Care For Me

2

Jungkook POV

We followed her scent but couldn't see her anywhere. She wasn't very fast, so we should've caught up to her by now. My eyes scanned our surroundings yet I couldn't find anything human-like until I heard a scream.
*Wait here.*, I ordered my Beta.
I immediately rushed to the direction of the sound and found the girl on the ground, trembling and breathing heavily. Judging by the dirt on her clothes, she had tripped over one of the bony roots and fell pretty hard.
"Are you alright?", I worriedly asked as I approached her but she didn't answer.
She looked shocked, not to say terrified of seeing me. I looked over her but couldn't spot any open wounds. Her small body looked so fragile in front of me. It looked like she had been through a lot.
"Don't worry. We're not going to hurt you."
I reached my hand out to her but she flinched at my sudden action, so I slowed my movements.
"I just want to help you. Do you think you can get up?", I asked softly.
She hesitated but eventually nodded and let me help her. There was a slight tingling sensation where our hands touched but I didn't pay any further attention to it.
I carefully moved her backwards so she could lean against one of the only thicker tree stumps around this area before I spoke again.
"Does it hurt anywhere?"
Again, it took her a moment to process my words and react by shaking her head 'no' this time. I smiled a little, because she was clearly lying as to not show any weakness.
"I see. I'll have my friend come over here to help, okay?"
I raised my arm, snapped my fingers and then waved towards us in order to have a plausible signal that would not make her question Taehyung coming over in a moment. Technically, he was out of sight and therefore wouldn't see me waving him over and the snapping would be too quiet for a normal human to hear. However, it was so eerily silent here that even the smallest of sounds could be heard from a distance. Nevertheless, I linked Tae with specific instructions.
*You can come over now but move slowly and calmly. She seems scared.*
While I waited for him to appear, I cleared my throat and reached my hand out.
"I'm Jungkook by the way.", I introduced myself with a warm smile.
She cautiously eyed my fingers as if they were going to trap her if she touched them. No need to mention that she refused the handshake. I felt kind of disheartened by her reaction and lowered my hand as a weird, hollow feeling spread in my stomach. Had I made a bad impression on her already?
"I'm Y/N."
Her voice was barely above a whisper and she still avoided my gaze but that didn't stop my heart from skipping a beat.
"That's a pretty name."
The phrase just slipped out and I didn't know why I felt the need to say it. Considering that there was clearly some tension and discomfort between us, my body had no reason to give such strange responses to her actions. Tingly hands, dry throat, uneasy stomach and accelerated heartbeat? What for? And why wasn't my Beta here yet? We could use a distraction or mediator.
I discarded my thought process and focused back on the potential marks, scratches or bruises on Y/N's body. After thoroughly scanning her, I was relieved not to find any. And that was when Tae finally showed up as well.
"Hi, I'm Taehyung. Nice to meet you.", he grinned, knelt down next to me and also inspected her body.
"Y/N", she murmured in return.
"It looks like you don't have any injuries. I'm no doctor but I suggest you to rest."
Her breathing calmed down a little and I could see her relax against the tree. Somehow I didn't like that his words had a calming effect on her. That he could ease her worry and I left her wary, if not repulsed. What had I done wrong?
I shoved the feelings down and observed her. My gaze wandered over her light grey hoodie and the plain black jeans with sneakers she was wearing. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail and her cheeks were softly flushed. Even though her outfit was fairly basic, she was still one of the prettiest girls I had ever seen. If only I could make her warm up to me a little. Taehyung noticed my stare and cleared his throat to get my attention.
"So, uhm...what brings you here?", he asked to break the ice.
"I got lost while trying to find the rest of my class. What about you?", she answered hesitantly.
"We're on a hike.", I replied.
"Up here?"
She didn't even try to hide the disbelief in her voice.
"We live up here and every once in a while, we're down for an adventure."
"Right. Shouldn't you be on your way home by now? It's getting quite late.", she remarked.
