Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“Can you take this luggage to the second car, pup?” Yoongi, the oldest alpha in the pack, asked as he scrolled down the very detailed checklist on his phone. 

Jungkook grumbled, tossing his own phone onto the couch as he got up and shuffled toward the stack of luggage as if it was the most difficult task in the world to walk. Yoongi frowned at their youngest alpha packmate, who was usually enthusiastic in everything he was asked to do for the pack. The young alpha was normally energetic and thrived off the ‘good boy’ mentality, wanting to do everything he could to please his mates. 

But lately their pup had become a bit of a sulking rain cloud rather than his usual sunny side up disposition. His blueberry and cream scent just a bit…off. 

It left them all concerned. 

“Thank you, Jungkook,” Yoongi called after him as the big pup dragged two heavy suitcases to the front door of their den. The younger alpha only shrugged his shoulders nonverbally in response. Yoongi’s frown deepened.

“He’s spoken only like three words all morning,” Hoseok whispered behind him, reaching over the alpha’s shoulder to tap the ‘check mark’ box next to the laundry supplies on Yoongi’s list. 

“He’s been sleeping in a lot too. The demon duo knows he needs more rest than them, they shouldn’t have stayed up so late,” Yoongi grumbled down at his phone, pout pronounced. Hoseok only made a soft, understanding noise and placed a gentle kiss on Yoongi’s neck. Right over a faded mate bite. The alpha couldn’t help his small shiver at the intimate touch. He couldn’t wait to get to their vacation rental and be able to indulge in every bit of scenting and snuggling and…many more not so innocent acts with his packmates.

“We’ll figure out what’s going on in that fluffy little head of his soon,” Hoseok reassured with another quick kiss before disappearing up the stairs to the second floor bedrooms. 

Hoseok, the pack’s sole beta (and true ring leader of their little circus if they were honest, though the humble beta would never admit to it), knew their youngest packmate was falling into a bit of a sour season as of late. He could sense it in the way his attitude and scent changed. The way his habits suddenly became unpredictable and a bit erratic. Their normally well groomed, well fed, well fucked alpha was skipping meals and showers and play sessions. He would rather sit in front of the TV and veg or lay in bed on his phone or work out (and work out some more) than do anything else. Pounding protein drinks instead of his mates. Which was very unlike their rowdy, sexual deviant and needy little alpha. 

It had been exactly a week now since Jungkook had crawled into Hoseok’s bed and begged him to make him late night ramen — with a side of a messy blow job that he had also begged for so prettily. 

Jungkook never went this long without propositioning him in some way. The alpha always came to Hoseok when he needed extra coddling or food or fucking. That was his baby alpha. His big, darling pup. But Jungkook had become closed off in the last week even to him. Snippy and bratty. Not even listening well to their pack alpha.

Which was the loudest alarm bell of them all that something was wrong .

“Hoba.” A rumbled whine came from the open door to the main bedroom. Hoseok immediately paused in his steps heading to the nest and pivoted towards the call.

“Yes, Joonie?” Hoseok asked, having to bite at his bottom lip to keep from giggling at their Pack Alpha who was holding up the broken end of the zipper on his luggage and looking incredibly defeated.

“It exploded and I tried to shove everything back in and zip it back up but then...” Namjoon sighed as he held out the mangled slider for his suitcase's zipper. The big alpha once again seemed to underestimate his insane strength.

Hoseok took the metal piece with a small cooing sound, one hand rubbing up and down his thick arm. “I’ll fix it for you. But you have to go check on the omegas. They're in the nest. And do not get dragged into it, we're on a schedule, no time for swollen knots.”

Namjoon’s cheeks blushed a pretty shade of pink as Hoseok swatted his ass out the door towards the nest, promising to finish up packing the last remaining suitcases. Their beta was the best at figuring out how to fit everything they needed together. Namjoon couldn't live without his Hoba, none of them could.

But none of them were quite as good as rounding up their omega’s like their Pack Alpha.

While his three omega’s had Namjoon wrapped around their pretty fingers, they did fall in line easily when he gave them a certain look or his naturally dominant scent became sharp enough. He never, ever commanded them the way Namjoon had been raised with his pack alpha commanding his family pack’s omegas though. He wanted to be a fair and loving leader. But even just the faintest of taking control usually left his omegas ready to behave and earn praise. Well…at least the youngest of the two often went belly up for him.

His omega hyung was a bit of a different story.

Namjoon knocked gently on the thick door to the nest room, turning the handle and being immediately met with a swirl of intoxicating scents and sounds. He swallowed heavily as he peaked his head into the room, eyes widening at the sight that met him.

“Aren’t you all supposed to be packing?” Namjoon asked, trying to sound casual and not at all affected as he slipped into the nest room and closed the door behind him.

Seokjin, the Pack Omega and eldest of all their packmates, was laid stomach down in the center of the nest — completely nude . The two nestbonded omegas were sitting cutely on either side of him both rubbing different parts of their hyung’s body as if working out every kink and knot…or just trying to cop a feel if Namjoon knew better. And Namjoon always knew better.

“We got distracted,” Seokjin said, voice deep and thick as he opened heavy eyes to look up at Namjoon. The alpha felt his cock twitch at just the blissed, happy look on his face.

“We lost a game,” Taehyung corrected as his hand slipped over the curve of Seokjin’s ass and down the back of his thigh. Namjoon felt his own hands itch to do the same.

“Ah, I see,” Namjoon said, staying glued to the doorframe so he could keep his promise to their beta and keep his knot out of whatever game the three omega’s were currently playing.

“You can join us,” Jimin suggested, eyeing their alpha and scooting over a little as if their giant nest couldn’t fit all seven of them and then some.

“We leave in half an hour, Yoongi has a strict schedule you know,” Namjoon reminded, though he was pained to do so. Part of him wanted to slip into the nest and slot his cock between that perfect ass and let it get wet with his favorite nectar. It would be so easy to bury himself inside his hyung as his two other omegas continued to massage him…and maybe kiss so the alpha could have something pretty to watch as he fucked his knot into —.

“Your scent says you want to join us,” Taehyung teased, his voice a rich deep honey that was almost sticky enough to catch the alpha and pull him into the nest.

“Let our alpha be, he has to be responsible, don’t you alpha? ” Jimin teased, smiling brightly as his hand dipped down between Seokjin’s legs making their hyung hiss, cheeks pinking. 

Namjoon gulped taking one step closer to the nest. “Well…we do have a half hour. That’s a lot of time right…?”

A sharp knock on the nest door startled them all. “If I open this door and see what I’m smelling and I have to tell hyung we’re falling behind schedule…” Hoseok’s disapproving voice warned before the doorknob turned. 

Jimin and Taehyung were quickly scrambling off the nest as Namjoon was nearly hit with the door as it opened, their beta’s pretty mouth in a frown. He sighed, shaking his head as if he had caught them all with their hands in the cookie jar.

