The Monster

18

They had spent most of the night running and chasing each other through the woods but now Jimin is getting tired.

They are sat on a ridge still in their wolf forms watching the sun rise.

That was fun but I think I'm ready to go back and sleep now." Jimin says stifling a yawn.

"We need to go back to the clearing first and grab our stuff."

Jimin yawns a small whine escaping as the yawn comes to an end.

He gets up and waits for Jungkook to follow.

"You go ahead and see if you can find your way back." Jungkook says.

Jimin panics slightly.

They had been bolting through the forest all night and Jimin wasn't really sure where they were.

"I-I don't think I can."

"Trust me, we can. Just follow our scents."

It's probably one of the few times that Jimin is grateful for his wolf.

"Just follow our scents." Jimin mutters and drops his nose to the ground.

It doesn't take Jimin long to get the idea and they are back at the clearing soon enough.

Nothing has been disturbed and their clothes are where they left them.

Jimin stares at the blanket and lets out another yawn.

"We could just sleep here?" Jimin mutters as he circles around on the blanket.

"We could or we could go back to the pack and sleep in a nice warm cabin with a bed." Jungkook says, stretching out his body, black fur shifting over his back.

"I've never slept out like this." Jimin all but whines.

"I've done it more than enough." Jungkook mutters.

Jimin stops circling and plants his bottom on the blanket.

He'd never thought that Jungkook wouldn't want to sleep outside like this. It was all so new to Jimin that everything was fascinating.

"Sorry. We'll go back."

Jimin retreats and it takes him some time remembering how to turn back to his human form.

"Just think of your human self."

The pain ripples down his spine and limbs, fur dropping from his body like a blanket of snow.

Before he knows it, he's sat on his shed fur naked and getting cold.

He goes back to the clearing and starts to dress while watching Jungkook.

The black wolf is sat with his back to him staring through the forest.

Jimin walks up behind him and wraps his arms around Jungkook's neck, his body covering the wolf's back.

"Let's go back and curl up in a warm bed together." Jimin murmurs.

Jungkook gets up and Jimin lets him go as Jungkook's body ripples and changes before his eyes.

The journey back to the pack village is quiet neither one wanting to talk.

They get back to the cabin and dump the gear they used last night before washing up and getting themselves into bed.

They lay side by side before Jimin turns on his side and faces Jungkook.

"I'm sorry, I-I didn't think. You spent so long trapped and..."

Jungkook rolls and faces Jimin.

"It's ok." His fingers trace over Jimin's cheek. "Next time we will sleep out, I promise."

Jimin nods gently and pulls Jungkook's arm over his waist as he shuffles closer to Jungkook.

He nuzzles into Jungkook's chest and it's not long before they both fall asleep.

They only sleep a couple of hours at the most before they must get up.

Eating is their priority before they start to pack up all their belongings.

Jungkook is full of mixed feelings.

Part of him wants to stay with his pack now knowing for sure that everyone excepts him back.

The other part wants to stay by Jimin's side, but Jimin's priority is the kingdom and taking up his responsibilities as the crown prince.

Thankfully the choice is clear for Jungkook even if the pull of the pack is strong, the pull from being with his mate is stronger.

Jungkook lingers a while longer saying goodbye to his mother as Yoongi and Jimin head to the gate of the pack village.

"I'll be here whenever you need me or want to visit. You must be with your mate. Jimin is going to need you." Nari says as she hugs her son tightly.

Jungkook nods as he pulls away.

"I know." He smiles a little sadly.

"Make sure you look after Yoongi. This could be more overwhelming for him than he realises."

Jungkook nods again before squeezing his mother into a last hug and following Yoongi and Jimin.

The ride back to the castle is mostly quiet.

Yoongi rides behind Jimin and Jungkook and the few times that Jimin has glanced at his brother over his shoulder he's found Yoongi looking around him in wonder.

"You haven't been out of the village?" Jimin asks.

"Not this far out, no." Yoongi replies.

As they approach the castle Yoongi brings his horse to a stop.

"Are you ok?" Jungkook asks.

"This... it's just..."

"You don't have any obligations and you can leave at any time." Jimin says quietly.

Yoongi nods and slowly crosses the castle threshold.

They take the rest of the day to settle back into castle life and it's times like this that Jimin is thankful he has Tae.

He disturbs Jimin and Jungkook as little as possible already knowing Jimin's preferences, and he tends mostly to anything that Yoongi would need.

It's not until the next afternoon that all three men see each other again, gathered in Jimin's bedroom.

They are sitting out on the balcony drinks on the table in front of them, when there comes a knock at the door.

"Come in." Jimin calls.

The door is pushed open, and Yoongi looks up at a head poking round the door a big, heart shaped grin plastered on the face of the person at the door.

"Hoseok."

Jimin jumps up to greet his friend and Jungkook shuffles behind Jimin.

Yoongi finds himself stuck in place not able to tear his eyes away from the man currently hugging his pack mate.

When they all pull away from each other Hoseok walks over and offers out a hand to Yoongi.

"Hi, I'm Hoseok. I've heard a bit about you from Tae. Welcome, Yoongi."

Yoongi stares dumbly at Hoseok before he shakes his head and takes the hand extended out to him and shakes.

"Thanks." He mumbles quietly.

He isn't purposefully being rude he is just finding it hard to take in the exquisite features of Hoseok and having a private argument with his wolf.

"Mate!" His wolf had declared almost straight away.