Date: November 14th
Time: 4:48pm
Location: The Forest
Mood: Morose

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The late autumn sunshine shone down in streams from in-between the partially bare trees of the forest, creating a kaleidoscope of colors on the forest floor. On pack lands this area was safe for them to roam when their wolves needed a release. It wasn't often for most wolves, maybe twice a month did their need to be let out become great. Not shifting wasn't an option. That was like telling a human never to stand up and stretch. Unhealthy, dangerous.

As of late, Jimin's wolf had become more restless and needed letting out at least twice a week. Finding his mate was the best thing to ever happen to him. But it was also one of the hardest. Y/n was human and delicate and unaware of the supernatural world existing right in front of her. While Jimin wanted to jump right in and act fast, his wolf knew that wasn't the right course of action.

The way he had heard other wolves talk about the connections to their mates had been described like a thread, or a cord tethering them together. When it came to him and his Y/n, that description felt inaccurate. Between them and surrounding the two was a river. A gentle, unmoving river. Cool in nature and stable, but dangerous all the same. That water could swallow him up, but only if he stepped too far into it. Missing was a bridge and one was currently under construction, but it was taking time.

But they were soulmates. So while Y/n was unsure and needed time and adjustment, he was patient and methodically worked on building that bridge from the ground up.

Yet even so, the human side of him was not so patient, and that made him antsy. He had to get out and needed to feel in control or that side of him would drive him crazy. They were one in the same but their mate affected both.

That was how he'd come here. Whenever he came out, Taehyung's wolf would come out as well to accompany him. All of his fellows were important to him, but he and this particular wolf clicked on a different level.

Jimin's wolf was never the hunter type. Maybe it was the moon goddess's humor at work: making him more prone to observe small beings than to attack them. Definitely a good thing.

That was where he was at now, hiding in the underbrush and observing a furry rabbit creating a new den for itself. It's small stature reminded him of his mate and he whined at the thought of her, causing the creature to stand in alarm and scan the area for potential predators. Even that reminded him of Y/n. She was always checking her surroundings to see if anyone was watching. He wondered if she was aware of that habit.

Without waiting to see if it was in danger, the rabbit took off for safety anyway and he watched it go, sad that it was leaving.

A long nose belonging to Taehyung's wolf nudged at his head, sniffing at an ear to see if he was alright. Like his human side, this wolf's visuals were no joke. A soft caramel color trailed over his head, back and halfway down his legs. From his chest, the underside of his tail and his paws, he was an off white. He was the longest in length, but not the tallest as Hoseok's wolf dwarfed them all in that area. Their human sides often referred to Taehyung's as the prettiest, though their wolves didn't put much thought into that.

Taehyung's wolf was very mischievous. Although Jimin's didn't share that trait, he did watch his schemes with amusement. Like when Namjoon was still in the early relationship stages with his mate. Every time they would try to kiss, Taehyung and his wolf found it highly amusing to interrupt at the last second, thus putting off this moment and making Namjoon's wolf more and more agitated. Jungkook had even joined in on the running joke later on.

In contrast, Jimin's was the smallest, but the fastest, (second only to Hoseok). They could and did tease him for being the smallest, but the silent and graceful fluidity of his movements was enough to awe anyone to silence. When he would leap over any manner of things on the forest floor, the sound of his paws landing was nonexistent. If he did have a tendency to hunt, there was no doubt he would likely be the most deadly, seeing as how no one could detect his movements or hear him coming.

And, as his friends liked to point out, he was cute. Sleek, multicolored fur swirled in with a mixture of black, brown and the occasional spot of grey here and there.

Taehyung's wolf nudged at his snout once more, then moved down and began to push at his side. They didn't speak with words, growls or any sound a human would hear. Animals had their own way of communicating.

'Up, my friend. Let's run.' The caramel colored wolf urged him into action.

With heavy paws he forced himself to stand. The only thing he wanted to run toward was his mate but he couldn't. Tonight was full moon. As careful and gentle as he was, even he wasn't sure if he could keep from marking her. Or at least keep from holding her hostage in some form.

Another whimper left his mouth as he thought of her. What was she doing right now? Probably wrapped up in her too-big sweaters and being unintentionally adorable. Soon, if things went as Jimin hoped they would, he would be treated to the sight of Y/n and little humans. He couldn't think about it. She was hurting him being that cute.

It led him down a rabbit hole of thoughts and future possibilities. Did she want pups of her own? Would she want them with him? He wanted them. In his mind's eye he could picture them already. Definitely they would be midgets like their parents.

At that thought he backtracked in his thinking. Y/n was very bashful. What would it be like to mate with her?

Jimin had thought on this subject to a great extent. Too much. And though his wolf told him to stop with the ridiculous fantasy scenarios and not to think of their mate like that, even he couldn't stop himself sometimes. After all, he was a man too.

She was number one. The center of who they were and what they wanted to be. Y/n was beautiful inside and out and deserved respect and love. And lately, he knew that her feelings had changed. That was a secret he dared not tell Jimin. It was something he would have to figure out on his own, all while carefully pursuing her.

But he could tell.

Something had shifted with her. Things were different. And he got the impression that it wasn't just because Jimin's behavior had improved.

The benefit of being the wolf in this equation was that he could sense her feelings. Emotionally, by smell. And by something Jimin sometimes lacked: common sense.

When extra shy, she smelled like rosemary. Sad, raspberries. Happy, she smelled like ocean spray, salty and blue, washing over hot sand and reminding him of all the happy things summer had to offer.