“You two grab the nest bags and take them to the car. Hyung…,” Hoseok’s voice strained a moment before he cleared his throat as he let the two menaces pass him. His soft scent, only detectable by his mated pack, turned into a light sweetness as his eyes fought to not travel down the length of their pack omega’s body as Seokjin lifted himself to rest on his elbows to look as innocent as possible. “Hyung, please dress comfortably, we have a long drive.”

Taehyung and Jimin giggled together as they booked it down the hall, both holding large baskets of nesting items to help make their nest at the beach house. It was always a fun little tradition when they took these long trips to bring their own things to nest with. The three omegas would spend the majority of the first day gathering and sorting, working as a trio to make it perfect for their whole pack to be comfortable in. Nothing will ever compare to their home nest of course, but starting fresh with the smell of the sea air wrapping around them through the breezy open windows was always a treat.

“I can already taste the sea salt ice cream, do you think that shop on the corner will still be there?” Taehyung asked as he carefully took the steps down to the main floor, going ahead of Jimin just in case their clumsy mate tripped he could break his fall. 

“I hope so, they also have the best hotteok too,” Jimin said, talking through a pout as he continued to complain how hungry he was. 

“Don’t worry, I packed both cars snack bags for the drive,” Yoongi’s deep voice said, dialect thick as if he was teasing. Jimin immediately moved his basket to his hip so he could smack a wet kiss on their alpha’s cheek. 

“You’re the best hyung, even gimbap?” Jimin asked as he watched Yoongi’s blush crawl up his neck as he continued to nuzzle at his cheek. 

Yoongi blinked a few times, finally getting the full whiff of the still semi-turned on omegas as he nodded. “Extra for your car, why do you two smell so —.”

“They were being naughty,” Namjoon said as he sauntered down the stairs, carrying another nesting basket with him. Hoseok and Seokjin were close behind him, both bringing down the rest of the luggage (that Namjoon had already told them he would go back up and bring but they insisted on helping). 

“Alpha was ready to be naughty with us,” Taehyung said, hip checking Namjoon and making the alpha growl playfully at him. 

“We can all be naughty when we get to the beach house, is that everything from upstairs?” Yoongi asked, opening the check list on his phone again. “If that’s it I think we got it all.”

“Yah, that’s everything. Oof, this is heavy,” Seokjin complained as he set the luggage down on the wood floor, rubbing at his lower back. Namjoon pouted at him reminding him he would have gotten it himself but the pack omega only shook his head promising his alpha he could rub his back later. Namjoon was immediately appeased. 

“Where’s Jungkookie?” Seokjin asked then as he allowed Namjoon to take the handle of the luggage from him. 

Yoongi frowned, looking towards the garage door. “Already in the car. Sulking.” 

The scents around the pack instantly dropped in worry and unease as they looked towards the closed garage door. This was so very unlike Jungkook. He rarely ever wanted to be alone alone, and even when he did he still liked being within the same vicinity as his pack. If he was in the game room he would leave the door open which was in perfect view of the kitchen and dining room, where someone usually always was. If he wanted to spend time lounging in his own room upstairs he usually asked one of his packmates to come lay with him. Though he preferred to spend most of his lazy time in the nest. This was just how their baby was. 

Jungkook had been the last to join their pack only a few years ago. At only twenty-one and freshly presented as an alpha he had been wide eyed and eager and the prettiest thing to come tumbling into their lives. It was Namjoon who had brought him home, a young newbie to the city and the newest security guard at his companies building. The poor pup’s apartment he’d only been living in a few weeks had been condemned and he had nowhere to go. Namjoon had found him at the convenience store across the street from the company building looking a bit worse for wear and eating an expired marked-down triangle gimbap. The alpha had had the immediate instinct to ask him when the last time he’d eaten a home cooked meal was. Jungkook’s eyes had watered after Namjoon had pressed him a little, an embarrassed scent muddling his blueberry and cream sweetness as he told the other alpha he didn’t remember. 

So Namjoon had brought him to their pack den. They fed him a home cooked meal, let him take a long shower and sleep in their only available room. A room they had been deciding whether to renovate into something other than a bedroom. A room that had always felt empty and cold. A room that had immediately filled with a sweet as pie scent and glowed as if it had come to life the moment Jungkook had unpacked his bags. 

Namjoon had brought him home, but his pack had welcomed them into their den. Seokjin had bonded with the young alpha within a day, the rest of the pack following soon after, and Jungkook hadn’t left since.

He was now their little energizer bunny and reliable muscle. An adored, fully marked mate to the pack. He did everything he could for them, would bend over backwards for each one of his packmates. And they would do the same for him. Anything for him.

In the three years he had been with them and bonded to their pack he had never acted this way. Never acted distant or uninterested in anything going on around him. They had to find the source of what was going on before it continued to get worse. But nothing would help if they couldn’t get their baby to talk to them.

“Did something happen at work?” Taehyung asked.

“He would have told me,” Seokjin and Namjoon said at the same time, both giving each other shy smiles. 

The pack all had unique and special relationships together, each bond tying them close as precious as the next. But to the head alpha and omega of the pack Jungkook was just a bit more…special. His bond with them was very much like the bond Namjoon and Seokjin had. The two at one point had not thought they would ever form a pack, but slowly and by some miracle they had met and gathered the loving pack they had today. 

Each of their mates were loved equally but Jungkook was, well, their baby and needed an extra dose of affection from his mates.

“We’ll figure it out,” Hoseok said, aiming for his words to add confidence to the pack but he knew they wouldn’t feel right about it until Jungkook was back to his normal self. “Hyung, are we on schedule?”

Yoongi looked down at his watch and nodded firmly. “Yes, let’s pack the last bags and then lock up the house. I’ll set the security system, Joon and Hoba you double check the cars. Tae and Jimin grab the coolers from the garage. Hyung.” Yoongi’s eyes locked intensely on his only hyung. “Go see Jungkook.”

The pack broke off on their separate missions from their small alpha, Namjoon giving Seokjin one tight squeeze to his hip before the omega was shuffling to the cars. The Palisade had all the doors open, the cool shade of the garage keeping it from getting too warm as the oncoming summer heat began to swelter outside. The omega ducked his head inside the car, warm sugary blueberries, like a pie just out of the oven, met his nose as his eyes landed on his little alpha huddled in the back seat. His hood was up and covering his eyes, arms crossed over his chest and perfect lips in a downturned pout. He wasn’t sleeping, Seokjin could tell just by his scent, but he was pretending to be.

“Baby,” Seokjin cooed at him, getting into the car and sitting in the double seats in the middle. Jungkook’s pout deepened but he didn’t look up from under his hood. “Baby I know you’re not sleeping.”

“I’m trying to,” Jungkook mumbled, squishing himself further down into the seat. 

Seokjin sighed, reaching out to flip his hood up. Jungkook blinked bloodshot eyes at him, his nose and cheeks red as if he’d been crying. The omega immediately stiffened, only just now picking up the low notes in his scent that were wet with sadness. How had he missed that? Jungkook and Namjoon’s scents were the strongest to Seokjin. He could smell every hidden little scent in them by just being in the same room. But now he was missing what was so glaringly obvious.