"Do you want to get rid of us already?", Taehyung pretended to be hurt and pressed a hand on his heart while pouting.
Y/N just pressed her lips together.
Another moment of disheartenment. She would rather be alone in this haunted place than in our company? That couldn't be. Given that she wasn't as cold towards my best friend, it had to be me. It was me she didn't want to be around any longer. What other reason could there be? On the other hand, I still couldn't figure out what I had done to irritate her that much. Perhaps I was simply not as charming as my Beta...
I gulped and lowered my gaze as I thoughtlessly tugged at the fabric of my pants.
"I get it. This looks really strange. Two guys randomly coming up to you in the middle of the woods... But I promise we don't mean any harm."
Taehyung nodded affirmatively and flashed one of his reassuring cordial smiles.
"Why don't you have any bags with you?", she asked, still suspicious.
"Have you heard of survival adventures? Those where you go out in nature and try to survive without any help or tools? That's what we're doing for tonight.", I lied.
She was smart but this should do.
*That's why you're the future Alpha. Well done.*
I ignored Tae's compliment. The only thing that could cheer me up was a positive interaction with the girl opposite of me.
"Impressive", Y/N hummed and nodded lightly.
Her eyes clearly showed that she was uncomfortable in our presence anyway. Not that that surprised me. Stubborn as I was, I now made it my mission to find a way to win her over.
"Do you mind if we stay with you? I don't want to leave you alone in this place."
Y/N stiffened and only spared me a brief glance before swallowing and looking at the ground. All of a sudden, the tiny hint of a smirk curled the corner of her mouth and she lifted her head with raised brows. Slowly looking back and forth between Tae and me, but holding eye contact with him noticeably longer, she apparently changed her mind.
"I suppose you could be of great assistance since I'm no survival expert. In fact, I don't even know how to make a fire to keep me warm for the night but you probably do, right?", her voice was sweet but had the undertone of a challenge to it.
She still didn't fully believe us. Rightfully so, but we would go through with this story–no matter the extent.
"Sure. We'll go and get some wood from somewhere. Try not to move."
Taehyung gave her another one of his signature smiles before he got up and patted my shoulder, signaling me to do the same.
"I couldn't if I tried.", she huffed and chuckled at once.
Wow. Even just the traces of her true smile were mesmerizing and sent warm shivers down my spine. Taehyung had to literally drag me away from her. My impression on her was already awful as it seemed, so that could've hardly made it worse.
As soon as we were far enough and she couldn't hear us anymore, Tae hit my shoulder.
"What was that for?!", I exclaimed in confusion.
"I know this look. She's your mate, isn't she?", he smirked and wiggled his eyebrows.
*Is she our mate?*, I asked my wolf once more.
*I still don't know. Otherwise I would've informed you but I really can't tell. I think she's a wolf but I can't get in contact with her whatsoever.*
*But she's a wolf, you say?*, I repeated or rather hoped.
*I think so but don't act upon it. I am not sure.*, he replied.
Great, so I was just as smart as before.
*This is giving me a headache.*
I ended our conversation and retreated from my mind to give Tae an answer.
"Still don't know."
"That's so odd. Could you tell if she's a wolf?", he wondered.
"Not yet.", I mumbled disappointedly and kicked a rock to the side.
Taehyung was not as easily discouraged. He elbowed me and flashed me a teasing grin.
"I guess that means you have to spend more time with her then."
Traitorous warmth rushed up to my cheeks and made me turn my head away from him in order to hide it. Nonetheless, I had to smile at the thought.
"I guess so..."
Once my face didn't feel as hot anymore and the fluster had passed, I recalled why we had left her. We stopped walking to look around and then locked eyes.
"Do you have an idea where we could find useable wood for a fire?"
"Not here, that's for sure.", I sighed and scratched my chin.
"North?"
I knew exactly what he had in mind and since it didn't seem like we had another choice, I agreed to it.
"As fast as possible."
We transformed and sprinted up to a livelier part of the mountain, where we picked as much wood as we could carry in our wolf forms. It still took us quite a while but not nearly as long as it would have if we had walked. Wolf powers were really an unmatched advantage at times.