Stepping into the healer's hut, Jimin huffs and grits his teeth, an uncomfortable tug pulling through his body from carrying Taewoo's body. His gaze wanders to Taewoo's feet, clutched tightly by Jungkook's big hands, veins popping at the mere effort. For some reason which he can't explain, he struggles to look away. His mind is in turmoil. Jimin should rather be concentrating on getting Taewoo onto a couch in one piece and taking care of him, and yet here he is, unable to take his eyes off Jungkook's hands.

You fool.

Not only that, he'd completely forgotten that when they would enter through the wooden door, his fucking gorgeous sandalwood scent would permeat the hut, almost knocking him out. Awkwardly, he coughs as he didn't expect Jungkook's would have such an impact on him. After all, there was only one time where he was with Jungkook in a room after Jungkook presented but that was with other pack members in the room.

Carefully they lay Taewoo down on the couch and Jimin bends his leg so that he can have better access to see better the allergic reaction. Looking at Taewoos leg, he most likely touched a poisonous plant with his hind legs when in wolf form and unfortunately, he can't ask him anything as he is wavering between reality and unconsciousness. Now that Jimin can get a good look at the injured alpha, he can see that it is also possible Taewoo panicked after the plant touched him and he hit his head, causing him to faint. There are several theories that come into his mind. But this one sounds the most plausible.

Barely a minute passes and Jimin gets to work. Now he can take a closer look at the spot on the leg and "in a way" take the time to mull things over in what he needs to do. First he looks for something cool and moistens two cloths with cold water to go around the wound on Taewoo. As he does so, he feels Jungkook's gaze linger on him, but not with as much anger as usual. Jimin can't gauge what Jungkook is thinking, it makes him a little uneasy, he has to admit. All these years he has seen nothing but judgement and bitterness in those brown eyes. Has their relationship shifted in the stone hail?

Does Jungkook see things differently now?

He has to come back to reality, he tells himself mentally, and remember that one person can't just change within a few hours and over one small conversation. Jimin shakes his head, trying to brush off his thoughts. It should take more to convince him that the alpha is changing for the better.

No matter where Jimin moves in the hut, Jungkook hardly seems to take his eyes off him. Whether it's making tea for Taewoo or giving the rash some kind of ointment, Jungkook seems to follow many of his steps with his watchful eyes until Jimin decides to put an end to it all. With his back turned to Jungkook, Jimin furrows his eyebrows, having had enough. He turns to face him, hands on his formed hips. "It doesn't behove you to be stared at all the time you know. If you're here because you want to make sure I'm doing my job or don't trust me, then I can assure you that I am. If you're sitting around waiting for Taewoo to wake up-"

"It's not that," Jungkook interrupts him with a sigh, averting his gaze to the floor in front of him as if to avoid Jimin's stern gaze. Jungkook fumbles with his small finger. Jimin could swear this is the first time he sees Jungkook radiating nervousness. "It's-"

Jungkook shakes his head and scratches the back of his head thoughtfully before meeting Jimin's eyes for a brief moment, his frown deepens. "Nevermind."

Jimin scrunches his nose. Ever since they stepped out of the stone shelter, he feels like the atmosphere isn't quite as tense as it was before. However, it also makes Jimin realise that if he's looking at Jungkook right now, he can't gauge what he's thinking, nor can he gauge it from his scent. The uncertainty between them makes his stomach ache a little. "Well- if it's nothing, I'm sure you have nothing against going out to the forest to get some herbs I need for Taewoo, am I right?"

"But-" Jungkook falls silent as Jimin raises an eyebrow and seems pretty sure he wants the upper hand in the situation. And if Jungkook doesn't want to reveal the real reason for his gazes, he'd rather do as the other says, unwilling to start a new discussion. "Okay, what do you need?"

Jimin thinks for a moment and then describes to him a plant that is growing near the hut and decides to give Jungkook the last example of what he finds in the herbs collection. Only because Jimin has the feeling that Jungkook would otherwise bring him everything, but the right plant.