It was almost as if Jungkook was purposefully trying to hide things from him…

“My baby,” Seokjin cooed again, placing one hand on his face. His skin felt warm. Warmer than his usual alpha body heat. But maybe it was just the heat coming in from outside or the fact he was covered up heat to toe as if it were the middle of winter. “Are you not feeling well?”

“ ‘m fine just tired,” Jungkook muttered, but he leaned into the touch, closing his eyes and letting his hyung rub his thumb gently over his cheek. 

“Ok, do you want to stay in the Palisade or switch to the Elantra with Hoseok and I?” Seokjin asked, tucking his long hair behind his ears. Jungkook’s scent warmed to a calmer tone as he blinked a few times, eyes zoning out as Seokjin continued to pet him. He truly was his big puppy. 

“With you,” he finally said when the omega pinched at his earlobe. “Can we not sing though? ‘M head hurts.”

Seokjin frowned. Jungkook loved singing in the car. Their road trips to their annual beach trip were always filled with car karaoke sessions and Jungkook was nearly always in charge of the blue tooth (as long as Jimin and Taehyung weren’t in the same car or Hoseok was there to mediate who’s turn it was). A road trip without singing would be odd, but for their baby Seokjin and Hoseok could hold back. “Of course, my darling, no singing. We’ll let you rest.” 

Jungkook nodded, moving to follow Seokjin out of the Palisade and immediately latching onto his back. The younger alpha wrapped his arms around his waist and buried his nose into the back of his neck, waddling behind him as they walked to the other smaller car. Like his own personal little barnacle. At least his pup was feeling well enough to be his usual clingy self. 

Namjoon raised his brow at Seokjin who nodded softly, his eyes saying ‘yes, I’m worried but yes I got this’ to his long time mate. “Jungkookie is going to go with Hoba and I. You four can take the Palisade. Are we ready?”

Yoongi scrolled his fully checked off list for the final time and gave the pack a thumbs up. “If we start on the road now we can be there by dinner time. We’ll call each other when we need a break.”

“I wish we could all ride in the same car,” Taehyung whined, draping himself over Hoseok’s shoulders and acting as if he did not want to be parted from their beta. Even if for only some odd hours. The pack was very rarely separated from each for longer than business trips or long work days. And not one of them was ever, ever left alone. They’d had one bad incident in the past and were never going to go through that again. 

“How many kisses do you need before our first rest break?” Hoseok asked with a teasing tone, reaching behind to tickle at Taehyung’s sensitive belly. The omega giggled and was quickly pulled into their beta’s arms. 

“Seven. For good luck,” Taehyung said, his boxy grin quickly puckering for Hoseok’s seven quick but loving kisses. Jimin was next in line earning his seven as Taehyung switched to Seokjin to get seven kisses from him. Yoongi pretended to complain as Jimin grabbed his face for his seven kisses, saying between each kiss that Jimin was riding with him so it was unnecessary. Hoseok disagreed, saying everyone needed seven kisses for good luck, and pushed the smaller alpha up against the Palisade for his own kisses. Yoongi melted into him immediately as he wrapped his arms around his shoulders, their kisses lasting longer than the others.

Jungkook stayed hidden behind his omega hyung as the others switched back and forth for the seven good luck kisses. It took Jimin grabbing his hand and gently pulling him back for him to allow Taehyung and Jimin to kiss him seven times on the cheeks. Hoseok and Yoongi doing the same. Jungkook gave them shy smiles but his scent was still standoffish. As if he wasn’t fully comfortable with the affection even if giving his consent to kiss him, which just made Namjoon’s frown deepen more. Jungkook would have been usually first to jump on him and give him his good luck kisses. Happy and enthusiastic to be passed from packmate to packmate. But he only wiggled his nose and went right back to burying his face into Seokjin’s neck.

“Baby,” Namjoon cooed at him, ducking down a little and brushing Jungkook’s long hair from his face. Jungkook peeked one eye at him and it immediately watered. The pack alpha felt a twist in his gut at the sorrowful look and the sudden worried scent from his mate. His soft cream turned almost sour in his nose. As if he was fighting to not be completely put off by him. Namjoon tried not to think too deeply about it.

“Can I give you my seven kisses?” He asked gently, ready to be rejected by the little alpha. Which would be the first and Namjoon didn't know how he would handle it. 

Jungkook chewed on his bottom lip a moment before finally lifting his head and nodding, allowing Namjoon to get closer to him. The pack alpha cupped his face, which was far warmer than he had expected, and gently and slowly placed seven kisses on every surface of his face. From his cheeks to his nose and the furrowed spot between his brows, Namjoon covered it all. His last kiss was placed directly on his lips, which his mate returned with an odd sound muffled at the back of his throat. 

“Love you,” Namjoon said softly as he nuzzled at him, scenting him and trying to understand what that dark, lingering splotch in his scent meant. Trying to understand why Jungkook’s whole body tensed and then relaxed as if trying to remember that Namjoon was his. 

That they were all his. His mates. His pack.

“Love you,” Jungkook replied and then buried himself back into his omega hyung’s neck. 

Namjoon and Seokjin shared a look. One that spoke their thoughts more than any words could. Whatever was going on with their baby they had to figure it out…and soon. 

The pack did their best to give each other encouraging smiles as they loaded up into the cars.

“Maybe we should cancel the trip,” Namjoon pondered as Yoongi took the lead with the Palisade, Hoseok following in the pack’s smaller car. The soured scents from the seats behind him made him quickly regret the statement. Everyone looked forward to this getaway trip. It was a time for the whole pack to just indulge in being a pack — no responsibilities, just full unadulterated bliss. 

“Maybe getting into a new environment will help uncover things,” Yoongi countered. The two alphas saw eye to eye on a lot of things, being two headstrong alphas in their own unique ways they had to make their balanced pack dynamics work. But they also opposed each other quite often, which was healthy and necessary even if it did leave them to sometimes have to have beta monitored makeup sessions.

Namjoon rumbled a low sound in his chest, resting his chin in his hand as he watched the Elantra trail behind them in the side mirror. “Maybe you’re right. I just hate not knowing what’s going on.”

“That’s the alpha in you,” Yoongi said, before sipping on his iced americano he had brewed for them all right before they left. “I hate it too, but you being our head alpha makes your concern heavier. Especially because of your bond with him.”

“He smells sad,” Jimin said from the backseat, his lips in a clear pout just by the way he said the words. “He wouldn’t even scent with us last night before we went to the nest. He slept alone last night.”

“Alone?” Yoongi and Namjoon both asked at the same time, both of their alphas feeling suddenly distraught that they’d been so busy with other things they hadn’t noticed someone had slept alone. No one ever slept alone in their pack.

