’d relieved yourself and washed your hands, you freshened up your lipstick (“That shade is perfect on you!”) and headed back out into the crowd.

Hobi was still waiting patiently for the bartender’s attention, so you made your way to Jimin on the dance floor. As you got closer, you saw a large man crowding his space. Jimin clearly looked uncomfortable at best, trapped at worst. His posture was defensive; arms crossed in front of him, body angled away from the stranger. You didn’t hear what the larger man was saying, but managed to catch Jimin’s response.

“I’m not interested, but thanks anyway."

“Come on little omega, just one dance.”

“Like I said, I’m here with my friends and I’m. Not. Interested.”

“It looks like you’re all alone to me, baby boy.”

“Well, he’s not,” you declared as you approached them.

The man ignored you and grabbed a disgusted Jimin by the waist. “Come on, I know how to make omegas like you feel real good.”

“Don’t touch him!” You quickly pulled your friend from his grasp before shoving Jimin protectively behind you.

“Did it look like I was talking to you?” the man snarled. 

“It looked like you were harassing my friend. He told you no, now I suggest you back the fuck off.”

“Mind your own business, bitch. Maybe you should take that stick out of your ass and go fuck yourself with it.” He stepped into your space, entirely too close for comfort, but you refused to back down. “Or maybe you just need a good dicking down from a real man?” Jimin growled behind you, and laid his hands on your shoulders to let you know he was still there as backup. 

“Back. The. Fuck. Off.” you repeated.

“I saw you dancing with this one and that beta like a little slut,” he smirked. “Maybe me and my buddies can share you, too.”

Jimin snarled, and before you knew what you were doing your fist was connecting with the man’s eye.

He hunched over in pain, and you took the opportunity to turn and grab Jimin by the arm to find Hobi. As you shook out your sore hand, you spotted him peering over the crowd, looking panicked by what he'd seen from a distance. You marched Jimin along, forcing the crowd to part around you until you reached the beta.

“We’re leaving now, let’s go.” Both men stumbled along behind you as you led them to the exit. Almost immediately after you got outside, you were able to flag down a cab and shove them both in the backseat. You squeezed alongside them and gave the driver the address to the pack house; though you would have rather regrouped at your own home, you knew if the omega was distressed the best thing for him would be to return to the pack.

Jimin seemed to be in a daze, but Hobi finally found his voice and said, “Talk about a quick getaway. What happened back there?”

You gave him a quick recap of how the confrontation had unfolded, and he examined your hand. Upon seeing your swollen knuckles, he muttered under his breath, “Shit. Joon is going to flip.”

The second you walked in the door, the others began emerging from their bedrooms. They must have smelled that something was off; Yoongi immediately rushed to Jimin’s side to collect him in an embrace and scent him. The adrenaline that had aided your escape was now wearing off, and your hand was throbbing. While Jin took you to the kitchen to get some ice, Hobi relayed what you had told him and Jimin filled in any gaps. The elder beta was wrapping your hand in a bandage when you heard the pack alpha’s voice booming from the next room.

“She did what?!” Namjoon stormed into the kitchen, jaw so tight you were worried he would crack a tooth. The rest of the pack had followed behind him, curious and worried expressions peering over his shoulder as Namjoon examined you for damage. When he saw that you were in one piece, he moved on from concern to scolding. “What the fuck were you thinking? Do you have any idea how stupid that was?” 

He was fuming, his crossed arms making his biceps and shoulders look even larger than normal. If you'd been more sober, you might have found his anger intimidating; if he hadn't just insulted you, you would have found it insanely hot. But now? Now you were just as pissed off as he was.

“Stupid? He threatened Jimin. He threatened me. I gave him a black eye. End of story.” 

“You could have been hurt! There are all kinds of crazy people out there, you don’t know what he could have done.”

“I know what he was trying to do and I wasn’t going to let him touch Jimin or disrespect me. I’m not going to tolerate you disrespecting me, either.”

“You took an unnecessary risk and that was unacceptable. Jimin, you know better. You two should have called me and then waited with Hobi.”

“Don’t blame him! You've never had to deal with creeps like that before, you have no idea what it's like or how you'd react.”

“From now on, I don’t want you or Jimin going out at night without an alpha with you. You either, Taehyung.”

The younger omega looked dumbfounded by being roped in, and you were seeing red. “Are you fucking kidding me?"

“You heard me.”

"Just because I'm a woman and they're omegas doesn't mean we need some bone-headed alpha to play bodyguard, you asshole!"

Namjoon's expression was stricken as he stumbled over his words. "That's not—I don't think—"

Pinching the bridge of your nose and taking deep breaths, you tried to calm yourself back down. “Namjoon, I know it’s your job to keep your pack safe, and you’re upset about what happened,” you said, tone flat. “If you want to take it out on me, that’s fine. I can understand why you'd be angry that Jimin was threatened and you weren’t there to protect a member of your pack.”

His nostrils flared and his jaw flexed. “It’s not just that—”

“—But,” you continued, “I’m not a member of this pack.” A hush fell over the room, with the exception of Jimin, who let out a high-pitched whine. “It’s not your job to protect me and it's not your place to dictate what I can and cannot do. My decisions are my own and I would do the same thing over again.”

Namjoon looked angrier than ever. “You can’t just—”

“I’m done talking about this,” you cut him off. “And I’m going home.” He followed you to the door, and began to put on his shoes with as much hostility as he could muster.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“If you want to go home, fine. I’m going to walk with you.”

“No, you’re not.”

“What?”

“No, you may not walk me home, and no, I will not text you when I get there. My comings and goings are not your business. I’m not one of your packmates and you’re not my alpha. I’m not your responsibility.” His expression was unfamiliar to you, something like a mix of shock, rejection, and general anxiety. Whatever he was thinking, you had clearly struck a nerve and hurt him in some way, but you couldn’t dwell on it as you walked out.

Moments after the front door slammed shut behind you, Namjoon’s bedroom door slammed behind him. The pack exchanged wide-eyed looks, Taehyung snuggling up to Jungkook to get some calming alpha pheromones.

“That went about as well as I imagined,” Hobi said.

“Joonie shouldn’t have yelled at Noona like that,” Taehyung’s voice was muffled into Jungkook’s neck. 

“The guy wouldn’t back down, she protected us,” Jimin added.

“He just wants to keep her safe,” Jungkook said quietly.

“He’s going to end up pushing her away if he’s not careful,” replied Jin.

“She’ll get home okay though, right?” asked Taehyung.

Yoongi nodded. “She can obviously take care of herself. She’ll be okay. Our fearless leader, however…”

"You know, I don't think I've ever seen Namjoon lose an argument like that before," Jin said in awe.

“One thing’s for sure,” Jungkook concluded, “that creep obviously didn’t know who he was messing with. Noona has a mean right hook.”

Chapter Text

Pouting. That’s the only word that could describe what you were doing, and you hated that it made you sound like an obstinate child. But here you were, pouting over your spat with Namjoon. You’d normally just brush something like this off, but for some reason, butting heads with him had really gotten under your skin. Hence, pouting.

You stalked around your apartment like a caged tiger, irritated and spiraling. Who does he think he is, anyway? He’s not my alpha, he can’t tell me what to do and I can handle myself. Even if I did want someone looking out for me, what happens when I let my guard down and they’re not there? I can’t expect anyone to come rescue me—the only person I can rely on is myself. Ugh! And he said what I did was stupid! He’s the stupid one, with his stupid alpha instincts and his big dumb body and his stupid face with the stupid dimples and…

There was only one solution you could think of to get out of this funk.

You: Want to spar?

Jungkook: meet me at the gym in 20

“Soooooo… are you okay?” Jungkook asked as you wrapped your hands. Your raised eyebrow was enough of a reply. “Do you... wanna talk about it?”

“No.”

He nodded, putting on the pads, but said “Let me know if you change your mind.” You threw your first few punches; your hand was still sore from the black eye you'd given that overly macho alpha, but it was worth the payoff. It felt like opening a pressure valve, releasing the tension in your body. Jungkook encouraged you to hit him as hard as you could, and you took him up on the offer until your hand was throbbing and your arms felt like they were going to fall off. 

When you stopped to take a sip of water and catch your breath, you asked, “Is he always like that?”

“Who, Namjoon-hyung? Like what?”

“Like… controlling. Bossy. Hard-headed…”

“No! Hyung is the best, he hardly ever goes into alpha mode like that, it’s instinct, he’s only like that when the pack is in danger.”

“But I’m not pack.”

“You could be,” he said with his bunny smile.

“I’m not a wolf, JK.”

“So?”

“So… I don’t need some alpha telling me how to live my life. I’ve made it this far on my own just fine.”

“None of us want to change you, Noona. We just want to look out for you.” You gave him a skeptical look, and he continued, "I mean it. I know you can take care of yourself, but we can help, too."

A wave of feelings you weren't ready to address rose like bile in your throat. You raised your gloves back up and replied, “Less talking, more punching.”

Jungkook stormed into the pack house, sweaty and on a mission. When he finally cornered the pack leader in his favorite reading spot, the young man mustered up every bit of alpha authority he had.

“Apologize!” Jungkook demanded, much louder than he intended. 

Startled, Namjoon jumped, his book flying from his hand. “What?!” 

“Apologize to Noona! You have to tell her you’re sorry for last night. I know you just want to protect her, but you can’t steamroll her! Especially when she’s not bonded to the pack yet, she could push us away!” 

“Kookie…” Namjoon tried to soothe him, but the younger alpha was getting too worked up. 

“You were mean! You shouldn’t have yelled!” Jungkook yelled himself. “Hyung, you told her what she did was stupid when she was just trying to protect herself and Jimin the best she could. Noona’s not stupid!” Namjoon sighed, putting his face in his hands as Jungkook continued berating him. “She’s upset, hyung. I know you were also upset because you care about her, but she doesn’t know that.” 

“I know, I know. I screwed up. I just don’t know how to make it right.”

“You need to talk to her, you need to tell her how you feel about her.” 

“I… I can’t.”

“Please, hyung,” he croaked. 

“What if she rejects me again? Kookie, I don’t think I could take it.”

“She won’t. I know she won’t. She’s going to be part of our pack, I can feel it, and I know you can too! Can’t you?” 

“Yeah. Yeah, I feel it.” Namjoon said quietly. His dongsaeng visibly relaxed. “I think I— I think she might be my soulmate.”

“Really?” Jungkook’s eyes were wide as saucers, his angst quickly abandoned. “How can you tell?”

“It’s hard to explain. You know how it feels when you hold magnets close together, but they aren’t touching yet? That pull? I feel it every time she’s around.”

Jungkook smiled bright and did a few little hops of excitement. “She would be the best Luna!” 

“Yeah, she would,” Namjoon smiled to himself. “But uh, JK? Let’s just keep this between you and me for now, okay?” 

Jungkook nodded. “Hyung… I’m sorry for barging in here and yelling at you. But I just really hated seeing you two fight, and when I saw her at the gym, she just smelled so… sad, and angry, and lonely.”

“She did?” Namjoon’s expression grew concerned.

“Yeah.”

“I’ll fix it, JK. I promise. And hey—thank you. I needed a kick in the ass. Even though it’s you and me talking, I know it’s still hard to stand up to a friend and packmate and tell them when they’ve messed up. Especially the pack alpha.” Namjoon stood and brought the younger man into a hug. “I’m really proud of you.”

“Did I just interrupt a heartfelt moment?” Jin asked as he entered the room.

“Yeah, but it’s okay. I have to get going. I have some apologizing to do.” Namjoon swiftly left with determination in his eyes. Once he was out of earshot, a playful smile spread across Jin’s face. 

“Nice job, Jungkookie. Now, let’s round up the others while he’s out; I’ve already been thinking about the perfect pack gift for our new Luna.”

Sparring with JK and your shower afterwards had done wonders for your mood. Or at least, it helped tire you out enough that you couldn’t be actively fuming at Namjoon. Trying to roll with the positive momentum, you lit a candle and rolled out your yoga mat to slowly flow through a few postures. Your breath grew deep and even, your muscles loosened. When you were ready, you found a comfortable resting pose. You were more relaxed than you’d been the last few days, nearly drifting into a nap when there was a loud knock.

Padding across your apartment to the front door, you looked through the peephole to see a nervous-looking Namjoon. He was looking up at the ceiling, as if asking for divine assistance. This should be fun. You considered letting him sweat it out a bit, until you heard him through the door quietly say, “I know you’re there.” With a sigh, you unlocked the door and let him in. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Namjoon?”

“I come in peace,” he said. He pulled a large, beautiful bouquet of flowers from behind his back. It was full of greenery, with white lilies of the valley. “I wanted to say I’m sorry for yesterday.” You eyed him suspiciously before accepting them and taking them into the kitchen to put them in water.

“Do you know what you’re sorry for?” you asked as you filled the vase.

He bit his lip, and took a step toward you. “I’m sorry for how I reacted last night. I shouldn’t have tried to control you or your choices, and I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did. I also recognize that there is a time to be the pack alpha, and that wasn’t it. But I hope you know, it was coming from a place of protectiveness, not distrust or judgment.” Nodding as you listened, you placed the floral arrangement on the counter and wiped your hands, turning back to face him.

“I get it, you were upset that you couldn’t protect Jimin—”

“No!” he interrupted, and you tilted your head in confusion. “That’s not it at all. I was upset I couldn’t protect you. Just the thought of something happening to you… I saw red, and I overreacted. I’m sorry.” Namjoon took your right hand in his, examining your now-bruised knuckles, and you watched him place a tender kiss on each one, attempting to ignore how it made your heart skip a beat.

“I appreciate the chivalry but it’s not the first time I’ve had to deal with some big, drunk creep and I doubt it’ll be the last.”

Namjoon growled at this and took another step closer, leaning down to grasp the edge of the countertop, his arms caging you in. He somehow looked bigger, more imposing at this moment, as if he wanted to go back in time and challenge everyone and everything that had ever harmed you. Your nerves were alight, but not out of fear.

“Joon, what's wrong?” you asked him. His eyes avoided yours. 

“I— it’s— never mind.”

“Don’t do that. Tell me why not being able to protect me got you so upset.”

“What if that guy had punched back, or worse, and hurt you? I couldn’t live with myself.”

“That doesn’t explain anything! You're not responsible for my safety. I get that you would feel badly if I had been hurt because we’re friends, but I’m not a member of your pack, so—”

“That’s just it!”

“What is it?!”

“I want you to be a member of my pack,” he said, his tone desperate and voice heavy with emotion.

“What? Why would you want that? I’m not a wolf,” you whispered.

You stared into each other's eyes, the air thick with tension at this crossroads. Your breaths were shallow, and you were sure he could hear your heart racing. Namjoon leaned forward, his cheek resting against your temple for a moment, before he dipped his head and you felt his face gently caress the side of your neck. He’s scenting me, you realized. You gasped when he pressed a gentle kiss where your neck met your shoulder. Namjoon pulled back just far enough to look into your eyes, pupils blown wide, before his gaze dropped to your lips. There was some kind of magnetic field between you, drawing you closer until the tips of your noses brushed together. You closed your eyes to focus on the feeling of his lips hovering just centimeters from your own, until your impatience got the better of you and you closed the distance. 

As soon as your lips met, it was like something in Namjoon was released. A hand wound itself in the hair at the nape of your neck, tilting your head to the side and deepening the kiss, and he wrapped his other arm around your waist to pull you impossibly close. His mouth was soft and warm against yours, and when he nipped at your bottom lip, you couldn’t help the small moan that escaped your throat. Namjoon growled in response, before lifting you to sit on the counter and slotting himself between your legs. Your hands settled on his firm chest, his bruising grip moving to your hips. He groaned as his tongue slipped into your mouth, tasting you for the first time. Your fingers combed into his soft, silver hair, and when your nails grazed his scalp, his hips ground into you. You broke the kiss, panting at the feeling of the growing bulge in his pants against your center.

He pressed his forehead to yours, as you both tried to catch your breath. You were frozen, stunned at the turn of events. “That’s why,” he said quietly. His lips gently pressed against yours once more before he was pulling away. The door clicked shut behind him before you even registered what had happened. You were left in your silent apartment, your fingers tracing your swollen lips, desperate for something to validate that it wasn’t a dream.

Chapter Text

“Well, I’m sorry to hear that they had a scheduling conflict, but I’m happy to do it. Yes, thank you for thinking of me. Correct. And you’re aware of my speaking fee? Okay great. I’ll keep an eye out for that email. I do have a quick question— what’s the dress code? No, that’s fine. Okay, sounds good. I’m looking forward to it too, see you then.”

You hung up the phone and took a deep breath before switching to your text messages. 

You: Remember that time you said you wanted to take me shopping?

Jimin: Please tell me you’re taking me up on the offer!

You: I just got offered a speaking opportunity at a swanky fundraiser and it’s black tie

[Jimin added Taehyung to the chat]

Jimin: Taetae, Noona needs us! We’re going shopping!

Taehyung: sounds fun. when’s the event?

You: Next weekend, I’m already stressed it’s not enough time to find something and get alterations if I need them

Jimin: We’re free this afternoon, does that work for you?

You: That sounds great, thank you so much!

The omegas greeted you with open arms at a cafe in the shopping district.

“I’m sorry again for the other night and not defending you with Namjoon,” Jimin said as he hugged you close.

“You don’t have anything to apologize for, Minnie.”

“I’m glad you stood your ground though, we can’t let alphas push us around!” Taehyung said as he joined to form a group hug. You had a sneaking suspicion both of them were scenting you, although you couldn’t know for sure.

“Are you still mad at him? Because I totally wouldn’t blame you. We can totally have a venting sesh if you want. This is a safe space.” Jimin offered to your amusement.

“Thank you, but we’re all good now… he uh, came by last night and apologized.”

They both hummed in acknowledgment, but you caught the sly looks they exchanged. Yep, they definitely already know how the apology went. You collected your coffee orders (hot chocolate for Tae) and the two omegas began to guide you in and out of stores, searching the racks for potential dresses.

While Jimin was distracted digging through a rack on the other side of the store, Taehyung moved in closer to you to speak in a low voice.

“Do you get a plus-one? To the gala?” 

“Oh! I mean… yeah? I hadn’t really thought about it. Did you… want to go?” 

“I would love to be your date to any event at any time, but since you’ve… made up… you should ask Namjoon-hyung.”

“Why— why do you say that?”

He raised a brow at you. 

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Taehyung sighed and steepled his fingers together. “Can I give you some advice?”

“I have a feeling you’re going to regardless.”

“Mhmm. Noona, you clearly like like Namjoon.”

“Well, I—”

“He is smitten with you. That can’t-eat, can’t-sleep, reach-for-the-stars kind of stuff.” 

“I mean, he—”

“Ask him to go to the gala with you. He will definitely say yes.” You opened your mouth to argue again, but he held up a hand to silence you and said, “Just think about it. Be brave, Noona.”

Jimin reappeared with an arm full of dresses, but as he held them up, he could see from your expression that none of them felt like your style, so you moved on to the next store, which also had a very limited and disappointing selection. The third store had a few options that looked promising on the hanger, but all wrong on your body. Your anxiety was starting to creep in, and the omegas could sense it. 

“Okay, let’s try one more, and if there’s nothing good there, we’ll take a break and regroup over  drinks. Deal?” Jimin asked, and you nodded.

Taehyung made a gesture to remind you to take a deep breath and then took you by the hand to lead you into the next shop. I’d normally be in frustrated tears by now, you realized. They’re so good at this. The fourth store matched your vibe much better, and seemed to finally have a selection that satisfied all of your tastes. 

The three of you got to work pulling gowns, handing them to a sales attendant to take to a fitting room. Once you’d combed the store, the omegas followed you back to start trying on. The first few dresses were solid options; the boys had oooohed when you’d walked out of the fitting room. Knowing there was something here you could work with made your confidence rise, and you started actually enjoying the shopping experience and having fun modeling for them. But when you put on the seventh option, you knew it couldn’t be topped. It skated over your figure in all the right ways, and the way it flowed and moved made you feel like something from a fairytale. When you opened the fitting room curtain, they both gasped.

“That’s it, that’s the one,” Taehyung said.

“Noona, you look incredible!”

“Yeah? You guys think so?”

“Yes, absolutely!”

“It’s perfect!”

You twirled in excitement, loving the feeling of the fabric against you. “Thank you both for your help today. I would have given up after the first store without you.” They both got up to give you a hug, soaking you in feelings of love and support.

“Ma’am?” Jimin beckoned over a sales attendant. “We’ll take this one.”

“Oh, hold on, let me get my card out of my purse…”

“Not necessary!” he waved. 

“Jimin! Don’t you dare!”

“Too late!” he replied as he walked away, calling over his shoulder, “If you try to stop me I’ll buy you a new pair of shoes, too!” You threw your hands up in defeat as he followed her to the register. 

Taehyung stood in front of you, holding your hands in his, and quietly said, “You look so beautiful, Noona,” and then with a mischievous smile added, “Joonie-hyung is going to love it.”

The first thing you saw when you awoke the next morning was the garment bag that held your new dress, hanging from the hook on your closet door. It was staring at you accusingly, as if to say, quit putting it off and text him already.

It had been days since Namjoon kissed you in your kitchen, and he hadn’t contacted you in any way. Rationally, you knew the ball was in your court; he had been pretty clear in laying his cards out on the table. Taehyung had told you to take a chance, but you just didn’t know how to approach Namjoon. Hey, I think you’re super hot and smart and kind and total husband material. You deserve the perfect mate, which I can’t be because I’m not a shifter. But I also can’t stay away from you, so maybe we should keep things casual, except I absolutely have already caught feelings and you will ruin all other men for me. Anyway, that seems like a problem for another day, wanna go to a fancy party with me?

You got cleaned up and dressed, and decided to go for a walk hoping the fresh air would clear your mind. The air was crisp and the sun was shining as you strolled without a destination, and you felt your mood begin to lift. Muscle memory kicked in and your feet took you to your regular coffee shop. The bell dinged as you entered the cafe, and the familiar barista smiled as you approached the counter. Once you had your latte and a pastry in hand, you searched for a table where you could sit and read for a bit; but when you looked toward your favorite spot by the window, it was already occupied. By none other than the man you were avoiding.

If you had spotted him, it was fairly certain he had already sensed you were there. His nose was in a book, but his eyes weren’t moving across the page. Yep. He definitely saw me. He was giving you the courtesy to ignore him if you wanted to, the considerate bastard. Steeling yourself, you approached the table and Namjoon looked up from his book with a gentle smile.

“Hi,” you said simply.

“Hey,” he replied. 

Your eyes wandered, unsure where to land. I’m pretty sure direct eye contact would be the death of me. So would looking at his dimples. If I look at his lips I’m just going to think about kissing him again. Fuck, I’m doomed.

“Once you’re done buffering, would you like to join me?” he smirked, throwing you a lifeline in the awkward silence, gesturing at the seat across from him. 

You blinked, returning to the present moment. “Ha, yeah, okay.”

“So… how have you been?”

“Me? Oh, um, good? Yeah. Busy.” He raised a brow at your floundering and you picked the first topic you could think of. “I just went shopping with Jimin and Tae yesterday, I got an offer to speak at this big fundraiser for the national shifter rights organization and they were helping me find a dress.”

“Congratulations Noona, that’s a huge deal!” he beamed with pride.

“Thanks,” you blushed. “It’s an honor, but I’m really nervous. It’s the biggest event I’ve ever spoken at, and it’s in front of a lot of really influential people.”

“I’m sure you’ll do amazing. Just pick one person in the crowd to focus on, and save the champagne for after you’re done.”

“That’s good advice.”

Silence briefly settled between you, and you thought back to what Taehyung had said. Be brave. You took a deep breath before nervously rambling, “I was actually wondering… I uh, get a plus one for the event and I think I’d be less nervous if I had someone with me… I was wondering if, maybe, if you’re free, if you’d maybe like to—”

“—I would love to!” Namjoon enthusiastically interrupted.

“Oh, okay! Great! Are– are you sure? I don’t want to put you out or anything, it’s black tie and I know it’s a lot to ask—” he cut you off with a gentle hand on yours. 

“I really want to go with you, and it means a lot to me that you asked. And don’t worry about the black tie thing, I have events like that with work all the time so I’m prepared. When is it?”

“A week from Saturday.”

“It’s a date,” he declared with a grin. “Yeah?”

“Y-yeah. It’s a date.”

A date? A date. A date with Kim Namjoon. Where you also had to give a speech. Cool cool cool. Should be fun.

Hobi and Tae were hanging out in the living room when Namjoon arrived home with a dopey grin on his face.

“What’s up with you?” Hobi asked the alpha. 

“I just ran into Noona.”

“Oh? What happened?”

“She— she uh, she asked me to go with her to this fancy event next week… like, as her date.” 

Taehyung was punching the air in victory, both fists raised in triumph. Hobi started screaming, leaping out of his seat to jump up and down on the couch cushions. “Oh my god it’s finally happening! Everybody get out here!”

The rest of the pack rushed out looking for danger, but instead found a stunned pack alpha, a gleeful beta, and a rather smug omega.

“What’s happening?!” Jungkook asked. 

“Noona asked Joonie on a date! A fancy one!” 

A round of cheers echoed around the apartment as their leader tried to hide in his hoodie like a turtle, embarrassed by all the fuss. 

“We’re ordering takeout tonight,” Jin declared. “We have some romantic scheming to do.”

Chapter Text

Monday 12:13pm

Taetae: which earrings do you like for Saturday [photo attachment]

You: You’re not buying me earrings.

Taetae: Jiminie got to buy you the dress! I’m at least buying you earrings!

You: I didn’t want him to do that!

Taetae: the ones on the left, don’t you think?

You: ….yes  😑

Tuesday 3:52pm

Jimin: How does 3pm sound?

You: For what?

Jimin: Saturday, you have to come get ready here!

You: Why can’t I get ready at home?

Jimin: Because Namjoon shouldn’t get to be the only one to see you all dolled up! It’s not fair!

Jimin: I’ll do your makeup, it’ll be fun

You: Isn’t 3pm a little early?

Jimin: Fine, 3:30

Tuesday 9:06pm

Jungkook: do I really have to take this test tomorrow

You: No, you don’t have to

Jungkook: really???

You: Yeah, I can just enter it as a zero. It’s only 15% of your final grade, anyway.

Jungkook: oh come onnnnnn

You: No special treatment, JK.

Jungkook: fine

Jungkook: can u send me ur study guide

You: No. Have you seriously not started studying yet?

Jungkook: pleeeeease professor noona?

You: Get it from one of your classmates.

Jungkook: :( 

You: Your bunny pout doesn’t work via text.

Jungkook: [photo attachment]

You: I refuse to look at that.

Wednesday 4:42pm

Jin: Are you allergic to anything?

You: No, why?

Jin: No reason.

You:  🤨

Thursday 1:10pm

Namjoon: I read your latest article on rut, heat, and parental leave protections

You: Oh, really? What did you think?

Namjoon: I mean, I’m biased, but I thought it was incredibly well researched and argued

Namjoon: brilliant and empathetic as always

You: You’re sweet 🥰

Namjoon: no really. you’re so good at being inclusive and explaining how equity benefits everyone

You: As they say, a rising tide lifts all boats

Namjoon: exactly

Namjoon: there is something I wanted to ask you about though… 

Namjoon: do you ever read the comments on your articles?

Namjoon: there are some pretty vile ones, even some threats. I went back and checked a few of your previous articles, and they were there as well. does that happen every time you publish?

You: Yeah… that’s escalated a bit within the last few months. 

You: I asked the editor about it, and they said it's pretty typical. It’s just the internet being the internet.

Namjoon: maybe you should report it, just to be safe?

You: I tried, but the police and they said there’s nothing they can do about online threats unless someone actually attacks me or I can prove I’m being stalked or something.

Namjoon: that’s bullshit

You: I know, but I’m okay, promise.

You: I appreciate you looking out for me.

Friday 8:13am

Hobi: good morning to my favorite lady! I hope u have an awesome day!! 💪😎🫶😘🫰

You: Good morning sunshine ☀️ same to you!

Hobi: so excited to c u all dolled up tomorrow

Friday 6:22pm

Yoongi: Are you ever going to tell the others about your old pack?

Yoongi: I’m cool with taking secrets to my grave but I think you’d feel better if they knew

          7:07pm

Yoongi: Maybe at least Namjoon?

          7:30pm

Yoongi: Noona?

          8:20pm

Yoongi: Alright, point taken.

Chapter Text

“Let me just run through it one more time and then I’ll come get ready, I swear.”

The omegas had been pestering you to allow them to start on your hair and makeup for the event, but instead you were subjecting Yoongi and Jungkook to the third rehearsal of your speech. The elder gave thoughtful feedback with notes on when you should take a pause or where something needed clarity. Jungkook was just happy to be included, showering you with praise and applauding loudly at every available opportunity. When you finished yet another run-through, Jimin snatched the notecards from your hand and dragged you to Taehyung’s room.

Entering the bedroom, your eyes were immediately drawn to a large gallery wall of framed black and white photos. Ranging from moody and introspective to soft and romantic, you could see they were full of emotion both in front of and behind the camera lens. You were engrossed, looking at each one in turn. In some of them you recognized members of the pack in moments of quiet— Yoongi’s hands at a piano, Namjoon’s face obscured by a book. There was one that appeared to be a self portrait, the face obscured by the camera in an ornate mirror.

“Taebear, did you take these?”

“Hmm? Oh. Um, yeah. It’s kindof my hobby.”

“Seriously? They’re incredible.”

“See, I told you you were just as great behind the camera as in front of it!” Jimin playfully shoved his friend on the arm.

“Thanks, Noona. It’s fun to play pretend every now and then. Sometimes I wish I’d gone that direction instead of modeling.”

“Do you want to pursue photography?” 

“I mean… yeah, but I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I’m just an amateur hobbyist, nobody is going to want to hire me for creative stuff. The only job I could get as a photographer would be for cheesy family portraits. At least with modeling I can be on the sets for bigger shoots.”

“I don’t think that’s true at all. You have a lot of natural talent and vision, and I’m sure you’ve picked up a lot being on sets. The first step of being really excellent at something is first being really bad at it, and by the look of these, you’ve long surpassed that requirement. We always have more to learn, but I definitely wouldn’t call you an amateur. These are beautiful Taetae, I mean it.” His eyes lit up at the compliment, and you got an idea.

“Just putting this out there… The university offers a few different photography courses, and you don’t have to be a full-time student to take them. You might enjoy just learning a bit more to refine the skills you already have, even if you end up deciding you just want to continue as a hobbyist. If nothing else, you might learn some things you could apply to modeling. I would be happy to help you enroll, if you’re interested?”

“Yeah? That sounds really cool, thank you Noona!” He wrapped his arms around your waist to hug you. You held him close, stroking his hair, and he murmured into your shoulder, “Do you really think I could do it?”

“Yeah, I really do.”

Jimin smiled benevolently at this scene for a moment, but his patience quickly wore thin. “Excuse me! This is very sweet and all, but we have work to do here!”

“Excuse me? How much work are we talking about?” 

“You didn’t let me finish! I was going to say, it takes time to do makeup on a natural beauty like Noona, because we have to be delicate.”

You rolled your eyes. “Nice save, Minnie.”

Tae broke away from you with a close-lipped smile, his head cutely tilting this way and that as he continued pondering your words. You weren’t sure what to call this mannerism, but whatever it was, it filled you with fondness for him. Jimin guided you to sit in a chair and immediately set to work. Normally, you would have balked at being doted on like this, but Jimin and Tae were so good at nurturing your confidence and making you laugh that you were truly enjoying the process. Plus, Jimin was much better at applying makeup than you were. Once Taehyung had finished curling your hair and gifted you your new earrings, it was time to slip on the dress. 

You looked yourself up and down in the mirror, smoothing the fabric over your hips and stomach. “Does it look as good as it did in the dressing room?” you asked uncertainly as you turned to face them.

“Even better , Noona. You look so elegant and sexy,” Taehyung said in his deep baritone.

“You’re laying it on a little thick there.”

“No he’s not! It’s perfect and you look radiant. Thank you for letting me buy that dress for you,” Jimin added with a smirk.

“As I recall, I didn’t let you do anything!” His eyes squinted into crescents as he giggled.

“Ready?” Tae asked.

“As I’ll ever be.”

“I’m going to gather everyone! Wait a minute before you come out!” Jimin ran ahead and you suddenly felt a little sick to your stomach, nerves creeping in.

“Oh! Before we go out there…” Taehyung grabbed his film camera from the nearby dresser and brought you to the full-length mirror in his room, bringing you in close to take a photo together. Just before the shutter clicked, you turned to kiss his cheek. “Can’t wait to develop that one,” he said, blushing.

When you heard Jimin call back that they were ready for you, your escort offered his arm and you allowed yourself to be guided into the living area. The loud chattering that was the default in the pack fell to a brief hush as you entered the room, before loudly exploding in cheers and whistles.

“Nooooonaaaaaaaa!”

“Ow owwwww! Babe alert!”

“Holy shit!”

“You look like a princess!”

The only quiet ones were Tae beside you, who was looking very smug indeed, and the pack alpha, whose mouth was hanging agape. Your eyes combed up his long body; damn did he know how to wear a suit. His dress shirt was tight across his chest, and the top buttons were still undone, exposing the base of his throat. He licked his lips and you finally met his eyes; he definitely caught you checking him out. To be fair, judging from the heat in his gaze, you were pretty sure he was also checking you out. You hastily looked away to the other boys crowding around you, allowing Jungkook to twirl you around. You basked in the attention for a bit while Yoongi helped Namjoon with his tie.

“Okay okay, Noona and Joon-ah I want to get pictures! Get together!” Hobi was waving his hands to direct you, phone in hand. The others followed his lead, and half a dozen phones pointed in your direction, along with Tae’s camera.

“What is with this paparazzi?!” you exclaimed.

Namjoon’s arm wrapped around your waist and pulled you into his side; you knew even a human would have been able to feel your heart pounding against your ribcage, let alone a wolf. He leaned close and whispered, “You look absolutely stunning, by the way.” 

You turned to face him, smiling. “You clean up pretty well yourself.” A camera flashed and clicked.

“Alright kids, let’s hit the road,” Yoongi called from the doorway. You arched a brow at him, to which replied “I’m your designated driver for the night,” jingling his keys in your direction. 

Jimin and Tae rushed forward to give you one final look-over, handing you your clutch. “Oh, wait!” you cried. “Hobi, I need a picture with my fairy godfathers of the evening!” The omegas snuggled in close for the photo, and you were positive you’d look like a chipmunk from smiling so big. Hobi stepped forward to wrap you in a tight hug.

Jin kissed you on the nose, and then booped it with his index finger. “Have fun, princess.”

Finally, Jungkook timidly approached you and quietly said, “You look really pretty, Noona,” and gave you a quick peck on the cheek before running away, blushing.

“Shall we?” Namjoon offered you his arm. You gave the rest of the pack a final wave before heading out the door. 

The second the door closed behind you, the others swarmed together to excitedly gossip and compare photos.

“Did you see how they look at each other? It’s like something out of a drama! I swear I could hear theme music coming out of Joonie’s ears.”

“Oooh, send me that one you got! I want to make it Noona’s contact picture on my phone!”

“They look so good together, think of how beautiful their pups would be!”

“Do you think she’ll be our Luna soon, hyung?”

“Settle down you heathens!” Jin scolded. “Let’s just hope they drink just a little too much champagne tonight and sort themselves out.”

Chapter Text

The two alphas patiently let you practice your speech the whole way to the venue, which was a cool, refurbished warehouse on the edge of town. It was a good thing Yoongi had offered to drive; cabs were in short supply in this area, so you made him pinky-promise he wouldn’t leave you to find your own way home (he had rolled his eyes at the ridiculous notion he’d leave either of you stranded).

Namjoon offered his hand to help you out of the car, and the skin contact did nothing for your nerves. As you entered the building, an event photographer stepped into your path.

“Can I get a photo of the lovely couple?”

“Oh, we’re not—”

“That would be great, thank you,” Namjoon cut in, before confidently posing the two of you. He’d positioned your bodies to make it clear that you should be the center of attention; he stood slightly behind with one hand on your waist and the other in his pocket. For a moment, you felt like the two of you were celebrities on the red carpet.

“Thanks! You two look great, enjoy the evening.”

He offered his arm to you again, and you found you were grateful for the support (both physically and emotionally) as you sought out your table. The organizer who you’d been in touch with found you shortly after, and gave the rundown of the evening; you were relieved to see that your speech was early on in the program, meaning you could get it over with and maybe enjoy at least part of the evening. Namjoon seemed to sense that your anxiety was increasing, and took the brunt of the conversation with others at your table before leaning over to quietly suggest the two of you get up for a drink. You stayed hidden along the edges of the party to avoid socializing for the time being, and it seemed to help. Shortly before it was time for you to go on, you turned to your date for a final check.

“Do I have anything on my face? In my teeth? Is my lipstick smudged? Did I spill something on my dress? Am I sweating through it?”

He examined you carefully and replied, “You look perfect. Not a hair out of place.”

“I think I forgot how to breathe. How does breathing work?”

“First you inhale, then you exhale. Let’s do it together a few times, yeah?” He placed your palms against his chest and took deep breaths for you to follow, and you had to admit, it did seem to help. When your heart rate had slowed a bit, you reluctantly decided it was time to head toward the stage.

“You’re going to be great. I’ll be waiting with a glass of champagne for you to celebrate.”

“If I fuck it up, will you please get me a double tequila instead?”

“Sure. But like I said,” he leaned close to your ear, “I’ll be waiting with a glass of champagne.” He kissed your cheek and pulled back, smiling, until you lightly slapped his arm, looking scandalized. 

His first thought was that he’d done something out of line. “Oh! I’m sorry, I—”

“You’re supposed to be calming me down! That did the opposite!”

“My bad,” he laughed, clearly relieved. “You got this, don’t worry sweetheart.”

In true fairytale fashion, you and your prince stumbled out of the venue at midnight, champagne drunk and a little silly. Yoongi’s SUV was easily spotted amongst the cars waiting for partygoers, and the two of you collapsed into the backseat, all giggles.

“Yooooongiiiii! You’re here!” You leaned forward to plant a big smooch on his cheek before collapsing back into your seat. 