Jimin returns his attention to Taewoo, listening as Jungkook exits the hut with a plant between his fingers and closes the door behind him, his steps on the wet and muddy ground fade into the background. Both failed to notice the pair of eyes that watch Jungkook stepping into the forest, hidden from a fallen tree and some bushes.

Branches creak under the weight of Jungkook's feet as he's embraced by the unmistakable earthy scent that hits his nostrils and characterises nature. Despite the fact that the rain has already stopped falling and the storm has already passed, Jungkook smells the note of rain and humidity in the air. It feels musky but fresh. The uneven ground beneath him holds a valley of fallen leaves in brown, orange and red that were stripped from the trees and now kiss the ground, making it harder for him to find what Jimin has asked him to find.

Back at the hut, Jimin has no idea how long it will take the alpha to look for the plant and bring it to him. He knows enough time has passed for Taewoo to slowly wake up and come to his senses.

"W-what happened?"

Speaking of the devil.

The said alpha's eyes blink open, but just as quickly close again with a loud hiss he lets out and a deep growl in his chest. The pounding sensation in his head hurts too much as if it's like he's been at a group feast, with loads of laughing, drinking and dancing.

"M-my head."

"Taewoo, you're finally awake!" Jimin's surprised voice laces concern as it sounds through the hut. On the spot he leaves what he was holding and hurries to Taewoo's side. In the first place, it might seem like someone concerned about his partner, but it's not like that. Jimin is just genuinely concerned. He is a pack member, even if he is not treated with a good heart and mind by everyone, he does not have it in him to treat the pack members with the same demeanour.

"How are you?"

"My head hurts..." Taewoo grimaces and grabs his head in a slow movement, closing his eyes. "What happened?"

"Jungkook and you were hunting, I believe, and you must have touched a plant with your hind legs in the process, which must have caused an allergic reaction. Somehow you hit your head and fainted," Jimin explains in a calm voice, one of his hands pushing aside black hair strands on the alpha's forehead to expose the already warm cloth. He dips it back into the cold water again and puts it back on his forehead.

"Before you can sit up, you should rest some more and maybe try to sleep. I'll bring you some soup when you are awake." Taewoo barely registers his words, eyes closing and feeling fatigue taking over his body, despite having a hammering headache. Jimin observes him for a short moment, sighing. If only all pack members would act this calm with him... Yeah, Taewoo might not be feeling well, and he might not have interacted much with him but thinking back to the encounters, Taewoo is actually most likely the only Alpha who hasn't acted like an ass towards him.

"What am I doing..." Jimin sighs again and fumbles with the warm scrap of cloth in his hand. He wonders how it would feel if everyone treated him so civilly. Unfortunately, Seoyeon has ensured the opposite and Jimin is afraid he can't do anything about it on his own.

"Is this what you wanted?" At the sound of Jungkook's voice, Jimin raises his head perplexed, not having expected him to return at any moment. The alpha wears a serious but worried facial expression just like earlier and he's slightly out of breath, Jimin notices. Did he run here?

Jimin shakes his head and throws a glance at the herb in his hand, lip biting as he momentarily zones out.

"Perfect, you're not that dense after all, hm?"

Low blow, Jimin. Even for you.

"Ha..ha..." Jungkook huffs and rolls his eyes, grabbing Jimin's wrist and putting the herb in his hand, barely registering the gasp that leaves the omega's mouth or how he tenses when a waft of Jungkook's scent suddenly embraces him. Jimin grows frustrated. Ever since this incident in the forest Jungkook's scent seems to affect him in a different way than others. It's like earlier... he had to dig his nails into his skin to hold back and just sit there calmly next to Jungkook in the rain, because the memories, mixed with the comfort of his scent made him want to move closer and for once pretend they are back to best friends, comforting another.

But this... Is nothing more than a wish he has already buried deep inside, knowing that they will never be the same again. He should stop thinking about it, no matter how much his omega begs him to do something about it.

