Collision

Chapter 39

Jeongguk frowned. "Most Omega's in my old pack do not choose their mates. Head Alpha picks those who can give strong pups."

The words seemed to be the last straw. Seokjin's clothing tore from his body as he was suddenly a wolf within the kitchen.

Yoongi scrambled backwards, eyes widening as his breathing turned shallow in fright.

The buttercream wolf snarled, ears pinned back and tail high as his fur bristled and stood strong along his body. Namjoon scrambled to his feet, face washed with concern.

Jeongguk was shaking in his seat, eyes wide and glistening.

Yoongi felt confused, not quite sure why Seokjin reacted so strongly that he literally turned into a wolf.

Shifting closer to Namjoon, Yoongi tugged lightly at the fabric of his beige sweater. "What is happening? I can't- I don't know what is going on," he growled low, hating his own vision for not being able to piece together what has caused the uproar.

"Jin is angry at Jeongguk's old pack because they have completely disregarded the sanction of the Mating Bond," Namjoon murmured, leaning down so that he was closer to Yoongi's ear.

"What is a Mating Bond?" Yoongi questioned, confused.

He had never heard of such a word, and he feels foolish at even the soft way Namjoon spoke of it like it was something to be cherished.

Namjoon's brow furrowed, casting a wry look towards Yoongi. "Jeongguk never mentioned the Mate Bond?" Yoongi shook his head firmly, agitated. "I mean, I kind of understand why. It seems like his old pack treated it crassly, so he may just disregard it."

"What is it?" Yoongi snapped, eyes flickering back towards Seokjin that was now pacing in his wolf form, shaggy fur bristled and puffed while his tail thumped whatever surface he could find.

Jeongguk was speaking in low tones, watching the pacing Omega as he himself shifted and wiggled within his seat.

"A Mating Bond is sacred to Lycan's. It is something that separates them from normal wolves, because even though wolves' mate for life, Lycan's take it to a whole new level," Namjoon explains, tugging Yoongi over the threshold to stand in the hallway. "The Mating Bond is eternal, and it connects mates not just in body, but in mind and soul. They have direct access to each other's feeling, briefly their thoughts even when in human form, and knowing where their mate is at all times. It connects their life force together, so if one dies, the other dies too, because no mate can be separated from the other."

Yoongi swallowed roughly, eyes widening at the realization as he flashes his mind back to when Jeongguk was explaining why he ran, and suddenly the pieces clicked together. Jeongguk didn't just mean sex, he meant his father was forcing him to form a Mate Bond with the abusive Alpha.

Sheer red-hot anger surged in his veins at the idea. That seemed cruel, to force someone to create a bond that was more than just sex, but something so much deeper than Yoongi could ever comprehend.

How dare he? No wonder Jeongguk ran. Yoongi would have run too if he was going to be forced to create a bond like that with someone he didn't even want.

"It's why Jin reacted so violently," Namjoon continued, examining Yoongi's enraged face carefully. "Jeongguk's pack has crossed a line that hasn't been crossed in literally hundreds of years. Alpha's now wouldn't dare touch an Omega without permission, let alone a mated Omega. Even an Omega in courting. It's just- it's more than taboo. Omega's are usually worshipped within packs because Omega's and Alpha's are a rarity amongst packs. More Beta's are being born than the other two sub-genders."

Yoongi blinked. He never knew that, and he somehow doubted that Jeongguk knew that too. The way Jeongguk spoke of Omega's was of hate and dislike, but to hear that he would be worshipped?

"A rarity?"

Namjoon nodded. "Alpha and Alpha Female mates tend to, well, give birth to more Beta's, but an Omega and an Alpha have a much higher chance of either an Alpha or an Omega pup. Beta and Beta is a tossup- could be any of the three, but usually are born Beta's," Namjoon concluded.

"So, what, are you mated to Jin? Did you complete the Mating Bond?" Yoongi asked.

Namjoon flinched, shaking his head. "We can't, Yoongi."

"Can't what?"

"Complete the Mating Bond," he murmurs, heartbreak clear in his voice. "Humans are not made for it. I would die from the strain. It's for wolves only. Its why wolves do not date humans. It's... it's because we can't offer them a Mating Bond."

Yoongi swore his heart stopped in his chest. His breathing hitched in his throat as he cut a sidelong glance back towards where Jeongguk had his head bowed, hands sinking into the buttercream fur of Seokjin as the Omega laid his fluffy head on his lap.

Did Jeongguk know that and still agree to be with Yoongi? The idea made his heart swell and break at the same time.

Jeongguk was always slightly wild and deserved something as wonderful as an unbreakable bond with the one you love.

"So... I can't... become a mate to Jeongguk?"

Namjoon reaches over, placing his hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "No, hyung."

Yoongi sighed through his nose, eyes fluttering closed. He wasn't really sure how to feel and decided that right now was not the time to sort through it.

It was a conversation between him and Jeongguk.

"You know," Yoongi drawls, cracking open an eye, "I was supposed to be mad at you. Stop making this hard and let me be mad at you."

Namjoon smiles, amusement glistening his eyes as chuckles. "My apologies, hyung. I will try to be less solemn so you may continue your rage."

Yoongi huffed, shaking his head as he shoved Namjoon gently. The stupid tree of a man barely even budged, much to his chagrin. He gave a baleful stare.

"All this time you knew about Lycan's. About Jin. You never said anything," grumbles Yoongi.

Namjoon gave a wane smile. "I wanted to, but... it also wasn't my place. I will always protect Jin and keep his best interests in mind. You get it too, considering you hid Jeongguk from me."

Yoongi sighed. "Yes. I did. And I do get it, but I just... all these years? You even lied to me on the phone, when I asked about Lycan's."

"What was I supposed to say? Yeah, it's totally a Lycan that are not actually extinct but could be feral? That I know about Lycan's purely because I am dating one?" Namjoon scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Please. That would not go over well."

"Semantics," Yoongi gripes, but he smiles anyways. Namjoon nudges his shoulder. "It's just a lot, Joon-ah. I mean, Jin being a Lycan made my world flip upside down more than Jeongguk did."

Namjoon hummed in acknowledgement, eyes flickering back to where Seokjin had returned to human form and pulled on the tattered remains of his clothing to help with the dishes while Jeongguk was staring thoughtfully out the window.

"It's funny though," Namjoon muses quietly, a faint smile touching his lips. "I know you don't believe in fate, and hell, I am not too sure I did either. But this? Me dating a Lycan, and now you? I don't know. Makes me want to believe in something. What are the odds?"

Yoongi cracks a smile, admiring the blurry outline of Jeongguk's profile until the wolf seemed to sense him. Jeongguk turned his head, sable hair falling like snowflakes in front of his features.

"Goddess of the Moon," he murmurs absently.

"Huh?" Namjoon asks, head cocking to the side.

"Nothing. I didn't say anything."

Twitter: JamlessAnna

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Cover Art: @RealJams