Safe With You | Yoonmin

Chapter 18: A Pawn in Their Games

| Namjoon |

IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF NIGHT, on the border of Black Mountain pack territory.

Kim Namjoon and several other alphas sat comfortably around an open fire, enjoying a break from the patrol rotation. Some were finishing the remains of their dinner rations, while others sharpened their swords or polished their leather armor as they talked about home, their mates or their lovers.

They had tried many times to rope Namjoon into their conversations, hoping to bait him into spilling details about his sweetheart, Mi Cha, but he had learned to keep his distance, preferring to fill his free time with reading rather than gossip.

"What book are you reading now, Namjoon?" asked Sang, a fresh-faced Kim warrior one year his junior.

Namjoon slid his feet off the bench in front of him, sitting up for a moment to stretch. "It's a history of the Golden Sun pack, the ancestors of the Jung clan."

A warrior sitting across the fire huffed derisively, "The Jung clan? Why even bother?"

"Every pack has its virtues," Namjoon said mildly.

"They're not much to look at now and I'm sure their forefathers weren't much better."

Namjoon frowned, closing the book over his thumb. "Who sowed that idea in your mind? Every clan is equally important to our pack."

"They would have died off if our ancestors didn't take them in," grumbled the warrior, "A clan of betas and almost no alphas. If trouble comes it will be the Ryus and Kims who protect this pack, not them."

Sang smirked, "I dare you to say that to Jung Si-woo's face when he returns from patrol tonight, or to Jungkook when we return home."

The other alpha scoffed before rising and leaving the circle of light.

Namjoon turned to Sang, "Do many of the alphas share this sentiment about the Jungs?"

Sang just shrugged, "I suppose so."

"It's a dangerous way to think..." Namjoon mused as he stared into the fire.

A shout echoed out from the direction of the village, then a howl of greeting.

Someone was approaching.

Everyone around the fire stirred to life. If this was a test or a surprise inspection then they needed to be ready.

Namjoon stood up and began strapping on his armor. A few tossed their dinner scraps into the fire while others ran back to the bunkhouse to collect their coats or return personal belongings.

The group had just reassembled when a lone alpha emerged from the darkness.

"Ryu Sejin?" Namjoon exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

The pack Alpha's son was dressed in warm boots and a hunting coat. Namjoon eyed the alpha's sword and leather rucksack curiously.

"I'm joining this patrol," Sejin said grimly. "I was feeling suffocated back at the palace, so father sent me here."

"Well...welcome then," said Namjoon, caught off guard by this development.

It would be an understatement to say that Namjoon merely disliked the pack Alpha's son. He had heard enough of Sejin's foul jokes, seen the type of company he kept and the way he mistreated betas and omegas alike. Sejin was still a typical, spoiled child.

But now, because Ryu Sejin was two years his senior, Namjoon would be expected to defer to the elder for the duration of his time here. It wasn't something he looked forward to.