He smirked at you in the rearview mirror. “Of course I am, jagiya. I pinky promised, didn’t I?”

Conspiratorially, you leaned across the seat into Namjoon’s space. “Yoongi would never break a pinky promise to me,” you whispered loudly. “He knows they’re sacred. ” The driver chuckled from the front seat.

You suddenly realized just how close you were leaning to Namjoon— his eyes stared into yours before glancing down at your mouth, and you felt the gravitational pull of his lips calling to you. The heavy silence was broken by Yoongi clearing his throat, and you scrambled back to your side of the car. You placed your hands on either side of you to feel the leather seats under your palms, hoping to ground yourself in the midst of your champagne haze. But as you closed your eyes, you felt every nerve ending spark to life. Namjoon had rested his hand on the seat just as you had, and his pinky reached out to brush against yours. This simple contact reverberated throughout your body and you clenched your thighs together hoping the wolves wouldn’t notice. Without looking at the man beside you, you reciprocated his touch by linking your pinky finger with his and you heard his breath hitch. You weren’t sure what promise the two of you were making, but you were willing to keep it.

Finally, the elder man broke the silence. “Am I taking you back to your apartment, Noona? Or do you want to come hang out for a bit? I know the others are anxious to hear about your night.”

“Oh, um… actually, I think I left my keys at your place, anyway, so let’s head there if that’s okay?” Namjoon’s pinky gave yours a gentle squeeze. He remained silent the remainder of the drive, while you did your best to have a normal conversation with Yoongi, fearful of the charged silence returning so soon.

Loud cheers and hugs welcomed you back to the pack house, as well as a barrage of questions that you did your best to answer with as much detail as possible before allowing Namjoon to regale them with an exaggerated recap. 

“Just because you stood up to clap doesn’t mean there was a standing ovation, Joon,” you giggled.

“There absolutely was, you just couldn’t see it from the stage because of the spotlights. And then when she was done, there were all these big important people who wanted to meet her! She ran out of business cards!”

“Okay, well, that second part is true. It was good for networking I guess, although I hate networking as a concept.”

“She even basically got a job offer on the spot to do some consulting work.”

“They just asked if they could give me a call to discuss it.”

“And look at this fancy award they gave her! It’s so heavy!” he held up a glass trophy you’d received in honor of your service to shifters. Everyone started ooh-ing and aah-ing over it while you tried to hide your blush behind your hands.

“I can’t tell if Noona’s too humble or Joonie’s too proud,” Yoongi remarked.

Hobi cleared his throat and produced a bottle of champagne. “Well either way, it sounds like we have plenty of successes to toast to! I hope you two can handle one more glass of bubbly!”

Namjoon moved closer to once again wrap his arm around your waist, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. And in a way, it felt like it was; your bodies leaned into each other with a practiced ease. Once everyone had their filled champagne flutes in hand, Jin held his glass aloft. 

“A toast to Noona! I know I speak for the entire pack when I say it feels like you’ve always belonged with us, and we’re so proud of you and your accomplishments. Your hard work and empathy benefits us all, and we love you, just as you are. Cheers!” 

Maybe it was the booze, or the night’s adrenaline wearing off, or just that Jin knew exactly how to tug at your heartstrings, but tears started to well up in your eyes as everyone clinked glasses. You cleared your throat in an attempt to keep them at bay.

“Noona, what’s wrong?!” Taehyung asked.

“Nothing’s wrong! I’m just… really happy.”

“Then why are you tearing up?” asked Jungkook.

“I… I’ve never had friends like you all before. I don’t know what I did to deserve the kindness you’ve shown me, but I’m grateful for it.” With a chorus of “aw” they all swarmed to hug you, and your tears flowed freely.

Namjoon kissed the side of your head, and once the others had given you some space, he whispered lowly in your ear, “You deserve all of this and more. We want to give you everything. I want to give you everything.” A shiver ran up your spine, quickly sobering you.

Jimin suddenly tipped his glass back, the champagne gliding down his throat in a single gulp. He set the flute down and turned to Yoongi, giving him what you could only describe as a significant look before turning and heading toward their shared bedroom. “Finish this for me?” Yoongi asked as he handed you what remained in his own glass and followed after him.

You rolled your eyes and fanned yourself before polishing off the rest of the champagne. “Is it hot in here or is it just all of you?” you joked.

“Oh no, it’s definitely you, Noona,” Tae flirted in his deep baritone.

“Want to get some fresh air?” Namjoon placed his hand on your lower back to steer you to the patio and you let yourself be guided outside. The two of you stood side by side; you looked up at the night sky, convinced it would be easier to speak honestly if you weren’t looking at him directly.

“Thank you for coming with me tonight. I don’t think I could have got through it without you,” you admitted quietly. 

“I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else.” 

It was a clear night, warm enough that neither of you had grabbed your coats, but when a cool breeze came through you shivered. Namjoon moved behind you, wrapping his arms around you and pressing himself into your back. You leaned your head back on his shoulder and returned your gaze to the sky and the full moon. Namjoon’s grip on you tightened, his face turned to nuzzle into your hair. You inhaled sharply when you felt his lips press to your temple, and suddenly you were afraid to move, afraid to shatter this moment that felt so fragile and fleeting.

He kissed your cheekbone and you realized you were holding your breath. His lips landed at your jaw, just below your ear. He pressed another kiss there, this one nearly as light as a feather, and as you kept your eyes trained on the moon, he whispered, “Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.”

You spun in his arms to face him, studying his expression and trying to memorize the look of absolute longing you found there. Your arms wrapped around his shoulders as you quietly replied, “I’ll take it.” 

Namjoon’s gaze was intense as he brought a hand to the side of your face. His thumb gently traced your features, as if committing them to memory, before his lips crashed onto yours.

“What are you two doing lurking by the window?” Hobi asked the youngest members of the pack. 

“Joonie-hyung and Noona are making out!” Jungkook replied gleefully.

“ Finally! ”

“Damn, look at them go. That’s hot,” said Tae.

“Wait, I want to see,” Jin scurried over. “Oh, Noona is into it. Did you see who made the first move?”

“I think it was hyung, but it looked like it was her reaction to something he said right before that got it going.”

“We couldn’t hear what it was but it must have been really romantic,” Jungkook smiled wistfully.

“Would this qualify as ‘sorting themselves out,’ hyung?” Hobi teased.

“Well, it’s a start.”

“Wanna place bets on how long before hyung grabs her ass?” Tae asked mischievously. “Oh, wait, just kidding, there he goes.”

“Doesn’t seem like she minds. At all.”

“Shit, they’re moving. Are they coming inside? Everybody hide!”

Jungkook threw himself behind the couch while Taehyung tried to hold very still behind a tall plant; Jin dove under the dining table, and Hoseok dropped to the floor to crawl to the kitchen. They heard more than saw you and Namjoon reenter the house, clumsily bumping into corners of furniture as you tried to navigate to his room with your faces still attached. There was a gentle thump as he pressed you against a wall, the sounds of your heavy breathing and the gentle smacking of lips audible in the quiet house. When you let out a quiet moan, the four snoops had to cover their mouths with their hands to stifle their joyful giggles. The bedroom door clicked shut behind you and they emerged from their hiding spots for a victory dance, trying their best to remain silent in their celebration.

“Okay okay, let’s give them some privacy,” Jin said. “Everyone go to your rooms and… listen to music or something. Preferably with headphones on. Noise-canceling ones. Goodnight.”

Chapter Text

When Namjoon’s bedroom door clicked shut, the two of you broke apart for air and stared into each others’ eyes. The silence felt like a vacuum, the air like it was full of static electricity. The heavy rise and fall of his chest matched your own panting breaths. When you saw his hands were in fists by his side, white-knuckled, you realized he was holding himself back, waiting for you, wanting to know that you were sure. Your eyes  locked back on his and you gave him a slight nod before colliding. You kissed him hungrily, and he met you in kind, nipping at your lips and licking into your mouth. His shoulders and chest were firm under your fingers, his heartbeat thumping in your palm. 

You stepped back from him, turning and looking over your shoulder. “Will you unzip me?” His plush lips parted on an exhale before he nodded and moved toward you. While his hands took their sweet time navigating to your zipper, those lips pressed kisses onto each of your shoulders. You turned back to face him, letting the dress pool at your feet; his gaze trailed up your body slowly, taking in every dip and curve. “So fucking beautiful,” he breathed.

Stepping back toward him, you began to unbutton his dress shirt, kissing his throat, his collarbone, his chest; every bit of skin as it was revealed. He held your face again to kiss you deeply while you worked on his belt and zipper. When Namjoon stepped out of his pants, standing only in his boxer briefs, you only had a moment to appreciate his form before he knelt in front of you.

“Fuck, I’ve thought about this for so long,” he said before placing a wet kiss your stomach, hands skating up the back of your thighs. “Do you remember that morning in the kitchen? I got one look at your ass and I had to go jerk off in the shower.” He grabbed a handful to emphasize his point, and you whined at the thought of him touching himself because of you. Namjoon kissed your hips, your stomach, your thighs. Your fingers threaded into his hair, enjoying his pleased groan when your nails scratched his scalp. He seemed so content like this, kneeling at your feet and just exploring you. You could have stayed like that a while longer, had he not chosen a spot on your hip to suck and lick and nip until it bloomed, reigniting your desperation for him. 

“Please, Joon,” you breathed.

“Please what, baby?” You were at a loss for words as his kisses moved lower, until he was right above your heat. He inhaled deeply, a low rumble in his chest before he licked the wet spot on your panties. He flattened his tongue against the material, and your grip on his hair tightened. 

“I want to touch you too,” you whined. His dimpled smile gazed up at you from the floor before he rose back to his feet and captured your lips in another heated kiss. Your hands traversed his chest and stomach, enjoying the feel of his smooth skin as you walked backwards to sit on the edge of the bed. Toying with the waistband of his boxer briefs, you kissed the skin just above it, mirroring his own ministrations from moments before. Looking up at him through your lashes, you whispered, “Can I take these off?” and he nodded eagerly. 

His underwear dropped to the floor and you saw him fully for the first time. One look at his cock, and you… giggled? 

Namjoon scowled. “Uh…”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I wasn’t laughing at you, I swear.”

“What were you laughing at?” 

“It’s, um, it was a nervous laugh? You are…” his brow furrowed further while you finished your thought. “That is the biggest dick I’ve ever seen.”  

It was Namjoon’s turn to laugh now. “Is that a bad thing?” 

“No! I just… truly have no idea how that’s going to… fit.” 

“You don’t need to be nervous, sweetheart,” he said as his smile transformed into a heated smirk. “I’ll make sure you’re ready for me. I’ll make sure you’re begging for this.”

You gulped. “Is that a threat?” 

“It’s a promise. Lay down for me.” 

Instead, you kept your eyes on his and leaned forward, sticking your tongue out, to lick a long stripe up the underside of his cock. Namjoon hissed as you sucked just the tip into your mouth, swirling your tongue around it for a moment before pulling away.

“Oh? I thought you wanted to be a good girl?” he teased, remembering how quickly that had turned you on that morning he’d thrown you over his shoulder.

You bit your lip and shifted to the center of the bed to lay your head on the pillows, Namjoon watching you the entire time and stroking himself slowly. His gaze was predatory as he crawled up the bed to meet your lips again. His hands explored your sides as he kissed you breathless, reaching behind you to unclasp your bra. The straps were slid down your arms with care, as if he was unwrapping a gift he knew was fragile, before throwing the undergarment carelessly aside to kiss at your chest.

He licked one of your nipples before pulling away to gently blow against it. When the cool air made the flesh peak and tighten, he mirrored his actions on the other side. He went back and forth like this, sucking and nipping at the sensitive buds until you were panting with arousal. When he was satisfied with his work, he kissed his way down your abdomen, settling his shoulders between your thighs. He looked up at you with an eager glint in his eyes and asked, “Can I taste you properly, sweetheart?” 

With your enthusiastic consent, he slipped your panties off and gently rubbed his thumb through your folds. Wrapping his arms around you, he began sucking bruises into the soft skin on your thighs, and you looked forward to seeing his marks on you in the morning. One of his hands reached around your thigh to part your lips, and Namjoon could finally take in the sight of you. After his moment of appreciation, he looked up to stare directly into your eyes, then used his entire tongue to give a broad lick from your entrance to your clit. He repeated the action twice, and when you sighed in pleasure he replied, “That’s it, just relax for me. Fuck , you taste even sweeter than I imagined.”

He took his time exploring your entrance, licking slowly like you would ice cream, before fucking into you with his tongue. “Oh god! Joon, yes,” you moaned, one hand fisting into the sheets while the other found his hair. You opened your eyes to watch him continue to devour you, and his eyes trailed back up your body to meet yours. His gaze looked more like that of a dragon than a wolf in that moment: pure power and greed. Your pussy clenched at the sight, and he moaned before his tongue temporarily retreated. His right arm released your leg, and came to your center to gently stroke you. When the pad of his index finger tapped your clit, your hips jumped.

“Gotta get you ready for me, baby.” He smiled and inserted one finger, slowly pumping in and out of you, before his tongue returned to your clit. When he flicked it with the tip of his tongue, your hips bucked again; he laid his forearm across you to hold them down. He continued working you with this tongue and added another digit, increasing his speed and curling his long fingers to stroke your hidden nerves. Breathy gasps and moans escaped your lips, your grip on his hair tightened, your hips fought against his hold to try and fuck yourself harder against his tongue.

“Fuck! Joon, I’m so close.”

“I know sweetheart, you’re so tight around my fingers. Think you can fit one more?” 

“Yes, yes, please!” 

Namjoon continued to work you open, twisting his wrist and adding another finger. Your toes curled as he began rapidly fucking you, his bicep flexing with the effort. It wasn’t long before you couldn’t help but close your eyes and moan, arching your back.

“I want you to let go, cum on my face, let me taste it.” His lips returned to your clit and sucked, hard. Your hand clapped over your mouth to muffle your scream as you came, your thighs trembling around Namjoon’s shoulders. The vibrations of his pleased hum against your cunt prolonged your orgasm, before he licked and sucked up as much of your release as he could until you whined with oversensitivity. 

Namjoon laid down next to you, gently stroking your hip while you caught your breath. Panting, you looked at him with a grin, and he smiled back, giving you the opportunity to fulfill your greatest fantasy: poking his dimples with the pad of your finger. He snickered and the dimples remained, so you leaned forward to kiss them for good measure before moving back to his swollen lips.

You rolled him onto his back, taking your new position of power as an opportunity to explore his body further and place open-mouthed kisses everywhere you could. His large hands gripped your legs and he closed his eyes, lost in the feeling of you. Seeing him so far gone reignited your lust; you began grinding your hips down onto him, his cock sliding between your folds, and he groaned, bucking up against you. 

“Please sweetheart, I’ve been wanting you since the day we met and I don’t think I can wait anymore.”

You smirked, leaning down to kiss him again. “I thought I was the one who was supposed to be begging?”

“Yeah, well, here we are. Please?”

You breathed a laugh as you raised your hips up, bracing your hands against his chest, and finally, finally, you felt the tip of his cock at your entrance. You sank down slowly, taking your time to adjust to his size; when the backs of your thighs finally rested against him, you both let out deep breaths you’d been holding.

After taking a moment to get comfortable with the stretch of him inside you, you rolled your hips experimentally and bit your lip at the sound of the breathy moan that came from the man beneath you. Nails digging into his chest, you continued to slowly work yourself up and down his cock. Your games didn’t last long, though; after a minute of teasing him with your slow hip movements, when it was clear you were comfortable enough with his size, Namjoon’s patience ran out. He easily flipped you onto your back and you gasped— although it was unclear if it was from being so casually manhandled or from the rough way he pushed back into you. His lips crashed back onto yours, your tongues dancing an uncoordinated dance.

Your hands gripped his shoulders as he pulled back for a moment, and you studied each other once more. When Namjoon kissed you again, something was different. It was more More than the desperation of the moment he’d kissed his confession in your kitchen, more than the overwhelming passion when you’d thrown yourself into his embrace moments ago in the moonlight; this was somehow the most emotional embrace yet. It was softer, slower, more tender— in the back of your mind, you knew the two of you were crossing a threshold.

His hips began to rock against you, his thrusts slow and deep. His weight pressed you into the mattress, his breath fanned across your neck. He was everywhere, inside and out, under your skin; the feeling of him was overwhelming, but you couldn’t get enough.

“Namjoon, harder, please,” you whined, breathless. He hooked an arm around one of your knees, bringing it to your chest, and his hips picked up their pace. You gasped at the feeling of him deep within you, and when his thumb reached down to draw circles against your clit, you cried out. “Oh my god, yes, right there, you feel so good,” you nearly sobbed.

“You wanna cum again, sweetheart? Gonna give me another orgasm?”

“Yes, please let me cum,” you begged.

“Fuck yes, let me hear you, I want to feel you cum around me.” Your climax was building, and you were nearly at the peak. “That’s it baby, let go, I’ve got you.” 

He groaned at the feeling of you tight around him, thrusting harder than ever. Namjoon was losing himself in this moment, a constant stream of curses and praises leaving his mouth. “Just like that, you feel so fucking good.” His praises sent you over the edge, and with a wordless cry, you came harder than you ever had before.

His thrusts became erratic as his own orgasm was fast approaching. Curses and growls of “good girl,” continued to pour from his lips. He suddenly pulled out, stroking himself rapidly until he released onto your stomach and collapsed next to you.

The two of you lay there panting, a sheen of sweat over your bodies. Namjoon looked you up and down, and you saw him smirk at the bruises along your collarbone and thighs, the milky white streaks of his cum beginning to dry on your belly. “Let’s go get cleaned up.” 

As the pack alpha, he explained, the others had insisted he take the primary bedroom in the house; as such, you got to enjoy the amenity of an en-suite bathroom. He led you by the hand to a spacious shower and you joined him under the warm water. While you worked on removing your makeup from the evening, Namjoon stood behind you and lathered up a washcloth. He took his time cleaning your body, gently rubbing it over your back and shoulders, your chest, your stomach, and between your thighs. You leaned back against him with a relaxed sigh, eventually turning to lazily kiss him while it was your turn to wash his body. After rinsing his back, you held him close from behind, kissing the top of his spine between his shoulder blades. When you both gave each other a sleepy, contented smile, you knew it was time to dry off and go to bed. He handed you an oversized t-shirt and fresh pair of boxer briefs to sleep in and you snuggled under the covers. Namjoon pulled you close to kiss you once more, and you nuzzled into his neck, drifting off to sleep feeling warm, sated, and cared for.

Chapter Text

You awoke feeling truly rested for the first time in… well, you couldn’t remember the last time you woke up feeling so good. Namjoon lay on his back next to you, his full lips slightly agape as he breathed heavily. You studied each slope and angle of his face, the way his lashes fell on his cheeks, soaking up the warm tone of his skin like it was the sun’s rays. Falling to temptation, you brushed a bit of hair from his forehead, feeling it between your fingers. He’d switched back to his natural color recently, and at this moment he looked younger, lighter somehow. Still asleep, he rolled toward you, flinging a heavy arm around your body and pulling you close; you tried to suppress a giggle as he nuzzled into your neck. He inhaled deeply, taking in your scent and mumbling, still unconscious. His voice was deep with sleep and muffled against your skin, but still you heard, “mmm… Luna… my Luna…”

Something tightened in your chest as you took in his words. Namjoon was the kind of man you’d always dreamed of finding as your mate, and it made your heart pound to think he might feel that way about you, too— but that word confronted you with a harsh reality. Being a luna meant more than being his mate; it was a responsibility, a leadership role within the pack. The luna in your own family pack was a formidable shifter, self-assured in her identity and more attuned to her wolf instincts than most— you often wondered if she wasn’t more lupine than human. She’d been one of your biggest supporters as a child, but one of your harshest critics when you didn’t live up to her expectations. And Namjoon wanted you to fill that role for his pack? The last time you’d been part of a pack, you’d been an outcast, a freak. You’d spent more than half your life trying to just be a human, doing everything possible to ignore the void inside you, the missing piece of your identity. Most days it felt like you were barely holding yourself together, so how would you ever be able to support anyone else?

You slipped out of his arms before he could sense your anxiety, the dread that filled your stomach at the prospect of having to disappoint him. Because that was the outcome, no matter what— either reject him now, or worse, have him reject you down the line when he finally came to his senses and realized he’d set you up for failure, that you weren’t the woman he’d hoped you were. The latter option sounded far more agonizing. When he woke up, you would have to tell him last night was a mistake… I’m not ready for that. I need time, I need to figure out how to say this. I need to prepare to lose him, to lose them all. Your throat felt tight; you had to get out of here before you well and truly lost it. 

Shit. Jimin said he was going to leave my bag in his room. I need pants. And my keys. With one last bittersweet look at Namjoon, who hadn’t stirred, you tried to tiptoe as quietly as possible out of his room and into Jimin and Yoongi’s. The blackout curtains were drawn tight; you had to feel your way around the room as your eyes adjusted until you finally found your bag leaning up against the foot of the bed. You bent down to grab it, and nearly had a heart attack when you rose and came face to face with Yoongi.

“Noona? What are you doing?” his voice was low from sleep.

“I’m sorry to wake you, I just needed my bag.”

“You needed your bag, at 6 in the morning?”

Jimin stirred, mumbling something, and Yoongi turned to kiss his mate’s forehead. “It’s okay baby, go back to sleep,” he whispered before climbing out of bed to grab you by the arm and guide you out of the room to continue your conversation.

“Okay, so, like I asked— what exactly are you doing?”

“I’m just… heading home. You know, lots to do today, chores and stuff…”

“Uh huh. And you had to sneak out at dawn to do laundry?”

“...yep.”

“You’re a shit liar. What’s really going on?”

“I’m just… not ready to have a difficult conversation right now.”

“Too bad.” He gestured to the dining table where you’d first opened up to each other, indicating for you to sit and spill. It was useless to resist him. You fished around in your bag, pulled yesterday’s pants on, and collapsed into a chair.

“Last night… Namjoon and I…”

“Yeah, I know. We share a wall.”

“Fuck me,” you sighed as you you buried your face in your hands.

“I mean, you’re also covered in hickeys and wearing his clothes, so it doesn’t exactly take a genius to work that one out,” he smirked. You laid your head down on the table and groaned. “It’s okay,” he continued, “I’d rather listen to the noises you make instead of Joonie jerking off any day—”

“Oh my god, Yoongi! Stop! I’m just gonna go—”

“I’m sorry jagiya,” he reached for your wrist to stop you. “You don’t need to be embarrassed. Now tell me, what’s going on with you?”

“Fine, but knock it off, okay? So, right after I woke up, Namjoon started scenting me in his sleep and– he called me Luna . ”

“And… you’re afraid of commitment?”

“Not generally, but the whole pack thing makes me a little edgy for obvious reasons.”

“I understand. Then, is it that you’re opposed to the idea of being Namjoon’s mate, specifically?”

“No! That's the problem. I really like him.”

Yoongi furrowed his brow at you, clearly confused. “I’m not following. Why is that a problem?”

“I can’t be what he needs, what all of you need. I’ll just end up heartbroken, and the longer I let this go on, the more people get hurt.” Yoongi didn’t reply, giving you space to continue. “Namjoon and the pack— you all deserve a real luna. And I can’t be that.” 

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not one of you,” you quietly admitted.

“Because you’re not a shifter?” You nodded as tears began to well up in your eyes. “Okay, first of all, you happen to be a very outspoken supporter of shifters and humans mating, so, either you’re a hypocrite or it’s not really about that.”

“I just— you don’t get it Yoongi, I— I’m broken.”

He scowled. “Jagiya, being a luna isn’t about being a wolf. You are already so good at the things that matter . The way you protected Jimin at that club? Taehyung is finally going to pursue something he’s dreamed of thanks to your encouragement! And what about Jungkook? He’s always been more devoted to gaming than his studies until you . You push him to think critically, you see his potential. Fuck, even I have opened up to you,” he said as he threw his hands up in exasperation. “A luna’s job is to help the alpha protect and nurture the pack, and from where I sit, you’re already doing that. You are one of us. You belong here. So what if you can’t shift?”

“But he deserves a luna who can! Who can be part of all the normal pack traditions! Eventually you all will get tired of leaving me behind.”

“How are the two smartest people I know this fucking stupid? You and Namjoon need to stop assuming you know what the other wants and talk to each other,” he sighed. “Why haven’t you told him yet?”

“It’ll change how he sees me. He’ll pity me or try to fix me, but he can’t fix me.”

“He isn’t going to try to fix you because you’re not broken, jagiya. What is it you’re really afraid of? Why are you trying to push us away?” Yoongi analyzed your expression carefully before asking a calculated question. “Do you love him?”

You stood up suddenly, nearly knocking your chair over. I need to leave. Immediately.  “I can’t bear to be another disappointment,” you told him. “Especially not to you all. I can’t go through that rejection again, I don’t think I would survive it.” Wiping away tears, you turned away from Yoongi and made your way to the door. 

“Well I already am disappointed in you.” You paused with your hand on the doorknob. “I didn’t think you were the type of person to let fear control your choices.”

Without a reply, you let the door slam behind you. 

Namjoon awoke already smiling. He’d fallen asleep with his (hopefully soon-to-be) mate in his arms after a beautiful and romantic and, if he was being honest, hot as fuck night together. 

He reached out for you, but it seemed you were already up; the sheets were still warm from your body, your scent on the pillows. Your dress and undergarments littered his floor. He threw on some clothes and walked to his door, trying to be quiet in case the others weren’t up yet— he wanted as much alone time with you as he could get.

But as he softly padded to the kitchen, he heard voices in a hushed argument. He didn’t really mean to eavesdrop, but when he heard his name, he couldn’t help but pause and remain hidden.

“Namjoon and the pack— you all deserve a real Luna. And I can’t be that.” 

His heart dropped, and as he listened to the rest of your conversation, he waged an internal war with himself to not burst into the room and try and convince you of how wrong you were; but he knew it wasn’t the right time. She won’t hear you right now, she’s too upset. She deserves a better confession than me trying to convince her out of desperation.

After he heard the door slam behind you, he emerged from the hallway. Yoongi wasn’t surprised to see him; of course he’d heard him hiding around the corner. The elder alpha let out an exasperated sigh.

“What’s going on, hyung? Why is Noona so upset? Why did she leave?”

Yoongi pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s… complicated.”

“But why does she think she’s broken?”

“I’m not really at liberty to discuss that, Joon-ah. I made a promise to her to keep her confidence.”

Namjoon nodded. He was grateful that, whatever it was, you’d trusted one of his packmates enough to confide in, and tried to stifle the jealousy that it hadn’t been him.

“I understand. What do I need to do to make this right? What does she need from me?”

“I think it’s time to be honest with her, tell her your feelings and intentions.”

“I don’t want to scare her off.” 

Yoongi fixed him with an annoyed expression and gestured toward the door. “I think it’s a little late for that.”

“I just don’t get it! Everything was fine, fantastic, even! And then—”

“—she heard you call her Luna. In your sleep.”

“...Oh. Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“And she… was upset about that?” Namjoon shifted his weight back and forth on his feet, trying to hide the insecurity he was feeling.

“It’s not about you, Joon-ah. I would say she’s more scared than anything.”

“Scared she would disappoint us? That we would reject her?” Namjoon clarified, incredulous.

Yoongi shrugged. “Like I said, it’s complicated. Give her a couple days to calm down and process her feelings, and then tell her. Everything. And hopefully she’ll do the same for you.”

Chapter Text

For the last 24 hours, you’d been holed up in your apartment once again, avoiding Namjoon and his feelings for you— not to mention avoiding your own feelings for him , as well. Your chosen coping mechanism had been… dissociating, basically. You alternated between playing video games and scrolling through your phone, any activity that allowed you to just completely turn your brain off. Maybe your subconscious could work this one out for you, and you’d wake up just knowing what to do. 

But when Monday morning rolled around with no epiphany, you were just exhausted and still caught in a cycle of longing, self-doubt, and disappointment. Your morning routine was done basically on autopilot; you didn’t even remember your commute, and found yourself at work rather suddenly. Who even knows what you said during class— your poor students. All day you had been walking around campus like a zombie, lost in your own thoughts.

“Careful, _____!”

You looked up, startled; you’d almost collided with a colleague. 

“Sooyeon, I’m so sorry! I’m just too in my head today. Are you okay?” You looked around to get a better grasp of your surroundings, and briefly caught eyes with Jungkook, who quickly looked away and back to his textbook in front of him.

“I’m fine, I’m fine!” she replied. “No harm done. Are you okay?” 

Your eyes narrowed at the young alpha. Jungkook doesn’t have any classes in this building except mine, which isn’t until tomorrow. What’s he doing here?

“_____?”

“Hm? Sorry, sorry. What did you say?”

“I asked if everything was okay?” 

“Um, mostly?” Jungkook was close enough that you were definitely within his earshot, so you chose your words carefully. “I just have a lot going on. Sorry for not paying attention.”

Sooyeon gave you an appraising look. “Hey, you know what? Maybe it’s a sign we ran into each other like this. It’s been so long since we’ve had a chance to catch up— would you want to grab a drink after work?” Though you weren’t particularly close to Sooyeon, she did know more about you than most. As a neuropsychologist— and a beta— she’d been one of the experts you’d consulted about your condition when you first started at the university, and you’d remained friendly. Maybe you could use a friend right now.

“Actually, that sounds really great. Let’s do it.”

The two of you met at a cozy bar near campus that was geared more toward professors than students. While you had a few casual friends that you would do activities with, it had been a very long time since you’d spent time getting to know a new friend a little deeper, and you found you truly enjoyed her company. You and Sooyeon caught up on the usual basics— work gossip, actual work, personal updates and current events— before she got to the heart of the matter.

“So,” Sooyeon pivoted with a mischievous grin. “Are you seeing anyone?”

You hesitated, trying to figure out how exactly to answer the question. The pause was long enough that she continued, “You can lie to me if you want, but I caught a glimpse of those hickeys on your collarbone earlier.”

You blushed and hid your face behind your hands. “Ugh, fine! The honest answer is I don’t know. It’s gotten so complicated and I may have fucked it all up, anyway.”

Sooyeon pulled her hair back into a low bun, grabbed her glasses out of her purse, and straightened her posture across from you. She slid the glasses on her face and folded her hands in front of her on the table. With a wry smile and her best therapist voice she said, “Interesting. Let’s unpack that. Why do you feel you fucked it all up?”

You nearly snorted out your drink laughing at her. “Oh my god, you’re ridiculous. How much do you charge by the hour?”

“For you? Buy me another round.”

You ended up buying two more rounds.

“So let me make sure I’ve got all this straight,” Sooyeon said. “This guy— he’s tall, and handsome.”

“Yes.”

“And super smart.”

“Yep.”

“He has a good job?”

“Yeah.”

“But he’s still nice?”

“The nicest.”

“And you have shared interests and ideals?”

“Correct.”

“How’s the chemistry?”

“Off the charts.”

“How was the sex?”

“Life-changing.”

“Okay…” she trailed off, processing. Sooyeon threw her hands in the air and demanded, “ So what exactly is the fucking problem?!”

“He’s… he’s the alpha of a small pack.”

“... Was that supposed to be the end of that sentence? Are you expecting me to be satisfied by that answer?”

“I think he wants me to be their luna, which is just… a whole thing. You know I have a complicated history with being part of a pack!”

Sooyeon sighed. “You didn’t actually tell me much about your family pack, before. What’s the deal there, really?”

You sipped your drink. “They’re a pretty conservative bunch; super patriarchal and really have a lot of bias against ‘lower’ designations and an outright disgust for humans. Made for a bit of a hostile environment, but there’s not a whole lot else to say, really.”

“If your past is preventing you from being happy in your present, I think there is more to say.”

“I mean, we’re not close, but my parents didn’t fuck me up any more than anyone else’s did. I’m pretty sure most of us deal with adults putting their hopes and expectations on our shoulders.”

“What about friends?”

“I didn’t have many. Actually, when I didn’t present, I kinda became a bit of a loner, started getting bullied a lot. It was a big factor in why I couldn’t wait to get out of there and why I haven’t been back.”

“What kind of bullying are we talking about here?”

“The kids that were tired of being compared to me when we were young decided to assert their dominance once they knew they could. There was this one boy who was just such an asshole— he even put me in the hospital once.”

“Jesus! How did that happen?” 

“God, how do I even explain this… One day at school, we were divided into groups of three to go into the woods and identify different plants. Survival skills, that kind of thing. I get put into a group with this kid Hyugo, who’s always been a bit of a shit to me, and his friend Sangwoo. Sangwoo and I are spending most of the time talking— I had a huge crush on him at the time— and I don’t really notice that Hyugo is leading us pretty deep into the forest. When I finally pick up on it, he says he’s just trying to help me. He’s going to get my wolf to present itself. With some good old-fashioned Darwinism.”

“Oh no.”

“He takes this heavy tree branch nearby, and swings it as hard as he can into my shin, and I feel the bone fracture. And then, he took my phone, and he and Sangwoo left me there, two miles from home with a broken leg. Fuck, I’ve never actually told this story since it happened,” you realized as you reached for your drink. You downed it in one gulp, and Sooyeon signaled the server for another round.

“Anyway, when I don’t come home that night my parents are obviously worried. They keep calling me and calling me, and it just goes to voicemail. They go to the pack alpha to tell him something’s wrong and get everyone looking for me. And that’s when the luna finds my phone in her son’s room.”

“Oh shit! Hyugo’s parents were the alpha and luna?!”

“Actually, they were Sangwoo’s. He was a beta, pretty much under Hyugo’s thumb. Hyugo had him stash my phone. Sangwoo’s mom found it because she heard him sobbing in his room with guilt. He led everyone in the direction we’d gone until they could pick up my scent, but by the time they got to me, I was unconscious and hypothermic.” Your waitress returned with more drinks, and you immediately took a sip. “If I’d been able to shift… I would have been able to stay warm enough, I would have healed faster. Instead I spent the better part of a week in the hospital.”

“Hon, he didn’t just put you in the hospital. You almost died.”

“Yeah, well. Needless to say, when I got an opportunity to get out of there, I took it.”

“And you’ve dedicated your career to combating the biases that harmed you in the first place.”

“I guess? That’s an overly-grand way of putting it.”

“I understand why you would hesitate to get involved with a new pack. But I’m sure you realize, it’s not the same situation—”

“No, I know that. It’s not that I don’t trust them or think they’d harm me in any way— in all honesty, I think the world of them.”

“Then help me understand. What is it you’re so afraid of?”

“That… piece of me… it’s missing, and it always will be. If being literally left for dead didn’t make me a shifter, then I really must have zero wolf instincts. I’m not good enough for them, and I’d be a shit luna.”

Sooyeon reached across the table to hold your hands, but you quickly pulled back.

“Ack! Listen to me, whining on. I appreciate that you want to help, but can we change the subject? Are you seeing anyone?”

Sooyeon steadied you as you swayed slightly on the sidewalk outside the bar. “Are you sure you’re okay to walk home?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, promise. It’s just a few blocks away.”

“Okay, but be careful. Any hey— I’m glad we did this. Maybe we should make it a regular thing? Honestly, I don’t have many friends…” she smiled bashfully.

“I would love that. And… me either. But now we each have one more,” you smiled at her. “Thank you, for everything.” You hugged her goodbye, setting off in the opposite direction to walk home. 

The air had a chill to it, but the first breath of spring was just within reach. As you walked, your thoughts drifted back to the pack and you reflected on what you’d shared with Sooyeon, the memories resurfaced from so long ago. Memories can do strange things, you thought as a smell that reminded you of your former home seemed to waft through the air. For most people, that might have been a comfort; but instead, the hairs on the back of your neck stood up and something unsettled in your stomach. It almost felt like you were being watched; you quickly checked behind you, and didn’t see anyone, but this neighborhood was dark at this time of night. You continued walking, jumping when you heard a rustle nearby. Maybe it’s time to call someone, just to let any potential creep know if I don’t make it home, I’ll be missed. And that if they try anything, there will be a witness of sorts.

Unlocking your phone, you looked through your recent contacts. I literally just told Sooyeon I was fine. Namjoon is an immediate no for obvious reasons. Yoongi is probably still annoyed with me. The pups would definitely freak out, and Jin would probably tell Namjoon. That left Hoseok, which felt like a safe bet; he wouldn’t make you feel silly or paranoid, but also wouldn’t blow it out of proportion, either. You tapped his name and he picked up after the second ring.

“Noona! To what do I owe the pleasure this evening?”

“Hi, Hobi. What are you up to?”

“Just wrapping up a late rehearsal at the studio.”

“Oh! I’m not interrupting, am I?”

“Not at all! I’m all yours, sunshine! What’s up?”

“Okay, this is going to sound silly and paranoid, but I’m walking home alone and I’m just a little spooked.”

“Spooked?”

“I don’t know, nobody is following me but it’s like I had that feeling I’m being watched? I think I’ve seen too many true crime documentaries. Would you mind just staying on the phone with me until I get home?”

“Of course, Noona. I’m glad you called and that I can help! Just to be safe, why don’t you share your location with me so I can keep an eye on you, too?”

You bit your lip as you considered it; of any of the pack, you knew Hobi was one of the least likely to abuse such a privilege. Something rustled in the darkness of an alleyway you’d just passed, solidifying your decision, even though it was probably just a stray cat. “Yeah, okay. One sec.” With a few taps, you could now see Hobi’s little dot at the dance studio and he could see yours moving along the street.

“There you are! So, what have you been up to this evening?”

“I just got drinks with a friend from work.”

“How was that?”

“Really nice, actually! We might make it a more regular thing. It’s hard enough making friends as an adult, I figure I should take the opportunity when I can.”

“I don’t know about that Noona, I think you make friends pretty easily. Look at all of us!”

“Yeah, well… that’s different.”

“How is it different?”

“I feel like it just kinda… happened with you guys. I don’t even know if I had a say in it,” you laughed.

“Yeah, we can be persuasive, but you’ve stuck around!” Hobi laughed. “When we get a good feeling about someone, we just kinda go for it. We just knew you were someone we wanted around.”

“That’s really nice of you to say,” you admitted quietly. “Hey, I’m walking up to my apartment building now—”

“I’d like to stay on the phone with you until you’re locked safely inside, if that’s okay.”

“Yeah, thank you, Hobi.”