As of late, that was the scent that always accompanied her. It brought him a sense of relief while at the same time drove him wild. How was he supposed to focus on anything when she smelled that good?

This scent wasn't his only clue.

Each werewolf had a special 'power' granted to them. Nothing like the ability to fly or become invisible, rather it was realistic things. Usually a natural sense enhanced. With Namjoon, he was smart. Jin, hospitality. Hoseok could always make you smile and feel important. Taehyung was strong. For Jimin, it was his hearing.

From a young age he had learned to tune things out. When it came to his mate he listened more, but not as much as his wolf.

Within the last week or so her heartbeat skyrocketed whenever he was near. There was an uptake in it's rhythm whenever she spoke to anyone, but when it came to him, there was always a smile that accompanied the sound.

Maybe part of the reason he didn't let Jimin in on this secret was because he liked having the knowledge to himself. He had created a narrative in his head that it was the two of them in the loop and Jimin was left out. Besides, it was because of him that Y/n had become more receptive. Didn't that mean she liked him more? There was no telling. But he was definitely going to taunt Jimin with the idea when he finally figured things out.

Sometimes he would listen to her breathing, the steady in and out comforting to him. She was safe and alive and under his protection. The one trait both he and Jimin shared was that she had to be protected. Once they found a spider in the back room at work and murdered it without a second thought. His mate was scared of them and by default, he hated everything that scared his mate.

The only other thing he hated more than spiders was her 'father'. Ironically, he had been the one to calm Jimin down and talk him out of doing anything crazy. In reality, the wolf was ten times angrier. In his imagination he'd already killed that man over and over.

It was beyond his comprehension how a parent could look at someone they created and raised and cared for with their own two hands and decide that they weren't important enough to stay for. As hard as he thought on it he couldn't imagine doing that. Is this what humans were like? Anyone that could commit such an atrocious sin was sure to be a vile, repulsive thing. A thing because things don't have hearts.

Typically, he was nonviolent and abhorred hurting any living thing. But when it came to her, he wanted to rid this world of everything that scared or hurt her.

Another nudge from Taehyung's wolf brought him back to earth. The prettier wolf knocked their snouts together in a sign of affection. He reciprocated without a second thought. He liked this wolf and trusted him with his life.

After that day in the hospital he'd felt guilty towards his friend. The other wolf understood completely. No one touched their mates. Especially other wolves. One day it would be ok. But it definitely was not that day.

His friend led him into a trot and their speed steadily increased until they were running side by side. This was what he needed. Someone to acknowledge him as a wolf and stand by him. Someday...eventually, hopefully Y/n would call him hers and know exactly what it meant.

<><><>

True to his word, Jimin did not text her all of Thursday and that night. It was expected, as he had given her fair warning.

The unexpected was this irrational need to be near him. She liked him. Wanted his attention. Enjoyed their time together. Looked forward to their conversations, text and otherwise. This however was a new experience.

That unexplained feeling of connection to him wanted him badly that day, and it increased that night. At the start of the day it had been a slowly building itch at the back of her mind. Not easy to ignore while at school but she managed.

At biology something appeared to be bothering Namjoon as well, so much so that even Hyuna didn't mess with him. Which was very out of the ordinary. Every now and then she would glance his way and roll her eyes, but not one word was exchanged.

What had started as an itch steadily built all day to a steady ache that brought her to the point of tears. She wanted badly to text Jimin, although knowing it would be useless. On top of that, she didn't want to bother him. He'd insinuated that he'd be busy today. The last thing he needed was a desperate and clingy her wanting a hello.

But that was another thing. Hello wouldn't be enough. What she really wanted was those sparks only he could give her. The joy of his company. The feeling of being wanted. His chubby cheeks and pinky promises.

Now when she wanted him the most he was absent, and she felt horrible. Angry with herself, confused, lost, aching at the mere thought of him

Not understanding what was happening, she retired to bed early citing a headache.

From there pacing back and forth across the floorboards of her bedroom was what took up her time, as Jimin occupied every thought.

Darkness fell and the moon came out. In a moment of weakness she pulled out her cell and stared hard at their last exchanged texts, willing him to change his mind and message her then. It might not give her any sparks, but maybe it could ease this unsettled anxiety growing inside.

No text came but the tears did. Angry, depressed, disappointed tears. Angry because she couldn't ever be brave enough to text or call him first. Depressed because again, this felt like another rejection. And disappointed because there was no incoming message.

In the end the only thing she could do was curl into a ball and wait for sleep to take her.

But even her dreams were only of Jimin.

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6:30am

An early morning phone call had her stumbling out of the shower, dripping wet and hair still lathered in shampoo.

She wasn't going to pretend she didn't know who it was.

"Hey Red." Jimin's voice was tired, but happy. "Did I wake you? I didn't mean to."

"N-no, you didn't." Breathless but thrilled with the unexpected phone call, she was quick to assure him.

Something in her tone must have put him on edge because he launched into a tirade of questions, worry and panic lacing every syllable.

"Are you ok? What's wrong? You have to tell me!"

"I'm fine, it's just that I..." she trailed off when her gaze landed on the bathroom mirror and saw her herself, bubbles cascading down her naked form. The speed in which her blush produced up her neck and over her face was comical, even to her eyes. There was no way she could inform him of her current state.

So she responded with the best. reply. ever!!

Now go back and read that in a sarcastic tone.

"IdunnoIme-meansorryor...OR! IdontknowJiminIhave t-to-TO!" With that she ended the call and jumped back into the shower, switching the water to cold in order to cool herself down.

Best. Reply. Ever.

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Edited 7/27/22