“We have to figure out what’s going on,” Namjoon groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

“You don’t think he wants to lea—.” Taehyung began before Jimin slapped his small hand over his mouth. Yoongi stiffened in his seat, pressing the gas a little too heavily as Namjoon tried to tamper down his alpha from raging at even the thought. His pack was his . He was theirs . They were bonded and marked as such. Leaving a pack would be like ripping your own heart out. It was nearly unheard of. And if it was, it was never a happy story of deserters, both pack and deserter feeling anguished over the absence of the bond. No. No. That is not what was going on.

Yoongi’s hand landed on Namjoon’s neck then, thumb carefully but firmly rubbing against his scent gland to calm him. Namjoon’s shoulders slumped at the touch, barely hearing his omegas whisper arguing in the backseat as he let his eyes close and just feel the steady grounding his alpha mate’s hand gave him. It was fine. They had all been a bit uneasy lately with work and busy pack life. They needed time to rest. Nothing was wrong.

There wasn’t a problem he couldn’t fix when he had the strength and love of his pack. So he would be able to fix whatever was going on with Jungkook. He was sure of it.

“Are you hungry, pup?” Seokjin asked, twisting to look back at their slumbering little alpha. He shrugged, eyes still closed, mouth half open before he licked at his dry lips. Seokjin itched to reach for his lip balm to put on him, but he didn’t want to overwhelm him.

“I have your favorite triangle gimbap, Yoongi hyung made it himself and I know you love his the most,” Seokjin said, waving the plastic wrapped snack at him.

Jungkook’s eyes did peek open at that, watching the snack before putting his hand out for it. Seokjin and Hoseok were both smiles as the omega unwrapped the snack and handed it back to their alpha who immediately bit a massive chunk of it as he let his head rest back on the seat to look tired eyes out the window. The car had been quiet for the couple hours they’d driven so far, the speakers on a low volume and Seokjin and Hoseok talking quietly and sporadically to each other to let Jungkook sleep. 

Maybe that’s all he needed, was just some sleep. Seokjin was able to scent the alpha better now that they were in tight quarters and he was convinced their baby was coming down with something. His scent smelled wrong. Off. As if he was just at the beginning stages of a sickness. Fever taking over his normally healthy warm scent. He just hoped Hoseok and him didn’t catch it too terribly being in the car with him. But as long as their mate healed fast and became himself again, Seokjin would get sick ten times over. 

“Are you drinking from your water bottle? You need to stay hydrated,” Hoseok asked gently, looking at him in the rear view mirror. Jungkook held it up for him to see before flipping the cap and taking a long drink, appeasing his two hyungs.

“Are you comfortable? Not too warm?” Seokjin asked, adjusting the air vents facing him in the car.

“A little cold actually,” Jungkook mumbled, shoving the rest of the gimbap in his mouth as he chewed and put his arms inside his hoodie. It was a warm temperature in the car, warm enough that both of them had taken off their jackets within the first twenty minutes of being on the road. Jungkook though seemed to be on the verge of shivering.

“When we stop next we’ll grab you a blanket from a nest basket, ok baby?” Seokjin reassured, turning and reaching out to pet at his bent knee. Jungkook nodded as he settled back into the seat, covering his face with his hood again. Seokjin continued to pet him until his breathing turned even and his scent calm. Yeah, he was definitely getting sick.

“When we get to the house I’ll call the pharmacy and get some meds for him while you get him in bed. Yoongi has ingredients in the coolers we brought, hopefully enough to make his famous sick soup. That’ll heal him right up,” Hoseok began whispering once Seokjin settled back in his seat. “Namjoon is probably an anxious mess right now. When he kissed him I knew he scented something we hadn’t picked up yet. But…”

“But what?” Seokjin asked as he unwrapped another triangle gimbap for Hoseok and one for himself. 

Their beta chewed thoughtfully for a moment before shaking his head. “Maybe I’m imaging it, but when Joon was kissing him Jungkook looked…tense. Which is the complete opposite of how he normally is. I’ve never seen an alpha so open and eager and clingy towards another alpha like Jungkook is. So, I don’t know, maybe I was just…I don’t know.”

Seokjin nodded, chewing as well even though he had lost his appetite with Hoseok’s words. He had been denying it himself how off Jungkook felt behind him as Namjoon scented their youngest alpha. His arms had tightened almost painfully around his waist when he had done it. Almost…in a possessive way. Which was so very unlike their baby when it came to the alphas in their pack. Jungkook was of course naturally protective and had a possessive streak, but that was only towards others outside of their pack. Not the ones that he held the bite marks of.

“No, you’re not imagining it. I felt it too, but knowing you sensed it maybe it’s something to talk to Namjoonie about. See if he sensed something,” Seokjin said, turning back to look at their snoring little alpha.

A thought crept up into his mind then the more he stared at his baby, the more his nose wiggled as he scented the air. Sick. That’s what it smelled like…but something about it wasn’t the normal sick he had smelled on his pack before. 

It was…no. It couldn’t be. Jungkook had been with them a little over three years now, never once really falling too ill or going into rut. Seokjin slumped back in his seat, shaking his head. No, he knew what rut smelled like. 

But really he only knew what rut smelled like on Namjoon and Yoongi…

Seokjin had no idea what rut smelled like on their youngest alpha.

+++

Jungkook didn’t get out once during any of the rest stops they made. Not even when Jimin tried to coax him out with a promise of special cuddles later. Not even when Namjoon got stern with him and begged him to at least stretch his legs. The little alpha just grumbled and turned over, pulling Seokjin’s nest blanket up over his head entirely. 

Nothing could get him to come out of his moping. 

Which only got worse when they finally made it to the beach house. 

“Take him inside, Hoba, get him in bed and keep him there,” Namjoon said after checking the whole rental house and turning on the lights and air. Worry was deep in the alpha’s eyes as Taehyung and Jimin helped a still very sleepy and groggy Jungkook out of the car, wrapping the blanket more securely around him and passing him to their beta. 

“I’ll make him some soup and tea,” Yoongi said, pretty lips in a pout as he gently rubbed the back of Jungkook’s head as they passed him on their way into the house. Jungkook barely blinked his eyes open. “Make sure the pillows aren’t too hard, he doesn’t like the tough scratchy ones.”

Hoseok looked behind his shoulder, rolling his eyes affectionately and mouthing a ‘I know’. Yoongi only shrugged. They were all well versed in everything the others enjoyed or needed, but sometimes it didn’t hurt to have a reminder especially with a situation like this. When one of their own was struggling.

“The fresh air will do him good,” Jimin said with a firm nod as they all watched Hoseok and Jungkook shuffle into the house. “I’m sure of it.”

Namjoon hoped Jimin was right. They all looked forward to this long trip they could take together, Jungkook himself always being the most excited because he knew he would get his pack’s undivided attention. Their baby loved when all seven of them could be fully together without anything pulling them away. He hadn’t grown up in a structured family pack so to him this pack was the best thing to ever happen to him. Which was just another reason they were so worried over his distant, uninterested attitude. 

“Joonie,” Seokjin whispered after Namjoon began handing out bags for the others to take into the house. “I think Jungkook is more than just sick.”