“We missed seeing you for breakfast yesterday, by the way. I was hoping to pay you back for those pancakes!”

“I’m sorry about that, I just really needed to get home.”

“I understand. You had a very eventful evening, I imagine! I’m sure you were exhausted . What time did you end up leaving, anyway? It was pretty late when I went to bed, and the next morning the bed in the study didn’t look like it had been slept in…”

You made a point of closing your apartment door loudly, holding your phone’s microphone close to the lock as you clicked it into place. “Okay, I’m home and locked in now! Thank you for being there for me, Hobi. Enjoy the rest of your night!”

“Oh, okay Noona, but I—”

You hung up the phone before he could pry any further.

Chapter Text

Tuesday 11:32am

Namjoon : can we talk? 

You : Working late today, I’m going to be grading papers for hours.

Namjoon : what about dinner? you have to eat at some point

You : True. I can probably be done around 7.

Namjoon : great, how about that sushi place you like? I’ll stop by your office to pick you up and we can walk together

You : Sounds good, see you then. 

The light in your office had grown dim. The sun had set without your notice, too focused on the computer screen and papers in front of you. After a few moments of rolling your head from shoulder to shoulder to try and ease the tension in your neck, you looked at the clock on your wall: 7:05pm. Namjoon was running late, but that was fine— you were dreading this conversation anyway. He was likely hurt by you sneaking out and avoiding him, and he had every right to be; but facing him would mean breaking both of your hearts, and you weren’t ready to do that. You would never be ready to do that. And worse still, the rest of the pack would be upset with you, too. You’d gotten used to their friendship quickly, and you feared that rejecting their alpha meant losing them, too. The afternoon was spent with your anxious thoughts rather than work, and it made time tick by slowly and painfully. Being hunched over your desk for hours certainly hadn’t helped, either; your shoulders were stiff, and along with your back, made a variety of pops and cracks as you stretched for a moment before turning your attention back to your work.

Grading the essay in front of you was proving impossible; you’d reread the same sentence three times now and still had no idea what it said. Too occupied with feeling equal parts exhausted, stressed, and anxious, you didn’t hear someone enter your office until they shut the door behind them and clicked the lock into place. Startled by the sudden intrusion, you looked up to see a vaguely familiar face leering down at you. A chill ran down your spine.

The man was tall and gangly, with a patchy beard clearly grown to hide a weak chin. His face looked far too weathered for his age, like he had taken up excessive drinking and smoking. Time had not been kind to him, but you quickly recognized Hyugo. Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

All semester, Jungkoook had been staying on campus as much as possible to keep a close eye on you. Since that first class, his protective instincts had been in overdrive when it came to his Noona. He’d picked up on that threatening smell a few more times; never in the lecture hall again, but often outside the door or near your office. He didn’t like it one bit. 

It was a little after 7:00pm. Noona must be working late tonight, Jungkook thought, playing with his lip ring. 

His new study spot this semester was in a seating area in the building that held both your office and lecture hall. You'd spotted him yesterday morning; he knew you were suspicious, but so far hadn’t called him out on it. You were proud and would have dismissed him if you knew what he was up to, so he tried to avoid discovery as much as possible. You were guaranteed to pass through it at least a few times per day, most importantly on your way to your car when you were done with work. On late evenings like this, he would conveniently wrap up his studying when he heard you approach so that he could sneak outside to keep watch until you drove away safely.

He really wanted to head back to the pack house, but he was stubborn. I'm not leaving until she does, he resolved. As much as he didn’t like being wrong, he desperately wanted to be wrong about the threat; but since he couldn’t let it go, he adjusted his position in the armchair, sighed, and opened up his textbook.

“Long time no see,” he greeted.

“Hyugo,” you nodded in his direction, acknowledging him as calmly as you could. “To what do I owe the… pleasure?”

“Oh, I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d stop by and visit a former packmate.”

“Is that so? What brings you to town?”

“I’ve been looking for greener pastures. The pack and I don’t see eye-to-eye anymore.”

“Oh?” You raised a brow. 

“Apparently everyone thinks I’m unstable. Can you believe that? Me?” 

“Shocking. I’m shocked,” you deadpanned. 

He continued on as if he hadn’t heard your sarcasm. “Alpha passed away a few months ago, so I stepped forward as the obvious choice to be the new leader of the pack. But everybody was so against it, I didn’t even get a chance to fight for the title. They’re bringing up all this old bullshit, and Luna even starts ranting about your little stunt in the woods when we were kids.”

“Hyugo, you literally broke my leg and left me out there to die. I’d hardly call that a stunt.”

“As I recall, I was trying to help you, but you repaid me by dragging my name through the mud. It’s not my fault you were born defective. The elders were constantly on my back after that, always looking for some reason to punish me,” he seethed.

“You’ve been giving them reasons to keep an eye on you your whole life,” you reminded him. “You were a bully even when we were little kids.” 

“And you’ve always been an uppity bitch. Every time I got in trouble, you were always in the middle of it or they’d point to you and say why can’t you be more like her? Well, I’m sick of being the reject when you’re the biological mistake. Thought maybe it was time to give you a piece of my mind.”

Your brow furrowed as you pieced something together. “You were in my class a few weeks ago, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, your little pup almost sniffed me out. Talk about a disgrace to wolves, the way he follows you around like a stray. Imagine my surprise when I found out that not only are you still this pathetic, broken, human , you’re so desperate to pretend you’re a wolf that you’ve dedicated your whole career to it. You’re even trying to groom one of your dumb students to let you join his pack! Maybe I should have a chat with him when I’m done with you. What’s his name? Jungkook?”

“Leave him alone. You’re the one who’s been following me like a stray. I bet you sent me that email and left those comments online, too.” 

“Yah, don’t even get me started on that bullshit you’ve been spewing on the internet. You’ve got a lot of nerve talking down about shifters.” Hyugo’s tone had an edge to it that frightened you. He took a step toward you and you felt your heart rate increase.

“I think you’ve misunderstood,” you tried to defuse the tension to no avail.

“According to you, pack structures are abusive toward omegas. You want us to treat them ‘nicer?’ What a waste of time. Omegas aren’t good for anything but breeding. What else, you think we should hold hands with those weak humans and sing kumbaya? Everybody’s so fragile nowadays and instead of toughening them up you want us to act like a bunch of pussies too? Not a fucking chance.” He inched closer to you, the look in his eyes predatory. You tried to look for an escape route, but both your bulky desk and Hyugo were between you and the door— you’d never make it. Your phone sat on the desk in plain sight; he’d have you pinned long before you could make a call.

“You know, I’ve been pretty pissed at you for ruining my shot at pack alpha. I originally just wanted to scare you a little, remind you of your place, but after I heard your exaggerated sob story last night, I’ve decided I’ve finally had enough. You know what’ll make a great lesson for your snowflake students? How, despite all your blathering and bullshit about unity or whatever, you ended up being gutted by a wolf.”

You stood up from your chair, bracing yourself as he continued. 

“They may have found you in the woods that night, but even after all this time, you’ll still die afraid and alone. Maybe then the humans will get the picture of who’s really in charge. I think it’s time to finish what I started all those years ago.”

Hyugo shifted before you could respond. With teeth bared, his wolf launched over your desk toward you and you screamed as you were knocked off-balance, your head hitting the floor with a dull thud. 

All you could think to do was protect your throat and belly; you tried to curl into as tight of a ball as possible. Pain radiated from just under your shoulder; Hyugo was trying to get your arm out of the way to get to your most vulnerable parts. When you curled in on yourself tighter, his teeth sank into your hip, tearing at the flesh. Trying to ignore the excruciating pain, you rolled over quickly to your back and kicked hard with both feet, knocking him a few feet away. Scrambling back to your feet proved impossible; for one, you were dizzy beyond belief, black spots clouding your vision. Two, as you tried to push to your hands and knees, your hand slipped in something wet.

Someone was banging on the other side of the door, calling your name. It sounded like they were trying to break the door down. Hyugo was prowling back to you and you prepared to kick, punch, anything to defend yourself, but you were losing strength quickly. And blood. I’m losing a lot of blood, you thought. You tried to take a swing at him, but Hyugo’s paws pinned you by the shoulders, his mouth slowly opening at your throat. Of course he’s milking this, the dramatic bastard. You desperately wriggled underneath his weight, trying to ignore the agony you were in.

A loud crack temporarily distracted Hyugo from his prey. The wood of your office door splintered before bursting open to reveal a frantic Jungkook. In one moment, you were looking into his doe eyes, wide in horror; you blinked, and they were the eyes of a great onyx wolf. He pounced on Hyugo, knocking him off of you, and the two wrestled for a moment before they began circling each other, preparing to strike. Your mind was desperately screaming, Get up, you have to get up, Jungkook is in danger, you have to protect him, but your vision was clouded, your body uncooperative. You managed to get onto your hands and knees and crawled across the floor, slipping again in your own blood. Jungkook and Hyugo snapped at each other before pouncing at the same time; they tumbled, and it looked like Hyugo was seconds away from pinning the younger wolf. You reached onto your desk, desperately looking for something heavy, and came away with the glass trophy you’d been awarded at the gala a few nights ago. With all the strength you could muster, you brought it down on Hyugo’s head. It wasn’t enough to knock him unconscious as you’d hoped, but it was effective in stunning him momentarily, allowing JK to claim the upper paw hand.

You tried to throw yourself back into the fray, but someone was grabbing you, their arms around your waist, pulling you away from the fight. Thrashing against the restraint, you screamed, “No! No! I have to help him! Let me go!”

The grip tightened around you. “Noona, stop . Hobi is coming right behind me, he and Jungkook can handle it but we need to get you to a hospital.” 

You looked up to see Namjoon, his forehead creased with worry. Joonie? Hospital? You looked down at your hands. Right, blood, I’m losing blood. Any remaining strength seemed to evaporate, and your body went lax as Namjoon scooped you into his arms. You looked back at Jungkook and let out a desperate whine as Namjoon took off running. “He’s okay sweetheart. It’s going to be okay, you’re going to be okay,” he repeated to you over and over, as if convincing himself as well. You were surprised to realize you believed him, and a warmth washed over you before everything went dark.

Chapter Text

Namjoon felt like he’d been pacing this waiting room for hours . He looked at the clock: it had only been 23 minutes. 23 minutes since he carried your limp body into the emergency room, but it felt like an eternity. He was ready to start pulling his hair out when a nurse approached, handing him a package of wet wipes with a grim smile. She gestured to his arms, covered in your dried blood. “It’s on your face, too,” she told him softly. A wave of nausea made its way to his throat, the burn of bile threatening his esophagus. He swallowed hard, accepting the wipes with a nod before finding a seat to begin cleaning up. He scrubbed his face, neck, arms, and hands until there was a small pile of bloodied cloth at his feet.

“You missed a spot.” Namjoon looked up to see Hobi, a light spattering of blood on his own skin and clothes. He stood to bring the beta in for a hug, placing a comforting hand on the back of his head and asked, “How badly are you hurt? What about Jungkook?”

“We’re both okay,” Hobi whispered.

When Namjoon finally pulled away, his barely contained anger and agitation rose to the surface.

“Where is he now?” demanded the alpha.

Hobi stared at the floor in silence, unsure of how to explain.

“Hoseok, where is the piece of shit that just tried to kill my mate?” he growled, his jaw tight.

“He’s dead. Jungkookie… he… uh…”

“I ripped his throat out with my teeth.” A bloodied Jungkook entered the room, supported by Jin and Yoongi on either side of him. Though he was standing and walking with their assistance, he was clearly injured and in shock. Hobi appeared to have a few scratches, but nothing serious. While Jin got the attention of a nurse, Namjoon wrapped his youngest packmate in his arms. 

“Please tell me you’re okay, Koo.”

“I’ll live,” he smiled faintly. “What about Noona?! Is she okay?!”

“I don’t know yet. They took her back about 30 minutes ago.”

Jimin and Taehyung suddenly rushed into the emergency room, both already in tears as they arrived at Jungkook’s side, fussing over his injuries. Jin returned a moment later to direct the maknae to be checked out before turning to their leader for answers. “Joon-ah, what happened?”

“I don’t know,” he replied flatly.

“Tell us what you do know. Talk to us.”

He sighed, scrubbing his hands over his face. “I was on my way to pick her up from work to take her out to dinner, but I was running a few minutes late. I got this call from JK— he was running to Noona’s office, said there was trouble and to get backup, so I called Hobi and ran the rest of the way. When I got there, Kook was in a fight with some wolf I didn’t recognize. A-a-and she was b-bleeding out on the floor,” he choked back a sob as the eldest rubbed his back, encouraging him to go on. 

“I was late. I wasn’t there to protect her or Jungkook. They’re both hurt and it’s my fault.”

“Namjoon-ah, you can’t blame yourself. You can’t be everywhere at once. Let’s just be thankful JK was there.”

“Yeah. If he hadn’t kept his head… I was ready to jump in and kill the bastard myself, but JK told me he had it handled, to get Noona help. She lost consciousness on the way here…” Namjoon’s throat caught, and he let the sentence hang.

The others joined Namjoon’s pacing with their own forms of fidgeting. It was another hour before a doctor approached the group. 

“Kim Namjoon?”

“Yes?”

“I’m Dr. Oh. I just got done seeing to the young woman you brought in. Her injuries are serious, but she is stable.”

“Thank god,” Taehyung breathed.

“She lost a lot of blood, so we’re keeping her overnight for observation and to replenish her fluids. Although she hit her head pretty badly, we ran some tests and haven’t seen any signs of a concussion, which is good news. The puncture wounds on her upper arm nearly hit bone, so there may be nerve damage; however, I believe with physical therapy, we’ve prevented any lasting injury that would affect her mobility. The bite on her hip was more superficial and just needed stitches. Our biggest concern moving forward is the risk of infection, so we will be prescribing a round of antibiotics. It will take her a few weeks to heal her wounds, and she will likely have scars from the bites.”

The boys nodded as they listened, a few of them already working on a care plan in their heads.

“Can I see her?”

“She’s sedated at the moment, but you can sit with her. Only two visitors at a time.”

“You go on by yourself to start, Joon,” said Jin. “We’ll wait here for Kookie.”

“Thank you.” He turned to walk toward the patient area before turning back to the group. “Guys? Before I go in… I wanted to ask if you’re all okay with her staying with us until she heals. I just… I need to know she’s okay, that she’s safe.”

“Aish, who do you take me for? I would never let her go back to her apartment alone after that,” said Jin.

“We were going to suggest the same thing,” Jimin gestured between himself and Taehyung. “We all want to help take care of her.” The three eldest emphatically agreed.

Namjoon nodded, letting out a deep sigh. “Jin, would you mind staying here to help me keep track of what the doctors and nurses say? And plan for how we’ll take care of her and Jungkook while they’re on the mend?”

“Of course.”

“Hobi, can you take Tae and Jimin over to Noona’s place and pack whatever you think she might need?” The beta saluted and was about to scurry off with his charges when Taehyung quietly asked, “Alpha? Can I… can I wait for Kookie, please?”

“Yeah, of course, Tae,” Namjoon replied softly.

“I’ll go with them,” Yoongi said.

“Thanks, guys. I’m going to… I’m gonna go see her now.” They all gave Namjoon faint, reassuring smiles before he went to your bedside.

The room was dark and quiet with the exception of a beeping machine. He sat down in a chair at your bedside and was able to finally take in your injuries and the sallow look to your face. Normally cutting such a strong figure, seeing you like this— you looked small, you looked fragile. The sight overwhelmed him. With you asleep, and none of his packmates around, he dropped the strong facade he’d learned to maintain and finally let himself break down completely. He held your hand in his, hunched over to press his cheek against your knuckles, and let himself weep like he hadn’t done since he was a child.

Your eyelids felt so, so heavy. You tried to register where you were without opening them; you could hear a consistent beeping, the distant shuffling of feet, and someone sniffling much closer to you. Everything smelled chemical, like hand sanitizer. There was a warm hand holding one of your own. None of it felt familiar, and your left arm was throbbing. Blearily blinking awake, you looked to your right and saw the owner of the sniffles— Namjoon— with his head bowed low over your joined hands. His shoulders were shaking with quiet sobs, and he was whispering something through his tears that you couldn’t quite make out.

You squeezed his hand, and his head whipped up to look at you as he cleared his throat and quickly dried his eyes. “Noona, you’re awake! I was so worried, I— what do you need?” His eyes followed your head vaguely nodding toward a glass of water on the table next to you and he quickly brought the straw to your mouth for you to take a drink.

“Joonie,” you croaked.

“It’s okay sweetheart, take your time. I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Jungkook…”

“He’s being treated for minor injuries, but he’ll be okay. Shifters are quick healers.” Namjoon paused for a moment, playing with your fingers, before he made a quiet admission. “I was so scared I was going to lose you… All that blood…”

You raised your hand to cup his cheek, wiping away his tears with your thumb. “I’m sorry you had to see that. I don’t remember much after JK got there.”

“You wouldn’t let me take you to the hospital, at first. You were trying to protect him, screaming at me to let you go.”

“Really?”

“Yep. You can be really stubborn sometimes.”

“I wanna— can I see him? I need to see Jungkook.”

The young alpha had apparently been discharged and was listening right outside the door, as he burst in immediately after you finished your question and rushed to join Namjoon at your side. Your throat grew tight as you took him in; he was heavily bandaged and looked haggard, but was otherwise in one piece. You weakly pulled him closer, until you were able to bring his forehead to press against yours.

“I should have listened to you, I should have listened,” you whispered, tears beginning to stream down your face. “Thank god you’re okay, I don’t know what I would have done if...” you trailed off, too afraid to voice the unthinkable.

“I’m just g-glad you’re s-s-safe, Noona.”

“I’m safe, I’m right here, all thanks to you” you tried to comfort him as he began to cry, too.

“Come here, baby,” you encouraged him to lay on the bed with you so he could cuddle closer. Namjoon opened his mouth, likely to discourage this as you were in a fragile state, but you shot him a dismissive look and a small shake of your head. Cautiously, Jungkook curled against your good side and laid his head on your chest, as if listening to your heartbeat, and cried harder.

“Shhh it’s okay, pup,” you cooed as you ran your fingers through his hair. “Did he hurt you?” His grip tightened around you, but you concealed the wince caused by the pain at your hip. Jungkook shook his head against your chest, now sobbing.

“Jungkook, what’s wrong? It’s okay, I’m okay.”

“I d-d-d-didn’t w-w-want to, but he just w-wouldn’t stop.”

“Didn’t want to do what, honey?”

“I was so sc-scared,” he hiccuped. “I th-thought he was gonna… I had to st-stop him—”

“And you were so brave, you did so good, little alpha,” Namjoon interjected. “You protected your pack.” 

You noticed Jungkook’s clothes were covered in blood, and a chill ran up your spine as you realized what he was confessing. You looked to Namjoon for confirmation; the elder alpha’s expression was hard as he gave a quick nod.

“I’m so sorry you had to do that, Kookie,” you whispered into his hair before pressing a kiss to the crown of his head. “Shhh, we’ve got you now. You did so good, I’m so proud of you. Thank you.”

Namjoon was now blinking back his own tears, and you extended your arm for him to come closer. There was no way all three of you were fitting on this hospital bed, so he settled for leaning over your bodies to rub Jungkook’s back and press gentle kisses to your temple, careful to avoid the injury on your head. The three of you stayed like this until Jungkook had cried himself out, though you continued to hold him close to you. Once everyone had calmed down, you took a moment to appreciate their warmth; being surrounded by their bodies felt like wearing a suit of armor. Despite everything you’d just gone through, you felt safe. When you told them as much, both men gave soft smiles and promised they would stay with you through the night. It wasn’t long after that you fell back to sleep— not only drugged, but emotionally and physically exhausted.

When you awoke again a few hours later, Jungkook excitedly called out the hospital room door to alert the others, who rushed in to swarm around you. 

“We were so worried!” Jimin wailed as he threw himself into your arms. 

“Get off of her, pabo!” Taehyung scolded.

“You’re taking this ‘kindred spirits’ bit too far,” Yoongi quipped, pointing to your bandaged arm. When you gave him a confused look, he explained, “I have a bad shoulder, too. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Hi Princess,” Jin greeted with a gentle kiss on your forehead. “How are you feeling?”

“Not great, but I’ve been worse.”

“Well, all you need to worry about is getting better. We’d like you to come stay with us once you’re discharged, at least until you’re completely healed.”

“Oh, that’s very generous, but—”

“—No buts!”

“—but, you’ve already done so much—”

“—Nonsense!”

“—that I can’t possibly impose—”

“—It’s not an imposition, we’re inviting you!”

“—You guys really don’t have to do anything—”

A nurse interrupted your bickering to scold, “Gentlemen, it’s one in the morning. Visiting hours are long over, you need to leave.”

Jin, who was already exasperated, turned to her with a haughty expression and replied, “All due respect ma’am, but we’re her pack and we’re not going anywhere.” You inhaled sharply at his choice of words and the nurse rolled her eyes, muttering something about not getting paid enough to be a bouncer as she walked back out. 

While the rest of the pack snickered at the whole exchange, the elder beta turned back to your wide-eyed expression bashfully. “I’m sorry, Noona. This isn’t how I imagined this conversation going.”

You opened your mouth to speak, but Namjoon interrupted you. “Don’t— you don’t need to say anything right now. But, let me speak for the entire pack when I say: we want you with us. Forever.” You looked at the faces of the other men in the room, who were all nodding vigorously, before looking back at Namjoon’s hopeful expression. “Just promise me you’ll think about it, okay?”

“Okay.”

You slept soundly until mid-morning, when you awoke to a commotion happening outside your hospital room. The door burst open to reveal a frazzled Sooyeon, who ran to you as the same nurse from the night before threw her hands up in frustration.

“What the fuck happened to you?!” she screeched. “I got to work early this morning and your office is taped off as a crime scene and there was blood on the floor and you weren’t answering your phone—”

“Hey, Sooyeon,” you replied, still groggy from sleep.

“‘Hey?!’ The cops wouldn’t tell me shit so I had to start calling emergency rooms looking for you! Who the hell did this to you?”

Namjoon stood up then, placing a large hand on Sooyeon’s shoulder. “Sooyeon-ssi, was it? I understand you’re upset, but please, can you lower your voice? She’s been through a lot and only just woke up, give her a minute.”

Sooyeon looked at his hand, then his face, then yours. “Fine, I’ll calm down. First question: who’s the guard dog?” she jerked her head in Namjoon’s direction and he smirked.

“Cho Sooyeon, meet Kim Namjoon. Sooyeon is one of my friends from work. Namjoon is, uh…”

“Oh yes, so very nice to meet you, Namjoon-ssi,” Sooyeon said with a sly smile before shaking his hand. He raised a brow at you before replying, “Likewise. I can give you the brief details— Noona here was attacked in her office by a wolf. The maknae of our pack, Jungkook, is one of her students and happened to be in the building when it happened, so he was able to come to her rescue and alert the rest of us to come in as backup.”

“A wolf attacked you?!” she asked, incredulous. “Was it someone you know? Was it that sonofabitch Hyugo?” she asked in a conspiratorial tone. You nodded in reply, carefully avoiding Namjoon’s eyes.

“I’m going to kill him myself—”

“That won’t be necessary,” Namjoon said. “He’s already dead.”

“Oh. Oh! Well then.”

Before Namjoon could ask any further questions, the doctor came in to examine you again and check your vitals, and cleared you to be discharged that afternoon. The longer you sat with this piece of information in the air, the more the tension built, Namjoon’s face creasing in thought and worry.

When the doctor left the room, Sooyeon’s attention was back on you, her expression softened. “Would you like me to come stay at your apartment with you?”

“That’s really kind of you, but—”

“She’s going to be staying with us,” Namjoon interjected.

Sooyeon’s eyebrows raised in surprise as she looked from the pack alpha back to you. “Is that what you want?” 

You looked at Namjoon’s resolute face and nodded. “I’ll text you as soon as I’m settled, okay?”

“Okay,” she smiled as she squeezed your hand before turning back to Namjoon. “Guard dog, I’m going to need your phone number and address.”

He looked startled at first, but then nodded pleasantly as she handed him her phone.

“I’m texting you now so you have my number as well. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“Absolutely we will.”

“Thank you for coming to find me, Sooyeon,” you added. “You’re a wonderful friend and I’m sorry to have worried you.”

Silence hung in the room in Sooyeon’s wake, the tension thick with everything you hadn’t told Namjoon. Your throat tightened knowing you had no way to avoid it now as Namjoon returned to his seat.

“Noona, I need to know why someone was out to kill you.” His tone was sympathetic, full of concern. 

“I know— I just, I need you to know, you don’t need to feel obligated if… after… if you don’t want… I can call Sooyeon back, I can go to my apartment. I would understand.”

“Whatever it is, it won’t change anything with us, okay? With any of us. But I need to know: who is— was— Hyugo? Is he an ex?”

You snorted at that, despite the situation. “Not in the slightest.”

“Why would he do this to you?”

You told him everything. Once you started, it felt like a pressure valve had been released; everything you’d been through, even through the events of yesterday, flowed freely from your lips to his ears. As you spoke, Namjoon kept a hand over his mouth, as if deep in thought, his eyes fixed on the ground while he listened. He showed no reaction until you’d finished your story, and when his eyes finally met yours, you saw that they were welled up with tears.

“Thank you. Thank you for telling me, thank you for trusting me,” he said. “Does anyone else in the pack know?”

“Yoongi knows I grew up in a pack, but I didn’t tell him about Hyugo.”

Namjoon nodded, then furrowed his brow as if recalling something, and he scooted his chair closer to you. He took your hands in his and fixed you with an intense stare. “I need you to listen to me carefully, sweetheart. What did I just say to you a few minutes ago?”

“That— that what I had to say wouldn’t change anything. But—”

“But nothing. If anything, this helps me understand you better, but it doesn’t change how I feel about you. It won’t change how any of us feel about you.” You looked away, blinking back tears, but one of Namjoon’s large hands cupped your cheek and gently pulled you back to face him. “This is the important part. Are you listening?” You nodded, leaning into his palm. “You are whole, and worthy of love, just as you are. Do you understand me?”

Your first thought was: It’s a good thing I’m still hooked up to an IV, because I’m going to dehydrate myself with all this crying.

Chapter Text

There was an argument happening between Namjoon and Jungkook over who would get to carry you from the car into the pack house, and they wanted you to be the tie breaker.

“You guys, I can walk just fine.” 

“But you’re injured! You need to rest!”

“You’re injured too! Joon, can you carry us both?”

“Here Jungkook, let hyung help,” Jin said before squatting down in front of the maknae, primed to provide a piggyback ride. Jungkook giggled as he draped himself over the eldest’s back and hopped up. While you were preoccupied watching this brotherly exchange, Namjoon carefully scooped you up and carried you into the house and to the study, gently depositing you on the guest bed.

“I sent a few of the guys over to your place to pick up some clothes and toiletries— I hope that’s okay.”

Looking around the room, you noted a few other items from your apartment as well: a favorite throw blanket, the scented candle and journal from your nightstand, the plush you snuggled with at night. Someone had even taken the fairy lights you’d strung up in your room and replicated the look here. Your favorite, broken-in pillow had been taken from your bed as well. “It looks like they may have grabbed a few extra things, too.”

Namjoon scratched the back of his head. “Yeah… I think Jimin got a little carried away, wanted to make it feel like home for you.”

“It’s perfect.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind your ear and said, “I’m glad you’re here. We all are. I know at minimum Jin-hyung won’t let you leave until you’ve fully healed, but you can stay with us as long as you like.”

“You can stay with us forever!” Hobi called from the hallway and you laughed, then winced. Your whole body ached, your head was pounding, and you were still groggy from the drugs.

Namjoon’s expression was concerned. “I’ll let you get some rest,” he said as he began to pull away.

“No, wait,” you reached out for him, catching the sleeve of his hoodie in your grip. After a moment of silence, you said, “Namjoon, I owe you an apology for the other morning. For the way I left without saying goodbye. I was… in my own head, but you didn’t deserve to be treated that way.” He looked down at you with a sad smile, but before he could reply, Jin came bursting through the door. 

“Yah, back away from my patient— and stop growling at me, Joon-ah! Need I remind you our Noona has had a trying couple of days and is still very much on hospital narcotics? And as such, any serious conversations should be postponed until she is of sound mind and body?”  

“I’m fine, Jin,” you rolled your eyes. He was undeterred and began to shoo the alpha out of the room, Namjoon’s irritated growl continuing to emanate deep from his chest. His gaze toward Jin was livid, but he looked at you with an expression you couldn’t quite read. The beta returned to your bedside after successfully ejecting the pack leader.

“Okay, here’s the plan, Noona. Twice a day, you need to take one of these— it’s your antibiotic—” he handed you a pill bottle and a glass of water, “and I’ll change your bandages. The drugs you had at the hospital will probably wear off soon, and after that we’ll have to manage your pain with over the counter meds. Here, have some tea,” he thrust a steaming mug into your hands and began to fluff your pillows, making sure your back was supported. “You’re not a hostage, but I would strongly prefer that you stay at least a week, if not longer. Or as I overheard Hobi offer, you’re welcome to just move in now. I see Jimin already got you started,” you both giggled.

“Thank you for all of this, Jin. Please, if there’s anything at all I can do to repay your kindness, I—”

“Stop that!”

“Please! At least let me order delivery for everybody so you don’t have to cook tonight? It’s really the least I can do after your pack literally saved my life.”

He scowled at you, and you returned his look with your best puppy-eyed pout. 

“Fine,” he sighed in defeat. “But you need to accept the fact that we will help take care of you, without conditions or expectations. Even if you fight it every step of the way, so help me god.”

Your handsome and dutiful nurse had insisted you remain on bed rest, at least for your first night. And so, when the food arrived, the boys all gathered in the study for dinner. 

“Namjoon I can— hand me the spoon — I can feed myself! I’m not on my deathbed!” You didn’t quite have your appetite back, but he insisted you eat a few dumplings and a cup of soup, and would not be deterred from his mission. Rolling your eyes, you found it was all too easy to give in to him.

When everyone was done eating, you quietly asked for their attention.

“I just want to say thank you to you all, again. Thank you for being there when I needed you, and for welcoming me in your home, and taking care of me, and being my friends.” The smiles on their faces warmed you from the inside, and made the next part of your speech all the more nerve-wracking. “I think… I owe you all an explanation for why this happened. About my background, and why I was attacked.” Yoongi gave you a reassuring nod, and Namjoon held your hand, and you spent the next ten minutes finally explaining your story with the pack as a whole.

“I’m sorry, to all of you, for not being honest about myself. Jungkookie, I owe you an apology most of all. You should have never been put in danger like that, should have never been in that situation.”

“I would do it again,” he insisted.

“You don’t have to apologize to anyone, Noona,” Hobi added. “This is your life, your history. We appreciate you telling us. But, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Why did you keep this secret so close to your chest? I understand not talking about Hyugo, but to not even tell us you were part of a pack?”

“It’s… My pack placed high expectations on me, and when I fell short— despite it being completely out of my control— they treated me differently. Like being not quite shifter and not quite human meant that I was… broken, somehow. I was worried you guys wouldn’t accept me.” Namjoon’s hand squeezed yours, and you found that between him and Yoongi, you’d felt supported enough while sharing that you hadn’t shed a single tear.

“Aish, you think with this motley crew you’re the one we’d worry about? Please, I’d trade you for Jungkook any day,” Jin joked, as the maknae gave him a playful shove, breaking the tension and lightening the mood.

“Group hug!” Taehyung exclaimed.

“Gently, gently!” Jin screeched as they surrounded you.

As you settled in to sleep that night, your mind finally caught up and began to process the last few days. Unsurprisingly, rest didn’t come; you laid there for what felt like hours, until eventually, you had to get up to pee. As you opened the study door to make your way across the hall, however, you sensed you weren’t alone. There was a heavy breath to your right, and when you turned toward it, a pair of eyes glowed at you in the darkness. You screamed, waking the whole house, and collapsed to the floor in terror, nearly ripping your stitches as you tried to scramble backwards to escape.

Lights flipped on as the pack flooded into the hallway; Taehyung got to you first and hugged you close, practically pulling you into his lap. “Noona, Noona it’s okay, it’s just Kookie. Go ahead, you can look.”

Your eyes slowly raised up to see that where the wolf had been, there was now a very startled and upset Jungkook. “Noona, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I thought— I thought it was—” you gasped, still reeling.

“Shhh it’s okay, Noona. You’re safe,” Taehyung rubbed your back soothingly.

Yoongi squatted down in front of you for a moment. “Breathe with me for a minute, okay?” You nodded, and followed his guidance, your heart rate slowly coming back down. Once you relaxed a bit in Tae’s hold, Yoongi gave your good shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze and stood back up before everyone’s eyes turned to Jungkook.

“What was your wolf doing out here?” Hobi asked sternly.

“I… I had a nightmare, and then I couldn’t fall back to sleep. The nightmare… I was worried about Noona, so I thought I’d feel better if I could be close by to guard her. It was more comfortable to sleep out here shifted.”

Everyone visibly softened toward him at that— you might have been the intended victim, but Jungkook had been traumatized, too. Hobi ruffled Jungkook’s hair affectionately. 

“What about you, Noona? What were you doing up?” Jin asked.

“I couldn’t sleep either. My brain just… won’t quiet down.” They all nodded at you sympathetically, before Jimin excused himself, declaring he was going to go make you and Kookie some herbal tea.

After a moment of quiet, you asked, “JK, can you… shift back? I want to get a better look at you in the light, so I can replace what I thought I saw with a better image. So I can know it was you?” He nodded eagerly before moving onto his hands and knees and rounding his back; his tattooed hand on the floor in front of you became a great black paw, and the wolf had returned. But this time, instead of seeing a shadowy grim, you saw the overgrown pup that was clearly the Jungkook you knew and loved. His mouth hung open in a relaxed pant, tongue goofily lolling out the side. Your right hand reached out to give his ear a scratch, and his tail wagged in response.

“There you are,” you said with a small smile. A sigh of relief worked its way through the other pack members.

“We can all show off for you sometime soon, Princess,” Jin offered. “My wolf is almost as handsome as me.”

“I would like that.”

When you withdrew your hand, Jungkook let out a small whine and curled back up outside your door, as if to ask permission to resume his post. 

“JK, if it would help you sleep, why don’t you stay in the room with me tonight? I’d feel more comfortable with that than having you out here on the floor.” He sprung up into a play position, eagerly wagging his tail once again in affirmation.

Namjoon reached out a hand to help you up from the floor, and held onto your hand a little longer than necessary, rubbing his thumb over your knuckles. “Noona? Maybe I could come in and read to you for a bit, see if it helps you fall asleep? If that’s okay?”

“Yeah, that would be nice. Thanks Joonie.” You looked at the others, still watching you carefully, before you awkwardly added, “Uh, anyway… I actually got up in the first place to pee, so… I’m gonna go do that. I’m really sorry for waking everyone up.”

“No need to apologize, sunshine,” Hobi kissed your cheek and said goodnight.

“Sleep well, Noona,” Jin followed suit.

Taehyung gave you another squeeze before leaving, and Yoongi patted you on the back as he headed back to his room. Namjoon looked at Jungkook and then jerked his head toward the study, encouraging him to move along and get settled while you used the bathroom.

When you arrived back in the study, there was a steaming mug of tea on the nightstand. Namjoon was leaning against the headboard with a book in hand, and Jungkook was curled into a donut at the foot of the bed. You slid under the covers and reached out to give the wolf a gentle pat and wish him goodnight; he reciprocated with a quick lick to your hand.

Once you were situated, Namjoon began to read. His low voice was soothing, his words the perfect distraction. With the two of them close by, you were once again reminded of your suit of armor. Warm, comfortable, and safe, your eyelids finally grew heavy and closed.

The next morning, you awoke to Jungkook’s snout resting on your shin, his wolf snoring soundly. Namjoon had returned to his own room at some point, it seemed. You tried to slip out of bed without alerting JK, but failed; when he awoke to find you moving, he let out a soft howl. Jimin rushed in to coax you back under the covers, but he was looking more bashful than you were used to seeing. 

“Good morning, Jimine. Why the long face?”

“I’m sorry for getting carried away.”

“What do you mean?”

“We were just supposed to go get the essentials, but my nesting instincts went a bit crazy. I didn’t mean to go through so many of your things.”

“Jiminie, you did an amazing job making me feel comfortable here, I’m not upset with you. I bet you’re an incredible nest-builder!”

He beamed. “You really think so? I could show you, if you want! We could build a nest and watch dramas all day!”

“I would love to!”

“After breakfast,” Jin said as he appeared with a breakfast tray.

“This is very sweet you guys, but I don’t need breakfast in bed.”

“Will you humor me, at least for today?”

“Fine, but just for today.”

“Good girl. Eat up and then I’ll change your bandages.”

“Noona, I’ll go get started on building a nest so it’s ready for us when you’re done! We can snuggle up in my room.”

“Sounds good, Minnie.”

A few minutes later, you hissed as Jin removed the bandages; without the strong painkillers from the hospital, you were definitely feeling more sore today. Jungkook looked on, clearly distressed by your pain. Jin gently cleaned the wounds before replacing the dressings with fresh ones. Then, he pulled out a jar with some kind of jelly-looking substance in it and held it up for you to examine.

“This is a balm for wolf bites, an old pack recipe. We mostly used it for pups who got a little too rough with each other, but it should help prevent major scarring. Once your wounds close, we can start to apply it, if you want.”

“If it’s for pups, why do you have it?”

“Oh, this is a fresh batch. I made it yesterday for you and this mutt,” he tilted his head toward Jungkook. “Although his wounds were closed by the time we got you home from the hospital, so I already started him on it last night.”

“Thanks, Jinnie.”

“Anything for you, Princess,” he smiled as he booped your nose.

“This is the prettiest nest I’ve ever seen, pup!”

Jimin beamed with pride and snuggled closer to you on the large foam bean bag that occupied the majority of the makeshift nest, built into a corner of his and Yoongi’s room. Jimin had also collected a number of cozy blankets and pillows, and you were particularly impressed by the projector aimed at the opposite wall for your viewing.

“Yoongi and I keep this in here because sometimes we just want to have a quiet movie night just the two of us, you know?”

