Hunting Season ✓

T H R E E

The Hunt had ended for today.

Taehyung has to get used to the idea of 'Yoongi' now, the dominant beta that claimed Jimin as his.

Fortunately, for as far as he has seen, Taehyung thinks he's one of the good ones. And he can't be more relieved about that. Jimin wholeheartedly deserves it.

The new couple, or, soon to be one, went their own way, leaving Taehyung all by himself.

He trudged his way home, his mind occupied with thoughts.

He figures that they won't be spending as much time together like they used to. Starting from today, he has someone better. Someone to love, someone to help him through his heats.

His other half.

And Taehyung understands that. He really does. He just has to get used to the idea of being alone more often.

He fears for his own sake, that the loneliness will end up killing him inside.

He groans out, debating on whether he should head over to his parents' house, or his own.

He is an adult, he has his own small humble abode. His parents are always there if he needs them. He knows that.

He went for his own home, it wasn't much further anyways.

His pack lives in a beautiful area. Their territory is ginormous, surpassing it would take days.

Some houses are close to each other and some a bit more separated. There is something suitable for everyone.

Taehyung preferred something in between. He didn't want to isolate himself entirely, but he also liked some silence, being alone with nature itself. That's why he chose the place he currently resides in.

He jogs until he passes a familiar little creek. He can now see his place in the distance.

Once he got home, he locked the door behind him and went to get comfortable.

His back hit the soft surface of the bed and he closed his eyes, even more thoughts forcefully flooding in.

The omega inside of him is yearing for its mate. There is no point denying that. However Taehyung hates and fears the idea of dominants so much, he'd rather be lonely.

But as he turned to his side with closed eyes, he couldn't help but imagine two strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer to a warm, solid chest.

His omega whimpers, stirring restlessly.

Cursing at his own nature, he groaned, opening his eyes again and sitting up with his back resting against the headboard.

So much for relaxing.

────

The following days, Taehyung had gone to watch The Hunt from the audience every single night.

He doesn't know why he keeps going back. Strangely, something just pulls him in. And that genuinely terrifies him.

Today, he once again stares ahead of him into the dark unknown. He could feel his omega clawing at him from within, yearning to go for a run.

The blonde walked past the registration, watching from afar as the submissives lined up perfectly like how they were supposed to.

He expected the howls any moment now, but it seemed to take longer than usual.

One high-ranked wolf seemed to walk past the aligned wolves with the list, checking the names.

"We're missing someone!" He shouts, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Taehyung? Kim Taehyung? Is he present?"

The called-out boy froze in his place.

His heart drops to his stomach, eyes widening in pure horror and dread.

What?

There has to be a mistake. Perhaps there is someone else called Kim Taehyung, there has to be!

He hadn't enlisted himself, the thought would never cross his mind.

So how─

"Kim Taehyung! Step forward and align yourself!"

Panicking, he considers turning on his heels and running into the opposite direction. Or, he can stay put, pretending as if he has no idea who the said male is.

He went with the first option, just wanting to get away from there as quick as possible.

Deep down he knows, the second perhaps would've been a smarter move to make.

He took one step into the direction of his home, when some dominant had sniffed him out, probably noticing the spike in his pheromones.

"What's your name, omega? It isn't Kim Taehyung by any chance now, is it? Trying to back out, eh? You know how the law goes."

His heart palpitates in his chest, sweat beads dripped from his forehead and some hairs clung to it.

No.

No, this can't be happening.

With every last bit of hope he has, he turns back around, facing the dominant.

"There has to be a mistake! I n─never signed up for this!"

The man chuckles, a deadly grin on his face.

"Lying now, are we, omega?"

"No! I am not, please believe me! I don't want this.." Tears welled up in his eyes, his mind going blank.

He couldn't think. His entire being shut down.

"If you refuse and back out, you'll be executed. It's the law. This event is sacred, it's one of the most important rules. Is that what you would rather want?"

Taehyung knows it all too well. Of course he doesn't want to die. What is he even doing? Run away now, and he'd be dead by tomorrow.

Everything in him screams 'no', the word repeating in his mind over and over and over again.

He looks down, shaking his head in defeat.

The dominant grabs his arm forcefully, pulling him to the line and forcing him next to another candidate.

His entire body shook violently.

One alpha with the list shoots him a glare, a look that says, "Hurry up! We don't have all night!"

He shifts into his wolf reluctantly, his soft fur blowing into all sorts of directions because of the cold breeze that brushes past him gently.

He lets out quiet whimpers, tail tucked tightly between his legs and pressing up against his stomach from pure fear.

Oh, how this night had the most unfortunate switch of events.

There were so many questions roaming around in his head, and he isn't even able to answer only one of them.

He knows how this works. He knows how this is going to go.

He always felt nervous whenever he watched, but now, as he stands there himself, he knows what pure terror is.

His paws dug in the soil, gripping it as a last resort. He desperately tried to find comfort of any kind.

The silence before the storm was killing him. It could happen any second now.

And then there it was.

The first set of howls.