Namjoon frowned at his mate. “What do you mean? Did he say something?“

Seokjin shook his head, worrying his bottom lip. “No, but the more I took in his scent the more I realized it doesn’t exactly smell the way it does when he’s sick.”

“You think it’s something worse?” Namjoon asked, heart suddenly in his throat. What were they missing?

“No, I think he’s showing signs of rut,” Seokjin whispered, because his pack’s ears were always sharp. Telling the pack alpha first would help them to create a plan without the younger omegas panicking. Their alpha’s rut was a very important and special time for the pack, it took meticulous planning leading up to the knotting fest. The three omega’s always wanted their alphas to have comfortable, satisfying ruts. So an unexpected one might throw them into overprotective, overbearing mates. Which Seokjin knew Jungkook didn’t need right this moment. 

Namjoon nearly hit his head on the hatch of the Elantra with how quickly he stood up straight. “ Rut? No. I would have sensed that, hyung. I would know if our mate was going into his first rut.”

Seokjin narrowed his eyes, smacking him a little to try to keep his voice down. “But would you? We don’t know what his rut is like. What he smells like. How he acts. This is a whole new territory for the pack, alpha.”

Namjoon sputtered a moment, pushing his hand through his long, dark hair. The perfectly smooth silky locks just long enough to brush over his ears and be pushed back to give him an extra sexy look. The omega’s loved to run their oil slick hand through it to style it, then ride him until it was a mess again. Seokjin was partial to the shorter more buzz cut look on his big alpha, but he did adore this style too. 

“If it’s rut it could last the whole trip, he could be in so much pain right now. Why is he trying so hard to hide from us? We’re his pack. We’re his mates,” Namjoon said, biting the inside of his cheeks and gripping the hatch as if he was trying to ground himself to keep from running into the house and towards their little alpha. “We have to help him. He has to let us help him.”

“And we will,” Seokjin reassured, gripping Namjoon’s upper arms tightly. “Once we know for sure I’ll send Yoongi and Hoseok to go get rut supplies and the two of us will take over the first part of his rut. We’ll get him through it, even though it may be painful. We’ll take care of our baby together.”

Namjoon’s brows pulled together even though he nodded, reaching up to hold one of Seokjin’s hands in his. “But what if he doesn’t want me there? What if I’m…what if I’m too much of a threat to his alpha?”

Seokjin had worried about that for a moment after realizing rut might be Jungkook’s true issue. It had taken Namjoon and Yoongi awhile to be comfortable with each other during their first few ruts as mated packmates, but now they could tussle and hump each other into bliss and know that they’re safe together in their rut. Jungkook had only played a side part in their rut’s so far, Namjoon being the that wanted to knot him during his own rut. Jungkook had even presented for him like any good mate would, took him well and was happy with the praise. But that was usually near the end of Namjoon’s ruts. The beginning was always focused on wanting to fuck, knot, breed his omegas. 

Would Jungkook be this way? Or would he present himself to his pack alpha like he normally did?

Seokjin wasn’t sure. Alpha instincts were the most unpredictable during ruts. It’s why having a stable bond with an omega mate and a beta (or two) was important for a pack to deal with an alpha’s rut. Namjoon was fast, hard thrusts and an unending wave of praise and dirty talk during his rut. He fucked like the full bred big alpha that he was, but his hands were still careful, teeth never biting too hard. Never leaving too deep of marks. 

Yoongi, their sweet docile alpha, flipped a switch entirely when he went into rut. He was rough, controlling and obsessed with keeping one of them on his knot at all times. He always made sure they were fully marked and scented and full of his cum before his rut came to a slow simmering end. The whole pack had to set aside many days just to recover from their alpha’s ruts. 

But Jungkook had yet to experience one. A late bloomer. Their precious darling.

Jimin had done research for his work as a Pack Specialist on pack dynamics and how family packs helped young ones with their instincts and natural presentations. Since Jungkook was raised without a structured family pack his instincts didn’t take over as quickly or thoroughly as others. His alpha left confused on when to come out and when and how to be an alpha. In the first year they were all together he had mirrored all of them in some ways. He was protective like his alphas, spoke his thoughts clearly like his beta, and bonded and nearly nested like his omegas. The pack had loved every aspect of their mate, not at all caring that he didn’t act exactly as an alpha was expected. They were never ones to really believe in the societal and instinctual role of their subgender designations anyways. Nobody lived in a box.

But now Seokjin worried that Jungkook’s instincts were frazzled and unsure, his body telling him one thing while his mind and heart told him another. 

“Whatever happens we’ll take care of him, as we always do,” Seokjin said, giving Namjoon’s arms another firm squeeze. “He’s our mate and we need him to know how much we love him. That is above all the most important thing.”

+++

Hoseok smoothed Jungkook’s hair back out of his face, laying down on the clean scentless bed with him. He was burning up, sweat just beginning to dampen his skin even as he laid shivering wrapped up in multiple blankets and his travel clothes. His mouth was in a pouted frown, brows pulled together as if he were in pain. 

The beta hated not knowing what to do or how to handle a situation in their pack. He was their mediator, their guide, their neutral ground to figuring things out. Namjoon was incredible as their head pack alpha; strong, kind, and wise. He was the most incredible leader. But he knew he could lean on Hoseok at all hours, in all situations. When Namjoon needed someone to help guide him, Hoseok was there. As he was for all his mates. He had fought hard in life to have the incredible bonded pack he had now, and would do anything to ensure their safety and happiness. 

So watching one of their own struggle was painful for the beta.

He just wanted to know what was wrong and help his pack to fix it. 

A soft knock on the half open door pulled Hoseok’s worried attention, smiling softly at his alpha mate in the doorway carrying a tray. “I’ve brought soup and tea and water. Namjoon wants us to try to get him to eat it. They think he’ll listen to you the most.”

Hoseok nodded, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and turning to shake Jungkook’s shoulders lightly. “Baby, can you sit up for me and eat something? You haven’t eaten since this morning, I know you must be hungry.”

Jungkook’s frown deepened. “ ‘M too tired.”

“We know, pup, but you need to eat at least a little. Hyung made his special soup for you,” Yoongi said, voice deep and encouraging. His comforting scent wafted over the bed as he set the tray in Hoseok’s lap, the smell of him and the food making Jungkook blink his eyes open. 

“Sick soup?” the little alpha asked, wiggling his nose like a bunny as he scented the air. “With chicken?”

“Just the way you like it, pup,” Yoongi said, settling down near his feet at the end of the bed. Giving him enough room to sit up and allow Hoseok to tend to him. The beta’s scent was calmer, more neutral, and if Jungkook truly was in the start of his pre-rut it would be his beta that soothed him the most. The omegas would have to stay clear until they knew for sure what was going on with him. Seokjin though would refuse to listen to their pack alpha’s command. As usual. 

“There you go,” Hoseok cooed as Jungkook sat up with a groan, rubbing at his eyes. “I know, my baby you’re so tired huh?”