"Anyways," Jungkook says, bringing Jimin out of his thoughts. He pauses in his movement, waiting to hear what the alpha has to say. "How long do you think it will take him to recover and get back on his feet?"

Jimin isn't sure if he's asking because he has a good relationship with Taewoo or as the pack leader's son, and neither his scent nor his expression is any indication of the truth. However, the concerned expression on his face leads him to believe that Jungkook at least has human feelings for him.

"I can't say for sure. It could take a day, but he could just as easily take a few days to recover. He needs rest and he needs to sleep. Why don't you just come and check on him if you're worried?"

Jimin didn't mean the sentence. He has no opinion about seeing Jungkook for longer at the moment because he has mixed feelings about having Jungkook around, and he doesn't know how to react to the things Jungkook says or does. Because he knows nothing else from Jungkook other than being rejected and not treated fairly. He is afraid to let go and that once he lets go to trust him, something might happen and everything will break again and he will be completely broken by it.

"Okay."

Fast forward a few days later, Jimin looks extensively at his hands in which he holds a cream, eyeing them as if looking for something. There is nothing to be found, though, because there is nothing visible, but Jungkook's touch when he gave him one of the jars of herbs, as he was busy with Taewoo at the time, has left a tingling sensation. He can still feel it.

Jimin remembers when he told Jungkook that he could come and visit Taewoo at the hut, but he didn't think he would actually do it. Jimin didn't need to be present to know that. When one of his grandparents was at the hut, they mentioned it in passing at dinner that Jungkook had come to check on Taewoo, as if it was something new—well it was unusual that's for sure.

Jimin didn't want to believe them at first, but when he was back in the hut and Jungkook stepped through the door, he knew they were right on the spot. He took notice of the slight change of the sandalwood scent in the air. Jimin brushed it off and convinced himself that it was because of Taewoo. Eventually, he got better and better with each passing day and the bump on his head got smaller and smaller. There was no more reason for the alpha to appear in the hut, seeing as Taewoo was as good as ready to go.

Then there's also Donghyun, the other Alpha, who seems to want to know more about the job as a healer with each passing day. Jimin was really sceptical at first, but he's doing well and learning fast. It's... not what Alphas usually do in this pack.

Jimin scoffs as the one scene from earlier runs through his mind and props himself up on the table with both hands, his head hanging between them. As he was checking on Taewoo's condition one last time earlier, he reached for a vessel that was on the floor next to him, empty. He didn't look back as he reached out and turned his body 45 degrees. His eyes were too focused on checking Taewoo out, that everything was okay before he would leave.

That's why it surprised him, even more, when not one but two hands reached for the empty vessel after he asked, "Can you get me more of those flowers?"

Confused, he looked up and saw two pairs of eyes fixed on the har until their gazes met, both radiating their strong pheromones which made Jimin almost light-headed. Jimin furrowed his brows, clearly taken aback and bewildered why Jungkook would think he meant him. Why he would do that when Donghyun was the one who learned about being a healer and not Jungkook? He didn't have any involvement in this whatsoever.

"Let me do this." Before Jimin could say anything Jungkook ripped the vessel out of their hands and vanished through the door, leaving question marks on not only Jimin's but also Donghyun's face.

"Are you alright, Jimin?"

"Huh?" Jimin blinks. He was too distracted to catch what Donghyun was saying to him. Jungkook had already brought them back the vessel of the flowers he needed and then left. Strange, that's what Jimin thought about his behaviour. He, however, didn't want to waste more thoughts on it so he left it at that.

"Are you alright, Jimin? You seem a little... I don't know...like something's bothering you."

"Ah, it's nothing."

No matter how many times Taewoo asked him or gave him questionable looks that day, Jimin would brush it away every time. He told himself it was nothing but when the realisation settled, he didn't know how to react. He tried his best to push it away, the phrase that wouldn't leave his mind until it was time for him to go home: now that Taewoo's healed, Jungkook has no more reason to come here. Was he glad? Was he disappointed? Recently when it comes to Jungkook he isn't sure of anything anymore.