“Yeah, I get that. Do you nest often?”

“Mostly just around my heat, but sometimes if I’m really stressed out.”

“What about Tae?”

“Oh, when he gets stressed he usually just ends up spending a lot of time in Jungkook’s room. He sometimes sleeps in there too, says it calms him down to have an alpha close by.”

“Hmm.”

“Yeah, ‘hmm’ is right,” Jimin smirked mischievously. “Noona, if you had a nest, what would it look like? What would you put in it?”

“You know, I’ve never really thought about it,” you paused to consider. “Well… I think it would really be more of a reading nook. It would be nice if it was by a window and had a good reading lamp. And of course, you’ve seen my apartment— lots of hanging plants are a must.”

“That sounds lovely!” Jimin linked your arms together and tilted his head against yours. “I really like having you here, Noona,” he said quietly.

“I like being here, pup,” you replied.

“Pssst, Joon-ah! Come look at this, but be quiet,” Yoongi beckoned from his bedroom doorway.

As Namjoon peeked into the room, he thought his heart was going to explode. There you were, snuggled up with one of his pack’s omegas, looking as at home as could be, and sound asleep. You and Jimin lay side-by-side in a nest, arms linked and heads bent together like school children sharing secrets. He couldn’t help himself; he crept closer to cover your bodies with the coziest blanket he could find before stepping back and pulling out his phone to snap a photo.

Yoongi looked to be deep in thought as the two alphas observed you. “Obviously, what happened to Noona was terrible and scary and should not have happened. But maybe every cloud does have a silver lining,” he nodded to your sleeping forms. Namjoon looked at him with a raised brow. “Look, all I’m saying is: she’s here, and now it’s up to you— to all of us— to convince her to stay.”

When you woke up from your impromptu nap, you opened your eyes to see Yoongi lying on the bed, scribbling in a notebook, before he turned to acknowledge you.

“What are you working on?”

“A new song. Just got an idea a bit ago.”

“Oh, cool! What’s it about?”

“Family,” he replied simply.

The omega next to you made a little noise as he stretched, slowly waking up as well.

“Hi yeobo,” he smiled at his mate.

“Hi jagi. Have a good nap?”

“Mhm, Noona is a great cuddler.”

“I’m sure she is. What are you two so tired for, anyway? You just got up for the day not that long ago.”

“I’m sorry? Haven’t we all just been through a traumatic incident?” you asked incredulously. 

“Yeah! Noona gets to nap as much as she wants!”

Yoongi rolled his eyes and smiled, making it clear he had just been teasing.

“Why don’t we get some food and coffee for the two of you then, hm? I know the rest of the guys are anxious to see Noona up and moving.”

The rest of the day was fairly lazy; everyone was exhausted from the recent events. You spent your time getting acclimated with the pack house, getting a tour of all the rooms you hadn’t seen, as well as open encouragement to visit them anytime you pleased.

Over the next few days, you developed an easy routine. With the 7 of them, someone was always at home to keep you company. Their work schedules all varied, but it ended up working out well— giving you a lot of one-on-one time to deepen your bonds with each of them. The heavy dosage of antibiotics made you easily fatigued, so most of your waking hours were often spent on the couch with whoever was around, playing video games, watching dramas, or just chatting about anything or nothing at all. To your surprise (and delight), Yoongi even let you into his studio once and played you the beats he’d been working on. 

When you tried to reach out to your TA about work-related things, her replies were always as short as possible, demanding you just focus on healing. Whenever Jungkook returned from class, you felt the need to interrogate him, as you were desperate to know things were handled to your standards. When he wasn’t at the university, the young alpha had become incredibly clingy, constantly checking in on you or finding ways to stick close by. There was even one day when, after announcing you were going to go take a nap, he asked that you sleep in his room so you could be close by while he played video games. Taehyung ended up joining you, although you were pretty sure he just held you and scrolled on his phone while you slept.

To feel like you were contributing, you also began helping Jin and Yoongi cook dinner each night. It had been a battle to get Jin to agree to it, as he still wanted to treat you like a guest, but when you told him you were either going to chop vegetables or wash the dishes, he had finally surrendered. The three of you quickly developed a rhythm, dancing around each other as you completed your culinary tasks. Cooking for one had never been this enjoyable; a task that had always felt like a necessary evil was now a time for laughter and conversation. 

Your favorite routine, however, happened every night before bed. Just as he had that first night, Namjoon would come to your bedside and read to you until you fell asleep. You loved to lay your head on his chest and listen to the deep reverberations of his voice as he spoke, enjoyed his warmth and closeness more than you cared to admit. And as the days went on, you often found yourself fighting sleep to listen to him longer, instead pretending to drift off so you were still conscious enough to register the final step of Namjoon’s ritual: the gentle kiss he placed on your forehead before returning to his own bed.

Chapter Text

After over a week of living with the pack, your wounds had closed, you’d finished the prescribed antibiotics, and you’d started using Jin’s bite balm. Already your injuries looked a little less angry and red, and your energy levels were about back to normal. It occurred to you that perhaps it was time to start thinking about returning to your own apartment, but every time you tried to broach the subject, whoever you were speaking to would sidestep it.

“… it’s just that, I don’t want to overstay my welcome, and I’m sure I’m disrupting your normal routines being here—”

“Huh? Sorry Noona, I think I heard Jin-hyung calling me, I better go see what he wants!” 

“Hobi, he’s literally right behind you in the living room.”

“Uhhh, must have been one of the pups then. I’ll talk to you later, yeah?” 

“I don’t know, Princess. Can you just give it a few more days? Maybe another week? I want to keep an eye on those bites a little longer,” Jin coerced when you’d cornered him. 

Jimin and Taehyung both felt Jungkook would be hit hard by your departure, which riddled you with guilt and led you to temporarily avoid discussing it with the maknae. You talked to Namjoon, and he gave a simple but thoughtful argument for you to stay longer, citing safety concerns. When you brought up the idea of leaving to Yoongi, he just ignored you completely (however, you did get a small smile out of him when you screamed “I know you can hear me, you dick!” out of frustration).

Eventually you gave up, dropping the subject for the time being— and then dropping yourself onto the couch. Taehyung soon joined you, lying across the furniture with his head in your lap. As you stroked his hair with one hand, he grasped your other, and began pretending to read your palm.

“Want to know your future?” 

“Only if it’s good, Taetae.”

“Let’s see… your life line is long, but see this split? It also looks like you’ll live two lives… interesting… not sure what that means, maybe you’ll be a spy or something. You will have many friends in your life, but your best friend will be a very grumpy cat. What else… Oh! I see adventures in your future, both big and small. An alien will accompany you on many of those. And this one says you have a soulmate, and you’ll become their queen and have lots of pups, and all your loyal subjects will adore you.”

“Tae, your mind is fascinating. You have quite the imagination,” you told him. He smiled, idly toying now with your fingers before examining your nails. 

“Noona, when was the last time you got a manicure?”

“Do my nails look that bad?”

It had been since before the gala; normally you liked to go pretty regularly, but with recent events, you’d fallen behind. The result was chipped polish and cuticles picked to hell. He looked at you with big eyes, his lips tightening to avoid insulting you further.

“Yeah, I know. I’m way overdue for a little self-care, I think.”

“We should go get mani-pedis together soon.”

“Yes! Yes you should!” Jin interjected from across the room, startling you. “In fact, you should go this afternoon! My treat!” 

You side-eyed him, suspicious, but also not about to turn down a little pampering. Taehyung closed his eyes and nodded sagely.

“Mmm, hyung is right. The future isn’t promised.”

“I thought you just told me my future?”

“Yes well… What I meant to say was, there’s no time like the present.”

When you returned from the nail salon (feeling far more, for lack of a better word, polished ), it was clear to see Jin and Yoongi had been hard at work in the kitchen. Jungkook and Jimin had also apparently stepped in to help— though based on the eldest’s mussed hair and exasperated demeanor, help was perhaps a relative term. It also looked like the house had gone through a deep clean while you were absent. There were fresh sheets on your bed, vacuum tracks on the carpets, and the bathroom had never been shinier. Your suspicions only grew when you sat down at the table and saw the absolute feast that had been prepared. Jin opened a bottle of cabernet, and when you asked about the occasion for all of the indulgences, he simply shrugged and replied, “Wine not?” 

After dinner, you all gathered in the living room for the night’s main event: what you were dubbing the wolf parade. The glass in your hand was magically refilled and you were guided to your seat before they all left the room to make their grand entrances. After a moment, a now-familiar onyx wolf trotted in first, with a gift bag hanging from his mouth. He placed it at your feet and looked at you expectantly. 

“Is this for me?”

He nodded.

“Should I open it now?”

He nodded again, and so you reached in for the contents. Inside the gift bag was a new set of customized boxing gloves and matching hand wraps.

“Kookie, this is so thoughtful! I can’t wait to get back to the gym with you and spar. It’s not even my birthday, you’re so sweet! Thank you!”

Even in this form, you could see the pride in his eyes, the small shift in his posture. He gave a soft howl, licked the tip of your nose, and then sat dutifully at your side so you could scratch him behind the ears. Taehyung was next, and his wolf looked to be auburn; you bet in the sunlight, his fur would have an almost reddish glow. He, too, approached with something in his mouth, gently laying a heavier object on your knees before nuzzling against the side of your face.

“Hi, sweetie. What is this?”

He nudged it closer to you with his nose. Taking the hint, you unwrapped it to discover a leather photo album. Opening it revealed a series of photographs that had clearly been taken by the younger omega; they were all similar in style to those hanging in his bedroom. The first were from the night of the gala: a shot of you and Namjoon smiling at each other; Jungkook twirling you; Hobi squeezing you tight. The next photo was very different. It was Namjoon, clearly asleep, but at an awkward angle. On further inspection you realized it was him leaning onto your hospital bed, your hand in his. There was also a shot taken of six silhouettes standing around you during that time; you were brightly lit in the center, with a tired smile on your face as you looked up at those standing vigil. The next set had all been taken within the last week of living with them: napping in Jimin’s nest, closely snuggled together; Jungkook hugging you from behind while you sat in a chair at the dining table; you, Jin, and Yoongi laughing in the kitchen; sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with Hobi, looking at something on his phone; you helping Namjoon repot one of his many plants. Though it didn’t have the same artistic flair, he’d included a selfie of the two of you as well.

“Taehyung, this is so special. Thank you. I really don’t know what to say,” you admitted as you stroked his fur. You hugged the album tight to your chest and said, “I can’t wait to continue adding memories to this.” He nuzzled you once more before taking his place next to Jungkook as Jimin sauntered in next. His wolf was slight and blonde like him; compared to the youngest pack members, he looked more like an overgrown family dog. Like the two before him, Jimin also laid a gift in your lap.

“What is all of this about, you guys?!” You opened it to reveal a white, lacy set of lingerie. “Jimin!” you gasped. “You cheeky little shit!” Although he couldn’t smile necessarily, his eyes still held the mirth that typically came with it. It was clear that the garments were well-crafted— and knowing Jimin, probably perfectly your size. You rolled your eyes, but said, “Thank you Minnie, although I have no idea when I will have an occasion for this.” He appeared to shrug in response.

Hobi bounded in moments later, just as energetic as he was in human form; his fur was a cool, brown-gray with white markings. At this point, you weren’t surprised by the present he placed in your lap, but you were delighted with what was inside.

“Hobi, is this a new work bag?!” He licked the side of your face, making you giggle. “Well, it’s perfect! It looks so chic but also sturdy, and just the right size! Thank you!”

Yoongi stalked in shortly thereafter, deep charcoal fur that grew longer and shaggier than the others’. He rolled his eyes when you cooed and pet him, but didn’t otherwise resist the attention. His gift was an expensive bottle of your favorite liquor, which was much appreciated.

Nearly through the whole pack, Jin pranced into the room, nose held high in the air. His coat was a silky, smooth dark chocolate, and you couldn’t help but giggle at the fact that it looked like his wolf had recently had a blowout. He bestowed upon you a set of (very fancy) skincare products that you tried to reject out of politeness, but clearly were very excited to keep. 

Finally, the pack alpha made his entrance, and you would have recognized this wolf as Namjoon anywhere. He carried a large bouquet of flowers in his mouth, and like the many offerings before, laid them gently in your lap. His wolf had the same intense gaze, fur the silver of his hair when you’d first met. He was massive, and would have been intimidating were it not for the way he nuzzled you so gently and affectionately; you got lost in the feel of his coat under your fingers and against the side of your face.

They allowed you a few minutes to fuss over them, petting and scratching and smooching their snoots as you got acquainted with these forms. Now that all seven of these enormous wolves were in the room, it was nearly impossible to move around. “Thank you for showing me this side of you all,” you said. “I get why you prefer to shift when you’re at the cabin— this is a tight squeeze!” Hobi snorted at your comment, and one by one they each reverted back into their human forms.

Once everyone had shifted back, you stood with your hands your hips and asked,  “Now, you guys, what is with all the presents?!”

“For being a scholar on wolf dynamics, I would think you’d know these are courting gifts,” Yoongi scoffed. Your spine straightened, eyes widened. Your heart began hammering against your ribs. Oh. Oh, shit.  Since the day Namjoon had kissed you in your kitchen, you’d tried to imagine this scenario dozens of times. He’d made his intentions clear that day, but you could never let yourself dwell on it too long, too afraid—  of what, exactly? Getting your hopes up and being disappointed? Even when you’d tried to push him away, Namjoon had been steadfast. They all had been.

“But I’m not pack.”

“ You could be .”

“...I’m not a member of your pack, so—”

“That’s just it!”

“ What is it?!”

“I want you to be a member of my pack.”

“You are one of us. You belong here .”

“We’re her pack and we’re not going anywhere.”

You could be, something within you repeated. You belong here.

Namjoon cleared his throat, bringing your attention back to the present moment. “I know you might be anxious, or overwhelmed. But I want you to know that this isn’t something we are asking lightly. We’ve all thought about it, talked about it, tried to anticipate reasons why this wouldn’t work. Do you know what we came up with?” You shook your head slightly. “Nothing. Not one of us could think of a single reason that we wouldn’t want you in this family, and a million reasons why we would.” 

“Go ahead and open your last gift, Noona,” Jin encouraged softly, nodding toward your lap. There, tied around the stems of the bouquet, was one last small parcel that had escaped your notice.

With shaking hands, you tore into the wrapping to reveal a beautiful bracelet. It was a thin but sturdy white gold chain, with seven different gemstones set into it. The colors varied in shades of blue and purple and pink, except the one in the center, which was an iridescent white.

“They’re set in our age order,” Hobi explained as he looked over your shoulder. “Some months have multiple birthstones, so we each picked our favorites.” He pointed them out: blue zircon, aquamarine, amethyst, opal, pink tourmaline, tanzanite, and sapphire.

“Whether or not you want to be part of the pack… we wanted you to have a way for us to always be with you,” Namjoon added.

A small voice within you was still terrified at the idea of being in a pack— but a much louder, unfamiliar voice was there too. Your eyes were unfocused as you scanned each stone and tried to listen to this new voice, to understand what it was telling you. You belong here, it repeated. It was Yoongi who had first said that to you, and he was now watching you closely as you examined the bracelet, giving you a moment to process before he spoke.

“We just want what’s best for you, Noona. Whatever makes you happy. If you would rather go back to living alone in your apartment, we would understand. But before you say anything else, I want you to look me in the eye and tell me that after the last week, you don’t feel at home here, with us.”

You tore your gaze from the stones to meet his. “Of course I do.”

“Tell me you don’t have feelings for us.”

“I can’t. I love each and every one of you.”

“Tell me you’re happier on your own.”

“I’m not,” you admitted.

Namjoon kneeled before you and bowed his head; you recognized it as a sign of submission, of vulnerability. He looked up at your face, and while his eyes were hopeful, you saw that he was also biting the inside of his cheek nervously.

“We’re yours, Noona. Will you be ours?”

Say yes. Say yes. Say yes. This voice inside you, once silent, was now practically screaming. Your hand reached out to cup Namjoon’s cheek, and he leaned into your palm, his eyes never leaving yours.

“I already am yours,” you said quietly, trying to hold back the tears welling up in your eyes. “Will you—” your voice caught in your throat momentarily— “will you help me put it on?” You held out the bracelet to Namjoon, who carefully clasped it around your wrist. The pack alpha still seemed unsure, hesitant in your quiet admission, and the others were taking their cues from him.

With a wry smile, watery eyes, and all the confidence you could muster, you said, “It’s going to be such a pain to move all my plants over here.”

There was a spark in Namjoon’s expression, the hint of a smile. “Is that a yes, sweetheart? Do you really want to be with us? Will you be a member of our pack?” the questions spilled from his mouth rapidly.

“Yes, yes to all of that.”

The room erupted into cheers as Namjoon hugged you tightly around the thighs before standing to lift you high above him, spinning around in celebration. You gripped his shoulders as you squealed with excitement. As he set you back on your feet, you nearly tipped over from dizziness; but before you could fall, you were swept into the embrace of another new packmate. They had all surrounded you, hugging and kissing you in turn.

Jimin skittered away to the kitchen, quickly returning with a bottle of champagne, while someone turned on music. In moments, all the tension from the last hour— from the last few weeks, really— had dissipated into pure, unbridled joy. As you all danced and jumped around in glee, you couldn’t tell if it was the alcohol that made you feel tipsy or just the euphoria of being so loved, of having the kind of family you never thought you would. Any time you made eye contact with one of the boys, the pair of you would inevitably dissolve into a fit of giggles for no apparent reason. Much like the bubbly champagne in your flutes, your laughter was effervescent.

Eventually, everyone began to mellow out— although Jimin and Taehyung had their heads together, apparently in scheming mode. They nodded to each other before walking over to Namjoon, who had glued himself to your side.

“Alpha, to celebrate our new packmate, can we all nest together tonight and have a sleepover?”

Namjoon smiled indulgently at the younger men. “I’m okay with it, but it’s up to Noona.”

It was useless to resist their pleading looks even if you’d wanted to (you didn’t) and so you were quick to agree.

“That sounds really nice, guys. Can you show me how you like to build a nest?” The duo nodded eagerly and grabbed you by the hands, immediately dragging you into their mission.

“First we need to go find all the best pillows and blankets in the house, come on!” Not wanting to be left out, Jungkook followed closely behind, offering himself as “the muscles” to help carry everything. They took the lead on collecting clothing items from each member— you couldn’t smell well enough to be useful in that— while you gathered bedding. You did your best to contribute on setting up, placing pillows and blankets where you thought it made sense, and didn’t take offense if the omegas came behind you to make adjustments. Jungkook plugged in some fairy lights you hadn’t noticed in the room before; it seemed they just left them up for when group nesting was needed. Once Jimin and Tae were satisfied with the arrangements, you all went to do your nightly routines, everyone soon returning in their pajamas with clean faces and brushed teeth.

“Noona, you sleep right in the middle,” Taehyung directed. “Alpha, you should be closest to our new packmate— hyung, you go on her other side,” he said to Namjoon and Jin, respectively. “Hobi-hyung, you go on Alpha’s other side.”

“Yoongi and JK need to go on the ends, to balance out the alphas,” Jimin explained, “and Tae and I will go next to them.” Out of the corner of his eye, Jimin gave you a sly look, and the two of you watched Taehyung and Jungkook snuggle in together. Jin reached over and ruffled the hair on each of their heads affectionately.

“Wowww, Jimiiiiin,” Hobi teased as he came to lie next to the omega, who laughed and cuddled up to him.

With all of you lined up side-by-side and only the fairy lights providing a soft glow, it truly felt like a childhood sleepover. At least an hour went by of hushed conversations and giggles in the dark before voices began to die down. One by one, your new packmates drifted off, but you were too excited to sleep quite yet. Jin seemed to notice, and rolled onto his side to face you.

“How are you feeling about everything, Princess?” he whispered.

Your gaze softened as you considered, a smile on your face. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy. I don’t really know how to hold it in my body.” 

He smiled and tapped your nose with his index finger. “It’s safe to say we feel very much the same. We’ve been waiting a long time to find the right moment, and now that you’re here… it’s like we found a missing puzzle piece.”

“Thank you, Jin.”

“For what?”

“For taking such good care of me, making me feel welcomed.”

His hand reached for yours, intertwining your fingers before bringing them to his full lips. He placed a gentle kiss on your knuckles and said, “You don’t need to thank me for that, Noona. We take care of the people we love.”

“I love you too, Jinnie.”

With a gentle smile, he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on your lips; as he pulled away, your mouth chased his for another, lingering there for a moment. An arm wrapped around your waist; but rather than Jin pulling you closer to him, you were being dragged away. Jin smacked Namjoon’s arm as quietly as possible, with a “Joon-ah! Jealous, much?” earning a chuckle from the alpha. He rolled your body over himself, placing you away from Jin and next to Hobi instead.

“Well, hello there sunshine!" he greeted. "So kind of you to drop in.”

“Hi Hobi,” you giggled.

“Are you here to give me a goodnight kiss, too?”

“Mhm,” you smiled as you reached for him, placing quick smooches all around his mouth.

“You’re trouble,” said a husky voice behind you.

You flipped around to face its owner. “Jealous Joon,” you cooed; his smile was soft and content, all full lips and deep dimples. “Did you want a goodnight kiss, too?” you whispered.

He nodded, the tip of his nose brushing against yours. “Yeah, I mean, I gotta give you a proper welcome to the pack."

“Well, then. Goodnight, Alpha,” you teased, enjoying the look of adoration in his eyes before you connected. Your lips moved against Namjoon’s slowly, savoring the taste of him; his arm around your waist tightened, and when you sighed in pleasure, his tongue slipped past your teeth to tangle with your own. He hummed lowly, deepening the kiss, and you involuntarily let out a breathy moan.

“Yah, that’s enough of that,” Jin grumbled, causing you and Namjoon to break away from each other, grinning.

“You started it!” you hissed playfully at the beta.

“What I did and what he’s doing are not the same!” he replied indignantly.

With a smug smile, Namjoon returned you to lay in your original spot. His thumb came up to caress your cheek. “Goodnight,” he said, his tone sounding like a sentence not quite finished. Your imagination filled in the blanks.

Chapter Text

The next morning, you found yourself in a confusing tangle of limbs. Namjoon and Jin had sandwiched you between them; your head was on Namjoon’s chest while Jin spooned you from behind, and all three of you had somehow woven your legs together in the night. And inexplicably, there was yet another body horizontally draped across the three of you. Craning your neck uncomfortably, you identified Taehyung as the culprit. Although his sleeping form had a comfort to it like a weighted blanket, it was terribly inconvenient considering you desperately had to pee.

“Guys?” your voice was muffled against Namjoon, who was still snoring soundly. You tried to wiggle your fingers, but one of your arms was asleep, and the other was still buried under Tae. You began to kick your legs, hoping to get someone’s attention; eventually, it worked.

“What the— these idiots are smothering Noona! Help me lift Taehyungie off of her—”

“Are you okay, Princess?” Hobi pulled you to your feet as Jungkook and Jimin dragged their compatriot away.

“Ha, yeah, except my arm has gone numb!” You tried to wiggle your fingers, but everything felt like pins and needles, and Hobi began to rub your arm aggressively in an attempt to restore blood flow. Namjoon, Jin, and Taehyung remained seemingly undisturbed by the whole ordeal.

A few minutes later, you returned from the bathroom and gratefully accepted a cup of coffee from Jimin; in the time you’d been gone, a slight headache had taken residence behind your right eye, and caffeine felt like a good first line of defense. Getting old sucks. I didn’t even drink that much last night, you thought. As you sipped your coffee, the remaining pack members slowly awoke and joined the conversation, albeit a little groggy and puffy-faced. 

The group began making plans on how they could officially convert the study into your bedroom, as well as what you would and wouldn’t need from your apartment. Jungkook had the idea of scheduling a cabin weekend soon; as a pack member, it was now your home away from home, too, and they were excited to show it off to you and mark the special occasion. Planning for the future felt monumental, but with the realization you didn’t have to face it alone, it didn’t seem as scary as it once was. When mugs were empty and breakfast dishes cleared, you all worked together to dismantle the super-nest, some members splitting off afterwards. Hobi and Jimin had rehearsals to get to, while Namjoon and Jungkook were headed for the gym; and so, you excused yourself to shower.

As you dried off and went through your skincare routine, you sighed in annoyance— your headache had seemed to dissipate with coffee, but was creeping back in again. Opting for water this time (hydrate or die-drate), you dressed and headed to the kitchen to fill a glass before padding back into the living room. You found Taehyung with the two oldest members of the pack— all suspiciously quiet as you entered.

“I have the feeling you guys were just talking about me,” you said as you sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Yoongi.

Tae immediately became flustered, giving himself away. “No! What?! We were, uh, we were just talking about—”

“Tae was wondering if you’d talked to Namjoon yet,” Yoongi replied, to the younger man’s chagrin.

“Talked to him about what?”

“Noona. Come on. About how you’re both heads over heels in love with each other and want to mate and make lots of beautiful pups.”

“Yoongi!” you hissed. “Shut! Up!”

“Aish, it’s not a secret.”

“Yeah, we all can see how you look at each other. It’s so sweet, I’m worried my teeth are going to rot,” Jin teased. “Have you had a chance to talk about… whatever the two of you are… since your special night after the gala?” You felt heat creep up your neck and into your cheeks.

“No,” you admitted. “I kinda… panicked and snuck out the morning after. We were supposed to get dinner the night I got attacked, and I guess we just haven’t found a good time since then to talk about it.”

“Well, you know you’re the one who’s going to have to make a move, right?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“It’s more important to him that you’re comfortable as a member of his pack, regardless of his feelings for you. He wants you to be his mate, but I don’t think he’s going to say anything while you’re still settling in.”

“Oh. I see. But… he does want that?”

“More than anything!” Taehyung exclaimed. 

“You already know he does,” Yoongi chided.

“He always has. It’s pretty annoying, actually,” Jin said. “Please put us out of our misery, Noona!” Jin begged dramatically as you gave him a playful shove. 

“I’ll think about it.”

Yoongi scowled at your non-committal answer. “Don’t tell me you’re still stuck on the same hang-up.”

“What hang-up?” Jin questioned, concern flitting over his expression. 

“It’s nothing, I just…”

“She doesn’t think she’s good enough to be our Luna.”

“Yoongi! You pinky promised!”

“Not about this, I didn’t! I’m tired of seeing you doubt yourself and intentionally make both you and Namjoon miserable for a completely stupid reason.”

“Noona, what’s hyung talking about?” Taehyung questioned softly. “You don’t really think that, do you?”

“You guys wouldn’t understand, I—”

“Are you doubting your decision to be part of this pack?” Jin interjected, more stern than you’d ever seen him. At this question, Taehyung grew visibly upset.

“No! Of course not!”

“Do you doubt Namjoon, that he would be a good mate to you?”

“Not at all, he— he would be the best, more than I could ever hope for or deserve.”

“Aish, he’s not that great,” Yoongi said.

“Do you love him?”

“Of course I do, I love all of you. You’re my pack now.”

“That’s not the question I was asking and you know it,” Jin scolded. “Are you in love with him? Do you want to be his mate?”

“Yes,” you answered quietly. “And it’s terrifying, because he feels too good to be true, all of this does.”

Jin moved to kneel in front of you to ensure you couldn’t escape his gaze. He held both of your hands in his and said, “Princess, if you love him, and you’re happy with us, then nothing else matters.”

“B-but what if— what if he… I just— how can I be Luna if there’s this piece of me missing?” you posed this question once again to Yoongi, truly desperate for an answer this time.

“Do you still feel that way?” Yoongi asked thoughtfully. “Don’t answer me right away, take a minute to consider it. Close your eyes. Think about your life right now— you have a successful career that fulfills you. You have a pack that cares about you, wants to take care of you. The leader of that pack is deeply in love with you. There’s nothing you could do to change how we feel about you, to make us reject you. Do you still feel like there’s that hole in your chest? Do you still feel like something is missing?”

You did as Yoongi instructed, breathing deeply and reaching into the parts of yourself you had kept hidden for so long. You searched for that dark corner of your heart, what you visualized as a shadowy, foreboding crevice, but it wasn’t there. The aching feeling you had grown accustomed to was gone. In its place was something that felt close to yearning; for Namjoon, for your packmates— a need to be close to them— and a love for the group that filled you to the brink of overflowing. Yoongi was right. Just as you are, that little voice returned to say. They love you just as you are.

“You don’t have to be Luna if you don’t want to, but I am one-thousand percent certain you would be incredible at it,” Jin reassured you; however, this comment did not sit well with the omega, who abruptly flew into an outburst.

“No! I mean, please, you do have to be our Luna! I want you to be, we all want you, me and Jimin and Jungkookie— we’ve been talking about it for months, please don’t—”

“Hey, hey, shhh, it’s okay Tae, come here.” You opened your arms to him and he all but threw himself into your embrace, scenting you and wrapping his arms tight around your middle. 

You rubbed his back and said, “I’ll talk to him, okay? I’ll talk to Namjoon.” He nodded against your shoulder, and you continued cuddling him until you felt his breathing even out again. When he finally sat up, you tapped your finger to the tip of his nose and asked, “Now, what can we do to make you feel better? I want to get your smile back, my Taebear.”

He considered it for a few moments. “Actually… now that we’re family… can you show us how to make those chocolate chip cookies you brought the first time you came over?”

“Oh, I see how it is. You only wanted me in the pack to get the goods.”

Taehyung was not much help in the kitchen, but Jin was very excited to learn your recipe. The gym rats arrived home as you were pulling the cookies from the oven. 

“Hi, Noona,” Namjoon greeted you with a smile and a kiss on your forehead, making you blush.

“Hi, Noona,” Jungkook repeated with a smirk, leaning in to kiss your cheek before you dodged and whipped him with a kitchen towel.

“You watch it, Jeon Jungkook! That’s still Professor Noona to you!” 

Laughing, the two of them exited to hit the showers, and you retreated to the study— your room, now— to read for a little while as the cookies cooled.

It was nearly dinner time when you had to put your book down; staring at the pages had aggravated whatever lingering headache you had. It had been ebbing and surging throughout the day, seemingly at random; but by the time you walked out to the dining area, it was worse than ever. You were in sensory overload— the lights too bright, the smell of the food wafting in from the stove sharp in your nostrils. The whole pack was home now, and the cacophony of their voices overlapping was banging against your eardrums. It was Hobi who first caught your discomfort.

“Noona? You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, I just have a migraine or something,” you sighed.

His lower lip extended into a pout. “My poor Noona!” he exclaimed as he brought you into a big hug.

“Do we have any meds for migraines in the house?”

“I love hearing you say that, we.”

“Hobi, focus.”

“Sorry, I'm still just excited. No we don’t, but I can go pick some up!”

“Don’t worry about it,” you said as you continued to rest your head on his shoulder for a few moments. “Did you change your soap or shampoo or something? You smell really good.”

“Nope, I haven’t changed anything— but now that you mention it, you smell good too, Noona! Were you baking?”

“Yeah, Taetae requested my chocolate chip cookies. They’re in the kitchen if you want some—”

“—After dinner!” Jin barked.

You tried to keep up with the conversation as you ate, wanting to give your best energy at the end of your first full day as a member of the pack. And to their credit, the boys did an excellent job of distracting you from your worsening migraine. They could clearly sense you were putting on a brave face and were insistent on placing more and more food on your plate, and spoke in lower voices than usual. Namjoon beside you kept his left hand on your person at almost all times, often gently massaging the base of your neck to relieve some of the tension there. Once the plates were cleared, however, it was time for you to tap out. You said your goodnights to all but Jin, who insisted he come with you to check on the progress of your healing wounds before you went to bed.

As he pulled your sleep shirt to the side to examine the bite near your shoulder, his brow furrowed in confusion. His expression was unchanged when he looked at your hip. When you pressed him for answers, Jin reassured you that everything looked great; his confusion actually stemmed from how quickly you were healing. You credited it to his homemade bite balm you’d been so diligent about applying.

“Well, I certainly am not complaining about good news, Noona! I’ll take a look again tomorrow and see how they do, but at this rate, you may not have as much scarring as we originally predicted.”

Trying to keep that bit of positive news in mind, you pulled the blinds closed, turned off the lights, and tried to rest. But it felt like you heard every noise in the house: appliances humming; water running; footsteps in other rooms; conversations through the walls. Even the unlit candle on the nightstand, a favorite that Jimin had so thoughtfully brought from your apartment, smelled overly perfumed and irritated you further.

With the hope that tomorrow would be better, you finally fell into a fitful sleep. But the next day, things seemed to take a turn for the worse.

Chapter Text

The first thing you saw when you opened your eyes was Jin’s face. He was leaning over you, feeling your forehead with a look of concern; you realized the sheets beneath you were soaked with sweat. 

“Jin? What are you doing here?” you said weakly.

He tsked at you and replied, “I came in here to check on you. You’ve been asleep for over thirteen hours, and now you have a fever.”

“I don’t feel well, you should go. I don’t want you to get sick.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Pain suddenly radiated from your abdomen, causing you to roll onto your side and curl in on yourself. Something was very very wrong.

“I need to look at the bites to see if any of them look infected,” Jin said as he reached for the hem of your shirt. He pulled it up just enough to examine the bite on your hip, and then pulled up your sleeve to look at the scar on your shoulder. He sighed in frustration. “Your wounds still look like they’re healing perfectly fine, you’re not showing any other signs of infection besides the fever… it doesn’t make any sense… where does it hurt?”

You placed a hand on your stomach where the cramping was coming from, and listened to Jin mumble through possible conditions— appendicitis seems unlikely, given where the pain is localized… maybe a ruptured ovarian cyst? Here, can I feel?— he placed his hand on your abdomen, and the pain shifted into something altogether different.

Panic started to creep throughout your body. Suddenly, you knew what was wrong, and all you could think to say was: “I need Yoongi. Now.” The beta looked at you in confusion, oblivious to what was really happening, and probably wondering why you’d asked for Yoongi specifically. You couldn’t blame him— but in this moment of vulnerability and panic, you knew that Yoongi would be transparent with you, that he wouldn’t judge you for whatever was happening right now. And so you repeated yourself with as much authority as you could muster: “Go. Get. Yoongi.”

The alpha burst through the study door, Jin hot on his heels, and saw you writhing on the bed, wearing one of Namjoon’s t-shirts and little else. He rushed to your side to try to assess the situation and— what the fuck? 

“What’s with that face, Yoongi? Is what I think is happening actually happening? It is, isn’t it? Holy shit. Oh my god.”

He buffered for a moment as you looked at him with wild eyes, clearly distressed. The smell of slick was unmistakable, and although he had no idea what was happening with you overall, he knew how to handle a heat. His brain fully loaded, and he jumped into action.

“Jin, we need to figure out a plan, fast. Go get Namjoon, please.”

“He’s not home— he went for a bike ride, and he didn’t take his phone.”

“Fucking dumbass . Someone will definitely need to catch him when he gets back— one whiff of what’s going on in here and he’s going to go feral.” Jin nodded in agreement.

“Okay… Noona, there are a couple ways we can do this depending on what you’re comfortable with. We have some toys you can use if you’d prefer privacy, and we’ll just be nearby to make sure you’re okay and that you stay fed and hydrated. Or, if you’re open to it, we can… participate, and help you through it.”

“I don’t— I don’t want to be alone, Yoongi. I want—” your voice caught in your throat. “I want my pack to take care of me, if it’s not too much to ask of you guys.” 

“Oh, sweet girl,” Jin breathed. “I’m so proud of you for asking for help.”

“We would love to, jagiya,” Yoongi said to you softly before turning to Jin with further instructions. “I think JK should take Jimin and Tae to the cabin, so their own heats don’t get triggered. The rest of us can stay here to help Noona through this. Can you go let everyone know what’s going on?”

Jin gave two thumbs up to his dongsaeng in affirmation and tried to give you a reassuring wink before leaving the room, but it went unnoticed as you doubled over again in pain, whimpering. 

“Yoongi, how is this happening? After all this time?”

“I don’t know, but I need you to listen to me,” Yoongi’s hands held your face, trying to focus your attention. “You know what happens during a heat, yeah? We don’t have much time to talk this out. Do you give us— me, Jin, Hobi, and Namjoon— do we have your consent to touch you? Do you want to have sex with us?”

When you nodded he said, “I need your words, Noona.”

“Yes, yes, please touch me, I want all of you to fuck me,” you whined.

“Are you on birth control, and when did you last get tested?”

“Yes, I’m on the pill. I was clean at my last checkup six months ago and I haven’t slept with anyone until Namjoon.”

“Is there anything you absolutely do not want to do?”

“I’ve never done anal and now is not the time to start. And… don’t let anyone bite me. I don’t want to be marked like this.”

“Understood. A couple of us like to get a little rough, but not if that’s something you don’t like. How do you feel about spanking? Choking? Toys?”

“Fuck, yes please. I am very good with all of those things.”

Yoongi smirked at your eagerness. “Do you know the red light system for a safe word?”

“Green means I’m good, yellow is okay but ease up, red is stop completely. Yoongi,” you begged.

“Okay, I know it hurts, baby. I’ll make it better now.”

Kneeling by your hip, he lowered himself to press his lips to yours. Your hands fisted into his shirt, pulling him in closer, until he got the hint and deepened the kiss. His thumb drew circles on your hip bone, and you broke away from the kiss to gasp in a breath and beg, “Yoongi, I need you.” 

He hovered over you, tongue exploring your mouth as he rubbed a comforting palm over your panties and you sighed in both relief and frustration. Your fingers wrapped around his wrist, encouraging his hand to move. He continued to gently rub you over your clothed sex, eventually slipping a finger under the soaked fabric. Your hips bucked against his hand, seeking friction as his fingers gently stroked your folds.

Yoongi pulled away from your mouth, lips slightly swollen, and smirked down at you. “You look so pretty, all desperate like this,” he cooed before slipping his hand out of your panties and moving down the bed. His elegant fingers curled around the fabric at your hips. “Look at how wet you are jagiya, you’ve ruined these panties. Would you like me to take these off?”

“Yes, please touch me,” you whined.

“Such good manners,” he praised before planting a kiss on the soaked lace. He pushed the hem of your shirt up to your ribs and peeled the fabric away from your center. Placing open-mouthed kisses on each of your hip bones, he said, “I want to taste you, jagiya. Can I lick this pretty pussy?”

