Scentless

SHADOWS OF THE PAST

"Because even I'm afraid of myself sometimes, wondering if they see through the weak me" – Respect – BTS

Each day of travel brings them closer to Yoongi's old home, and each day brings him closer to landing a full blow on Jungkook during their training. Glancing blows are now common place and, as a result, his inner alpha has started to acknowledge his presence more often. He's glad for the progress, but it comes with a minor setback.

He's not sure if its because his pack is far away, or if Hoseok is losing control over his inner alpha, but he becomes increasingly irritable as each day passes. And that irritability plants dangerous thoughts in his head. He begins to wonder if Jungkook is taking it easy on him. Surely a dire wolf, raised as Jungkook claimed to be, would not be so easily matched by a weak wolf like Yoongi. And the more he thinks such thoughts, the more resentful he becomes.

One evening, on a day when he had woken feeling particularly grumpy, those feelings bubble over. As his fist brushes against Jungkook's shoulder in yet another deflected blow he's sure the larger wolf could have dodged, he snaps.

"Stop toying with me," he growls.

Jungkook dances back a couple steps, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't give me that look, you know what you're doing," he scolds.

"What are you on about?"

"You're playing with me. You think I don't know you could just dodge my swings? How is my alpha going to respect me if you let me win?"

"I'm not letting you do anything," Jungkook counters. "You are too fast for me to dodge"

"You're lying. You didn't have any trouble beating me before."

"You're wrong," Jungkook counters. "I barely took you out that first fight."

"But that was as wolves."

Yoongi is growing more agitated. Why won't Jungkook just admit he's holding back? Why won't he admit he thinks Yoongi is weak. Admit he wants to take Yoongi's pack for himself.

'Yoongi, you know that's not true,' Hoseok reassures him from his spot by the wagon, where he is watching them practice. Usually Yoongi doesn't like an audience, but Jungkook had warned them not to stray too far as they had crossed into northern territory the day before. Perhaps being so close to his old home added just enough fuel to the fire brewing inside of him for what came next.

"Shut up!" he growls at Hoseok. "You're in on the whole thing."

"Yoongi," Jungkook's tone is warning.

Yoongi's eyes dart to Jungkook's face, rage bubbling beneath the surface.

"Get him the fuck out of my head," he snaps at Jungkook.

Something in Yoongi's expression must shift, because Jungkook is no longer in sparring mode. His demeanor shifts, ready for a fight.

"Yoongi, you need to calm down."

Yoongi growls, low and guttural. "Don't tell me to calm down. You think you can just toy with me and push me around and call it training? Lull me in to thinking I have a chance just to take me down when it matters?"

"Hoseok," Jungkook ignores Yoongi's words, shooting a meaningful glance at the two tailed wolf.

Yoongi looks between the two of them. They are communicating. Clearly leaving him out of whatever they are discussing. He bares his teeth. They are talking about his pack mates. They don't get to leave him out.