Safe With You | Yoonmin

Chapter 37: New Alpha

| Jimin |

“JIMIN,” HYUN-JOO SCOLDED as he peeled back the omega's bloody shirt collar. The healer was too tired and overworked to hide his exasperation. “I simply can't let you out of my sight, can I?”

“‘M s-sorry…” Jimin gasped through the pain. Sweat tricked down his brow and the back of his neck, mixing with the flakes of blood around the wound. He felt Yoongi give his arm a gentle squeeze of encouragement.

“Do you have something for the pain?” The alpha asked, his voice low.

They were in the healer's workshop – it was the first place Yoongi had thought to bring Jimin after the duel ended. From where Jimin sat he could see down the hall to the burnt disaster that had once been Hyun-Joo's kitchen. Charred ceiling beams, blackened tree branches, and pieces of roof tile lay in an ugly heap, in stark contrast to the bright autumn sunlight that poured in through the enormous gap in the roof, bringing fresh cold air with it.

Hyun-Joo was quick to clean the wound, slathering it with a thick paste made from jichi – the root of the purple flower – honey, and the same familiar green leaves from Jimin's poultice.

“Word spreads quickly in this pack,” the healer commented as he applied the last of the medicine. “They say Ryu Sejin had all but won the contest, until he suddenly collapsed and began clawing his neck. A number of bystanders witnessed what you did as well. It doesn't take a great scholar to put two and two together.”

Jimin squeezed his palms between his knees, biting his lip. He didn't want the entire pack knowing. He didn't need a fresh reminder of the shame Sejin had carved into his skin.

A gentle hand cupped his chin, bringing his gaze level with Hyun-Joo's.

“Brave little omega,” the healer said kindly. “My clan has hurt you so greatly... Let me be the first Ryu to tell you, you never deserved any of it. If the Moon Goddess should decide to curse all our bloodline to hell, it still would not be enough to atone for this.”

Jimin shook his head, “I don't– I just want it to be over.” Enough with the hurting and hiding. Enough death. He just wanted to be left alone. Him and his pack.

“Ah,” Hyun-Joo glanced up at Yoongi, giving the alpha a tired smile. “I think we can safely say that ‘it’s over.’ So tell me about this new Alpha, Kim Namjoon? He's Taehyung's brother?”

Jimin nodded. The medicine was doing its work now. He could finally breathe normally.

“And he– uh–” Hyun-Joo waved a hand meaningful between Yoongi and Jimin. “–knows what's going on here?”

Jimin blushed.

“He does,” Yoongi answered for them. “It hasn’t been a problem.”

If it became a problem, Taehyung would probably tear Namjoon's shiny new throne to pieces, Jimin mused. The sudden mental image was enough to bring a small smile to his face.

“Excellent!” Hyun-Joo said, clapping his hands and rising to his feet. “Glad to hear it. Maybe there's hope for this young Alpha then.”

A moment later, the beta discovered that Yoongi had re-opened the wound in his side in his valiant rush to carry Jimin here. Hyun-Joo cursed at the alpha for a good three minutes and then threatened to lock them both up in the cellar to heal and ‘stay out of trouble’.

Yoongi pointed out that Hyun-Joo no longer had a cellar.

There was a lot more cursing after that.

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