You nodded your head rapidly.

“I need to hear you say it, baby. Tell me what you want.”

“I want your mouth.”

“Where?”

“I want you to lick my pussy.”

“You want me to lick what? ” he teased.

“Please, I want you to lick my pretty pussy, ” you panted as fresh slick gushed between your legs and your face turned red in embarrassment. 

Yoongi flatted his tongue against your entrance and licked a long stripe to your clit, loving the way you gasped at the initial contact. He pulled your legs wider, exposing you fully to him, and began eating you out in earnest. His tongue explored every inch of your heat; he growled at the taste of you, and the vibrations had your fingers tangling into his long hair.

“Mmm, you’re so sweet. Do you want my fingers too?”

“Yes, yes,” you moaned. Your slick made it easy for him to immediately insert two fingers in your cunt, and he curled them to find your most sensitive spot. He was devouring your juices like a man starved, the wet noises loud and lewd. He looked up from his meal to watch the pleasure on your face, the way your brows knit together and your mouth hung open, panting. Your back arched as you moaned, and he could tell your peak was fast approaching. Yoongi lifted his mouth from you to taunt you once more with his words.

“Fuck, you’re so tight and wet,” he said as his fingers continued to stroke that bundle of nerves. “You’re so beautiful, I can’t wait to knot this perfect pussy. Your pack is going to take such good care of you, treat you like our little princess, make you feel better than you’ve ever felt.” Every muscle in your body was taut, on the verge of release. “I want you to cum on my face, let go baby.”

Yoongi’s fingers moved faster as he dipped his head back between your legs, his tongue rapidly flicking over your clit. Your thighs squeezed together and threatened to crush his head; but he decided if that was how he left this life, he would die a happy man. Moments later, you came with a wordless cry. His long, slender fingers worked you through your climax until he felt your body melt into the bed, those tensed muscles relaxing. While you tried to catch your breath, Yoongi placed gentle kisses on each of your thighs, hips, and your stomach, before working his way up to kiss your neck and face, too.

“How do you feel? Better?” he asked.

“Mhmm. I feel good,” you replied, eyes a little unfocused. He watched your brows furrow, and you asked, “Should I feel… weird, though? Is this going to make things weird? We’re still friends, right?”

Yoongi laughed at this. “Jagiya, you think too much. Don’t worry. I’ve told you before, we’re all very open with each other. I’m one of your pack alphas, and it’s part of my job to care for our omegas in heat. Plus,” he added, “you’re really fucking hot. I wouldn’t have offered to have sex with you if I didn’t want to.”

This last comment had you in a fit of giggles as both betas entered the room. Jin brought a warm washcloth between your thighs to clean you up a bit and began rattling off his updates; he’d filled in Hobi (clearly), still no Namjoon, and the pups were on their way to the cabin, laden with plenty of food to tide them over.

“Here, drink this, you need to stay hydrated,” Hobi said as he handed you a glass of water. 

When you’d drained half and set the cup on the nightstand, he addressed the elephant in the room. “Sooooo… what’s new with you guys?”

They watched you throw both your hands in the air in exasperation. “I have no clue. Here I am, thirty years old, and it’s like I’m going through puberty all over again. And an omega?! I think if I try to process this right now, I’m going to have a full-blown identity crisis, which is going to really conflict with how fucking horny I am.”

“Fair point. Sexy time now, crisis later.”

“How long do you guys think it’ll be before my next wave hits?”

“This early on in a heat, it could be a pretty quick turnaround. Usually, they space out the farther into it you go. You’re in luck though, because we are all very qualified to show you the ropes when it comes to a heat.”

Yoongi smirked, mischief on his mind. “What do you think, jagiya? Do you want Hob-ah to teach you how to be a good girl?” You threw a pillow at him in annoyance, but they could still see how you pressed your thighs together to try and get some relief.

Jin’s head tilted as he listened to something in the distance. “Your fun might have to wait, guys. Sounds like Joonie just got home.”

Something in your expression changed. Your pupils dilated, your head tilted to the side. “Joonie? Alpha? My alpha?” The three men in the room exchanged looks— you may have been dragging your feet, but your omega certainly knew who she wanted for her mate.

In the distance, they heard Namjoon exclaim, “What the fuck?”  

“Shit! Go intercept him, now! ” Jin ordered. Hobi and Yoongi leapt from the bed and out the bedroom door, slamming it behind them, to try and explain the situation as quickly as they could.

Chapter Text

Today is a great day, Namjoon thought as he rode his bike. The weather was clear and sunny; spring had fully arrived, with the sun warm on his skin but the breeze still cool. It didn’t take long for him to realize he’d forgotten his phone back at the house, but rather than turn back, he decided it would be nice to disconnect for the morning. And it was—his head felt clearer than it had in awhile, his spirit refreshed by taking this time for himself. He’d ridden a path along the river to a café, where he’d enjoyed an iced Americano and read for a bit before turning back. As he pedaled, he thought of his destination, and how he might spend his afternoon. The most wonderful realization came alight. She’s there. It’s her home now, too. There was so much he wanted to say, so many things he wanted to talk about with you. He pedaled faster.

Namjoon returned from his ride to a perplexing situation. The house was suspiciously quiet; no sounds of TVs or video games or music, nobody clanging around in the kitchen. Jungkook’s car keys were missing, along with a few pairs of shoes. He sniffed the air to try and get an idea of who was around and picked up on the presence of the betas, but his confusion only deepened when he smelled… heat? 

“What the fuck?” he said to the empty room.

He must be mistaken. The pack had nailed down a pretty good schedule for their omegas, and Jimin and Taehyung weren’t due for another couple of months. Namjoon continued trying to puzzle out the situation and was about to retrieve his phone from his bedroom when Yoongi and Hoseok suddenly rushed in.

“Whoa whoa whoa, guys! What is going on?”

“It’s Noona,” Hobi started.

Namjoon's stomach dropped, his heart racing. “What happened? Where is she? Is she okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, she’s safe, she’s just, uh… how do I explain this…?”

Namjoon growled at the beta’s delay.

“She’s in heat,” Yoongi stated simply as he grabbed onto Namjoon’s upper arm, as if to restrain him. Hobi mimicked the action on the other side, but their leader was too dumbfounded to move anyway.

“But… she doesn’t have a wolf. She never presented.”

“Well, apparently she’s a late bloomer.”

“What are you saying?” 

Yoongi rolled his eyes, clearly frustrated. “The woman you’re in love with, your desired mate, is an omega. And she’s in heat.”

The man was too stunned to speak. 

“Did you talk to her about safety?” Hobi asked Yoongi. “What do we do?”

“She’s on birth control, she’s clean, we have her consent. We went over the traffic light system. She does not want to be bitten—”

Yoongi was interrupted by the study door bursting open to reveal you scrambling to escape. Jin wrapped his arms around your waist to hold you back, but you were fighting against his grip, crying out “Alpha!”

A switch in Namjoon flipped, and he thrashed against his hyungs’ hold. “Let me go! My Luna needs me!” 

Namjoon’s bodyguards shot Jin bewildered expressions at the sudden change in your behavior.

“I don’t know! She was fine one minute but when I told her she couldn’t see Namjoon right now, she got all agitated!”

The pack alpha’s jaw was tight as he continued to try and pull away from his packmates.

“Did you hear that last thing I said, Namjoon? Do not mark her, even if she asks for it. Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes, I understand, now please let me go to her.”

It looked like another abdominal cramp was hitting—you’d stopped thrashing, and instead Jin was now supporting your weight. Tears were beginning to form in your eyes as you weakly begged, “Please, Jinnie, I need my alpha, you can’t keep him from me.”

“But you were just with Yoongi—”

“I want my alpha!”

That was the last straw for Namjoon, and Yoongi knew it.

“Repeat it back to me, Joon-ah.”

“She doesn’t want to be marked, I won’t bite her. Let. Me. Go,” Namjoon growled. His eyes hadn’t left you for even an instant.

Yoongi nodded at the betas, and the three eldest members of the pack released the two of you. You ran to Namjoon, leaping into his arms to press your lips against his, your legs wrapping around his middle. Holy fuck, am I dreaming right now? I must be dreaming. The smell of your slick nearly made him lightheaded; he let out a deep moan and pushed you against the nearest wall, his hips rocking against yours. He’d never felt so out of control before, so desperate for someone. 

Between kisses, you began rambling against his lips, unsuccessfully trying to talk and kiss him at the same time. “Joonie, please, I don’t know how this is happening but I need you, I need you Alpha.” I need you, Alpha. The breathless sound of your begging made him feel like he was going to ascend out of his body, and it took all of his willpower to focus himself back on being what you needed right now. 

“I’ve got you baby, it’s okay. Alpha’s gonna make you feel so good, don’t worry.”

“Yah! Not on the carpet! Get a room, you two!”

With your arms and legs still wrapped around him, Namjoon took long strides to his bedroom and slammed the door behind him. He sat on the edge of the bed with you straddling his lap as you kissed hungrily. When you pulled apart to breathe, he held your face in his hands, studying your expression. Your gaze was slightly unfocused, like when you’d been drinking.

“Sweetheart, are you okay?”

“Mhmm…” you nodded, leaning into his palm, “but I’m overwhelmed. I want to talk, but not now. Just need you close now.”

“I’m all yours. I’ll give you anything you want, princess.”

Your nose dipped to the corner of his jaw, breathing in his scent for the first time. He wasn’t sure what he smelled like to you yet, but you must have liked it; your body relaxed slightly and you quietly repeated to yourself, “Mine.”

Namjoon reciprocated, tilting his head to nose at your neck. There was the familiar vanilla; the coffee scent, stronger now; and… hazelnuts. That was what he couldn’t pick up on before. You smelled like that first time you’d had coffee together, like freshly roasted beans and your favorite hazelnut latte. He began to kiss and nip at your neck, intoxicated by the scent and the memory and you, as you sighed and pressed your hips into his. 

After a few moments, you tugged at your shirt (one of his shirts, really), whining, too hot, need this off, please Joonie. He helped you pull it over your head, your nipples hardening as they were exposed to the air. It seemed one of his packmates had already taken care of removing your panties. Your hands then pulled at his shirt between the shoulder blades; he took the hint that you wanted the fabric out of the way and stripped it off quickly. Your arms wound tight around him, so desperate for skin-to-skin contact it was like you were trying to fuse your bodies together. You began grinding down on him with abandon; he was pretty sure you would get yourself off on dry humping alone if he didn’t give you what you wanted.

“Joonie,” you whined.

“What is it, honey?”

“Want you inside me, need to feel you.”

Namjoon kissed you deeply before he wrapped an arm around your waist to lift you up slightly so he could shimmy his pants and underwear down enough to release his cock. The second it was free, you rocked against him, coating him in your slick.

“Fuck, you smell so good baby, so wet for me.”

He lifted you up again to slowly impale you on his cock. Your mouth hung open in a wordless cry as he filled you completely, your back arching and head falling back. Namjoon took the opportunity to give your breasts some much-needed attention. He lapped and sucked at your nipples, and your pussy clenched around him when he nipped. When his mouth released you, you began to ride him in earnest, chasing your high. You were so worked up, he knew you were already close.

As your orgasm approached, it was harder for your legs to keep the pace you needed. Namjoon planted his feet firmly on the ground, held tight to your waist, and began to fuck up into you roughly. Your arms wrapped around his shoulders, holding on for dear life. Namjoon pulled you by the hair to capture your lips in a searing kiss, and you came with a choked sob. He fucked you through your orgasm, but where there should have been oversensitivity, there was just more longing.

He turned to lay you on the bed before standing to finish removing his (now soaked) pants and underwear. Namjoon tried to process this turn of events for a moment while you caught your breath, admiring you while your eyes raked over his form. She’s wanted this, to present, for so long, he thought in awe. She’s had it in her all along. And now she has a pack that adores her, that will never let her feel lonely again. An omega. My beautiful, strong, resilient omega.

“Joonie, what are you staring at?”

The love of my life, was what he wanted to say—but it wasn’t the right time. Instead he replied, “I’m just thinking about how I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

You rolled your eyes and giggled. “You’re laying it on a little thick, there.”

“I mean it,” he said earnestly, and something in your expression softened. He walked around the bed and leaned over to kiss you deeply, enjoying the way you moaned when he bit at your bottom lip.

“Bend over for me.”

Rolling over, you shifted onto your elbows and knees with your hips high in the air. “What a pretty omega, presenting for her alpha.” Namjoon smacked your ass and you gasped, a fresh wave of slick dripping from your pussy. It did not go unnoticed.

“Oh, do you like being spanked, baby?”

“Yes, Alpha,” you whined.

“Such a good girl.” He spanked you again and watched as your entrance clenched around nothing, relishing your breathy moan. His large hands rubbed the tender flesh in soothing circles before climbing on the bed to kneel behind you. 

Namjoon gripped your hips and lined himself up with your entrance before pushing into you slowly. You both sighed in pleasure and he wondered, not for the first time, if you might feel the way he felt: that you were made for each other, hearts connected by a single thread. 

He kept a steady, even pace, but when you begged him to go harder, he began pulling out nearly all the way before pounding back into you. With each thrust, you were making the sweetest little noises. Namjoon thought back to when you’d first slept together weeks ago, of the absolute euphoria in the intimacy; and the morning after, when he worried it would never happen again. He tried to commit each of your gasps and moans to memory, to savor every delicious second he had you like this.

Namjoon wanted—no, needed— you closer. He leaned forward to wrap an arm around you, pulling you up to kneel and lean your back against his chest. His hand wrapped around your neck, and you clung to his arm for support. The room was filled with the slapping sounds of him fucking into you, and when he gently applied pressure against your throat, your head tipped back to rest on his shoulder and you let out a high-pitched whine, pussy clenching around him.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” he breathed into your ear. 

“Joon,” you panted. “I— I wanna c-cum on your knot. Want you to be the first.”

His wolf was screaming in him to claim you, to knot and bite you and make you his. You were so tight around him, he couldn’t believe he’d even lasted this long. He quickly flipped you onto your back, nearly folding you in half as he reentered you and began pounding harder than ever. “Wanna see your face my sweet girl, wanna watch your pussy squirt all over my knot.” His voice was a low growl; he continued thrusting into you as his knot began to inflate. Nearing your peak, your hand moved to cover your mouth and stifle your screams, but Namjoon was having none of it. He grabbed your wrist, pinning it above your head.

“They all know what’s happening in here, you don’t need to hide yourself. I want to hear you, I want you to tell them who’s making you feel this good.” He released your arm to reach down to where you were joined, his fingers circling your clit to push you over the edge.

“Oh fuck! Namjoon please, please Alpha, I’m gonna—”

“That’s it baby, I’ve got you. You’re so good for me, Omega,” his voice was rough in your ear as you screamed your climax. The urge to bite you was threatening to take over his brain, and he clenched his jaw as hard as he could to resist. Soon his movements were limited by his knot; the fit was too tight to do anything but gently rock against you. You were still shaking as he finally came with a low moan. The two of you laid there for a few moments, chests heaving from the exertion. Namjoon kissed you softly, and reached up to gently stroke your hair, calming you. When your breaths became steady, he carefully rolled onto his back to let you rest on his chest while you waited for his knot to go down. You grumbled something, and he realized your legs and arms were tense, supporting your own weight. 

“Hey. Just relax,” he gently patted your thighs.

“I’m going to crush you.”

“No you’re not, this feels nice. It’s like you’re a weighted blanket.” Your expression was skeptical. “If I get uncomfortable, I promise I’ll let you know, okay? Ease up,” he rubbed your legs.

“Fine,” you sighed, adjusting yourself to get comfortable and eventually letting him support your weight. You nosed at his neck and he felt the tension begin to leave your muscles. As the two of you cuddled, he noticed your breathing grow more even and slow. At one point, he thought you’d drifted off; however, when his knot finally released, your arms wrapped tighter around him and you murmured sleepily into his neck, “Don’t go. Please stay with me.”

“Forever,” he replied softly.

“I love you, Namjoon,” you whispered. Your confession was so quiet, voice so hazy with the after effects of your orgasm and extended time breathing his scent. He wasn’t sure you realized you’d said it, wasn’t sure he was meant to hear it, but he treasured it nonetheless.

“I love you too, sweetheart. So much.”

Chapter Text

A couple hours later, Jin knocked on Namjoon’s door and entered with a glass of water and a bowl of fruit. You and Namjoon were tangled together under the covers; it looked like the two of you were still waking up from your little nap, but Jin knew your next wave would be coming soon and he wanted to make sure they were prepared. As he approached, you looked up at him bleary-eyed. 

“Hi Jinnie. Whatcha got there?” 

“I thought you might want to eat something and hydrate with what Hobi’s got planned for you.”

That seemed to wake you up. “Should I be afraid?”

“No, it’ll be fun. Yoongi’s going to help.”

“You’re in good hands, sweetheart,” Namjoon said with a smile. You gave a soft okay and bit your lip as you smiled back, wrapping your arms around Namjoon a little tighter. Jin imagined you were feeling a little drunk on all the happy chemicals that must be flowing through you, from finally embracing your omega and being well-cared for. That, and he was pretty sure you and Namjoon were destined for each other.

“Did Alpha take good care of you, baby girl?” the elder man asked. A giddy smile creeped across your lips; feeling shy, you hid your face in Namjoon’s chest and nodded, and the alpha kissed the crown of your head tenderly. Jin smiled at the way you preened for his dongsaeng. The two of you were alike in so many ways, he thought; both overthinkers, constantly analyzing or planning or stressing. Over the years, he’d developed an ability to see when Namjoon’s gears were turning or a storm cloud was forming over his head, and he’d started to notice that you had a few tells of your own. But right now, you both looked blissfully at ease. It may have been a bumpy road to get here, but it was worth every pothole to see them this happy, he thought as he watched you look back up at the alpha and kiss him softly.

“Joon-ah,  make sure she eats and drinks all of that and uses the bathroom, then send her to Hobi’s room.” Namjoon didn’t take his eyes off of you but nodded in acknowledgment before leaning in to steal another kiss, and Jin stepped out to let him care for his Luna a little bit longer. 

They heard you coming, obviously. Smelled you, too. But they left the bedroom door closed, and waited until they heard your timid knock to give you permission to enter. The anticipation was all part of their little game; Hoseok’s favorite part, if he was being honest. You walked into the room looking a little unsure, wearing a robe. The beta was the first to approach you, snaking his arms around your waist to pull you close. 

“Hello beautiful. You ready to have some fun?”

“I think so,” you nodded.

“You remember your safe word?” Hoseok asked.

“Yeah.”

Hoseok’s demeanor shifted, and he turned to his elder with a look of mild annoyance. “Tch , I thought you said she had good manners, hyung.”

“Jagiya, we’re going to teach you how to be a good little omega, remember? That means you should call us both sir. Do you understand?”

Your eyebrows shot up in surprise, but you replied, “Yes… sir.”

“Excellent,” Hobi said as he pulled at the tie on your robe. His fingers lightly danced along your collarbone before brushing the fabric away from your shoulders, letting the robe fall to the floor as Yoongi moved to stand behind you. Their fingertips explored your naked form, delicately grazing your skin and watching goosebumps appear, admiring the way your nipples peaked. Hobi waited until your heart was pounding and your eyes had dilated before speaking again. 

“First things first, I think you need to thank Yoongi-hyung for helping you earlier. He said you tasted so sweet, angel. Don’t you want to know what he tastes like?”

It took you a moment to process his words, so distracted by the gentle caresses. “Yes, sir,” you finally said as you turned and kneeled in front of the alpha. Both men had undressed with the exception of their underwear, and you now looked up at Yoongi as if asking permission to remove this last bit of clothing.

“Go ahead, baby,” the alpha permitted.

Your fingers skirted above the elastic of his boxer briefs, toying with the material for a moment before leaning back to pull them down to his ankles, his cock bouncing free in front of you. 

You looked a bit timid, doing this with an audience, but you began with gentle kisses and kitten licks to the head of his cock before working your way down. When you reached the base, you stuck your tongue out and licked up the underside back to the tip before wrapping your lips around him and sucking. One of your hands held onto his hip for balance, while the other worked what didn’t easily fit in your mouth. Yoongi’s long fingers threaded into your hair, lightly scratching your scalp in encouragement.

Once you found a good rhythm, Hobi spoke again. “Spread your knees a bit, baby. I want to see you. Can you listen closely while you have Yoongi’s cock in your mouth?” You looked at him out of the corner of your eye and nodded. 

“Good girl. Let me set some ground rules. First, if Yoongi gets too rough or you need to safeword but can’t, you can hit his leg three times. Show me you understand.” You gently hit his thigh and Hobi gave a quick nod of approval.

“Second rule. You’re only allowed to cum when we tell you. Good girls ask for permission. If you don’t, I’ll have to punish you.” You looked up at Hobi with an arched brow, but nodded again. “Finally, you will count every orgasm out loud. I want to know exactly how many times our pack makes you cum during this heat. Got it?” You made a noise in acknowledgement, the vibrations causing Yoongi to make sounds of his own.

Hoseok walked behind you for a moment, collecting something from the nightstand; you were too focused on the task in front of you to pay much attention, until you realized what it was. Hoseok had returned with a vibrating wand and was now gently rubbing it between your legs at a low setting. You moaned around Yoongi as you started to slick up, moving your hips a little to experiment with its placement.

“Ah ah, baby girl. I’ll put this where I want it. Hold still or I’ll have to tie you down.” He smelled your scent spike, and tucked that observation away for later. “We did a little research while you were with Joon-ah, and I want to tell you about a theory I have.” He increased the power on the vibrator and you hummed in pleasure. “For most omegas, their first heat is the shortest they’ll ever have; sort of a ‘test run’ of sorts. It’s about 2–3 days on average, but could be shorter if the omega gets lots of good orgasms and knots. Now, I know we’re all antsy to get the pack back together again since we have some things to discuss, so…” he turned up the intensity once more and you moaned around Yoongi. “...I’m going to make you cum over and over and over again until your heat breaks or until you can’t take any more.” His words made your pussy clench, wetness beginning to pool beneath you. “How does that sound?”

You moaned again around Yoongi’s length and he hissed in appreciation.

“How does she look from there, hyung?”

“Fuck, she looks so pretty with a cock in her mouth,” Yoongi groaned. “She’s gonna be such a good slut for us, aren’t you baby?”

“I bet she’d look even prettier with your cock in her throat,” Hoseok goaded him. 

“You gonna let me fuck your face, baby?” You looked up at him with wide eyes and gave a slight nod, tightening your grip on his thighs. Yoongi gathered your hair in his hands for leverage. “Yeah, that’s good, just relax for me.” You were taking deep breaths through your nose, trying to keep air flowing as Yoongi slowly pushed into your throat. Your eyes began to water at the pressure and when Yoongi released you, you coughed for air. “You’re doing great, let’s try again.”

Hoseok laid his hand gently on your neck. “I can feel you in there, hyung. She’s taking you so deep.” He moved the vibrator onto your clit and you jumped, forcing Yoongi’s cock even further into your throat until you gagged. He pulled out just enough for you to catch your breath before pushing back in. The muscles in your thighs began to twitch, and Hoseok could see your orgasm wasn’t far off. He looked up at Yoongi, gave him a quick nod, and began to rub the vibrator back and forth through your folds.

You whined as you began to shake against the wand. He turned it up to the highest setting and pressed it against your clit, hard. You looked at him with desperate eyes, clearly trying to speak, but your voice was muffled around Yoongi, whose grip tightened in your hair and pulled you close until your nose touched his pubic bone. 

“What’s that baby? I didn’t catch it,” Yoongi said. Your nails dug into Yoongi’s thighs, but you didn’t tap out. 

You groaned at the stimulation before cumming hard. Yoongi tugged at your hair to pull you off his cock, tsk- ing as you gasped for air. “What did Hoba just tell you, jagiya? I don’t think you were listening very well.”

Once you caught your breath, you retorted, “It’s a little challenging to ask for permission to cum when I’m choking on your dick.” Yoongi raised a brow at you and then looked at Hoseok, who gave a dramatic sigh before sitting on the edge of the bed.

“First you ignore my rule and now you’re giving sass? Come here. It’s time for your punishment,” he patted his thigh, signaling you to lay across his lap. He was still wearing his boxers, but as you settled into position, he was sure you could feel his hardening length pressing into your belly. As he spoke, he ran his hand over your backside, appreciating your round ass before rubbing a finger through your folds.

“How many orgasms have you had today?”

“Um… one from Yoongi, and two from Namjoon, and then… that one. So, four.”

“Then we’ll start with four spanks for cumming without permission, and another four for talking back just now.”

Hoseok waited a moment to build the anticipation, before landing the first smack on your right ass cheek. Startled, you jumped just a little, but quickly settled back down across his legs. When the second one came seconds after, you were ready for it, letting out a sigh at the impact. He took his time with the next two, relishing in the way your body reacted to the building intensity. Your ass was becoming the perfect shade of pink, further reddened by the next two stinging slaps. You yelped, and Hoseok had to admit even his hand stung a little. He shook it out briefly before rubbing it over the tender skin to soothe you, noticing your heavy breaths.

Yoongi was leaning against the dresser on the opposite wall, watching every moment. “I don’t think this is much of a punishment for her, Hoba,” he observed. “I can see how wet she is all the way from here.”

Hoseok’s hand wandered between your thighs to feel for himself. You were practically dripping. “Maybe next time I’ll have to spank her pussy instead,” he replied, smirking as you moaned at the suggestion. “Get up; I want to see you take your last two on hyung’s cock.” Yoongi moved to sit on the bed, casually leaning against the headboard and stroking himself at a leisurely pace.

“I’m all ready for you, princess.”

Straddling him, one hand held onto the headboard next to Yoongi’s head for support while the other rested on his good shoulder. As soon as you had completely sunk onto the alpha’s cock, Hoseok delivered your seventh spanking, your gasp like beautiful music in Yoongi’s ear.

“Fuck, she gets so tight around me when you spank her. She really is our perfect little slut.”

“Is that right, princess? Do you want to be the pack’s slut, let everyone use your special little cunt for themselves?” You closed your eyes and whimpered, embarrassed by how appealing that sounded. Yoongi’s grip dug into your hips, encouraging you to begin riding him. Hoseok seemed to be giving you a break to focus on the alpha, and so you gave your full attention fucking yourself on his cock. 

“Fuck, I’m not going to last much longer,” Yoongi grunted after a few minutes of you bouncing on him, chasing your own high. You yelped as Hoseok took that as his cue to lay the final spank across your backside, using your distraction to his advantage. You were nearly sobbing, desperate to cum with the alpha.

“I’ve been thinking sunshine, it’s going to be tough to keep the others away during your next heat. They’re all going to be fighting for their turn with you. Maybe we should work on getting your little asshole ready so you can take three of us at once?”

Hoseok’s finger ran from where you and Yoongi connected to lightly brush against the hole he’d just threatened; you shuddered, but didn’t respond to his suggestion, returning your focus to the feeling of Yoongi’s knot growing inside you, rocking against him.

“What do you think, baby?” 

“Please sir, can I cum?”

“Oh, so you do like that idea? You want a cock in every hole?” 

“Please, I really need to cum, sir!”

“Not until you answer my question.”

There was a moment’s hesitation, your eyes screwed shut tight as you weighed your options, until Yoongi’s knot filled you completely and you couldn’t take any more, nearly sobbing with need. The alpha groaned, pulling your hips tightly against his as he came.

“What’s it going to be, baby girl?”

“Yes!” you broke. “Yes, yes, I want you all to use me, I want to be your perfect little slut, please let me cum!”

“Good girl.” He pinched both of your nipples between his fingers and said “Cum for us, now.” You didn’t need to be told twice.

“Which orgasm was that?”

“Five, it was five,” you panted. You sat on Yoongi’s knot, exhausted and ready for a break— but you were out of luck. Hobi suddenly pressed the vibrating wand right against your oversensitive clit.

“It’s too much! It’s too much!” you screamed, weakly trying to push his hands away. 

“Do you want to use your safe word?” 

You shrieked again, but shook your head no.

“What color are you, jagiya?” Yoongi asked from under you. 

“G-g-green,” you sobbed. He smiled like the cat who’d caught the canary. 

“Hoba, hand me that wand. You get her arms out of my way.”

Hoseok quickly retrieved the belt from your robe. He pulled your arms behind you and forced each hand to grab the opposite forearm before he tied them together.

“Color?”

“Green.”

A hand roughly grabbed the hair at the nape of your neck, forcing your head back before Hobi’s mouth was on yours. His tongue licked into your mouth as his other hand reached between your legs, gathering up your wetness on his fingers. He wrapped them around his own length, using your slick as lubrication to stroke himself. Yoongi pressed the wand back against your clit, and you thrashed against Hobi’s grip in your hair, moaning into his mouth. Your eyes squeezed shut from the sensory overload; the only sounds beyond your screams were the humming of the vibrator and Hobi groaning and panting in your ear. Your hips were desperate to escape the overstimulation, but you were trapped between the two men.

“You keep wriggling like that and my knot may never go down,” Yoongi teased. It couldn’t have been more than a minute or two before you were begging for another orgasm.

“Hmm. What do you think, Yoongi?”

“I think she can beg prettier than that.”

“Ah! Please please please, can I cum, sir? Please, I’ve been so good, just wanna cum on your knot!”

“That’s more like it. Cum now, little slut.”

Your voice broke as you screamed, your orgasm hitting you like a ton of bricks.

Hoseok’s voice was rasping and primal as he neared his peak. “Fuck, what a good girl you are, making a mess all over alpha’s cock. So pretty like this, letting us do whatever we want with you, I fucking love it.” Seconds later, he was cumming on your chest, making a mess before you toppled forward, exhausted. While the beta caught his breath, Yoongi rolled over to lay you on your back and peck kisses all over your face. Once you’d calmed down, he was able to slowly pull out of you. They both let out soft groans as they watched Yoongi’s seed drip from your pussy, and lowered their heads to begin to clean you up. You were completely boneless and unable to resist as Hoseok’s tongue lapped at your upper thighs, while Yoongi’s mouth focused on your chest. The realization that they were licking up each other’s release, combined with the gentle stimulation, had you shuddering through one last small orgasm.

“How many was that, angel?”

“Seven. Please sir, I can’t do any more.”

“Okay, baby. We’re all done for now,” he soothed as he brushed your hair back from your face. Yoongi left the room to grab a warm washcloth, running it over your front and between your legs to clean whatever their tongues had missed.

“Do you want to cuddle?” Hobi asked. You nodded, throwing your arms around him and clinging tightly, relishing the skin-to-skin contact. Looking over your shoulder at Yoongi, you pouted until he got the hint and joined, spooning you.

Turning back to Hoseok, you fixed him with a hard stare. “Who are you and what have you done with my sunshine Hobi?” He threw his head back and laughed. 

“That was Jay,” Yoongi deadpanned. 

“Jay? Where did that come from?” 

“Well, the stage name I use when dancing is j-hope, which is where ‘Hobi’ came from.”

“Ohhhh, I always wondered that.” 

“And ‘Jay’ is what everyone calls my more… strict side, which is typically reserved for whipping dancers into shape, or—”

“—whipping us into shape,”  supplied Yoongi.

“A man containing multitudes,” you remarked before kissing him on the nose.

“Was that okay though, Noona?” he asked nervously. “Did I take it too far?”

“Yes! You were great about checking in. Don’t get me wrong, you definitely pushed me pretty close to my limit, but I liked it. I think it would be fun to spend some time with Jay again in the future.” 

“The feeling is mutual,” he winked.

Chapter Text

Namjoon entered Hobi’s room, smiling fondly at you sandwiched between his packmates. “Hi honey. It sounded like you had quite the time in here. How do you feel?”

“I think they broke me.”

Hobi and Yoongi reached over you to high-five.

“Jin-hyung made some dinner, how about you come eat?” 

“Yeah, okay. But um… can I have some clothes, please? Maybe another one of your really long shirts? Or a hoodie?”

He beamed at your request. “You can have anything you want, princess. Wait right here.”

“I don’t think I can move, anyway.” The culprits snickered, and you rolled your eyes before trying to gently smack them both. Namjoon returned a moment later with a hoodie that you immediately threw over your head. Suddenly, you were enveloped in his scent— he knew well enough to choose clothing he’d recently worn— and to his delight, you inhaled deeply before releasing a contented sigh. Before you had time to register it, Namjoon scooped you up bridal-style and carried you out of the room. You opened your mouth to tease him, but he interjected before you could. “You literally just told me you couldn’t move, so just enjoy being spoiled, okay?”

He sat you down gently in a dining chair in front of an array of dishes. Jin had outdone himself, all of the foods delicious but mild, and you appreciated the consideration for something that would sit well with all of the day's activities. Conversation was minimal but normal; you were clearly mentally and emotionally exhausted.

When you’d all finished eating, Yoongi and Hoseok began to clear the table, and Jin guided you into the living room to watch a movie. He plopped down onto the couch, patting the seat next to him. You moved to join him, but then hesitated, looking around the room.

“Wait one sec, I want to get my favorite blanket,” you told him before scurrying off to the study. You returned a moment later with it and looked around the room again. “Jin? Do you mind if I plug in those fairy lights we had on the other night?”

“Of course, princess. Are you feeling like you want to make a nest?”

You paused, a furrow in your brow. “I don’t really know. I just want to be cozy?” you said as Namjoon entered the room.

“Joon-ah, I think our sweet girl here wants to nest a bit. She already went and grabbed her favorite blanket and turned on the fairy lights, see?”

“Good work listening to your instincts, baby. Tell us what you need,” the pack alpha encouraged.

“Hmm. I guess I probably need some pillows and blankets that smell like you guys?”

“Let’s do it! You can start with our rooms. You’re welcome to take anything,” the beta invited.

You ended up raiding everyone’s bedrooms. Yoongi and Hoseok, who were still cleaning up from dinner, watched you shuffle back and forth past the kitchen doorway, arms full of linens. When the dishes were dried and countertops cleaned, they found you in the living room standing with your arms folded, staring at a pile of bedding and shirts.

“I feel ridiculous right now,” you said to the group. “What am I supposed to do with all of this? I don’t even know why I grabbed half of these things. I wish Jimin and Tae were here to help me,” you said sadly.

“How about we give them a call?” Jin offered, and you nodded enthusiastically. The moment the video call connected, there was a flurry of noises on the other side. “Yah! One at a time! Let me talk to Jungkook first.” There was the sound of a scuffle, muffled swearing, a door slamming, and finally, the young alpha’s voice.

“Hi hyung!” 

“Jungkook-ah, how is everything going over there?”

“It’s fine! Jimin and Tae have been a little all-over-the-place, but I’m just trying to keep them distracted and tired.”

“I’m sure it must be making them anxious to have a new omega packmate that they can’t attend to. What have you guys been up to?”

“We played some basketball, I taught them some boxing moves, and now that it’s dark out we’ve been gaming. They seem better when we’re busy.”

“Good work, Alpha.”

“Thanks, hyung! How is Noona?”

You peeked over Jin’s shoulder to look at the screen. “Hi, Kookie! I’m okay!”

“Hi Noona!” There was a sudden clattering on the other end of the line. Jungkook’s phone hit the floor before it was quickly recovered by Taehyung; Jimin popped up next to him a moment later.

“Noona! Are you okay? What’s going on?”

“Aish,” Jin muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Omegas, settle down. We’re calling because Noona is trying to nest for the first time, and she could use some advice. She’s already done a great job of collecting materials, but can you give her a little guidance on what to do with it all?”

“Baby’s first nest!”

“We’re so glad you called us!”

“Aw, this is so cute!”

“Okay, a couple questions first, Noona!” Jimin took charge. “Where are you wanting to nest, and do you want it for quiet solo time, snuggling, or sex?”

Your eyes grew wide at the line of questioning. “Uh, well, we were just getting ready to watch a movie in the living room, and I just wanted to make it cozy—”

“Got it! And do you want to spend the next wave of your heat in your nest?”

“Probably not? I don’t know when it’s coming, but if we’re all still out here I figured I’d leave the room, I don’t think everyone wants to watch—”

“Well you thought wrong!”

“Are you kidding me right now, Noona?”

“Of course it’s whatever you’re more comfortable with, sweetheart, but—”

“Would you really deprive us of that?!”

“Okay, okay!” you waved your hands in surrender to the men in the room. “I guess that answers your question, Jiminie.” The omega excitedly instructed you on where to find other materials he liked to use for nesting, including spill-resistant blankets as well as some interlocking foam mats—like what might be used for a gym space, or a child’s play area. The men in the room set to work locking the pieces together while you arranged the other materials. Jimin was right—your body immediately thanked you for the extra padding as you crawled around adjusting the pillows. 

“What do you think?” you flipped the camera around so the younger omegas could see the final product. 

“It’s perfect, Noona!”

“I wish we were there to nest with you!”

“Take good care of her, hyungs!”

When you’d finally been able to hang up from the maknaes, Jin gestured for you to join him where he sat on the floor, propped up by pillows and the front of the couch. 

“Come cuddle with me.” His legs were spread in a V-shape; he gestured for you to sit between them and pulled you back to lean against his chest. “I’ve been waiting all day to get some time with you, princess.” He wrapped his arms around you, hugging you tightly, and laid a big smooch on your cheek, earning a giggle. The other men settled onto the couches surrounding you, turning the lights down and flicking on an old animated favorite.

Halfway through the movie, they noticed you were starting to get a little agitated, fussing with your blanket and adjusting nearby pillows.

“You okay, sunshine?” Hobi asked.

“I’m fine, I’m just a little hot. Did someone turn the thermostat up?”

“No jagiya, I think it’s probably the next wave of your heat coming on.”

“Oh. Right.” 

“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” Jin whispered in your ear. “Just relax for me.” You settled back into your earlier position, and his hand slipped under the blanket to reach between your legs, his palm gently rubbing over your mound. Once he felt you begin to relax into his touch, his fingers pressed into your heat. The feeling of his long digits stroking your inner walls quickly had you slicking up, your hips grinding into Jin’s hand seeking more friction. He obliged, the heel of his hand rubbing your clit as he continued to finger you. You let out a breathy moan and Jin hummed in response. 