Therefore this evening, Jimin resolves to relax a bit and maybe do something with Jinho; just let his mind wander and not worry about anything. He hasn't seen the alpha much at all in the last few days and he could really use a little distraction from a friendly companion.

He's pretty much inside the house when something in the corner of his eye catches his attention. Looking closely, the flowers he planted next to his house not so long ago appear wilted, despite good care and that's not the only thing that happens to him. The next day he trips over a thin thread attached to the house as he is on his way to the plants. He cuts his knees and scratches his hands as he falls.

It's little things that happen to him. He doesn't give them much thought until he finds his garments he hung up to dry, burning outside in the garden. It is then that he gets a vague suspicion. It's not something that just so happens, and it pisses him off that he can't do anything about it. The vicious circle starts again and no one would believe him.

Days pass and soon enough the planned autumn fest happens. Things have been quiet around Jimin and he literally couldn't ask for more. He's confident not to go but Jinho convinces him, so he tells himself, it's fine. He can face the pack members as long as Jinho is on his side. And yet, the confidence he had before is gone, just like a flame from a candle when being blown out. The moment the pack members lay their eyes on him, it makes him uncomfortable, squirm under their gazes and he wishes he could vanish on the spot. Their eyes are filled with nothing but hatred and envy. It causes his stomach to churn.

It turns out it was a mistake to join the fest. When Jimin sits near the fire on a table, waiting for Jinho to come back who was called by another pack member to discuss something. His eyes roam around the people, sitting, talking and eating and having a good time. What would it feel like to have the feeling of belonging there? To join in with the pack as an accepted member. His eyes settle on Jungkook who sits not all too far away with Seoyeon by his side. 

Even so, she seems quite entertaining and talking about something, Jungkook doesn't even look at her. It almost appears like he's lost in thoughts, gaze roaming around. Jimin yelps when their eyes suddenly meet. Warmth rises in his cheeks. He wants to look away and yet something stops him.

Something soft flashes through Jungkook's eyes, making it seem like all the recent years of events that happened didn't exist, but reality catches up fast and this is when Seoyeon tugs on his arm, probably whining why he doesn't pay attention to her.

Jimin clears his throat, eyes awkwardly averting to the fire in front of him, radiating the perfect warmth he needs right now. He chooses to listen to the random discussions between the pack members when one, in particular, makes his blood run cold.

"There must be something true to that. He's with this alpha nowadays. I think his name is Jinho? Do you think he's cheating on him? Others saw Jimin hanging around other alphas."

"What? Wait, but this wouldn't be the first time, no?"

Jimin feels his nails digging into the wood he's sitting on and tears brimming in his eyes. They already have something against him. Now they need to bring Jinho into this too? He feels the urge to stride over to the pack members and give it to them straight. There's no need to pull Jinho into this. He's innocent. Just as much as him. But again, who'd believe him?

With a mix of frustration and anger, he turns his back on the fest and leaves for the deeper forest. He feels more than uncomfortable being there and hopes Jinho will not hold it against him that he left without a word.

In the darkness that surrounds him in the forest, he can't make out much where he steps as he's not in his wolf's form. Jimin feels half-blind, but he doesn't care as long as he is away from the fest. He tries to find his way to the clearing, a place he often goes if he wants to be alone and think. He wishes he can leave the pack, however, at what price? Leaving his grandparents alone? Being an easy prey for rogues?

No, thank you.

His feet feel heavy as he hears branches cracking under his feet. The rustling of leaves gives him unpleasant goosebumps, for all he knows anything could attack him and he couldn't smell it first. He's about to reach the clearing when he is suddenly caught in some kind of net and pulled upwards, the rough material cutting into his leg. Jimin panics and tries to find a way out, only for the net to cut deeper into his leg. He then grabs the seriousness of the situation he's in and succumbs to the feeling of giving up because he's in a net trap, hanging from a tree and there's no way out since he doesn't possess anything to cut and even if... the ropes are too thick.