“Just want to sleep,” Jungkook whined. “But it smells good, thank you hyung.”

“You’re welcome, pup, let Hoba feed you, ok?” Yoongi said gently, crossing his arms over his chest to keep from reaching out to Jungkook. All he wanted was to run his fingers through that mess of hair and undo every single tangle until it was tamed again. He wanted to kiss along the creases of his eyes and along his cute nose. Wanted to take him in his arms as a sleepy, cuddly pup was his favorite kind of pup. But he knew now was not the time.

Hoseok gathered a spoonful of the soup, wiping the bottom on the edge of the bowl before bringing it up to his own mouth to blow on. Jungkook waited patiently, still rubbing at his tired eyes before moving to bury his hands under the blanket wrapped around him. His pout persisted as Hoseok held the spoon out for him, both of them careful with it as Jungkook took it into his mouth. Yoongi found himself holding his breath. Worried that the young alpha might reject it. Reject his act of love.

But Jungkook moaned appreciatively as he swallowed, nodding as Hoseok took the spoon to fill it up again. “Good, hyung. Feels good.”

Yoongi let out a quiet, relieved breath, pulling one leg up onto the bed to rest a bit. He’d been so strung and tense since they left the house to travel and then unpack and make sure he had everything to make the soup and get the others started on their own dinner that he hadn’t relaxed his shoulders or back for what felt like hours. He groaned a little as he rubbed the back of his neck, watching as Hoseok gently fed Jungkook, their mate taking every warm spoonful until he wasn’t shivering anymore. 

Maybe it was just a sickness, something that could be healed quickly with rest and good food and a lot of love. While Seokjin was very rarely wrong with his instincts, it might not be rut. 

“Better?” Hoseok asked. Jungkook nodded, finally warm and full enough to reach one hand out and take the water bottle off the tray. Chugging it down in one go.

“A lot, thank you,” the alpha said, voice deep and husky but scent becoming sweeter and lighter with every passing moment. Yoongi’s soup was truly a medicinal miracle. “Still tired though but…”

“But what baby?”Hobi asked, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of curls behind his ears. 

Jungkook looked between the two, cheeks pinking as if he were shy about what he was going to say. “Want a nest. I’ll sleep better in a nest. Do you think hyung will help?”

“I’ll go get him and make sure they haven’t started their bigger nest yet,” Yoongi said, the alpha standing with another groan and reaching for the tray. Maybe he could get his omegas to give him their special massage later. “Take the tea, I want him to drink all of it. Got it, pup?”

Jungkook nodded, tilting his head back a bit with a pout. “Kiss?”

Yoongi obediently leaned down with a smile, their beta’s soft scent spiking with happiness as he watched their eldest alpha kiss Jungkook softly. Eye’s fixed on the way their lips stuck together a bit as they parted, Jungkook licking his and rumbling happily as Yoongi winked at them both. The shy blush on their baby’s cheeks was the first he looked like himself in days.

“Feeling better?” Hoseok asked him as he fixed Jungkook’s blanket to wrap more snuggly around him. “You sure you’ll be fine waiting for hyung to set up a nest?”

Jungkook nodded, sniffing a little as he sipped at the tea, face pinking and eyes brightening again. Yoongi truly was magical. His food could heal anyone. Maybe their worries weren’t as big as what they had come to think. Jungkook was probably just a little out of it. Feeling under the weather and would bounce back in no time with some rest and their alpha hyung’s cooking. 

Hoseok was sure everything was going to be just fine when Jungkook leaned forward and buried his nose into his neck, gently scenting the beta while they waited for their hyung to gather things to bring up to nest. He scratched at Jungkook’s scalp and rubbed slow circles over his slightly swollen scent gland until the room was a toasty blueberry pie and low alpha rumblings. Their baby was already acting more and more like the pup they knew and adored. 

+++

Jungkook slept the entire first day at the beach house. Hoseok had held him close, wrapped up in the nest blanket as Seokjin had made him a mini nest in the guest room. It would be odd having two nests in the house, but anything they could do to make their baby more comfortable they would do. Even if the rest of the pack was a bit down and lost without their happy, energetic pup to get them up and excited to run down to the beach or make them twelve packets of ramen as a midnight snack. Or just have a big warm body to cuddle up next to. Everything felt just a bit off without him around.

“I hope he feels better soon,” Taehyung lamented, arms splayed out and chin resting on the back of the couch that faced the kitchen. Yoongi was at the bar top preparing the vegetables for a more heartier stew he was making their young alpha mate. Hoping the nutrients and proteins would give him another boost of healthy energy. 

“I wish we could go see him,” Jimin pouted, the other omega laying practically underneath Taehyung, shirtless and skin still warm from their late morning in the sun, cutting an apple to share between the two of them. “It’s not fair we're being forbidden from seeing him. He’s our mate too.”

Yoongi made an understanding, but firm sound as he chopped up green onions, one sticking out of his mouth that he was slowly chewing on. “Yah, you know what pack alpha says goes. If our Jungkookie is near rut you two being around him will only mess with his instincts further.”

Taehyung narrowed his eyes, pouty mouth opening to take the offering of an apple slice from Jimin. “But hyung gets to be in there,” he said as he chewed, eyes averting to the windows when Yoongi gave him a pointed stare.

“Because our pack omega knows how to best handle an alpha. I know you two want to be helpful, but keeping him settled and calm is the most important. You know his instincts get easily frazzled and confused when his emotions are heightened. Hyung will take care of him until we know for sure what’s going on,” Yoongi said patiently, tossing the onions into the stew before grabbing the pack of tofu from the fridge. 

“We know how to handle alphas,” Jimin whispered under Taehyung just for his nestmate to hear, but from the low rumble in the kitchen he knew his alpha had heard him perfectly fine. His ears truly were too good. Jimin stuck his tongue out in mock defiance making Taehyung giggled down at him until they were nuzzling and scenting each other. Apple core forgotten in Jimin’s hand until it tumbled down onto the rug. Wicked hands pulling sweet sounds from Taehyung.

Yoongi was happy the two bonded nestmates at least had each other as a distraction. The alpha knew he wouldn’t be able to keep them held back for long, he was too soft towards his pack mates. His ability to resist or deny them anything was low. Too low and they all knew it. Which is why Namjoon made a much better pack alpha than he ever would have. Hoseok teased him all the time that if it was up to him he would give them all the world on a silver platter just to smell those sweet, happy scents. But life couldn’t always be so perfect. The pack needed a firm hand at times and Namjoon, as well as their (at times terrifying) beta, were much more fitted to be that for them. 

“Smells so good, hyung,” Namjoon said as he made his way in from his reading spot out on the patio. Though Yoongi knew by the still worried lines permanently fixed between his brows and the mulled down scent wafting from him, he hadn’t read a single word. Their alpha had just sat out there and stewed over what to do and how to help their baby. 

“Taste?” Yoongi asked, holding a long spoon out for him.