“Such pretty noises. It makes me so happy to hear them for myself instead of through the wall. Do you know how turned on I’ve been listening to you scream for the alphas?” His other hand slipped under your hoodie to massage your breasts. He gently pulled and twisted your nipples between his fingers, placing kisses along your jaw as he made you squirm. “And now it’s finally my turn. I want to hear all of your noises, your little gasps and breaths and moans.”

“Jin,” you whined, your arm reaching back so you could wind your fingers into his hair.

“Go on, hyung. Give her what she really wants,” Yoongi goaded.

After a quick peck to your jaw, Jin pulled Namjoon’s hoodie off of you. He laid it on the ground nearby in case you wanted it— which you did. After he instructed you to roll onto your back, you grabbed at the hoodie to pull it under your head like a pillow, burying your nose in it for a moment while Jin stripped. Namjoon smiled as he watched this unfold, content to be on the sidelines, but pleased to see you still sought him out in that way.

You may have been in heat, but Jin was determined to seduce you anyway. His lush lips took their time exploring your body, planting kisses from your ankles all the way to your mouth. Unlike the sweet kisses from the night you’d joined the pack, these were passionate and deeply romantic. He kissed and lapped at your neck as his fingers returned to your entrance with light, teasing touches.

“You’re so beautiful, Noona. I can’t imagine our pack without you now, our perfect girl.”

His mouth moved to your breasts next, drawing each of your nipples into his mouth in turn. When he was satisfied with his work, his palms returned to your inner thighs, guiding your legs apart for him and putting you on full display for the other men in the room.

“So pretty,” he muttered, stroking a finger through your folds.

“Fuck, how did we get this lucky?” Hobi commented. Namjoon sat beside him, his elbows resting on his knees for a better view. His chin rested on one of his hands and his fingers obscured his mouth and nose, highlighting his dragon-like eyes that watched you intently. Yoongi had poured himself some whiskey, and was lounging with one arm across the back of the couch as he sipped. You threw an arm over your face, flushed with embarrassment under their gaze. 

“You don’t need to hide from us, baby,” Namjoon’s low voice encouraged quietly. “You want Jin-hyung’s cock?” You nodded and grabbed at the beta’s broad shoulders, quietly begging please. Jin slid his length through your wetness a few times, the gentle friction making you even more desperate for him. When he finally entered you, you breathed a sigh of relief. Jin’s body hovered closely over yours, relishing the skin-to-skin contact as his hips moved. Namjoon was observing as Jin rocked against you, studying your body and making a mental note of every reaction. They could all hear the shift in your breathing as your orgasm approached, saw the way your back arched and you gripped the blankets beneath you. When Jin brought his hand to caress your face, you took his thumb into your mouth. 

“Sweet girl, do you want something to suck on?” 

You nodded before releasing him, and looked to Hoseok. “Want both my betas. Please, Hobi?”

“How can I say no when you ask so sweetly?”

Your eyes flickered over to Namjoon. “Is that okay, Alpha?” 

“Of course, baby. I already told you— you can have anything you want.”

Jin moved to sit on the couch, his knees spreading for you to crawl between them, while Hobi moved to kneel behind you. You looked over your shoulder to smile at him, and he leaned forward to kiss you sweetly before entering you. Turning back to Jin, your attention was redirected to his cock standing proudly in front of you. 

Jin’s fingers ran through your hair as you licked and sucked him, praising you all the time, while Hobi continued grinding into you from behind. His pace was measured; after putting you through the wringer earlier in the afternoon, he didn’t want to force you to choke on Jin’s cock. Someone had turned the movie off, and the room was silent but for the sounds of you being filled by both betas and the heavy breaths and muttered swearing from your packmates.

“Fuck, who would have guessed Noona would be such a greedy little omega?” Yoongi mused. “It suits you, jagiya.” Conspiratorially, he turned to Namjoon and added, “You know, Hobi offered to train her ass so she can take three of us at once. She loved the idea so much she had to beg us to let her cum.” Your eyes shot daggers at Yoongi, and you raised a middle finger to get your point across. 

“Don't mind him princess, he’s just teasing,” Jin reassured you. “You’re a perfect omega, so good at asking for what you need. Ahh, and so good at that,” he added as you sucked his tip. “I’m not going to last much longer.”

You doubled your efforts, taking him as far as your throat would allow, your hands gently squeezing his balls. Jin was vocal as his orgasm approached, and you swallowed around him, determined not to let any of his cum spill. Your gaze drifted to the rise and fall of his heaving chest as he relaxed and you licked him clean. 

“Thank you for that, sweet girl. You did great.”

“You okay if I pick up the pace now, baby?” Hobi asked from behind you. You nodded and draped yourself over Jin’s lap, finding a comfortable position as the eldest continued to play with your hair. Hoseok’s hips snapped against yours, the impact making you quietly squeak. Your back arched, encouraging his thrusts to go deeper. His grip on your hips was bruising as he pounded into you, and small breaths and moans were forced from you with each trust. As the pressure built, your fingers began to claw into the fabric of the couch. One arm extended across the cushion toward Namjoon, whose fingers intertwined with yours. Hobi’s grip shifted, a hand following the crease of your hip to reach between your legs and rub at your clit roughly. You whined, so close to the edge but not quite able to reach it. 

“You’re doing so good,” the pack alpha encouraged. “What do you need, baby? Just a little more?” You nodded with a whimper, eyes shut tight. 

Yoongi moved to kneel beside you on the floor and directed Hobi to move his hand from your clit. The absence of that stimulation made you sigh in frustration, but only for a moment. Yoongi used one hand to part you further, exposing your clit, before he laid a stinging slap against it that had you crying out. A few more quick slaps to your pussy and you were coming hard around Hobi, whose climax wasn’t far behind. Yoongi’s hand continued to rub against you as you came, extending the euphoric feeling until you were shaking. 

Hoseok’s spent body finally draped over your back and he buried his nose in your neck, inhaling deeply as he tried to steady his breaths. Jin’s fingers combed through your hair in soothing strokes, while Namjoon’s hand still held yours, his thumb tracing gentle circles on your knuckles. The gentle attention and the exhaustion from the day gave your eyes a sleepy, unfocused look, and you sighed contentedly. Hobi kissed down your spine as he pulled away from you, and Jin insisted you climb into his lap for a cuddle. You were more than happy to oblige. 

“How are you feeling about all of this, Noona?” he asked softly against your hair.

You were quiet for a moment. “It’s still a little weird for me,” you admitted. “I know the heat dynamic is something you guys are used to, but… I’ve had a very… human sexual history. There’s some more… judgmental conditioning I think I’m working through.”

Namjoon brought your wrist to his nose, his brow furrowing before placing a kiss there. He made eye contact with Jin, an unspoken communication happening between them before the elder continued to address you.

“Noona, I need you to understand something important. Every one of us thinks you are an incredibly strong, intelligent woman. We also happen to think you are ridiculously sexy and are very enthusiastic about the opportunity to bone you. I hope our performance was satisfactory and you will consider our services in the future.” You started laughing. “I’m serious! I know society places a lot of stupid judgments and expectations on women, but you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone here is a consenting adult and willing to share—we just want you to be happy and to make you feel good. Right guys?”

A chorus of agreement had you blushing.

“I hope you know your designation doesn’t change how we think about you,” Yoongi added. “Just means we get to have a little extra fun a few times a year. Okay?”

“Okay,” you replied.

Namjoon, who had remained silent throughout this exchange, gave you a soft, dimpled smile. “I’m sure you want a few minutes alone to decompress. How does a nice, relaxing bath sound while we get set up for bed out here?”

Chapter Text

When you padded back into the living room after your bath, the boys had changed into their pajamas and arranged themselves in your nest, leaving an empty space for you in the middle. Jin and Hobi both demanded goodnight kisses before you settled between the two alphas. 

“All set?” Namjoon asked.

“Yep, I have everything I need here.” You kissed him softly, lingering a few extra moments. “Goodnight, Joonie.”

“Goodnight, sweetheart.”

Namjoon’s arm wrapped around your waist as you turned to lay on your side, facing Yoongi. His eyes were closed and his breaths were deep and even; you thought he was already asleep, until he tapped a long finger to his pursed lips. Breathing out a chuckle, you leaned forward to meet them.

“Night, jagiya,” he mumbled. Eyes still shut, his hand found yours, and you soon fell asleep with your fingers intertwined.

Namjoon had been having the best dream, and woke up to an even better reality. It was the middle of the night still; everyone was sound asleep, except for his Luna. Your ass was pressed firmly against him, and he noticed one of your hands moving between your thighs. Yoongi was still holding the other. He could smell that you were in another heat wave, but the scent was also riddled with frustration; he wondered how long you’d been trying to take care of it yourself.

“Shhh, baby, I’ve got you,” he whispered in your ear, startling you only for a moment before you immediately relaxed against him, clearly relieved for the help. 

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, “I was trying to not wake anyone up.”

“I feel confident speaking for everyone when I say, you can always wake us up for this.” His hand replaced yours to find that you were soaked. He slid two fingers into you with ease, working you open only for a minute or two before you were panting and gripping his wrist. “That feel better, honey?” You nodded fervently. “Smart of you to wear a nightgown tonight. And no panties? Such a good little omega,” he cooed, earning a gasp before he slowly pressed into you. The breathy moans that escaped from your lips as he gently fucked you had surely woken his packmates up; but they gave Namjoon the courtesy of pretending to sleep so he could have this time with you before you drifted off again, satisfied and full on his knot.

By late morning, you felt much more even-keeled and hadn’t had a wave since waking Namjoon. The five of you were all sitting in the living room, in various stages of snacking while you read or scrolled through your phones. Though you tried to assure them that they could leave you alone and go do their own things, that you would alert them when you started to feel squirmy again, they insisted on staying close. You didn’t fight anyone too hard on it — but having never been doted on like this before, you were sure it was spoiling you. Namjoon hardly left your side if he didn’t have to (he’d nearly followed you into the bathroom earlier) and he was showering you in as much affection as you would allow. When you caught him nosing at your neck for the umpteenth time, you asked, “Is my smell different now?”

“Mhm,” he responded, his face still buried there. “Not really different I guess, just more. There’s notes I couldn’t pick up on before.” He pulled away to smile at you. “Can you smell our scents now?”

“Yeah,” you confirmed, nuzzling up to him. “It’s hard to describe though, I think I’ll need some practice on identifying scents…”

“Scent is closely tied to memory, so maybe just start by seeing if it reminds you of anything, even if it's a vague feeling or place.”

You nodded, trying to clear your mind before inhaling deeply. You spent a few quiet moments like this; everyone else had set aside whatever they were doing to observe, but let you take your time. “You smell like a wet forest.”

Yoongi snorted, but Hobi encouraged you. “Yeah, that’s a good start, Noona! Keep going!”

“The tree smell is fresh, like after a summer rain. But there’s also something kinda… earthy?” You switched to the other side of his neck, trying to figure out the last notes. “But I also think I smell… linens? Not quite fresh laundry, but it reminds me of a warm blanket. And maybe… coffee?”

Jin choked on the slice of mango he was eating.

“You good, bro?”

He gave you a thumbs up and a wave to continue your conversation.

“What do I smell like to you?” you asked Namjoon.

Without missing a beat, he replied, “Like freshly ground coffee beans with a hint of vanilla and hazelnut. And also— you know that really soft and comforting smell books have? You smell like reading a book at our favorite coffee shop. It’s a little bit addicting.”

Hobi made a small “ha!” noise, and you raised your head to look at him in confusion. Yoongi stood off to the side, a proud smirk on his face. Namjoon scowled at the others, but before you could question any of them, Hobi was already guiltily shuffling out of the room, Jin and Yoongi close behind.

“Your scent makes me feel really calm,” you admitted quietly. “Would it be okay if we maybe… cuddled for a little bit?”

“Of course, Noona,” Namjoon grinned as you shifted to straddle him, tucking your face into the crook of his neck. He held you close, gently rubbing your back as you relaxed into him. After a few minutes in this position, you both felt the other’s body reacting to the closeness. Your hips pressed more firmly into his, and you began leaving gentle kisses on the soft skin of his neck. You soon settled on a spot of his collarbone and the kisses escalated to little nips, his skin reddening under your teeth. As you worked on darkening the bruise there, the little voice in your head returned. Mine, want to make him mine forever.

Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck. 

If you kept this up, Namjoon was going to lose it. Your first heat had simultaneously been the most wonderful and torturous event of his life; that internal conflict was only exacerbated by you describing his scent. It confirmed what he’d suspected all along, and he wanted to mark you more than ever. And here you were, on his lap, basically trying to mark him. You said you didn’t want to be bitten during your heat, and god dammit, he was going to respect that, even if it meant calling in reinforcements when he really, really didn’t want to.

“Yoongi-hyung!” he called. The smaller alpha appeared a moment later, distracting you from your mission.

“What’s up?”

“I think our princess needs another knot. You want a turn?” 

Guilt panged in Namjoon’s chest as a look of rejection flitted across your face momentarily; however, you got over it pretty quickly when Yoongi responded, “Oh yeah? Come here, beautiful. I’ll give you a knot, right after you sit on my face.” 

The rest of the afternoon passed by without incident. You napped; you read your book; Jin ordered takeout from your favorite restaurant for dinner; you took a hot shower, giving your hair a much-needed wash; and finally, Hobi set up a little spa night, with sheet masks and peppermint tea. By the time everyone was ready to go to bed, you were feeling confident that your first heat was officially over — the aftermath leaving you completely physically and emotionally exhausted. When you returned from brushing your teeth to the study, you found Namjoon on the bed, leaning back against the headboard.

“Is this okay?” he asked nervously. “I was worried you wouldn’t want to be alone, I know it’s been an overwhelming few days, but I can leave—”

“Stay. You’re right, I don’t want to be alone.” Rain pattered against the window as you slid under the covers next to his warm body.

“What’s on your mind?”

You bit your lip, still afraid to be open and honest in front of this wonderful and kind man who had done nothing to deserve your apprehension. As if he could hear your thoughts, he said, “You can talk to me, sweetheart.” You rolled to your side to face him, and he mirrored you.

“I just — I’ve spent so long thinking I was meant to be a certain way, and that I’d failed somehow. And now… I just started to make peace with myself, and my world gets turned upside down. It makes me feel… exposed and vulnerable.”

He nodded before bringing a hand to cup your cheek, and you closed your eyes and leaned into his touch. “I know it’ll take some time to process and adjust, but being vulnerable is the most courageous thing we can do, Noona. I’m really proud of you.” His thumb continued to gently stroke your cheek. Your throat was tight with emotion and tears threatened the corners of your eyes. You closed them tightly, trying to fight them off, and nodded in response.

“That’s not the only thing upsetting you, is it?”

“No,” you admitted. “What if all of this—” your voice broke as the tears escaped your lashes. “...What if my wolf only presented because of what Hyugo did to me?” 

He sighed, pressed a kiss to your head and then was quiet for a moment before he replied.

“I can only imagine how confused you must be, and I wish I could give you those answers. I’ll do anything I can to help you figure this out. I promise. But until then, let’s try to focus on the good — you’ve wanted to find this part of yourself for so long, and now you have.” Namjoon pulled you close, and you buried your face in his chest. As he rubbed your back, you felt his breath in your hair as he softly said, “It’s okay, honey. I’ve got you, you’re safe.” He didn’t rush you, didn’t try to offer platitudes or shush you. Namjoon just let you cry, his thumbs wiping away your tears as you did. When you’d exhausted yourself, his lips gently kissed away the rivulets from your cheeks. It felt good to let it all out, to voice the worry to him; but you’d withheld the greater fear, knowing it would hurt Namjoon to hear it. What if Hyugo’s the only reason I’m a member of this pack now? The thought made you queasy.

You moved to place your hand on his chest, wanting to ground yourself to his heartbeat. When your palm laid flat against him, the same electrical tingling you felt the night you met was there. This time, it was like a low hum, resonating all the way into your chest. Namjoon inhaled sharply in response. He feels it, too, you thought, though neither of you said a word. A hand enclosed yours, holding you to his heartbeat; the other hand mirrored you, his warm palm gently laid above your breast, completing the circuit.

Your feelings for Namjoon had been growing since the moment you’d met, and now they overwhelmed you completely. It felt like he was under your skin; the frequency like a tether connecting you. His expression shifted as he studied you, a look of concern in his eyes. When his gaze met yours, you blinked and looked away, intimidated by the feeling he could see right through you.

“Noona. Look at me.” When you hesitated, his thumb and index finger guided your chin up in compliance. “We have wanted you in this pack basically since the moment we met. Don’t you ever doubt that for a second. Yes, having you staying here after the hospital may have made things move a little faster, but we would have landed in the same place eventually. Please believe that.”

“How did you—”

“—I know there must be a million other things running through that incredible mind of yours. But it’s time for you to rest. Just try to be here, with me, for now. Everything else can wait.”

“Thank you, Namjoon,” you whispered, pressing your forehead to his as your eyelids grew heavy.

As you drifted off, you finally admitted to yourself that Namjoon had unlocked feelings you’d denied yourself for years, dreams that had long been buried. They now rose to the surface and swelled forward like a rising tide. And you were ready to drown.

Chapter Text

Waking next to Namjoon felt like the most natural thing in the world. Although, “next to” was maybe not the most accurate description of your current position. Sometime in the night, your leg had been flung across his hips, your arm wrapped tightly around his ribs. You probably looked like a koala bear in a tree, the way you were clinging to him. Namjoon had one arm cradling your shoulders, his thumb drawing lazy circles on your skin. When you looked up, you saw that he was already awake, scrolling through his phone. Your voice was still riddled with sleep as you apologized for holding him hostage; he just squeezed you closer.

“You can cuddle me any time, Noona.” You rolled off of him, stretching your arms and legs long and making note of the areas that were sore from recent activities. As you moved to sit on the edge of the bed, you inhaled sharply in discomfort.

“Sweetheart? What’s wrong?”

“I’m just… a little sore. Down there.”

“Ah, yeah, I guess that shouldn’t be surprising. You should probably rest as much as possible today. Take your time getting up, and I’ll see if Jin-hyung can make us some breakfast,” he suggested.

After doing your normal morning routine after a very abnormal few days, you walked into the kitchen to be greeted by Yoongi handing you a cup of coffee. Jin pulled your chair out for you to sit across from Hobi, Namjoon at your side.

“Welcome back. How are you feeling?” Yoongi asked.

“Better. More like myself.” 

“Except for your poor, abused pussy, I hear,” Jin quipped, handing you a bag of frozen peas as you turned to glare at Namjoon.

“That’s not how I said it! They just… asked how you were feeling and I said you might need some ice.”

“Well, you weren’t wrong,” you admitted as you wrapped the peas in a kitchen towel before placing it between your legs.

“All things considered, that was a pretty quick heat.”

“It seems your theory had some merit,” you said to Hobi, who grinned wickedly.

“Please don’t forget to leave us a review. We strive for excellence in this pack,” joked the eldest.

“Oh, definitely a solid five stars, would recommend,” you laughed. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m still feeling a little weird about the whole thing, but in a way, it was relaxing.”

“How so?” asked Namjoon.

“My stream of consciousness is always on, and it overlaps with ten different thoughts at once. It’s never quiet in my mind. So it was refreshing to be able to just shut off my thoughts and let my body take the lead. Or more accurately, have you all do the thinking for me.”

“So for future reference, you would like for us to fuck you stupid,” Yoongi said bluntly.

“I mean. That’s one way to put it.”

“Noted.”

“Well, if your wolf presenting comes with all the usual benefits, you should be all healed up by the end of the day, I’d imagine,” Jin said. “Maybe just take it easy until then?”

“Yeah, I don’t have anything planned for today, except I want to get in touch with my friend Sooyeon. Joon, you met her at the hospital — I think she could help me figure out why this is happening now.”

“We support whatever you need to do to help you process, sweetheart.”

As Jin distributed breakfast plates, a thought suddenly crossed your mind.

“Does anyone else think it’s weird the maknaes haven’t been blowing up my phone? The way they acted when we called, I figured they’d be up my ass for updates.”

Hobi erupted into his boisterous laugh you loved so much.

Yoongi smirked. “Jin-hyung threatened them with bodily harm if they didn’t give you some peace and quiet.”

“So they’ve been blowing up my phone instead,” Hobi added.

The eldest’s ears turned pink. “I just didn’t want them to disturb you, I figured you were overwhelmed enough already.”

Looking at the time, you knew Sooyeon was probably in class at the moment, but you sent her a text anyway; though you opted to leave out any of the key details, feeling it was better to explain in person. Despite the pack’s suggestions that you rest, you wanted to keep yourself busy until she replied. So, after breakfast you insisted on helping them clean and air out the house so the maknaes could return without potentially triggering another heat. The five of you opened all the windows for ventilation and began to cycle all the sheets and blankets you’d used through the laundry. Just when you’d finished deconstructing your nest, your phone vibrated with Sooyeon’s response.

“Hey, Yoongi? Can I ask you for a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Will you go with me to see Sooyeon? She wants to run some tests and ask me some follow-up questions. Trying to explain everything that’s happened sounds exhausting, and I could use the support.” Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed Namjoon’s jaw tense, but he didn’t look your way.

“No problem. I’ll drive,” Yoongi responded.

“Great, I’ll go get changed.”

As you reentered the room, you saw Namjoon speaking to Yoongi in low tones, the tension in his body evident.

“Is everything okay?”

“All good,” the pack alpha replied. “I hope Sooyeon can help. Be safe.”

You raised a brow at the two of them but let it go; whatever it was, it seemed private.

Sooyeon was waiting for you when you arrived at her office. She greeted you with a tight hug, pulling back to examine you closely. 

“How are you doing, really?”

“I’m tired,” you admitted. “But overall? Things are… really good, if not a little messy.”

“Let’s see if we can untangle any knots then, shall we? What’s been going on? Oh! And who’s this?”

“I guess this is as good a place as any to start — this is Min Yoongi, my… packmate.” The alpha stood a little taller, his chest puffing up with pride.

Sooyeon shrieked in surprise, pulled you back into a bone-crushing hug, and exclaimed, “Okay, we have a lot to catch up on!” After a few more moments of hugging, jumping up and down, and congratulating, she started prying for the information she was really after. 

“So… does this pack include your handsome guard dog from the hospital?”

“I think you mean her handsome soulmate.” 

“Ignore him, Sooyeon.” 

“No I will not! Yoongi-ssi, I would love to hear what you have to say about this situation.” 

“You two can gossip later. Can we refocus on why we came in the first place?”

“And here I thought you just missed me.”

Yoongi helped explain the entire series of events that happened since Sooyeon saw you last — including your symptoms both while hospitalized and as you’d settled in at the pack house. She pressed for details, down to the timing of each symptom’s appearance and duration (she was especially curious about the headache that preceded your heat). Sooyeon took copious notes, as well as fresh scans of your brain and a blood sample. When she laid down her notebook after nearly two hours of interrogation and testing, you were completely exhausted.

“I should have all the information I need to try and identify a trigger, but do you mind if I consult with a colleague as well? She’s more equipped in the therapeutic side of things, so she might have a more nuanced perspective.”

“Yeah, of course. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. As a friend, I’m always happy to help — and as an academic, I am fascinated.”

“If that’s settled now,” Yoongi interjected, “I’d also love to get your professional opinion on something, Sooyeon-ssi.”

“Fire away.”

“You saw Noona here and Namjoon — her guard dog, as you so eloquently put it — together when she was in the hospital, correct?”

“What are you—”

“I did.”

“Would you agree with our pack’s observation that the two of them are madly in love with each other?”

“—hey!”

“I didn’t get to spend a ton of time in their mutual company, but between what I saw that day and a conversation I had with the lady in question a few days prior, I can certainly attest to them being smitten.”

“Traitor!”

“What if I told you we recently discovered their scents are unique to one another?”

Sooyeon’s eyebrows shot up, her jaw dropping slightly as she looked from Yoongi to you.

“Wait, wait. Time out,” you cut in. “What do we smell like to you, then?”

“Namjoon smells like pine or cedar, depending on who you ask. Just the trees, though — we don’t pick up anything more complex, like you do. And you only really smell like vanilla beans to us. You know what it means that you each have unique scents to each other, don’t you?” his expression turned annoyingly smug. Of course I know what it means, you thought, though you weren’t ready to name it yet. If it were true, it would explain the intense feelings you’d had since you presented. But it also upset you to think that Namjoon had been experiencing those feelings, alone, for months. For maybe the first time since you’d known her, your friend appeared speechless.

“Sooyeon-ssi, I’d also love your personal opinion on something, if you’re open to it.” She nodded in reply. 

“Do you think our friend here would make a good Luna?”

Sooyeon’s expression toward you softened in a way that made your heart ache. “I think she would be the best Luna,” she replied quietly.

Feeling defensive, you crossed your arms. “Yeah, because being in the middle of an identity crisis is a great time to step into a leadership position.”

“You see the negativity I’ve been having to put up with, Sooyeon-ssi?”

“Why do you feel like you’re in an identity crisis?”

“All my life I was told I was going to be an alpha, and I had to be strong and decisive and independent. And now there’s this other side of me that’s like… needy and soft and vulnerable, and it makes me feel… weak. Which I know isn’t true or fair to omegas in general, but my pack was so fucked up about designations that I can’t shake it. I don’t know how to reconcile these qualities that feel so polar opposite. How can I be a part of a pack, be a leader in a pack, when I don’t even know myself?”

Sooyeon seemed to consider this for a moment before answering. “When we’re young, the world feels very black and white. We believe we can be either this or that, but not both. The truth is, we all fall somewhere in the middle. Personality traits — and designation traits — are all a spectrum and we adapt to different situations. This part of you, your omega seeking love and protection, has always been there. You can be strong and have support.” 

“Jagiya,” Yoongi began, “this expectation you’ve held yourself to, of being this… invincible alpha female — was it something you really wanted? Or was it just what you thought you had to be?”

“I like being strong, and independent,” you considered. “I like being able to live the way I want to live, without having to answer to anybody. But… it can be really exhausting carrying everything alone.”

“Being a leader doesn’t mean you have all the answers or that you have to go it alone,” Sooyeon countered. 

“And it’s okay to enjoy being taken care of,” your packmate added.

“I can’t believe you two are ganging up on me like this.”

“We just want what’s best for you, jagiya.” They both looked at you fondly, Sooyeon reaching out to rub your arm in a show of support before Yoongi ruined the moment. “Sooyeon-ssi, you should have seen the way she and Namjoon went absolutely feral over each other during her heat—”

“Yoongi!” you screeched as Sooyeon burst into a fit of giggles. “That’s it, we’re leaving.”

“That may be for the best — I don’t want to bear witness to whatever violence you’re about to be subjected to, Yoongi-ssi,” Sooyeon laughed before turning to you. “I’ll call you as soon as I have anything. Enjoy a lovely evening with your pack!”

You said your goodbyes and left Sooyeon in her office.

“You’re taking me to get tteokbokki.”

“Why am I doing that?”

“For trying to meddle in my love life.”

“Oh, so you’re finally admitting you do love Namjoon, then?”

“Shut up.”

The two of you walked the rest of the way to the car in silence; it wasn’t until you slid into the passenger seat and Yoongi behind the wheel that you spoke again. “Thanks for helping me through that conversation, even though you decided to be a menace. You’re a good friend.”

“Don’t mention it, jagiya.”

You sat in a comfortable silence for a moment as you reflected on the conversation.

“Yoongi?” 

“What?”

“I think you’re actually my best friend.”

“Hajima,” he complained at the sudden sentimental turn.

“I mean it.”

“Knock it off.”

“I’m going to get us matching BFF necklaces. Best friends forever!”

“Shut up,” he laughed, shoving your arm playfully.

“I love you, Yoongi!”

“You’re so annoying!”

“Yoongi, marry me!”

“Leave me alone!”

“Never! We’re packmates now, you’re stuck with me. Now, take me to tteokbokki!”

Chapter Text

Yoongi held the front door open when you arrived back home and Namjoon was the first to greet you. His large frame engulfed you in a hug, but when you began to pull away, he didn’t budge; instead, he tipped his head to scent you.

“How did it go?” his voice was muffled against your neck.

Well, I had to relive all my worst traumas, so I’m completely and utterly emotionally exhausted, but otherwise, super fun, you thought. Instead you replied, “Sooyeon is one of the best in her field. If anyone can help me figure things out, it’s her. It’ll be worth it.”

He pulled back to look at you intently, almost as if he knew you were trying to put on a brave face, but played along anyway. “Good. Jin-hyung has instructed that you are not allowed to help with dinner tonight and that your only job is to rest and relax.” Hobi suddenly appeared from the kitchen with a glass of wine in his hand, which he extended in offering.

“Well, if you insist…” The beta laughed as you headed toward the living room, but you stopped when you heard low, tense voices behind you.

“What took so long?”

“We went to get tteokbokki.”

“Are you serious right now? You two were supposed to come straight home.”

Yoongi glowered at the reprimand. “After three hours of rehashing her trauma and being poked and prodded, Noona deserved a treat. I understand why you’re anxious, but—”

“I don’t,” you interrupted. “Why were you stressed about us being out?”

“It’s nothing,” Namjoon replied a little too quickly. “I was just worried you guys wouldn’t be back before the maknaes. They’re really excited to see you and they would have been insufferable if you weren’t home yet. Come on,” he said as he put his arm around your shoulders, directing you into the living room. “I want to make sure you relax a bit before you get bombarded by the pups.”

His excuse was flimsy at best, but you didn’t have the energy to try and extract additional information from him—you could just corner Yoongi later for answers. Namjoon’s anxiety felt contagious, though; while you allowed yourself to be guided to the couch, claiming your favorite corner of the sectional and snuggling up to Hobi, you still felt a pull to constantly look back at the pack alpha to make sure he was okay. Yoongi stole a spot next to you and Hobi and patted his lap for you to lay your legs across him. Once you were settled, he began to gently squeeze your calves, ankles, and socked feet.

“What did I do to deserve being spoiled like this?”

“You’ve had a long day, jagiya. We’re just helping you recharge your batteries.”

“Not that we really need an excuse,” Hobi added. “Maybe we just enjoy taking care of our princess.” When you shot him a skeptical look, he continued, “Seeing any one of my pack members happy makes me happy. We’re a family.”

“Plus, nothing smells better than a happy omega,” Yoongi added.

Hobi tilted his head as if listening to something, then quickly grabbed the wine glass from your hand, setting it as far from you as possible.

“Hey! I’m still drinking that!”

“Trust me on this one—”

The front door slammed open, and in seconds you were dogpiled by three very excited packmates.

“NOONAAAAAA!” The maknaes hollered, all clamoring to scent you and hug you.

“Don’t break her, you ingrates!” Jin cried from the kitchen doorway. “We just got her healed up!”

“I can’t believe it you’re an—”

“I’m so excited to nest together and—”

“—omega like me and Jiminie—”

“I can’t wait to see you shift—”

“—we can figure out how to coordinate the timing of our next heats, and—”

“—I bet your wolf is beautiful like you, Noona—”

“You must have been so confused—”

“—we can run around in the woods when we go to the cabin!”

“—I wish we could have been here to help!”

“—I can’t believe I still haven’t had a kiss from you and the hyungs got to—”

“ Guys! Please, for the love of god, settle down,” you begged.

“Sorry Luna,” they replied in unison. Before you had time to scold them further, Taehyung buried his nose in your neck, and you giggled when his hair tickled your skin. Jimin didn’t miss a beat before he was at your other side, poking his fingers into your ribs and laughing as you curled in on yourself in a futile attempt to escape. Ever since the night you’d come over to play Mario Kart, it seemed to be the youngests’ favorite shenanigan to tickle you until you were all rolling around on the floor, screaming. The elder members of the pack looked on fondly (but were also ready to intervene if you really needed it).

After the tickle fight subsided and the pups each had a chance to scent you, they demanded a recap of what they’d missed. To your chagrin, Hobi and Yoongi chimed in to provide the details they were apparently most interested in; namely, what a good girl you were during your heat. As they cooed about how you were the perfect omega, you tried to look toward the pack alpha for a way out of this conversation, but his gaze was fixed on the pillow he’d set on his lap.

“Aw, I’m so bummed we missed our turn—I bet Noona is such a cute omega! I can’t wait to see you all needy like that, I’m gonna—”

“I can— and will— kick your ass, Jungkook. Don’t test me.”

Jimin beamed. “Our next heat is going to be so. much. fun.”

Unsurprisingly, for the remainder of the evening you could barely move without a maknae being glued to your side. What was surprising was how much you enjoyed the invasion of personal space. You found you were nearly as clingy, fussing over Taehyung’s tired eyes, checking to make sure Jungkook had enough to eat at dinner, and that Jimin was warm enough while you all watched a movie after. You even agreed when they asked to sleep in the study with you. Since your heat, you were finding less and less desire to sleep alone, anyway.

“Careful, or they’ll walk all over you, Noona,” Jin scolded.

“It’s just for tonight, and only because they’ve been gone.”

That night, you ended up snuggled between the two omegas (due to lack of space, Jungkook had begrudgingly been kicked to the floor). 

"Jimin, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Noona."

"Are we... okay?"

"Why wouldn't we be?"

"I mean... Yoongi's your mate, but he and I—"

Your thought was cut off by giggles from all three boys. "Of course we're okay. I know it's new to you, but it is so not a big deal. And before you second-guess, we are always honest and clear in our communication when it comes to sex. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

"Okay, I believe you. Thanks, Minnie. I'm still getting used to living this dynamic instead of being on the outside."

"As your fellow omegas, I hope you feel comfortable asking me and Taetae anything! And anyway, if I'm jealous of anyone, it's Yoongi. He knows I've been dying to get my hands on you!"

The next day, the pack was largely back to their regular schedule. Your goal was to return to work the following week, so to prepare, you spent the morning catching up on emails and meeting virtually with your Teaching Assistant and Department Head. After a late lunch, you made your way over to your apartment. It’d been abandoned since you were attacked, but you were long overdue for a visit to collect additional clothes and other essentials—not to mention to water your poor plants, which had almost certainly dried to a crisp by now.

But when you entered your former home, you were surprised to discover that wasn’t the case at all—your plants looked as healthy as ever, and checking the soil revealed they’d been watered somewhat recently. In the kitchen, the drying rack contained breakfast dishes from your last morning there, which you knew you hadn’t washed, and the fridge was cleared of any perishable items that would have rotted by now. You knew a few of the guys had been here to grab a few things while you were in the hospital, but there was only one person who would have known the proper way to water your plants.

This act of kindness, seemingly small, shone a spotlight on all the things you’d been feeling for Namjoon. The intensity had been growing over time—from lust to like, and at some point, to love. What it was now was foreign to you, but it was all-consuming. Memories flashed from your heat, the possessive way you felt when you knew he was near. And since then, the way you sought him out anytime he was in the room, how you seemed to be increasingly attuned to each other’s feelings, how you immediately felt calmer in his presence. Not to mention whatever that magnetic, vibration feeling is. 

You were so lost in your thoughts that you nearly missed your phone ringing.

“Are you sure?” You’d spent the last 30 minutes on the phone with Sooyeon, going over every piece of information she and her colleague had analyzed, and their findings were finally sinking in.

“Like I said, there is an element of guesswork involved, but we’re confident in our hypothesis.”

There were a few beats of silence while she let you finish processing. “I really can’t thank you enough, Sooyeon. For always being so understanding and helping me understand myself. It means everything.”

“You don’t need to keep thanking me, babe. This is just what friends do for each other. And I think you know what you need to do next.”

“Yeah. It’s long overdue.”

“No shit.”

“Wish me luck?”

“You don’t need it.”

Before you could talk yourself out of it, you pulled a favorite outfit from your closet, changed, and rushed into the bathroom to brush your teeth and hurriedly apply a little makeup. The art gallery would be closing soon, and you wanted to catch Namjoon before he left. Minutes later, with your shoes on and bag over your shoulder, you were ready to go—but temporarily frozen in the entryway. White knuckles gripped the door handle in hesitation, before you took a deep breath, swinging it open and heading straight to your soulmate.

Chapter Text

“I’m sorry ma’am, but we’re about to close for the evening.”

“I’m actually here to see Kim Namjoon, he’s— I’m, uh, one of his packmates. Is that okay?”

“Ah, of course, dear!” she said with a gentle smile. “Why don’t you wait in the main exhibit while I go fetch him?”

“Thank you.”

The gallery was a bright, open space. Too anxious to stand still, you meandered around the exhibit admiring the shapes and colors, until you heard familiar footsteps on the concrete floor.

“Noona? What are you doing here?” Namjoon appeared like he was ready to head home, with his backpack slung over his shoulder and jacket in hand. He dropped both items on a nearby bench as he took long, hurried strides to get to you. 

There he is. Namjoon, whose face lit up every time you walked into a room. Namjoon, steady and loyal and kind and unwavering in his love. Namjoon, whose dimples you could fill and use as a swimming pool. Namjoon, who made you feel brilliant and worthy and sexy and playful all at the same time. Namjoon, who had been more patient than you could ever manage. Namjoon, your soulmate.

Be brave.

“Noona? Is everything okay?” With a start, you realized you’d been lost in staring at his face. Namjoon now stood very close and seemed to be anxiously examining you for any distress or injuries.

“Sorry—I’m fine! Everything is fine. I just… wanted to talk to you. Alone.”

He let out a breath he’d been holding and nodded before brushing your hair away from your face. His hand remained, his thumb gently running along your cheekbone. After a beat, the silence festered into awkwardness in your brain, and you scrambled to apologize. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have barged in here like this when you’re working—”

“Don’t be. Seeing you is the highlight of my day. And seeing you here is just… Well, I thought the view couldn’t get any better,” he gestured to the works of art with a bashful shrug, “but you fit right in.” Blushing, you dropped your gaze and tried to think of the right words. When they didn’t come and you began biting at your lip in frustration, Namjoon encouraged you as he always did. “What’s on your mind, sweetheart?”

You threw your hands into the air in exasperation. “None of this makes any sense!”

Namjoon’s eyebrows raised, surprised by your reaction. “What do you mean?”

“I guess it’s just catching up to me how unbelievable all of this is. If you’d told me a year ago I’d be in a pack with the most wonderful and supportive packmates in the world, I would have laughed in your face. Probably would have also given you the middle finger for mocking me.”

