MINE || JIKOOK ✅

5.

JIMIN POV

I reached a good stopping point a bit before the noon meal and with my muscles tight from the repetition of winging the axe,
I decided to go for a run in
the forest and stretch out.

Undressing, I left my clothes over a rail on the woodlot
fence and shifted.

The trees were thicker here
than in my home area and I
drew in a deep breath of
warm, humid air.

Scents of pine and the leaf
mulch underfoot delighted my nose although my layers of
fur were not especially suited
for this climate.

I wondered if I'd end up with green fur as I'd heard some of my brother had who'd left the cold lands but was more interested in seeing it than worried about it.

It caused no harm, I was told.

The hollow strands of our coat were susceptible to algae inside and out, A polar bear thing
like being lefthanded.

There were fields and orchards maintained by this pack but the lands abutted this ancient forest with trees taller in height, their girth larger than I'd be able to span with my arms, even
in this form.

The wood I split came from
a different type of tree, for
which I was grateful.

So few of the old giants had not been destroyed by the humans over the last century and I paused after a while to scratch my back against the rough
bark and cool off a little.

In the shade, it wasn't really
too hot and I hoped my bear could adjust to the weather here.

Not as much as I hoped the alpha's watching me meant more than the orders he barked at me.

As the only person actually accomplishing anything within
his sight at that time, his choice to insist I worked harder
either meant new arrivals were expected to carry the burden
of the pack or that for some reason, he was angry with me.

It was understood he had not himself sent for me or filled
out the forms.

But I hadn't known that.

Surely, I was as entitled to
anger as he. More.

I'd come here with the understanding I'd made a commitment, at least a preliminary one.

I'd left my home, I'd probably have had to do that anyway.

He'd gotten nothing except apparently a male to do most
of the work.

This was much more human thinking than I usually experienced as a bear.

And my bear's irritation to
the clinging-to-human consciousness rang clear.

We don't have any more time, anyway, I informed him.

We had to get back for lunch
and I'd worked hard enough
all day to want the food. Off in the distance, I spied a stream.

It might hold fish, which my
bear particularly enjoyed.

Next trip, I promised before
we turned and headed back
for the alpha's house and some thing to eat.

But as I passed the tree line, right after shifting, I found
hobi standing by the woodlot, holding my clothes.

"Omega, did you go off into
the woods by yourself?"

"I—is that a problem?"

From the drawing together of
his brows, I sensed it might be.

"Did you forget the rules already?"