Namjoon blew on it for a second before gratefully taking it into his mouth. He hummed as his eyes closed, tongue licking every drop from the spoon before standing upright again. Yoongi felt his cheeks pink from the look in the pack alpha’s eyes when he opened them. “Tastes like home. So good, hyung. He’ll devour it.”

Yoongi nodded, turning his blushing face back to his simmering stew, trying to focus on it even as Namjoon snaked an arm around his waist, fingers teasing at the skin above the elastic of his shorts. Their pack alpha always sought skin to skin contact when he was the most uneasy about something. As if touching their bodies helped ground him and see clarity. Didn’t matter who in the pack he could get his hands on, they were all important and desirable to their leader.

“I hope so,” Yoongi said, clearing his throat a little as he tried not to focus on the way Namjoon’s thumb rubbed back and forth on his soft hip. “He hasn’t eaten since I made the sick soup, but he’s been drinking water and had some more tea. Hoseok will try to wake him up soon.”

Namjoon hummed, nuzzling at the back of Yoongi’s neck before pulling away entirely and grabbing an apple from the bowl on the counter. “He’ll love it,” Namjoon said again with a firm reassurance in his voice before biting into the apple and letting their omegas pull him down on the couch. But only after picking up the apple core from the floor and tossing it into the bin.

Yoongi watched them fondly as he put the final scraps of tofu and vegetables into the pot and turned the stove down. He still had to make dinner for the rest of the pack, who weren’t feeling very hungry even though he knew they had to eat. He could help take care of this for them, this was what he was best at. Providing and carrying the pack when Namjoon had to focus on someone specific. He was there to lift them from behind, happy to have a pack he loved and who loved him wholeheartedly in return. This was truly all he had ever wanted in life. Sometimes he still couldn’t believe he had gotten so lucky…

“Hyung,” Hoseok called from the long hallway, pulling the small alpha’s soft thoughts back to the now. “He’s awake, says he’s hungry.”

“Perfect, it’s just about ready,” Yoongi said, washing his hands and then tossing the white dishcloth over his shoulder, reaching for a large bowl to pour the stew into. It was one of Jungkook’s favorites, an often requested meal when he was feeling low. This had to help. Yoongi was confident it would.

The young alpha was sat up in bed when Hoseok took the tray from Yoongi and brought it to him. His eyes were looking brighter with the rest he was able to get over the last day, his scent softer now but skin still feeling like he was running a fever. The beta giggled when Jungkook’s stomach grumbled loudly, making him blush and duck his head. 

“Hyung made your favorite,” Hoseok said, placing the tray on his lap as Seokjin fluffed the nest pillow behind Jungkook’s back. He was always particular about the nest. He hadn’t yet checked the one the two other omegas had made without him, but he trusted their instincts and knew they would make it very comfortable for them and the pack. 

“Smells so good,” Jungkook murmured as he picked up the long wooden spoon and dunked it into the hearty stew. He let Hoseok brush his hair out of his face as he blew on the spoon before taking a bite. He moaned, brows pulling tight together, nose scrunched up as he chewed and swallowed. Low happy sounds coming from his throat the more he ate. “So good. He always makes it perfect. I need to learn how.”

Seokjin and Hoseok laughed fondly at him as he continued to eat it, maybe a bit too quickly for such an empty stomach but he was eating. Which was the most important part. “I’m sure hyung will teach you one day, he’s taught you how to make his famous fish and samgyeopsal.”

Jungkook shrugged as he kept eating. “Those are easy. This…this always tastes like he put his own heart into it. This is how I want to learn how to cook. To make it taste like home. Like the pack.”

Hoseok felt a sudden rush of emotions at the words, head tilting towards the door and half hoping Yoongi was just outside and hearing every word. Even Seokjin had glistening eyes as he made an endeared sound and petted the back of their little alpha’s head. 

“Yah, well you’ll just have to tell your hyung that when you’re feeling better, huh?” Seokjin said softly, looking up at Hoseok who had to turn to dab the wetness around his eyes. Leave it to Jungkook to make them emotional over soup when he was the one suffering. 

“Mmk,” Jungkook said through a mouthful. “Feeling better already.”

“Good, maybe tomorrow you’ll feel well enough to join the rest of the pack for a meal. Or maybe go down to the beach,” Seokjin said happily, trying to keep his pleased omega chirp at bay as Jungkook nodded enthusiastically, the color coming back into his cheeks again. 

Jungkook still smelled off to him though, something just beneath the surface of his scent was getting heavier. His blueberry and cream mulling down to a more warmer tone, as if it were warming and fermenting to become crisp and addictive like a sweet summer wine. The more the omega scented him the more he felt his mouth watering at the musk coming off the alpha. The more his omega was beginning to prepare for something , flustered and unsure but knowing he needed to be preparing. 

It was the main reason why no matter how lively and alert Jungkook became with each passing hour, Seokjin felt they were still not yet in the clear. 

More of just going into the calm before the storm. 

+++

Jungkook must have been up before the sun the next day, slipping out of the nest with Seokjin and Hoseok and putting on the first pair of running shoes he could find at the door. Namjoon knew this because it was his running shoes Jungkook had taken, the pack alpha slipping into his slides and grabbing his yoga mat to take down to the beach.

Jungkook’s scent was faint but still strong enough for the alpha to decipher he had only left twenty minutes or so before Namjoon had woken up. The two were normally early risers if they got to bed on time the night before. Using each other as motivation to get up and out the gym or go on a run together. It was their special bonding time, something they had only together that the rest of the pack wasn’t too interested in.

So Namjoon couldn’t lie and say he wasn’t a little hurt that Jungkook hadn’t woken him up to go run with him. 

He tried to keep his scent calm and neutral as he laid his yoga mat out on the firm sand, the sun brightening the sky enough to wipe the darkness closer to the horizon. Namjoon kept his eyes focused back and forth along the beach as he worked through his normal strength and balance routine. Eyes searching for their little alpha. It was nearly a half hour later when he finally spotted a dark dot bouncing close to the pier, eyes fixed on it until the dot came closer and his mate’s form materialized. He was wearing dark running shorts and a hoodie, sleeves rolled up but hood still over his head, darkening his face. 

Namjoon rose up from his resting position as Jungkook spotted him and began waving energetically, running faster towards him. The alpha’s heart soared a bit, his scent spiking with happiness as he took in the wide smile on his mate’s face. Jungkook’s smile always felt like love in it’s purest form. He had missed that smile in the past week. Namjoon braced himself as Jungkook continued to run at him, arms outstretched and pace not slowing. He knew the big puppy would run right into his arms, and Namjoon was always there to catch him.

“Hyung!” Jungkook called excitedly, as he took a running leap right into him, nearly knocking them both down onto the sand. “I nearly beat my mile record, look look look.”

The little alpha held up his wrist, breathing heavily as he swiped across his watch and pushed it into his mate’s face to show him the screen. “I’m like fifteen seconds off isn’t that crazy?”