“I’m sure it feels like a whirlwind, and I want to apologize if we’ve overwhelmed you. For what it’s worth—you are also a wonderful and supportive packmate, and we feel so lucky to have you as part of our family.”

“And then there’s that!” you exclaimed.

“What?!”

“How are you the most perfect pack alpha? You’re so kind and attentive, fair and progressive. Am I missing something? I feel like this is some big elaborate prank, or like I’m some kind of idiot who just flew by some big, glaring red flag.”

“Sweetheart, I’m flattered, but I’m far from perfect,” he chuckled. “I’m clumsy and I don’t know how to do a lot of basic things. I know I can be overprotective and stubborn. I spend so much time in my head that I often miss what’s right in front of me, and even though I try to look confident in front of the guys, I second guess every decision I make as a leader. But Noona, you should know… I will spend every day trying to be worthy of how you see me.”

“Namjoon,” you breathed, placing your palm against his chest just as you had the other night. You could have sworn you felt his heart skip a beat as the current returned, like a low vibration in your palm. You started at his chest, once again trying to puzzle out exactly how to say what you needed to. One of his larger hands laid on top of yours, warm and comforting.

Be brave.

“How long have you known?” you nodded toward your hand, feeling his heart rate quicken. The corners of his mouth quirked up, but the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. 

“A while.”

“I didn’t understand for so long. Since we met, you’ve had this… gravitational pull. I can’t help but be drawn to you. And my feelings for you have always been intense, but this? Since I presented, they’ve been all-consuming. At first… I thought it was because of my heat, that it would pass. But it hasn’t. If anything, the way I feel for you gets deeper, more intense every day.”

“I know exactly what you mean.”

“How could you stand it? How could you be so patient, waiting for me to catch up?”

“I’d wait for you forever if I had to,” he said softly.

“Being in love with you was already overwhelming enough, but now I feel like I’m going to explode every time I think of you or I’m near you or—”

“Say it again,” he interrupted, his tone suddenly breathless and desperate.

“I love you, Namjoon.” Your eyes began to well up with tears as you continued, “I know it sounds selfish, but I feel like — like the universe made you for me, somehow. I love you so much that it’s overflowing, and I don’t know how to hold it inside me anymo—”

The end of your sentence was lost to Namjoon’s lips slotting between your own. Your arms wrapped around his shoulders, fingers weaving into his hair to hold him close. His mouth was soft and warm against yours, somehow familiar and foreign at the same time. A thrill ran up your spine as his tongue sought out a taste of your own. Every sense was surrounded by him; his smooth skin and silky hair under your fingertips, the smell of his cologne in your nostrils. To have Namjoon wrapped around you, to have the possibility of forever with him, was like a fantasy.

When you finally broke apart, he pressed his forehead to yours. “I love you so much, sweetheart. I want to wake up next to you every day for the rest of my life. I want you, all of you, as your mate—if you’ll have me.”

Giddy with excitement, you hugged him tight, your yes repeating a thousand times over as he spun you in a circle.

“I have something for you,” he said, returning your feet to the ground. Weak in the knees, you wobbled slightly as Namjoon hurried over to retrieve something from his bag and returned with a small box. He pressed it into your hand, nervous energy cascading from his body. You opened it to reveal a beautiful ring— a circular moonstone, set in a thin white gold band. It matched the bracelet on your wrist perfectly. You touched the stone, admiring how the light shone from it. I’ll take it.

Your heart felt like it was going to burst from your chest as you looked into his eyes, which were watching you eagerly. “You’ve been carrying this around in your backpack all this time?” you asked.

“I didn’t want you to accidentally find it.”

“But you are the king of losing things! Hobi told me you’ve lost your passport twice!”

“Yeah, and my anxiety has been through the roof, so please let me put this on your finger so I am no longer responsible for it.” Laughing, you nodded and he removed the ring from its box to slip it onto your finger. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but we can do this at our own pace, you know. We can wait until you’re ready to mark each other, you don’t have to go by ‘Luna’ if you don’t want to. We’ve upended your life these last few months, but there is nothing in this world more important to me than your comfort and happiness.” 

“I was intimidated by the idea of being Luna at first,” you admitted. 

“And now?” 

You smiled at him and said, “I belong to all of you, right? And all of you belong to me.”

Dimples on full blast, Namjoon nodded as his fingers combed through your hair, his hands eventually settling at the nape of your neck. His eyes roamed your face, seemingly trying to memorize every lash, every freckle. 

“My Luna,” he softly said to himself. “I feel like I’m dreaming.” 

“It’s not a dream,” you assured him as you brushed the tip of his nose with your own. “I’m yours, Namjoon.”

“Mine.” When he kissed you again, it was full of need and possession. The intensity of it robbed you of your breath and lit a fire low in your belly. Your hands fisted into his shirt, pulling his body closer, and he wrapped an arm around your waist to press your hips against his. Namjoon nipped at your bottom lip, earning a small moan from the back of your throat. You could feel his excitement growing between you before he broke away to take a calming breath and said, “I think we need to get out of here or I might do something that gets me fired.”

“Follow me,” you grabbed him by the wrist and headed for the door.

“Anywhere,” he replied, grabbing his things as the two of you rushed out of the gallery.

“Thank you for watering my plants, by the way,” you said as you and Namjoon crossed the threshold of your apartment, dropping your belongings and shoes in the entryway. “That was really thoughtful of y—” 

Your words were cut off by his lips for the second time today, the door barely clicking shut before Namjoon had you pressed against it. 

“I’d hardly call it thoughtful when all I think about is you,” he said, kisses trailing along your jaw and down your neck.

“Joon…”

“I mean it.” He kissed the base of your throat before standing at his full height to look in your eyes. “I’ll be so good to you, honey. I’m going to take such good care of you. Since the first moment you smiled at me,” he continued, “every day I’ve thought about all the ways I want to make you happy.” Namjoon sank to his knees in front of you, bunched your skirt up in his fist. His gaze was reverent as he placed a kiss between your thighs. “I’ve also spent a considerable amount of time thinking of all the ways I want to make you come.”

“You’re going to be the death of me.” Your chest was heaving in anticipation as he slid your panties down your legs before pocketing the fabric. He hooked one of your knees over his muscled shoulder, opening you up to him before burying his face between your thighs.

His tongue worked you over until your thighs shook, and abruptly pulled away.

“Namjoon!”

“Patience,” he teased as he stood back up. “I want to watch my mate come on my cock.” Namjoon’s hips rocked against yours, a quick bit of pressure where you needed it most. “That okay with you, princess?”

Something in your brain had short-circuited, but you must have responded positively in some language that Namjoon understood, because he scooped you up with a grin and carried you off to the bedroom.

Despite the desperate need to continue kissing each other, it took only seconds for the two of you to shed your clothes and fall onto the mattress. When his teeth nipped at your collarbone, you teased, “Trying to mark your territory for the rest of the pack to see?”

“You’ll know when I’m marking my territory.”

“Jealous Joonie,” you teased. “Should have guessed you’d have a bit of a possessive streak.”

“I’ll share,” he smirked, lining himself up at your entrance. “As long as they know this pussy belongs to me,” he said as he pushed into you, thrusting just a little deeper to punctuate his claim with a deep moan.

“Fuck, yes Alpha,” you whined. “It’s yours, I’m yours, you feel so good.”

“You take me so well, such a good girl. You look so beautiful like this.”

Your legs wrapped around his hips to pull him closer, and Namjoon held you tight to him as he fucked you deep and slow. You kissed every bit of him you could reach, whimpering when your mouths met and his tongue sought yours. The pleasure he’d given you moments ago with that tongue, coupled with the overwhelming feelings you’d both confessed, had you quickly returning to your peak.

“Ah! Oh right there Joon, love the way you fuck me,” you panted.

“You’re so fucking tight princess, you keep squeezing me like that and I’m not going to last long,” he groaned.

“I’m so close, want you to give me your knot, Alpha.”

“God, what did I do to deserve you, baby? There you go, let me see that sweet face you make when you cum,” he said as his fingertips found your clit. Your back arched, driving your chests together as you tried to hold Namjoon impossibly close. Stars burst across your vision as every inch of your body tensed before pleasure exploded through you.

“Yesyesyes, so good baby, fill me up Namjoon!”

Your encouragement tipped him over the edge; Namjoon pressed his hips as tightly to you as he could and stilled as he came with a growl. He twitched against you, tiny thrusts as his seed spilled within you.

As you caught your breath, your fingertips combed through his hair, traced his facial features. You kissed him gently, whispering “I love you, I love you Namjoon,” over and over to make up for all the moments you hadn’t told him. Every kiss he returned, every smile he shone toward you made you fall deeper and deeper. This is heaven, this is bliss, you thought. Dusk fell as the two of you laid together, not noticing the time ticking by as you each were completely content in the arms of your soulmate.

Chapter Text

You and Namjoon cuddled and talked, reflecting on the road that brought you to each other and giggling about the mishaps and speed bumps you’d hit along the way. You wondered what the future had in store, dreamed of the life you would build and the things you could do together. An hour or so passed before the two of you realized darkness had fallen outside. 

“We should probably get going,” Namjoon sighed. 

“Yeah, we probably should. However, I have a very compelling argument for staying right where we are.”

“Okay, let’s hear it.”

“Point one: I’m very warm and comfy right now. Point two: if we leave, we have to put on clothes, and I’m quite enjoying having you naked in my bed,” you smirked as your hands skimmed over his chest. “I think I had another point after that, but now I’m just distracted by your pecs.”

He chuckled and held you tighter, kissing you on the forehead. “Don’t even get me started on all the parts of you I find distracting or we will actually be here all night.”

Having your body separated from Namjoon’s was the last thing you wanted right now. Just the thought of being away from him made you itchy, but you knew eventually the two of you would need to return to reality (or at minimum, the pack house). It took several attempts for you to disentangle yourselves and get out of bed, and in the end you only did it because you desperately had to pee. When you returned from the bathroom, Namjoon was on the phone, brows furrowed.

“What? No, she’s— hyung, I’m with Noona right now, she’s okay. Yeah, at her place, how did you know? Uhhh… she wanted to start packing up, so I stopped by after work to help. She must have set her phone down and walked away from it. Yeah, we’ll be home soon. Don’t worry about it, let us pick something up on the way, hyung. Okay, sounds good. See you soon.” He let out a heavy exhale as he hung up the phone. 

“What was that about?”

“It was Jin, he wanted to know if I’d seen you. He says he texted and called you a bunch and hadn’t heard back.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“I think he was just worried.”

You dug through the trail of discarded clothes, following it back to the entryway before finally retrieving your phone from your purse. There were multiple missed calls from Jin, along with a string of texts.

Jin: I’m omw home, are you ok with ordering takeout for dinner?

Jin: I will take your silence as a yes

Jin: where are you? did you go out?

Jin: is everything ok?

Jin: why aren’t you answering your phone?

Jin: noona

Jin: nobody’s seen you for hours, can you just let me know you’re safe?

“Shit, I feel awful.” 

“It’s okay honey, he’ll understand.”

“I’m not used to having anyone checking up on me, or having to tell people where I’m going.”

“We like to keep tabs on each other, but we all have a right to our own independence and privacy. Don’t worry, we’ll find the right balance.”

Despite Namjoon’s reassurances, you were still riddled with guilt. You groaned and buried your face in his chest, enjoying the comforting hug he offered in return.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you need to put some clothes on. I told Jin we’d pick up dinner on the way home.”

The house was quieter than usual when you arrived, everyone clearly awaiting your return. You placed the takeaway bags on the dining table before turning to see the rest of the pack gathered in the living room.

“Hi,” you greeted sheepishly, as greetings echoed back to you. “I’m sorry if I worried you all,” you said. “I’m still getting used to having people who… care about my whereabouts.”

“Don’t worry, Noona. Hobi told us where you were, but we just wanted to make sure you were okay!” Jungkook said, triggering a domino effect of side-eyes: from Namjoon to you, you to Hobi, and finally, Hobi to Jungkook.

“What’s up with you sharing your location only with Hobi, anyway?” Yoongi asked.

“Yah! Are you playing favorites?!” Jin demanded.

“Yeah, what is up with that?” Namjoon pressed.

“It was just a one-time thing, and I trusted Hobi not to abuse that privilege.”

“I promise I haven’t abused it! But hyung was stressed out and I just wanted to calm him down…”

“... but even knowing your phone was at your apartment, he was still worried you’d bonked your head or something,” Taehyung chimed in.

“In any case, you two certainly don’t look like you were packing up Noona’s apartment!” Jin cried, pointing at the hickies on your neck. When your hand reflexively moved to cover your collarbone, Jimin shrieked. He sprinted across the room, nearly knocking you over as he threw himself into your arms.

“It finally happened! I’m so happy!”

“What?!” Jungkook looked up, confused. “What happened?!”

Jimin pulled away from you and rolled his eyes in annoyance. He gripped your wrist to thrust your hand into the air and cried, “Would you just look?” as he gestured at your new jewelry. There was a beat of silence as everyone else processed the ring on your finger. Suddenly, five grown men were coming at you full speed. Namjoon moved to stand behind you to prevent you being bowled over. It was a cacophony of congratulations and excitement, a flurry of hugs and kisses; you were barely aware that Namjoon was receiving a similar reception.

The pack started to jump around you and Namjoon like it was a mosh pit, chanting “LU-NA! LU-NA! LU-NA! LU-NA! LU-NA!” Even Yoongi joined in on the fun, making you shriek with laughter. When they finally settled down (within reason), you were breathless and sore from smiling.

“Tell us everything!” Taehyung demanded.

From behind you, Namjoon’s arms wrapped around your waist. “Noona came to the gallery today,” he grinned. “She got really sappy telling me how she’s so in love with me…”

“As if you weren’t crying, too!”

“Oh, I definitely was,” he leaned down to give you a peck.

“Ew, you guys are going to be super annoying for a while, aren’t you?” Hobi asked with a judgmental look on his face.

The pack sat down to eat and eagerly listened to the two of you recount the day’s events. As Namjoon spoke, you looked fondly at each of your packmates in turn, feeling so unbelievably lucky to be surrounded by them, to have your soulmate at your side. It was a simple thing to some, to sit around the dinner table with your family, but you would never take it for granted. You tried your best to be present, to cement this moment in your memory forever.

It was clear they were all feeling similarly family-oriented; after dinner, everyone opted to relocate to the living room rather than splitting off for their own hobbies and activities.

“Should we watch a movie?”

“Maybe play a game?”

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you guys about something first, if that’s okay?” Everyone turned to you with curious expressions as you cleared your throat and prepared to share your other big news.

“I talked to Sooyeon today, and I have some answers about my wolf.” There was an immediate shift in the air, a stillness of anticipation. “It’s hard to really know for sure what finally activated my omega,” you continued, “but she has a pretty confident theory. She even discussed it with a colleague in a similar field, who agreed with her assessment.”

“Well, don’t leave us hanging.”

“Yeah, what does she think caused it?”

“It wasn’t… because of what he did, was it?”

“No, she doesn’t think so.” There was a palpable sigh of relief; they’d obviously shared your discomfort with the idea that Hyugo might be responsible for such a positive development.

“Sooyeon compared my brain scans from when I first consulted with her a few years ago to the ones they took at the hospital immediately after the attack, and there was no change regarding my wolf. She took fresh ones yesterday, and could see that part of my brain was now active. So, logic follows that the trigger was something that happened after the hospital, but obviously before my heat.”

“Well, what could have prevented your wolf from showing up in the first place?” Hobi asked.

“The theory is that the environment I was in when I should have presented was so hostile toward omegas, and had placed so much pressure on me, that I subconsciously repressed my wolf. It’s possible I would have presented sooner, once I left the pack, but when Hyugo attacked me in the woods that day, my omega basically locked herself away.”

“That’s so fucked up,” Jimin said under his breath.

“Yeah… My whole life I thought I had to be this one thing. And I tried so hard to fit into it, and it never felt right. I—I thought something was wrong with me, that I was broken,” you sniffed, tears pricking your eyes. “I’ve felt that way for so long.”

“But do you see now, jagiya?” Yoongi asked softly as his hand encircled yours. “It’s not you that’s broken, it never was.” When you looked up to smile at him, he leaned forward to kiss your cheek.

Namjoon finally spoke. “It sounds like your subconscious was just trying to protect you. Maybe… at some point in the last few weeks, it decided you could let your guard down a bit?”

You nodded in agreement. “Sooyeon said to undo that kind of repression, I would need to feel complete and total physical, emotional, and psychological safety. She said that undoing the years of trauma and negative conditioning doesn’t happen overnight, and that you guys have likely been breaking down those walls for months.”

“So does that mean… you were able to present because of us?” a wide-eyed Taehyung asked.

“She’s pretty positive — and I’m accepting this theory as my truth — that my omega was finally ready to show herself when you all asked me to join the pack. You all accepted and embraced me as I was.”

The group was quiet as they processed what you’d said; a few appeared slightly dumbfounded, while others had a look of pride.

“And you— ” you stood and approached Jungkook, grasping him by the shoulders. He looked up at you with his doe eyes, nervously toying with his lip ring. “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.” You pulled him to his feet so you could hug him tightly. “I wouldn’t have survived Hyugo, I wouldn’t have found my pack, I wouldn’t have my wolf—” you pulled away and turned to look at Namjoon before adding, “and I wouldn’t have met my soulmate.”

Jungkook’s eyes welled up with emotion and he hugged you back, burying his face in your hair. The rest of the pack was quick to follow suit, all surrounding the two of you for a group hug. It was impossible to tell where each of you ended and another began; your limbs all intertwined to form a new kind of being. This is what home feels like.

The rest of the evening was spent simply chatting and cuddling, with the maknaes roping you into a wrestling match as usual. When you announced that you were going to turn in for the night, there was a disappointed groan from everyone but the pack alpha, who instead appeared rather smug.

“Can’t we have a pack sleepover again, Luna? ” Jimin asked sweetly.

“Not tonight,” Namjoon answered before you could, his arm winding around your waist.

“I think Alpha wants some alone time with his Luna,” Jin teased.

“You’re goddamn right,” Namjoon replied, kissing you possessively to a dissonant chorus of aw and boo . 

“At least let us say goodnight to her!” Jimin pouted, his arms crossed against his chest. Once you’d made the rounds to everyone’s satisfaction, Namjoon took you by the hand to lead you down the hallway.

“Your place or mine?” you quipped.

“What’s mine is yours now,” he replied. “We’re going to our room.”

Neither of you got much sleep. Contrary to Jin’s more suggestive assumption, the two of you stayed up late simply talking about things both big and small. You revisited the conversation about moving your belongings out of your apartment, now with the new lens of consolidating your things with his. You agreed you wanted children someday, but maybe not for a year or two. He reiterated the sexual dynamics of the pack, explaining repeatedly that you were welcomed and encouraged to play with whomever you wanted to, even outside of your heat. You poked and prodded about each of the pack members individually for Namjoon’s insight on ways you could make them feel as loved and supported as they made you feel.

Eventually, Namjoon let out an aggressive yawn. “Oh my god, what time is it?”

“It’s after 3am.”

“Now that’s twice in 24 hours we’ve completely lost track of time like this.”

“I feel like I could lay in bed talking with you for a lifetime and never run out of topics.”

“Well, that’s the idea.” He brought his hands to cup your face. His thumbs ran over your cheekbones, grazed your lips, and you leaned further into his touch. “How are you liking the sound of Luna so far?”

“It makes me feel… loved.” 

“You are. You are so loved, baby, by each and every one of us. But especially me. Me the most,” he added, making you laugh.

“You know… you called me Luna, before. In your sleep, after we first…” you gestured between your bodies. “And again in the hospital, when I was waking up.”

“Natural slip of the tongue. Kinda like how you told me you loved me during your heat,” he grinned.

“I did what?!”

Chapter Text

The first thing you felt upon waking was the warmth of Namjoon’s skin. Every ridge of his body fitted against yours, making it easy to indulge in his scent. Your face buried into his neck, nuzzling and kissing the golden skin there. Your ministrations brought out delicious sounds from him, his voice still low with sleep as he murmured your name. Before long, his body rolled over onto yours, the alpha’s weight firm against your chest as your legs tangled together. The position gave your hands free reign of his toned back, and you traced every rib, muscle, and vertebrae with your fingertips. This lazy exploration had been bliss at first, but things had taken a turn — and now, you were about to lose it.

“Joon,” you groaned. “Namjoon, please.” 

At this point, you were desperate for control but your begging went ignored. The closest thing to a response you got was a low grunt when your fingers curled around his bicep.

“Joonie, baby, come on. I can’t take it anymore,” you squirmed under him with little success in getting what you wanted.

“Namjoon, for the love of god, turn off your fucking alarm.”

With his eyes still closed, he sleepily rolled over to reach for his nightstand, finally silencing the blaring alarm and giving you some peace. The respite lasted all of a second before he rolled back on top of you and continued snoring in your ear. While you loved the skin-to-skin contact, you didn’t love that a sleeping Namjoon was basically an immovable force. We’re going to need to work on this.

Your late night talking had apparently exhausted the poor man, and it took a Herculean effort on your part to finally wake him up to get ready for work. While Namjoon showered, you made him a quick breakfast and an extra strong coffee. Most of the pack had cleared out or was still asleep, save one. Now that the study was no longer your bedroom, Jin had opted to work from home; however, when you passed him in the hallway on your way to the kitchen, he’d merely given you a terse nod. It was incredibly unlike him, and you had a nagging feeling it had to do with his calls going unanswered yesterday. 

After Namjoon left for the day, you bopped around trying to make yourself useful. You managed to spend a few hours cleaning the common areas as well as Namjoon’s bathroom, realizing it was now yours, too. When you’d exhausted the basic chores, you checked in on work things and arrangements for your return; however, everything was pretty much squared away, and you were good to go back the following week. Eventually, you ran out of things to do, and the nagging feeling that Jin was upset won out, so you decided to go clear the air.

“Jinnie?” you knocked on the study door lightly.

“Come in,” Jin spun around in his desk chair to face you as you timidly entered the room. “Hey Noona. What do you need?”

“Are you… upset with me?” He didn’t respond, just looked down at his lap, so you continued. “I feel awful for not answering my phone yesterday, I really didn’t mean to worry you. Moving forward, I’ll be more considerate about checking my phone and letting someone know where I am.”

Jin finally looked back up at you, and his expression seemed sad. “Come here, sweetheart.” You tried to tread lightly as you approached him. “I actually think I owe you an apology,” he continued, his hands reaching for your own. The beta tugged you forward to sit in his lap and hugged you closely. “At first I was just worried about your safety, and then once I knew you were okay, I guess I was just pouting a bit.”

“Pouting?” you asked as you pulled back.

“I’ve been so focused on taking care of you the last few weeks, I guess I just wasn’t ready to let go of being needed. Of course I want you to get your independence back, I just don’t like not being in control.” You scowled at him, but before you could complain about his choice of words, he quickly backpedaled. “I don’t mean controlling you! Maybe just… controlling everything else to make sure you’re okay,” he admitted sheepishly.

“I understand. I’m still getting used to having others checking up on me, but it’s nice to have someone who cares like that.” You leaned forward to hug him again, this time settling into the embrace. “And Jin, of course I still need you, and I always will. I feel like I can’t begin to give you the thanks you deserve for everything you’ve done for me. I’m so lucky to have you in my life.”

His arms wrapped tighter around you. “Oh Luna, we’re the lucky ones. You bring so much love and joy into our lives, and each of us is better for knowing you. We would do anything for you.” You gave him one more squeeze before sitting up to look at his face, which now had a playful smirk as he continued, “I mean that literally, you know. Like, the baby of the pack has already killed for you.” Scandalized at the dark humor, you lightly swatted his chest, preparing to scold him. “What? Too soon?” After a beat of silence, you both burst into a fit of giggles.

When the two of you settled down, your eyes drifted to his perfect, lush mouth, still smiling. Jin’s magnetism must have drawn you in; you suddenly realized just how close your face was to his, your noses nearly touching. The close contact was clearly having an effect on him. His hands had settled onto your thighs, his grip a little tighter than normal. You were suddenly aware of his hardening member beneath you, the outline of his cock easily felt through his thin basketball shorts. Your hips twitched with the desire to rock against him, and you were sure he could hear your heart rate increase.

His lips just ghosted over yours. “Want something from me, sweet girl?” You gave a slight nod, so tempted to let him pull you just a little further in before backing away, suddenly conflicted. Your expression must have reflected your internal battle; Jin’s index finger tapped the tip of your nose to draw your attention.

“Hey. What’s going on in that head of yours? What are you thinking about?”

“… Joonie,” you replied, the guilt you were feeling now evident. 

“Ah, well… everyone in this pack is sort of… polyamorous? With each other, at least. If Namjoon didn’t get a chance to chat with you about this yet, we can just—”

“I mean, he did, but what if he was just saying that it doesn’t bother him when really it does?” 

“That what bothers him?”

“Me… being with someone else.”

“He literally held your hand while you got dicked down by Hobi with your head in my lap. I think he’s okay.” 

“That was different! I was in heat and Joonie and I weren’t… together yet.”

“Maybe not officially, but he was just as in love with you then as he is now.”

“I just don’t want to assume he’s okay with something and then mess everything up. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Jin.”

“Hmm. Okay. Hold on just a second.” Jin quickly pulled out his phone, tapped Namjoon’s name, and put it on speaker as it rang, despite your protests. “Hi Joon, sorry to bother you. I’m trying to seduce Luna here and she’s a little bit in her head.”

“Seokjin!” you scolded, but you could hear your mate chuckling on the other end of the line. You heard some shuffling and a door close before Namjoon replied, now in the safety of his office.

“Hi baby, you okay?” his voice was warm and deep through the phone.

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

“Want to walk me through what’s going on?”

“Well, I came to apologize to Jin for scaring him yesterday, and he apologized for pouting after the fact, and then we had a little cuddle—”

“That sounds nice. Hyung is an excellent cuddler.”

“Our princess is a great cuddler too,” the elder contributed. “She’s currently sitting in my lap.”

“Oh? How’s her scent?”

“Definitely aroused.”

“Jin!” you hissed.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed, sweetheart. Jin-hyung is very handsome. Don’t you think so?”

“I mean, of course…”

“And you already know he’s an attentive lover.”

“Well, that’s beside the point—”

“Do you not want to be seduced by Jin-hyung?” 

“You’re my mate, Namjoon.”

“That doesn’t answer my question. Are you attracted to him?”

Jin raised his eyebrows at you suggestively, an amused smirk on his face. “Against my better judgment, yes,” you rolled your eyes.

“She’s placing human relationship norms on the situation, Joon. She feels like she’s cheating on you.”

“Snitch!”

“Professor Noona,” Namjoon’s voice was coy as he borrowed JK’s favorite nickname; “can you tell us about omega sex dynamics in a pack?” 

You let out a heavy sigh, recognizing what Namjoon was trying to do. “Omegas crave intimacy at a higher rate than any other designation, and it’s an important aspect of their physical, social, and emotional health. Even mated omegas are frequently sexual partners with additional members of the pack, especially when their mate is unavailable to them.”

“And?”

“And, in most modern packs there are no territory challenges unless breeding is intended.”

“Good girl. Now let me ask again: do you want to have sex with hyung?”

You could feel Jin’s length pressing against you. His scent was somehow both intoxicating and relaxing, and the way he was looking at you…

“Yes,” you admitted quietly.

“Do you trust me, Luna?” your mate asked.

“More than anyone.”

“Then believe me when I say: as much as I would like to always be the one making you feel good, as long as everyone is consenting I will never be upset about you being intimate with one of our packmates. I’m not worried about anyone stealing you away from me — you’re my soulmate.”

A sigh of relief washed over you. “I understand, and I believe you. I love you, Joonie.”

“I love you too, sweetheart. Hyung, can you do me a favor and give my Luna a kiss for me? Make it a good one.”

“Well, if you insist.”

“You two have fun — I want to hear all about it when I get home. Love you.”

“Love you,” you both echoed. Jin hung up the phone and set it on the desk, bringing his full attention to you. His hands framed your face and he brushed the tip of his nose against yours.

“Feeling better?”

“Yeah. I’ll add it to the list of things I need to adjust to, but I understand everything is okay.”

“Then, if you’re comfortable with it, I believe I have a request from the pack alpha to fulfill,” Jin said. This time, you closed the distance and pressed your mouth to his full lips. 

Seokjin’s warm hands skated under the hem of your shirt, flitting across your skin as he kissed you. The tension of the morning began to dissipate, Jin’s lips like an antidote to all those feelings of self-inflicted guilt. You relaxed into his body and a warmth built low in your belly at his touch and the feeling of his tongue parting your lips for a taste. Your own hands began to explore, trying to memorize the slopes and angles from his broad shoulders to his slim waist, fisting the fabric of his shirt in your grip when he broke away to kiss at your neck. He quickly found a particularly sensitive spot just below your ear, and was rewarded with your hips rolling against him. A satisfied hum reverberated from his throat, emboldening you to begin pulling his shirt up his torso. Jin allowed you to pull away the offending clothing, immediately removing yours as well.

“This is pretty,” he said as he toyed with the straps of your bralette. “But I know what’s underneath is even prettier.” His head dipped down to find one of your nipples through the thin fabric, soaking the material with his tongue while he pushed down the strap on the opposite side. His thumb traced around your exposed breast, the skin there tightening in arousal. He reached behind to unclasp the garment, carelessly tossing it aside before pressing wet kisses all across your chest.

His fingertips moved from your back, skirting the waistband of your shorts and sending a thrill through your body. His hand dipped under the elastic, sliding down the front of your panties to give some friction to your mound. The ache between your legs built as his index finger teased out your wetness to soak the fabric. When the pad of his finger found your clit, a soft whimper escaped your lips.

That was all the encouragement he needed to move your panties to the side to touch you properly, spreading your wetness to your clit to give it more attention. Your legs spread wider around him, desperate for his attention. 

“I love the way your body reacts to me.” You could barely hear his praise as he inserted a long finger into your heat. The heel of his hand continued to grind against your clit as he fingered you, and it was only a few moments before you were begging him for more. He added a second finger, enjoying the way your nails began to scratch at his chest and your hips began to rock against him. 

“Look at me, Luna.” Your eyes were a little dazed, but you opened them and tried to focus on Jin’s beautiful face. His free hand grabbed your jaw, squishing your cheeks just a little. “Does that feel good, princess?”

“Mhmm. Want more, please Jin.” Hoping to egg him on, your hand reached between the two of you to pull his cock from his shorts and stroke him gently. You loved the way his breath hitched at your touch. A bead of precum appeared; you collected it on the tip of your thumb and brought it to your lips for a taste.

“I love hearing you beg. Up, clothes off.”

You did as he said and quickly returned to straddle his lap.

Jin lined himself up with your entrance. Your hands rested on his shoulders for balance as you slowly sank down, each of you sighing in pleasure when he filled you to the hilt. His thumbs skirted across your nipples while you adjusted to his size. You closed your eyes to focus on the feeling of his lips placing kisses all along the column of your throat, his tongue sneaking a taste at your collarbone, before his lips returned to yours. His kisses were slow and intimate; although you remained still for the moment, you enjoyed the feeling of being held and adored by him. His hands explored, gently kneading your breasts before running along your sides, around your back, and down to rub your thighs. You rolled your hips experimentally, feeling him shift inside you.

Suddenly, something on his computer rang, drawing his attention. 

“Shit! I’m so sorry, it’s my boss calling, I forgot we had a check-in—”

“No, I’m sorry for interrupting your work! I can leave…” you try to rise off of him, but Jin wrapped an arm around your waist to pull you back down.

“No no, wait, don’t go. Let’s just stay like this, you can keep my cock warm while I take this call.”

“What?! Jin—”

“Shhhh, don’t worry princess, I’ll leave the camera off, but you need to stay quiet, okay?”

You hesitated only for a moment before nodding and letting yourself settle back into his lap and burying your face in his neck. Jin kissed your shoulder, clicked his mouse, and slid on his headphones as the call connected. 

“Hey, how are you? Oh yeah, sorry it’s off, I’m having some camera issues. I probably just need to install some updates on my computer. What’s up?”

The gentle lull of Jin’s voice in your ear helped you relax into his arms. As he spoke about things you had no context for (and could therefore easily tune out), his thumbs drew circles on your skin. Occasionally, his hands would drift to his computer to click or type something; when they returned to your body, he would rub them soothingly along your back for a bit before settling back at your hips. An unknown amount of time passed when your ears perked up at the sound of the conversation ending. Long fingers ran down your hips to squeeze your ass, eventually landing on your thighs. Gentle kisses resumed on your shoulder until you sat up and offered a lazy smile, before pressing your lips back to his.

“Someone’s looking awfully relaxed,” he said as he tucked a strand of hair behind your ear.

“That was… surprisingly comforting.”

“Seems like you might like cockwarming, sweet girl.”

“I guess so? It’s like… cuddling, but more intimate.”

“Well, anytime you want a little intimate cuddle, you know where to find me,” he winked. “I’d love to have you wrapped around me while I game.”

“I’m not so sure about that — I’ve heard how much you scream when you’re gaming,” you giggled. The slight shift as you both laughed made you realize how badly you want to move more. You rocked your hips slightly and asked, “Jin, can we…?”

“Yes, absolutely, I can’t wait like this much longer. Hold onto me,” he instructed before rising from his chair. His basketball shorts and underwear slid to the floor as he stood, managing to place you on the desk without slipping out of you. The items immediately around you were quickly swept off the surface before he captured your lips in a passionate kiss, reigniting the flame in your belly. His hips pulled away from you slowly before rocking back into you. After holding him in one position, the delicious friction immediately had your walls clenching around him. You let out a whine and he placed a kiss on your forehead; his lips lingered there, and you could feel his warm breath on your face. Jin’s thrusts were measured, smooth, and even as his hips fluidly rolled against you. When you threw your head back in pleasure, he leaned forward to capture one of your nipples between his teeth. He kept a slow pace, and you enjoyed the feeling of every ridge and vein of his cock dragging against your walls.

“Please, Jin, more, please,” you whined.

An arm hooked around your thigh, lifting your leg and opening you up to him further. “God, so beautiful, spread open like this. Look at how well you take me.” Both of you stared at where you connected, watching his length disappear into your cunt over and over.

With a groan, Jin’s hips began to snap into yours, his thrusts coming harder and faster. The desk shook, the furniture hitting against the wall repeatedly. 

“Fuck! Jin!”

“My name is Seokjin, not Fuckjin.”

“Oh my god, shut up. Only you would make a terrible joke when I’m trying to come!”

“Yeah, and you’re gonna come anyway, because you’re a good girl, aren’t you?” His fingertips began to circle your clit, making your legs shake. 

“God damn it, don’t stop, that feels so good.”

“That’s it, I’m right behind you, you can let go. Go ahead and come for me, Luna.”

One of your hands gripped onto his waist, nails digging into skin, desperate to pull him in even deeper as your pleasure intensified. Every muscle in your body tightened; your jaw hung open and eyes shut tight as you felt the wave inside you crash. Jin continued fucking you through your high, his hand moving away from your sensitive clit to wrap his fingers in your hair, bringing you in for a sloppy kiss that was more tongue and teeth and panting breaths. Just as you were catching your breath, Jin’s thrusts became more fervent; his rhythm faltering slightly in the intensity. He was wonderfully vocal as he chased his own release, and you clenched around him in encouragement. With a final rake of your nails down his chest, he shuddered and collapsed into you.

As you held each other, your nose nuzzled along his neck and jawline, earning an airy chuckle.

“Look at you, leaning into those Luna instincts.”

Realizing he meant you’d been scenting him, your brows shot up, alarmed. “I’m sorry! I didn’t even realize I was doing that.”

“It’s okay,” he kissed the tip of your nose. “Scenting us is a good thing. You’re a leader of this pack now, so the urge to scent us just means you want everyone to know who we belong to.”

“Actually, I’ve always been curious about that. How do potential mates not get thrown off by my scent on you? Am I cockblocking you by doing this?”

“Can you cockblock me if my cock is currently still inside you?”

“Jin, seriously.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t resist. It’s pretty simple, your smell to other potential mates just isn’t a romantic kind of smell.”

“I don’t get it. I mean, I know the scent I leave on you would be different from my scent on Joon, because I’m giving off different chemicals. But how obvious is it?”

“It’s pretty distinct. It just sends a signal that we have a Luna who loves us, and you better not mess with her.”

“Well, that’s true. I’ll fuck anyone up who looks at you sideways.”

“I’m sure it’ll make more sense to you as time goes on, and as you smell shifters outside of our pack. It might be one of those things you have to experience for yourself. Do you have any other questions?”

“Hmmm, not right now.”

“Okay, then go pee and get cleaned up and I’ll make us some lunch.”

Chapter Text

Jin made a quick fried rice for lunch while you put yourself back together. As you both sat at the table and leaned over your bowls, he helped add you to the shared family calendar, which kept tabs on everyone’s work schedules, travel plans, and other commitments.

“Oh! Thursday!” Jin nearly choked on a piece of pork belly in his excitement.

“What’s Thursday?” you asked as you patted his back, waiting for him to clear the food from his airway.

“Everyone is free, so we can properly celebrate you and Namjoon!”

“I thought we did that already?”

“Jumping around in circles and eating takeout doesn’t count. You didn’t even give me a chance to plan anything! No, we’re going to do this right.” He set about planning a menu, pressing you for opinions on various food and drink options and demanding you share Sooyeon’s phone number so he could invite her.

Finally extricating yourself from his planning, you excused yourself to get organized for your return to work. After a tumultuous month and feeling a little stir-crazy for a sense of normalcy, you were excited to pack your new work bag (a gift from Hobi). Along with your favorite pens and small cosmetics you liked to keep on hand, the essentials now included scent suppressants. Returning from your sudden leave of absence — now as a wolf — was sure to raise more questions than you were ready to answer.

By the time your packmates began returning from work, you’d managed to further tidy yours and Namjoon’s bedroom as well as the study before settling on the couch with a book. Clearly, your anxious energy led to a streak of productivity.

“Honey, I’m home,” Namjoon’s dimpled smile peeked around the corner as he slid off his shoes. 

“Hi Joonie,” you returned his grin as you scurried across the room toward him. Your arms wound around his neck to bring him in for a kiss. The feeling of his lips on yours sent a thrill through your body, the sensation reaching every nerve ending. Namjoon was quick to up the intensity, his large hands grasping at your hips to pull them flush with his own. His grip was nearly bruising, and by the time you broke apart, you were breathless and flushed.

