Safe With You | Yoonmin

Chapter 8: Not Alone

| Jimin |

JIMIN SHIVERED IN THE BITTER COLD out on the veranda. Fierce winds tugged at his silver hair and drove icy snow against his face, stinging him. But he remained huddled there just outside the door, trembling and gasping for breath.

He couldn't go back inside until his panic was under control. Hyun-Joo had warned Jimin that he couldn't lose his composure in Yoongi's presence ever again, less it delay the alpha's healing. Now Jimin was afraid that the beta healer would hear that he had fallen apart again. Would Hyun-Joo force him to take the herbs that had been offered last time, to help sedate him?

Jimin's stomach growled and he winced. How could all this trouble and anguish be caused by a simple bowl of rice?

In the past week, Hyun-Joo and Jimin had settled into a routine. The beta fetched their meals each morning and night, and Jimin was the one who returned their empty dishes to the kitchen. But yesterday evening another resident of the palace had fallen gravely ill and the healer had been called away.

This morning a servant had delivered a meal for the pack Alpha's guest, Yoongi, but nothing for Jimin. He was on his own.

After Yoongi had finished his morning meal, Jimin had taken the empty bowl back to the kitchens and begun foraging for himself. As a ward of Alpha Ryu, it was his right to take food for himself, no matter how the servants grumbled at the sight.

But today, as he had reached for a small bowl of rice, a stern looking beta woman had struck his outstretched hand with a wooden spoon, shooing him away.

"What do you think you're doing, little rogue?" the woman spat.

"I haven't eaten today..." Jimin explained in dismay, cradling his hand. He looked again at the small bowl of rice, then the beta's angry face. Perhaps she only sought the amusement of seeing him beg? "Please, just a little--"

"What a shameless little wretch you are. Do you really think you can take our food when we have so little this winter, when your kind are responsible?"

A few other servants murmured in agreement, casting dark glares his way.

"I'm not a rogue," Jimin protested, voice shaking. "I don't even remember my... Alpha Ryu brought me into this pack."

"And what have you ever done for our pack, other than take, and take more?" the beta continued.

Jimin clenched his fists angrily.

It wasn't fair.

"Are these Alpha Ryu's instructions you're following? Should I ask him about this?" The instant the words left Jimin's mouth, he knew he'd made a mistake. Making threats was unbecoming, something only a lowly rogue would do. All of the servants bristled at his words, hostility filling the air.

The woman sneered, "When I tell the Alpha that you ate your fill and then tried to take more, he will see you for the little minx that you really are."

Jimin's jaw dropped. To steal from the pack when food was scarce was an incredibly shameful act. He couldn't let such a rumor reach the Alpha.

"No, please..." He looked around the kitchen in desperation, hoping for someone to show kindness and take his side. He was met only with cold stares. They were angry. Upset to be rationing food and looking for someone to blame. No one was going to speak up for Alpha Ryu'a little rogue pet. Jimin realized this and suddenly the air, the scents of the others were far too heavy and it was difficult to breath, like a weight sat on his chest.

He took an apprehensive step away from the beta. Unconsciously reaching into the pocket of his coat, feeling for the smooth plum he had swiped from the counter only a minute ago.