Collision

Chapter 30

Together they walked through the forest. The subtle fear of getting lost was slowly beginning to fade as Jeongguk sniffed the air and led him easily between the trees without faltering.

Jeongguk wouldn't ever let him get lost, and it eased something in him. All this time, his fear kept him from returning to Seoul after the last time he had gotten swallowed by the city. He didn't even go into the small town at the base of the mountain, always sending Namjoon.

He realized, distantly, that with Jeongguk's hand clenched in his, he didn't have to be afraid of that anymore.

By the time he saw the outline of his cabin, he paused in their walking along the tree line.

Jeongguk, brows furrowed, looked back at Yoongi with slight concern causing his smile to falter.

"What's wrong?"

Yoongi glanced over his shoulder, admiring the trees that all looked the same to him, but the serenity of the forest was one that wasn't the same. The feeling of freedom that made his heart race in desire.

"Can... can we... go the forest again?" he asked, voice small.

Jeongguk squeezed his hand, stepping closer so that he was right in front of Yoongi. The older refused to meet his eyes.

"We can come whenever you like. I promise. You will always be welcome here."

Yoongi exhaled, shoulder falling as he nodded. "Okay. Okay, thank you. Let's- let's go in, yeah? I can't really feel my fingers anymore. It's fucking cold."

Jeongguk broke into laughter, nodding his head as he stole a quick kiss before they bustled inside. Yoongi was 99% sure that Jeongguk was mumbling something about him being a human mountain cat, but promptly decided to ignore it.

Yoongi returned to his desk, headphones covering his ears, but unlike before, the frustration wasn't curdling and fogging his mind. He listened to the song once more and smiled when he could finally hear what was causing the issue.

Turning to look over his shoulder, he smiled faintly at the sight of Jeongguk curled up on the couch, seeming to be napping.

He really was soft for him, and oh so fond.

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Jeongguk awoke too early.

Incased in the familiar warmth, and iron arm wrapped around his waist, he smiled faintly as he rolled over and glanced at the overly large clock glowing bright re; 4:34 a.m.

Flinching, Jeongguk sighed quietly. He already sensed that he wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep, no matter how delicious the warmth surrounding him was.

Wiggling and inching, he managed to loosen Yoongi's grip around him and sat on the edge of the bed.

Yoongi moaned quietly in his sleep, arm curling back under the covers and face nosing at his pillow before stilling again.

Jeongguk smiled. "What a cat," he mumbled to himself, shaking his head.

He has run into plenty of mountain cats, though he blamed Taehyung for that more than anything because the Beta loved the cubs born in mid-summer, so purposely ventures close to them.

It has gotten them into some nasty fights, the cat's not too pleased by the three wolves stalking around their cubs, but once they learned that none of them had any interest in hurting their cubs, they just pretended they didn't exist.

Taehyung, however, would play with them as if he was one of them. Sometimes the mama cats would not take kindly to it, and chase him off, but one lick from him and even they were less weary.

Taehyung and his charms. No one can resist. Not even prickly mountain cats.

Jimin always called Taehyung stupid for messing with the cat's in that way. They were predators, and sometimes, they can kill a wolf that is unprepared, but Taehyung would always promise to be careful.

It was always amusing to watch.

Now though, watching briefly as Yoongi sleeps, he can't help but wonder if he tamed this mountain lion, the same way Yoongi tamed him.

Dismissing the thought, Jeongguk stood. He padded towards the closet, pulling out the hoodie that smelled mostly of Yoongi, but the faded sage and ink scent spoke that it once belonged to Namjoon.

Nose scrunching, he rubbed it on Yoongi's dirty clothes until the scent washed away and remained only Yoongi's scent. He pulled it over his bare chest and then sneaked out of the bedroom.

The living room was dark, the moon mostly covered by clouds, and casted shadows over the entire cabin. The fire had gone out, but the heating remained running strong except for a few brief tendrils of cold that escaped.

Jeongguk hovered in the doorway, staring over the space that was quickly becoming a den to him, a home that he couldn't imagine leaving.

A part of him, however, ached for the familiar sight of his old den on the rocky side of the mountain, and the feeling of Taehyung and Jimin's fur. The feeling of pack.

He banished the thought as quickly as it appeared. Yoongi treated him better than any Alpha he knew, with care and respect. Even if he wasn't a wolf, he tried.

The Omega in Jeongguk soaked up the attention, drinking it in, and loved the caring way that Yoongi would provide for him. Something Alpha mates were innately supposed to do; hunt and bring their mates their kill.

How many times has he seen Taehyung scamper into the forest and return with a rabbit, or a squirrel and place it in front of Jimin with a proud puff of his chest, eager to please the Omega?

So many times, and every single time, Jimin would purr and rub himself along Taehyung in utter pleasure.

Yoongi fed him well. Cooked for him, served him. Even fed him at one point when he was incapable.

Jeongguk was maybe a bit more than smitten, because to Jeongguk's wolven side, Yoongi has been courting him for a very long time.

Settling himself amongst the couch, he was pleased by how well he had adjusted to being human. Or at least acting like it. Being human in the pack was always forbidden, but he found himself liking it.

He still missed being a wolf a lot, because that is always who he was, but now that Yoongi loved to venture into the forest with him, allowing him to play as a wolf, the longing vanished.

Jeongguk was more than pleased that Yoongi had taken a liking to the forest. It had become somewhat of a routine to venture out there at least twice a week, heading to the clearing where he frolicked, and Yoongi rested.

Even with the cold, Yoongi liked to go. Though, he did complain most of the way about being freezing and only stopped complaining when Jeongguk would cuddle into his side.

(Jeongguk knew that Yoongi just wanted to cuddle, but kept quiet and pretended he didn't know).

The days that Yoongi didn't go, usually because of work, Jeongguk would go out on his own. He would sniff out areas, practice hunting mice, and even managed to catch a few.

Usually Taehyung was the one who taught him to hunt, so he couldn't quite catch a rabbit yet, but he wanted to get good enough one day in case they need to hunt for the harsher winter.

And, just maybe, he wanted to make Yoongi proud of him.

Maybe.

Jeongguk's thoughts suddenly grind to a halt when a scent touches his nose. It's faint, barely lingering in the air, and delicate. Crisp winter rain, and Jeongguk feels his entire vibrate.

Snow.

Twitter: JamlessAnna

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Cover Art: @RealJams