“Wow, what was that for?!”

“I’m just excited to come home to you.”

“Joonie, I’ve been living here for weeks.”

“Yeah, but I haven’t been able to kiss you like that for weeks.”

“Mmm, that’s fair. As you were.”

Namjoon moved to set down his work bag, and his eyes widened as he took in his surroundings. “It’s so clean in here! Luna, did you do all this?”

“Yeah, I had some time today, just trying to earn my keep.”

Namjoon’s brows knit together, and you were confused by the stern set of his jaw. 

“What do you mean by ‘earning your keep’?”

“Well, you all have lived here for a long time, and I’m a new addition, so I just don’t want to throw things off…”

“That’s not how this works, love. Of course we appreciate the effort, but this is your home as much as it is any of ours. We’re all responsible for keeping things clean. You still feel like a guest here, don’t you?” he realized. Your eyes cast down to the floor, which was all the confirmation he needed. “I think we should start working on moving your things over as soon as possible so it feels more like your space, too. We can talk about logistics later tonight, okay?”

“That sounds like a good idea,” you agreed quietly.

“Good. And Luna—” Namjoon’s fingertips tipped your chin so he could look you in the eyes. “—You don’t have to earn your place. Your value to us — to me — is not determined by your productivity. We’re a family, and that means we love you unconditionally. Do you understand?” “Thank you,” you buried your face in his chest for a hug, and he rubbed your back for a moment before changing the conversation.

“So, besides cleaning, how was the rest of your day? Did you have a good time with hyung?” 

“You don’t actually want to hear about that?!” you looked up at him, blushing.

“Of course I do, I need to make sure he took good care of my baby.”

“I’m glad you’re not jealous, but should I be, like, bummed that you’re not?” 

“What?!”

“I don’t know, maybe I have some weird expectation that partners should be more possessive? Like… shouldn’t you want me all to yourself?”

“There are those lame, human norms again,” Jin chimed in as he entered the room.

“Mind your own business!”

“It’s okay sweetheart, I understand it may take some time for all of this to sink in,” Namjoon continued, ignoring the comments from the peanut gallery. “But, you know I’ve slept with all the guys in our pack before, right?”

“Well, I assumed…”

“—And as long as you’re comfortable with that arrangement, it will happen again?”

“That’s fine—”

Namjoon suddenly grabbed Jin by the collar and kissed him deeply. When he released him, your jaw was on the floor and Jin’s ears were pink.

Namjoon turned back to you. “Is it still fine? Or did that make you feel jealous?”

“It definitely made me feel something,” you said with wide eyes.

“Same here,” Jin cleared his throat, the blush spreading to his cheeks.

“Did seeing that make you unhappy or uncomfortable in any way?”

You pondered for a moment. “No. I think… I think I liked it.”

“Do you feel like my relationship with Jin is a threat to my relationship with you?”

“No,” your answer was confident.

“Why not?” he pressed.

“Because… I know we both love Jin and Jin loves both of us. But it’s different from how you and I love each other.” 

But, you felt your omega interject, I’ll feel better after I sink my teeth into you.

Namjoon beamed. “That’s exactly right. It’s different, and that’s what makes us soulmates. But don’t be mistaken — you’re mine. Our packmates are one thing, but if anyone outside of this house ever tries something with you, you’ll see just how possessive I can be.”

Your thighs pressed together at the thought of it, heat causing your neck to flush pink.

“Oooh, what’s going on here?” Hobi asked as he entered the room and picked up on everyone’s scent. Jungkook trailed closely behind.

“Luna’s just learning to enjoy some of the benefits of being in a pack.”

“Oh yeah, Jin hyung was bragging to me about your little rendezvous,” he smirked.

“Jin! I can’t believe you would kiss and tell!”

He shrugged in response. “I texted Hobi as soon as I possibly could. You know, since your heat he’s been dying to get back in that tight little—”

“—Wait, what?! Jin hyung got to have sex with Noona today?! That’s not fair! When is it my turn?!” the maknae complained loudly.

“When you’re no longer my student, Jungkook. And if you act like a brat about it, you might be waiting even longer.” The pout that took up residence on his face almost made you reconsider; he was just too cute for his own good.

“Awww, poor pup,” the older members teased. “Your time will come!” The maknae scoffed before plopping onto the nearest barstool, arms crossed and face stuck in that pout.

“Noona, should we start on dinner?”

“Mhm, sounds good.”

Although Jungkook remained at his seat at the counter, scrolling on his phone, Namjoon slipped away while you were focused on chopping vegetables. Hobi needed more direction in the kitchen, but was still helpful. He quickly picked up on the rhythm you and Jin operated in, and you enjoyed the teamwork of each of you working around one another.

As you watched over the stove, a lean pair of arms wound around your waist. A mop of curly hair entered your peripheral vision as the intruder rested his chin on your shoulder. 

“Hi Taebear. How was your day?”

He simply grunted in reply.

“That bad, huh?”

“I got rejected from a casting call.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” you turned around in his arms so you could hug him properly, your fingers stroking through his hair. “I’m sorry. I know you must be disappointed.”

“It’s not even really that. I’m just tired of this cycle of having people decide my value based on my looks. I just think modeling, at least doing it full-time, is taking its toll.”

“I can’t imagine how tiring that is. If it makes you unhappy, maybe it’s time to explore other opportunities?”

“Yeah, I think I’m ready for something new.”

“I’ll be back to work next week. How about I reach out to one of the photography professors, check in about some of those classes we talked about? Or maybe have them review your portfolio for some advice on where to focus, or which class to start with?”

“Thank you, Luna. That would really help.” He gave you a quick kiss in thanks, much to Jungkook’s annoyance.

By the time dinner was nearly ready, the rest of the pack had trickled in, but Namjoon was still missing. A quick search found him deep in the bedroom closet.

“Whatcha doing?”

He must not have heard you approach; he startled, knocking over a large pile of neatly folded sweaters. It was comical to watch him muttering to himself as he tidied them up again.

“Namjoon? You good?”

“Hi! Sorry!”

“What is going on in here?”

“Okay, so — I was hoping I could get this done before dinner but I still have a little more to do… I was just sorting through my clothes, getting rid of a bunch of stuff I don’t wear anymore and re-organizing. If I’m better about switching things out seasonally, I think you’ll be able to fit all of your clothes in here? Unless you have more hiding in another closet space, I only know about the one in your old bedroom — I haven’t worked on the dresser yet, but I was thinking, you have that wider one, right? I think we could maybe replace mine with yours to fit more things? Your bedroom furniture is way nicer anyway, I don’t even have matching nightstands, so I figured when we clean out your apartment—”

You smiled fondly at Namjoon as he rattled on storage solutions, before pivoting to talking about where some of your favorite art pieces could go and other personal touches to make this feel like your home. He wasn’t simply carving out space for you; he was truly trying to weave your presence, tastes, and preferences into everything around you. Only after a plan had been laid out to safely relocate your plants did he allow you to tear him away from his project and guide him to the dining table.

During dinner, Namjoon explained to the others the necessity of getting your belongings moved in sooner than later. Though you tried to minimize any pressure to accommodate or prioritize your needs, your packmates were more than happy to rearrange their schedules to free up their Saturday and rent a moving van. You’d certainly be keeping an eye on any fragile or delicate furniture pieces, but there was obviously more than enough strength to do the heavy lifting.

Over the next few days, you’d wrangle any seemingly-idle packmate to your old apartment, carrying a few small loads of things at a time. Hobi was especially helpful when it was time to sort through your own closet; when you got immediately overwhelmed, he dismissed you from the room and organized all of your clothing into neat piles to keep or give away. A third pile was set aside for things you needed to try on before a decision was made. He frequently promised to take you shopping to create what he called a “capsule wardrobe” as soon as possible to help ease the anxiety of getting rid of things; however, it wasn’t so easy to come to terms with certain once-beloved clothes no longer fitting your body. Undeterred by your increasingly fragile mood, the cheerful beta called in reinforcements. The omegas soon arrived with drinks and smiles on their faces, ready to hype you up and emotionally support you as much as necessary. The result was a bit of a tipsy fashion show, with an amused Yoongi arriving hours later to collect the four of you and the clothes that remained.

Traces of your presence became more visible in the house; your toothbrush and skincare in the bathroom, shoes by the door, a book on the coffee table. Your houseplants mixed with Namjoon’s began to make the house look a bit like a jungle, but you both loved the abundance of green. The sight of your clothes (that had survived Hoseok’s purge) hanging in your new closet settled you, a visual representation of two lives coming together. On Wednesday evening, Namjoon found you in said closet, admiring everything neatly hung.

“It looks good in here,” he kissed the back of your head. “Are you admiring your organizational skills? I have to say, the color gradient is pretty fantastic.”

“Ha! No, just thinking,” you said as you turned to face him.

“About what?”

“You were right.”

“... About what?” he repeated.

“Moving my things in. I know we’re not done yet, but I already feel so much more at home.”

“I’m so glad,” Namjoon replied; his expression matched his words, a look of ease and relief lowering his shoulders ever so slightly. “I know moving is a pain, but we’ll get it all wrapped up this weekend, I promise.” You hugged him tightly, feeling your own anxieties ease in his arms. Namjoon’s cheek brushed against yours, a gentle scenting that you didn’t even realize your body was craving. This was becoming a pattern, and sometimes you felt as though you didn’t do nearly enough to deserve this man.

“How are you so good at that?” you finally asked. He quirked a brow. You continued, “How are you so good at knowing what I need, before I even do?” 

“I know I haven’t and won’t always get it right, but I try to pay attention,” he teased. “I always want you to feel safe and happy.” 

You placed your hands on his chest, shifting your weight onto your toes to place a gentle kiss against his mouth. The two of you moved slowly, enjoying the taste of one another, when an idea popped into your brain: a way to show him your appreciation, at least in this moment. Before his tongue could work its way into your mouth, you broke away to place gentle kisses along his jawline, your lips slowly traveling to the base of his throat. 

“You always take such good care of me,” you spoke softly. You increased the pressure in your hands against him, guiding him backwards out of the closet and into the bedroom. Namjoon was clearly curious as you continued to move him toward the bed, stopping short of pushing him onto the mattress. You kissed him once more, surprising him with a little nip to his bottom lip before whispering, “Let me take care of you now, Alpha.” 

His eyes were wide as you pushed him to sit on the edge of the bed before sinking to your knees. You rested your head on one of his monstrous thighs, a hand sliding up the other to wander across his lap. Looking up at him, you tried to give your best doe eyes, an innocent but playful spark within them, and you felt his cock twitch under your palm. He was half-hard already, and by the time you’d released him from his shorts and given him a few cursory licks, he was throbbing in your hand. Contentment washed over you as you took him into your mouth and Namjoon let out a deep exhale. For once, he was speechless, his pupils blown wide and jaw hanging open as he watched you work his cock. His fingers gripped tightly in your hair, the pull on your scalp motivating you to take him deeper. With nowhere to be, you took your sweet time pleasuring him. You reveled in the way he moaned for you, the look on his face when he finally released. 

When you’d both caught your breath, you climbed up his body to straddle his lap for a kiss. Not for the first time, you had to negotiate with your omega to keep her teeth to herself. You’d put off marking each other much longer already than what was normal, and you were ready for the next step. Namjoon had waited for you to figure things out so long that you wanted to make it special for him; and so, it was high time you got to scheming.

Chapter Text

“Would you please just let me help?” 

“No! Get out of my kitchen, woman!”

“Jin, you’re being ridiculous!”

“No, you’re being ridiculous! You cannot help cook for your own celebration!” 

The beta made a grab for the spatula in your hand but you held tight; the two of you were getting dangerously close to an all-out wrestling match. After living independently for so long, it wasn’t in your nature to be taken care of or doted upon. As Namjoon had pointed out, you felt you had to earn your place within the pack, and tried to contribute to the cooking and cleaning as much as possible. This didn’t escape your packmates’ notice. To make up for lost time, they were determined to spoil you and let you relax for once in your adult life — even if they had to force you into it.

“Jungkookie, come get Noona,” Yoongi drawled as he chopped vegetables, undisturbed by the chaos around him. 

The maknae was all too happy to forcibly remove you from the kitchen. You had a distinct sense of deja vu as you were thrown over a shoulder; this time, you just accepted your fate and let your body hang heavy.

“What should I do with her?” Jungkook asked, as if you couldn’t hear him. “She’s just going to run right back in here.”

Yoongi sighed and set down his knife. He grabbed a bottle of wine from the fridge and two glasses from the cabinet.

“Follow me.”

Yoongi led him out to the patio and set the wine and glasses on the table. Without another word, he walked back inside. Despite your dead weight, Jungkook had no problem carrying you from the kitchen to deposit you in one of the chairs outside. Before you could get up, he sprinted back through the door and slammed it behind him. Rolling your eyes, you got up and walked after them; however, Yoongi stood on the other side of the glass, barring your path. With a bored expression, he clicked the lock into place.

“You’re joking, right?” The alpha stared blankly back at you, while Jungkook giggled next to him. “Yoongi, let me in.” He was unmoved, turning to go back to the kitchen with Jungkook on his heels. When you tried to get the attention of other packmates, you could hear him bark at them to ignore you. There was no choice but to give up and plop back into your seat. With your phone abandoned on the kitchen counter, all you had to occupy yourself were your own thoughts (and a bottle of wine — a dangerous combination). A glass and a half in, the door opened and Jungkook escorted Sooyeon outside to join you. After hugs and general pleasantries, you handed her the other glass of wine and caught your friend up on the lengths to which every pack member was trying to make you feel at home (current exile notwithstanding).

“How sweet, you and your boys.”

“I’m excited for you to get to know everyone.”

“I still haven’t even met them all! Besides your pup who just escorted me out here, I’ve met Namjoon at the hospital, and Yoongi when you came to my office. Oh, and I spoke to Jin on the phone when he invited me to dinner, but I’m not even sure what he looks like.”

“He’s the handsome one.”

“From what I can tell, they’re all ‘ the handsome one.’”

“You’re not wrong.”

“Why are we out here, anyway? I figured you’d want to show them off to me immediately.”

“Jin is making a big fuss about me not helping with dinner because he wants this to be some kind of celebration, so they locked me out. They’re being super annoying.”

“No, they’re being sweet, in their own weird way.”

“I just want to contribute!”

“But you deserve to be taken care of every now and then. Let them,” she said gently.

“Ugh. You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I am,” she laughed. “You look good.”

“Thanks, so do you. I love your outfit.”

“Thank you, but that’s not what I meant —you seem happy . And healthy, too. How have you been feeling?”

“Can’t complain.”

“How are the symptoms? The sensory headaches and such?”

“They’re much better, although I haven’t spent a lot of time outside of the pack house, so my tolerance for foreign noises and smells is pretty low. Usually if I go somewhere, I crash when I get back.”

“That makes sense. Just take it a day at a time and work your way up — maybe start timing your outings to figure out where the threshold is for starters.” She took a sip of her wine and stared off for a moment before turning back to you. Her eyes seemed to scan you for a moment before she asked, “And how are things with Namjoon?”

You couldn’t help the smile that spread across your face. “He’s great. The best, actually.”

“I’m really happy for you, babe.”

“Why does your face suggest otherwise?”

“I’m just… wondering why you haven’t marked each other already. Is there trouble in paradise?”

“Oh.” So that’s what she’d been looking for. “That’s on me, delaying it… There’s something I want to do before I feel ready.”

“What’s that?”

“Shift.”

“Ahh.”

“I feel like… I need to know that side of myself better before I can fully commit to a mate. Like, how am I supposed to do something so meaningful for myself and my wolf when I haven’t even met her?”

“Mmm. I understand. I think that’s very healthy, to be honest. Have you tried yet? Or expressed that to Namjoon?”

“No, not yet… I haven’t told him why I want to wait. I feel a little embarrassed that I haven’t tried shifting yet. I’m a little afraid to, honestly.”

“Why?”

“Because I… don’t know how? Like, what do I even do? What if I’m bad at it? What if, with everything else, there’s something wrong with my wolf and she’s deformed or something?”

“Okay, well now you’re spiraling. One thing at a time. I can help you with the how, for starters.”

“You can?”

“I know of a really great meditation that helps guide you into it. You’re not the first person to have a complicated relationship with your wolf. You do yoga, right? It’s basically an extension of a grounding exercise. It helps you be more present in your body, and then adjusts your focus to help the process. Do you want to try it?”

“Right now?! Um… I think I’d rather wait. I don’t want it to be a spectacle, I think the pressure of everyone watching from the windows will make me more anxious.”

“I’ll send you a recording of the meditation for whenever you’re ready. I’m happy to be with you when you give it a go, but if not, it might be good to have at least one packmate nearby for moral support. Actually — can I make a recommendation?”

“Please.”

“Given your reservations about mating until you do this, maybe don’t have Namjoon be that support. Let this be just for you and because you want to meet your wolf, not some need to check a box before taking the next step in your relationship.”

“Hmm.” You sipped your wine and thought for a moment, before nodding in agreement. “I think you’re right. Thank you, Sooyeon.”

“Excuse me ladies, may I interrupt?” Namjoon’s head poked out from the doorway, still clad in his work attire. If he’d overheard your conversation, he showed no indication. He walked over and leaned down to press a quick kiss to your lips.

“Hi,” you smiled brightly as he pulled away.

“Hi,” he countered, before turning toward your guest. “Hello, Sooyeon-ssi. It’s good to see you again.”

“Likewise.”

“Jin-hyung said to let you two know that dinner's nearly ready.”

“Oh, am I allowed back in the house now?” your voice was laced with sarcasm.

“Yeah, I heard you’d been banished, I’m sorry about that.”

“I need you to go in there and avenge me.”

“I’m always on your side, but—” 

“But?!”

“It wouldn’t kill you to relax every now and then, let someone else handle things.”

“Oh, come on!”

Sooyeon gave him an approving wink, before linking arms with you to head inside and meet the rest of the pack. The three youngest were found lounging in the living room.

“You met Jungkook on your way in,” he nodded in greeting, “—and these are my fellow omegas, Jimin and Taehyung.” They both rose from their seats to greet her with overly formal bows.

“It’s a lovely to finally meet you, Sooyeon-ssi!”

“We’re delighted to have you in our humble abode!”

“The pleasure’s all mine,” she giggled. As you turned to take her into the kitchen, she whispered in your ear, “Those two seem like trouble.”

“You have no idea.”

Hobi paused his work setting the table to give her a warm welcome, and Yoongi exchanged pleasantries as he brought out the plates.

“...And this is Jin, who you spoke to already—”

“Oh! Hello, Sooyeon-ssi, it’s so nice to finally meet you, Noona here has told us so much about you. I’m so glad you could make it tonight, you see, we have this calendar and it’s very hard to coordinate our schedules sometimes, especially now that there’s eight of us, well, nine including you — I mean, for dinner at least—”

“Speaking of dinner, let’s sit down and eat, yeah?” Yoongi attempted to throw his only hyung a lifeline. 

“Thank you for inviting me, oppa. Everything looks delicious.”

Jin’s neck and ears had gone pink.

The pack spent the majority of the meal getting to know Sooyeon better, and vice versa. It was pleasing to see how well they all seemed to get along, sparking a hope for future dinners much like this with all of the people you loved most. For the most part, you just observed the conversation and enjoyed their company, but Sooyeon’s attention inevitably made its way back to you.

“... and it’s just been a bit of a drag without my work bestie there. When are you coming back?”

“Oh, on Monday, actually! I just got everything arranged earlier this week.” A few of your packmates stilled, suddenly giving you their undivided attention.

“Excellent! Is there anything you need to help get you back in the groove?”

“Actually… My department head is giving me a new office space, but I still have a lot of stuff in the old office. Could you… if it isn’t too much to ask, maybe pack up anything that looks important for me? I don’t think I'm ready to go back in there.” 

“Of course,” her hand reached across the table to squeeze yours, and at the same time, you felt Namjoon’s much larger hand lightly grip the back of your neck. A quick glance confirmed he was looking at you, but not making eye contact; something in his gaze was far away, his jaw tight. When Sooyeon released you, you reached for his thigh under the table to offer a reassuring touch and discovered he was bouncing his leg anxiously. Nobody but you seemed to notice he remained quiet through the remainder of the evening. The rest of your packmates were perfect hosts, charming as ever, and when Sooyeon hugged you tightly in goodbye, she whispered “you got yourself some good ones.”

The second the door clicked shut behind her, Namjoon turned to you, and it was clear that whatever he’d been stewing on was about to boil over. 

“When exactly were you planning on talking to me about going back to work?”

“Oh— I’m sorry it came up that way—” I didn’t even realize I hadn’t, you thought to yourself.

“I feel like that’s something you should have discussed with me before making a decision.”

“Wait, what?”

“I’m your mate, I should get a say in these things, too.”

“But it’s my career,” you reminded him gently. “That makes it my decision.”

A frustrated scowl took residence on Namjoon’s face, his arms crossing over his chest. The position emphasized his muscular chest and arms, making him look even more physically imposing than he already was. At this show of dominance, most of the pack decided to take their leave of the room to give the two of you some privacy. Clearly, the short-lived honeymoon period was already over.

“Babe,” you reached out a hand to soothe him despite your own growing irritation, flinching when he avoided your touch. “Namjoon, you knew this was going to happen eventually.”

“I just think you’re rushing into it.”

“I’ve already been out for a month. I’m fully healed, I would have been back by now if it wasn’t for my heat.”

“Can’t you just let your TA finish the semester?”

“That’s not their responsibility and you know it. They’ve already gone above and beyond, and I owe it to my students to provide the education they signed up for.”

“I don’t like the idea of you being back there. What if you taught class virtually?”

“No, Namjoon. My students are there, I’m going back to campus.”

Your mate’s gears were clearly turning. Let him process however he needs to, but my plans aren’t changing. After a long pause of pondering, he spoke again.

“Fine, you can go back to work in a limited capacity. If you have to teach in-person, you should at least take your office hours virtually — from here .” He adjusted his attention to Jungkook, who had remained quietly observing nearby. “JK, I want you to drive Luna to and from campus every day and make sure she isn’t walking around alone, okay?”

You were dumbfounded by his “solution” to the perceived problem, but before you could reply, the younger alpha gave a determined nod. 

“Don’t worry about a thing, hyung! I’ll keep our Luna safe!”

“Good. Can you print a copy of your class schedule for me, so I can figure out gaps where we need backup on campus? Yoongi’s schedule is flexible enough that he should be able to keep an eye on her while you’re in class.”

“Keep an eye on me?” you asked, incredulous. “And what do you mean, I can go back in a limited capacity?”

“I want someone with you at all times.”

“I don’t need a babysitter!” you finally snapped. “And I don’t need your permission, either!”

“This isn’t up for debate,” Namjoon returned fire. “You are my mate, our Luna, and an omega. It’s our responsibility to protect you.”

You swore you felt steam billowing from your ears in rage. “I will not spend the rest of my life cowering in fear and looking over my shoulder!  Being an omega does not make me weak, and just because you’re my alpha doesn’t mean you get to dictate how I live!”

“Your life isn’t just yours anymore!” Namjoon’s voice boomed. “You belong to all of us, same as all of us belong to you!”  He stormed off, slamming the bedroom door behind him. For a long, quiet moment, you stood frozen in place, your body shaking — though whether it was from fear, frustration, or absolute rage, you didn’t know. 

Jungkook was the only other packmate still in the room. “You should go talk to him,” he finally said, despite your incredulous look.

“Why should I? He’s the one in the wrong!” you pointed accusingly toward the closed door.

“You’re both wrong,” Jungkook muttered, looking sullenly at the ground. When it seemed like you might actually try to throttle him, he raised his palms in a peacemaking gesture and continued, “I totally get why you’re upset with hyung, and you totally have every right to be. But, Noona…”  Jungkook’s eyes met yours, and his anguished expression knocked the air from your lungs. “Try to see things from his point of view. You don’t know what it was like for him when you were hurt.” As he turned away, you heard him add under his breath, “You don’t know what it was like for any of us.”

Your shoulders sagged in defeat, the anger you’d felt a moment ago suddenly evaporating. How would you feel if it was Namjoon who had been hurt? It didn’t take even a moment of consideration to know that were the roles reversed, you would never let him out of your sight again, would burn the world down to find anyone who harmed him. Both of you had fucked up communicating about your return to work — you by not telling him sooner, and him by letting his alpha ego take over. After a few deep breaths, you retreated to the kitchen for a drink and to splash cold water on your face. Only when you felt calm enough did you follow Namjoon into the bedroom.

“Joon, I’m sorry, I just—”

You were cut short by the sight of your mate sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking with sobs. As soon as you stood in front of him, Namjoon’s face pressed into your belly and his arms wrapped tight around your thighs as he sobbed. “Oh my love, I’m sorry, shhh, it’s okay, I’m right here,” you quietly assured him. Your fingertips stroked his scalp and rubbed his back until he’d calmed enough to talk.

“I’m sorry too,” he began. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. I don’t want to fight, I just want to keep you safe. I need to keep you safe. If anything happened again, I can’t— I couldn’t—”

“I know, I know, it’s okay,” you soothed. 

“Of course you should go back to work and be able to live your life like normal. But every time you leave the house I just feel this panic not knowing if you’re okay. Knowing that in one moment you could just be ripped away from me.”

“Joonie, I wish you would have told me you were feeling so anxious. Is this what had you stressed out when Yoongi took me to see Sooyeon?” He simply pressed his lips to your inner wrist in response. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I didn’t want to upset you, or make you relive your trauma.”

“I appreciate the intention, love, but what upsets me is that you thought you couldn’t talk to me about your worries. I need you to believe that you can lean on me, too,” you said as you moved to sit next to your mate. “We’re partners now, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“And for what it’s worth, I really do think I’m okay, for the most part. It’s been such a whirlwind that I haven’t looked much into giving therapy a try, but I will. Right now though, I’m more worried that you — and Jungkook — may have been traumatized too.”

“Honestly? We all were,” his voice was thick with emotion. As he looked at you, he saw that his face was wet and puffy from crying, a flush creeping up his neck. The sight created a deep ache in your chest, but you nodded at him to continue anyway. “While you were out of it… the whole pack was a mess. Yoongi saw you laid up in that hospital bed and went out and punched a hole in a wall of the waiting room. Jin nearly wore out the soles of his shoes the way he was pacing back and forth. He was so obsessed with the care you were receiving that the nurses were a little scared of him, especially after he snapped at that one who tried to kick us out. He was basically micromanaging the entire staff on your floor. The maknaes somehow became even more codependent, which I didn’t think was possible. And I’m pretty sure Hobi was in shock. If we didn’t give him a task to do, he just sat there, staring off into space. It was like he completely shut down, we could barely get him to eat.”

None of this was easy to hear; your heart ached for everything your pack had gone through, and you were already mentally planning how to approach the topic of group therapy. But for now, you took a deep breath and did what you could to support Namjoon.

“And what about you? It must be a difficult position to be the pack alpha and have others looking to you when you’re also upset and struggling. If you want to talk about it, I want to know what you went through.” He sniffed and nodded before lacing his fingers in yours; you pulled your joined hands into your lap to keep him close.

“We were supposed to go to dinner, remember? I was on my way — I was going to tell you everything. That I’m in love with you, to ask you to join the pack. I was running late, because I’d stopped to buy flowers and I was overthinking which ones to get, when I got the call from Jungkook. He was outside of your office, and I could hear him trying to break down the door. I knew Hobi was close by, so I called him right away. I don’t… I must have thrown the flowers to the side of the road or something, I just took off to sprint the last few blocks.” Namjoon took a moment to collect himself before continuing. “That’s when I knew for sure.”

“Knew what for sure?”

“As I was running, I got this searing pain,” his fingertips gently traced over the ghost of a scar on your shoulder. “It only lasted for a couple seconds, but I knew I’d found my soulmate… and that you were in agony.”

“Talk about bittersweet,” you quipped, attempting (and failing) to lighten the mood.

“When I finally got there, you were… there was so much blood. And I knew I had to get you to a hospital, but Jungkook was in danger, too. He told me to get you out of there, that he could handle it, but you were so desperate to protect him. You were screaming, trying to claw your way into the middle of the fight — I had to drag you away, I had to take you and run. I didn’t know if Jungkook was going to be okay. I was carrying you to the hospital, and I felt you go limp in my arms. I thought… I thought I lost you. Both of you. I should have been there to protect you.”

“Namjoon, look at me,” you gently commanded, guiding his face toward yours with your free hand. “What happened was not your fault.”

“I know that rationally, but still… it’s hard not to think about.”

“I’m so sorry you went through that, Joon. And I’m sorry I wasn’t more considerate and patient with your feelings.”

“And I’m sorry I snapped and tried to control you. I swear, I’m not that kind of alpha.”

“It’s okay. I understand why you would be scared for me to go back to work — and I know we can figure out a compromise that lets me live my life and gives you peace of mind. Okay? We’ll talk it out, we’re smart people, we can find a solution.”

“Thank you for saying that, baby. Can we figure it out later, though? Right now I just want to hold you.”

“Of course,” you agreed before kissing his cheek. The two of you laid down and snuggled into each other’s arms, scenting one another until you both calmed down.

“I think Jungkookie is the next stop on my apology tour. The look on his face after you left the room… it broke my heart.”

“I’m sure he’d appreciate it, but usually after an argument the only thing that makes him feel better is cuddles.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, you yelled, “Jungkookie! Come cuddle with me and Alpha!”   The words had barely left your lips when the maknae came bursting through the door; he didn’t pause for even an instant before he was throwing himself on top of you.

“Oof.”

“Don’t crush my mate, please.”

Jungkook shifted as if to move off of you, but you grabbed at his shoulders. The pressure of his body on yours was reassuring, the weight comforting. 

“It’s okay, you can lay on me Kookie.” He nodded, readjusting to rest his head on your chest; out of instinct, you began running your fingers through his hair, and he let out a pleased grumble. Namjoon kissed the side of your head and moved so that his arms were around you both. “Jungkook, I owe you an apology. I’ve been so focused on myself that I didn’t think about what you’ve been going through, how scared you must have been or how guilty you must feel about what you had to do, and I’m sorry. I want you to know that if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here to listen.”

“I wasn’t scared of him,” his voice was muffled against your body. “I was scared of losing you. But I don’t… I don’t feel bad for what I did. Is that wrong?” 

“You did what any of us would have done,” Namjoon told him. “You protected a packmate. You acted in self-defense. However you feel about it is valid, as long as you’re processing it.”

“And it’s okay if those feelings change as you get some space from it. Whatever you need, we’re here for you.”

The young alpha nodded again, quietly murmuring, “I love you, Luna. And you, hyung.”

“We love you too, Jungkookie.”

“Jungkook,” Namjoon’s voice was tight again. “I never properly thanked you, for saving her. For giving me the chance to share life with my soulmate.”

Jungkook raised his head up with a pout on his face. “Yeah, well, I didn’t do it for you! Never forget that I saw her first!”

The sentimental moment ebbed away as Namjoon rolled his eyes as you giggled. A floorboard creaked near the bedroom door; you looked up to see Jimin and Taehyung peeking into the room. 

“Aw, look! Appa and eomma and baby,” Taehyung smiled at his phone screen, clearly taking a photo.

“Not a baby,” Jungkook grumbled.

“Is everyone good now? Can we come cuddle?”

“Come on in.”

Taehyung quickly claimed the spot next to you, Jimin practically on top of him so he could be near you, too. They nuzzled close, scenting and kissing whatever body parts they could reach on the three of you.

“I told you you were going to spoil them,” Jin chided fondly from the doorway.

“Just shut up and get in here,” Namjoon said.

“Where are Yoongi and Hobi?”

“Yah, we wouldn’t miss out on a good cuddle puddle!” Hobi grinned as they trailed in and found spots among the many bodies.

Though it had only been a short time of being able to pick up on the scents of your packmates, they now washed over you and brought you comfort in a way you never expected. Tears pricked your eyes at the overwhelming joy of being surrounded by so much love. No matter what, you knew you were safe with your boys. For the rest of your life, you would be cared for, protected, loved. With some effort, you turned your head to face your partner to find that he was already watching you, smiling though his own eyes were misty.

“I think we’re going to need a bigger bed.”

Chapter Text

That weekend, the whole pack went to your apartment to begin moving your things. Yoongi carefully packed your records as you and Namjoon reviewed your bookshelves, attempting to avoid duplicating titles they already had in the pack library. Jin assessed the kitchen for anything that would be a welcome addition in the house; but with the exception of a few favorite mugs, you weren’t partial to keeping much from that room. There were a few of your home decor choices, however, that you felt very torn about. You’d spent a significant amount of time choosing the furnishings in your living room — selecting the art, searching for the perfect comfy reading chair, and finding just the right rug to tie it all together. None of it would look right anywhere in the pack house, but you weren’t quite ready to part with them. When Taehyung suggested renting a small storage unit, just for a few months until you decided what to do, you readily agreed. Jimin pointed out that you hadn’t been to the cabin yet, and that you might be able to find a home for some of your things there. As fellow omegas, they were very intent about not getting rid of anything that could be deemed part of your nest, and therefore packed up each and every throw pillow and blanket with care.

The clothes in your dresser and closet had both been successfully cleaned out throughout the week with help from Hobi. Since you and Namjoon had decided to take your whole set of bedroom furniture to the house, Jungkook began removing items from your nightstands to prepare them for moving. You were both mortified when he discovered your (now infamous) vibrator in the drawer, war flashbacks of that drunken, dumb selfie coming back to haunt you.

“Ahh, I remember this, good times!” Hobi joked as he snatched the toy from Jungkook, packing it into a box marked KEEP.

“Ugh that was so embarrassing, I thought we all had an unspoken agreement to never bring it up again.”

“I didn’t agree to that,” Jin argued. “Besides, isn’t it nice to think that the next time we hunker down for a heat cycle, you’ll be with us?”

“Not only will you be with us, you’ll be getting dicked down too!” Taehyung cheered.

With all the packing and unpacking, Monday arrived quickly. After a lengthy (but far more constructive) conversation with Namjoon, you agreed to let Jungkook drive you to and from campus and check in periodically; however, you drew the line at anyone else stepping in as a bodyguard. The university had upped campus security since the incident, and Sooyeon was in the same building. That would be enough. With everyone on the same page, there was an air of excitement to it, like the first day of school.

The second you hit your alarm, Hobi was walking into the bedroom with an iced coffee in-hand, just the way you liked it. 

“Good morning, sunshine!” You were barely conscious enough to register the glass as he placed it on your nightstand before giving you a quick peck on your nose. “Monday is the day my schedule is the lightest, so if you need anything at all, just call me, okay Luna?” All he got in reply was a sleepy grumble and thumbs-up, but that seemed to appease the chipper beta.

You were still rubbing the sleep from your eyes when Namjoon exited the bathroom, already dressed for work — a new exhibit was opening soon, and he wanted to get to the gallery early to oversee the installations going in. He sat on the edge of the bed and held your hands, toying with the ring he’d placed on your finger.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay. A little nervous maybe, but I’m ready,” you replied. “How are you feeling?”

“Anxious. But I know it’ll be fine. Just… text me when you get settled?”

“I will. I love you, Joonie. It’ll all be fine, I promise.”

“I love you too. I’ll see you tonight,” he kissed your cheek before heading out.

Dressed and ready for the day, you strolled into the kitchen to discover the two eldest members of the pack in a flurry of activity.

“I made your favorite kimbap for lunch, and also some kimchi-jjigae,” Jin said as he handed you to-go containers. “Make sure you eat it all and drink plenty of water. Coffee does not count, Luna.”

“Noona, go sit down.” Yoongi directed you to a place at the kitchen island before presenting a perfect rolled omelet, toast, and a side of sliced fruit.

“Hey! You never make me breakfast before school,” a sleepy-eyed Jungkook complained as he walked into the room.

“As a matter of fact, today I did, but now I don’t think you deserve it. Noona, why aren’t you eating yet?”

“I put your water bottle in your work bag, and a few extra snacks just in case.”

“Do you want another cup of coffee for now, or to-go?”

“Does your blazer need a quick steam? There’s a crease here in the back, it’ll just take me a few minutes…”

“How close is your new office to Sooyeon’s?”

“Have you taken your suppressants yet? Do you have enough in your bag?”

“Your eggs are getting cold, eat up.”

Jungkook’s eyes met yours as you both tried to suppress your giggles. You thanked both men profusely, enjoying their looks of pride before digging into your breakfast.

Being fussed over by Jin and Yoongi had both amused and soothed you, but the nerves began setting in as you approached campus. Once parked, Jungkook gave you a big hug before heading to his first class. It took a bit of time to find your office; muscle memory tried to take you to your old one, but as you walked down the hall, the anxiety you’d tried to deny creeped its way up your spine and you redirected. It was a relief when you found your name placard outside a new door. While the space wasn’t much larger than what you’d previously had, you were pleasantly surprised to see it had an additional window that added a ton of extra light. As your eyes panned the room, you realized Sooyeon had clearly done a little more than just picking up the necessities from your old office. It was beautifully decorated to exactly your taste — in fact, it looked very familiar. You realized that at least one of your packmates had colluded with Sooyeon. Many of the items you’d loved most from your living room were now here, perfectly arranged to suit your office space. Your degrees were already hung on the wall, the bookshelves full. All of your supplies appeared neatly organized on the desk. Your office fairies had even gone so far as to buy you a color-coordinated minifridge stocked with your favorite beverages. They’d somehow edited and arranged and supplemented your decor to make it look professional, but still cozy. It made the space feel familiar and safe. In fact, it looked so little like your old office, you didn’t associate it at all with that fateful day. The more you looked around, the more emotional you became; your friends had anticipated and seen to your needs, without you even realizing what you needed. Your suspicions of Sooyeon’s accomplices were confirmed by a framed photo on the desk. It was you with Jimin and Taehyung, from the night of the gala; one of them kissing each of your cheeks.

Luna: You guys!!! This is too much.

Jimin: subtlety is boring!

Taehyung: you deserve it, Noona!

Luna: Your nesting skills really are something to behold.

Sooyeon: I have one other thing to add to the room, I’ll be right there!

Luna: I’m gonna start crying!