Hunting Season ✓

T E N

"I'm simply not going."

Is what Taehyung wanted to say.

But considering how that went last time, he has no other choice. On top of that, he had to enlist himself yesterday for today to get out of that registration situation without raising too much suspicion.

If that hadn't been the case, he really wouldn't have gone today.

But rules are rules and he's obligated to follow them. He can not back out now.

This will be the second time he officially participates, with actual other dominants coming after him. His third, if not for the 'official' part.

He doesn't know what the alpha has in store for him today. The previous time, he said 'Third time's the charm.' What's that supposed to mean?

He'd rather not find out.

He reaches the event, once again reluctantly walking up to the registration. The higher-ranked marks him as present, telling him it would start any moment now.

The omega peeks at the list of today's participants in anxious curiosity, breath hitching at one particular name.

Jung Hoseok.

"U─um.. Wasn't Jung Hoseok eliminated? He had been banned from joining for a week, right?" Taehyung's heart started racing.

If the alpha managed to enlist himself, that would mean he will go after him. Guaranteed.

And Taehyung knows what will happen then. Knowing Hoseok, he isn't going to take it slow. He'll probably forcefully mark him the first chance he gets.

He can not outrun him. Hoseok is an alpha, once he gets a whimp of Taehyung's scent, the omega is done for.

"Jung Hoseok paid up yesterday. He saw the list once the event was over and his eyes fell upon today's participants. He insisted on joining today. So, that's what's going to happen."

Taehyung could only nod. He didn't even have the time to answer, because the howls of high-ranked wolves signed that it was starting.

Along with the other submissives, he aligns himself in the neat row after shifting to his wolf form.

The silence is nerve-wracking. The only thing he can hear is the blood pumping through his veins, his heart palpitating in his chest.

Before he knew it, the other submissives dashed away. He hadn't even picked up on the howls.
The moment he dreaded unfortunately came quicker than expected.

He ran after the other wolves, parting ways after entering the dark woods, going into his own direction. He had to.

He took turns left and right, never did he stop running. Not even when his paws felt like giving up on him, not even when he started panting heavily because he ran out of air.

No, he has to keep on going.

He ran for his life. Literally.

At this point, he wasn't sure what he feared more─ the pure blood ahead of him, or the alpha behind him.

He jumps over a fallen tree, landing back on four paws.

At least, that was what was supposed to happen.

He did land on four paws but they gave up underneath him. The moment he put his weight back on them, he collapsed right to the ground.

He pushes himself against the tree, trying to hide alongside it the best he possibly could.

His chest heaved up and down rapidly, he had his ears flat against his head.

For the next few minutes, he only listened to the sounds around him, praying that no dominant was going to come after him.

But of course that was just a wish and reality wasn't going to grant him that.

He hears a small twig snap from behind the other side of the tree he hides against.

He tries to minimalise his breathing the best he can, trying to be as quiet as possible but he knows that it doesn't really have any added value as his scent would give him away sooner or later anyways.

Soft rain started pitter-pattering down, wetting his fur with cold drops he couldn't care less about right now. It works slightly as a scent blocker, but it doesn't cover it up entirely. It only makes it a bit harder for him to be found.

Unfortunately, that also meant that he wouldn't be able to smell the dominant's scent either.

He couldn't see anything, he was left with just his hearing.

The moments that passed were agonising. Taehyung was dying inside, whimpering quietly.

The omega thought that the dominant would've found him by now. But he guesses, that the wolf already has, but just wants to make him suffer for a tad bit longer.

Taehyung knows he has to run. But he can't. He is sure that the dominant is right behind the tree, waiting for exactly that move. He would be a goner if he does that, giving away his precise location.

But he is going to be a goner anyway, whether he stays put or not, it doesn't matter in the end.

He crawls more against the tree, wanting to disappear in it. Unfortunately that isn't possible.

"Taehyung, come on out. I know you're there, there's no point in hiding from me."

The sudden sound of Hoseok's voice made the omega freeze in his spot.

He expected this. This is exactly what he guessed would happen when he saw the list of today's participants.

Another twig snaps in half and Taehyung's body shivers at the exact same timing. He felt it throughout his entire figure, as if it was his own bone.

"Taehyung, come on out. Don't make me use my alpha voice."

It was a threat.

The omega closed his eyes, knowing that he has no other choice.

With shaky legs, he forced himself up, immediately glancing over the fallen tree to see Hoseok's dark brown wolf.

He takes slow, small steps towards him, trying to prolong his actions the best he can.

Frankly, he's hoping for a miracle to happen. Pretty much anything, so he doesn't get claimed by this alpha and forced into a bond he doesn't want to have, which he's going to be stuck with forever.

"Let's go back, yeah? I'll take you to my place." Is what Hoseok growled out impatiently, already wanting to pounce on the omega.

Just five more steps and Taehyung would be standing right in front of him.

Four.

Three.

Two─

He isn't the one to take the last step.

In fact, the sound of the most threatening and terrifying growl reverberated through the air. A familiar black wolf jumps right in front of Taehyung, blocking him from taking any more steps.

The brown wolf was taken aback, growling back in return.

"Leave him." JK threatens, stealthing circles around the brown wolf to intimidate him further.

"No can do," Hoseok glares, "Taehyung, come with me. I found you, rules are rules."

He turns away, walking ahead trying to get the omega to come with him, but obviously Taehyung stays put.

Not like he has another choice, JK is now facing him with his white teeth bared, drool dripping from his snout and the omega knows better. Take a step now, and he's a goner like Hoseok.

Suddenly, he dashed backwards. The dark brown wolf leaped on top of the pure blood, attacking him.

And then all hell broke loose.