Namjoon chuckled, holding Jungkook’s wrist still so he could see the screen properly. Jungkook’s heart rate was what was crazy, making the alpha’s brows crease in concern even as he gave his mate a warm smile. “Amazing, baby. Have you been running at that speed this whole time?”

Jungkook shrugged, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he tried to even his breathing. Even from how Namjoon held him he could feel how fast his heart was beating. His scent a spike of adrenaline mixed with fatigue. As if his body couldn’t quite decide which he was feeling. It made the alpha wrap his arm more tightly around his waist, trying to press his body closer to him to see if he could help regulate his pulse and calm him down. Pushing his scent out as he leaned down to nose at his cheek. 

“I just started running and couldn't stop,” Jungkook said with another shrug, finding himself naturally tiling his head so Namjoon could scent him easier. Jungkook groaned but didn’t try to pull away. “I’m fine alpha I promise. I needed that.” 

Namjoon made a low sound in the back of his throat, his alpha fussing over his mate. He knew he had to reign it in a bit, didn’t want to overstep and upset Jungkook or make him tense up like he had before they started their drive here. But Jungkook wasn’t pulling away, only leaning further into the alpha and allowing him to regulate his pulse and scent with his own steady one. It made Namjoon feel a bit better.

“Hungry,” Jungkook grumbled after a few moments of letting Namjoon hold him. 

The alpha cleared his throat, putting Jungkook out at arms length and searching over his face. His eyes were clearer than they were the day previous. His scent still deep but not a tinge of sickness in it like it had been. Maybe rest and Yoongi’s home cooked meals truly was all their mate needed to feel better. 

“Right, let’s get inside and cook something up. Maybe the smell of food will wake the others. We’ve missed you,” Namjoon said softly, patting the side of his head.

Jungkook smiled shyly waiting for Namjoon to roll up his yoga mat and slip his slides on before melding himself back into his side. “Missed you too. I’m sorry I’ve been such a downer I…I don’t know what it is.”

“I’m just happy you’re feeling better, we all are. That’s the most important thing,” Namjoon said as they made their way up the path back to the house, swiping his hood back to kiss the top of his head. Jungkook purred happily, a rich scent of arousal wafting off him through the body heat and sweat of his adrenaline. Namjoon’s own arousal stirred with the scent. 

Their little alpha was definitely getting back to his usual self. Maybe Namjoon really didn’t have anything to worry about.

Or so he thought.

+++

Taehyung was drawn out of the nest by the smell of something delicious. 

He had been smushed in the center of the nest all night, warm bodies wrapped around him and covering him like weighted blankets. Just the way he liked. But their nest the last two nights had felt…incomplete. 

Taehyung was what some would probably call a ‘selfish’ omega. Had he been in any other pack than the one he was in that is. He loved and craved, and nearly demanded, his entire pack to be together in their safe nest as often as possible. It wasn’t an every night thing, unfortunately for him, but whenever he could get them to listen to him with his perfectly mussed hair and prettiest pout and delectable of scents, he would round them up and herd them to the nest for the night. A nest big enough for their seven grown pack of mates (though some definitely bigger than others) to fit comfortably and have room enough to either spread their limbs out or curl up together. 

A nest with all seven of them was a perfect nest to Taehyung. 

But since they’d arrived at the vacation house he had yet to have that perfect nest. Which he knew why he couldn’t and he wouldn’t ever really complain about it out loud (to anyone but Jimin, who had also been sulking over the fact) but his hopes for that perfect nest were lifted when he shuffled into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes with his most pronounced sleepy pout, and found Jungkook at the stove making spam and eggs and humming. Happy humming. 

Taehyung gasped as he stopped and looked at him, his younger alpha mate turning towards him and waving the spatula with a bright smile. “Morning hyungie! Are you hungry? Alpha went to go shower and see if he could wake the others. Are you the only one up? I’ll make enough for everyone.”

The excited omega almost ran into the kitchen before he found himself faltering in his steps, the smell of the spam and eggs, and everything else Jungkook had going on the stove, wafted behind him to be nearly smacked straight on with the alpha’s scent. It was strong . Stronger than Taehyung had ever smelled on him. It made his omega shudder in the same way he did when one of his alpha’s was going into rut…

“My mouth is watering is hyung — oh Jungkook! My baby, are you feeling better?” Jimin said from behind Taehyung as the smaller omega darted around him and made a beeline towards their mate. Taehyung tried to reach out for him but it was too late. Jimin wrapped his arms around Jungkook’s slim waist and melted himself into his back, nuzzling the back of his neck — and then completely froze. They had both missed him so much.

“Oh,” Jimin’s soft muffled voice sounded as he began rubbing his nose back and forth on the back of the alpha’s neck. Visibly shivering the way Taehyung had. “Oh Jungkook you smell so good .”

Jungkook chuckled, face reddening as he flipped the spam again, looking back at the two omegas. “I just went for a run so.”

Jimin hummed nuzzling at him and tightening his grip. Jungkook placed one hand over his knuckles going almost white with how tightly he was gripping the omega holding him, but Jimin didn’t mind. His alpha mate smelled so, so good. He was rubbing his nose and lips across his skin, dragging them down the length of his neck and giggling when Jungkook growled low in his throat. A satisfied…frisky sound. One that should have warned the omega that was not a typical Jungkook sound. 

“Jimin,” Taehyung said softly. But his nestmate was gone to whatever pheromone Jungkook was putting off. It grew strong the more Jimin scented at him, the scents of arousal growing stronger by the second. Taehyung should intervene…pull Jimin away from the rumbling little alpha…or maybe join them.

Yeah…maybe he should join them.

A firm hand landed on his shoulder, keeping him in place.

“What’s got you all smelling so good?” Yoongi asked. His tone was short and clipped and stern. Not at all the warm teasing tone he usually took when the three were up to no good. 

Taehyung turned to pout at him, but the alpha’s deep scent was a bit of clarifier and it knocked some sense into him. “Ah it’s Jungkook I think he’s —.”

Yoongi eyes snapped from Taehyung’s stressed face to Jungkook and Jimin in the kitchen. The little alpha was now facing Jimin, nose in his neck, one big hand pressing into his lower back to bring his body closer to his. The other squeezing his ass. Low mutterings of ‘you smell so good, Jiminie, so so good’ were muffled from how buried his face was. Jimin was rubbing his arms, clearly enjoying the attention from the mate he had been denied access to the last couple days.

“Jimin, come here,” Yoongi said, his voice low. Just on the cusp of that alpha command. The voice no omega could really ignore. He of all the alpha’s in the pack had the most commanding alpha tone. Though he rarely used it. He didn’t like forcing any of them to do his will. Wanted them all to listen and obey on their own. But sometimes like now…

“Jimin,” Taehyung said softly, urgently. He knew Namjoon was going to be pissed if Jimin tripped Jungkook head first into his rut when he wasn’t around. First time ruts were always tricky. Though he knew his nestmate hadn’t meant to, it had still been obvious enough to him that Jungkook’s scent was getting wilder. More desperate. Rut. Rut. Rut.

Jimin only looked up at them, eyes hazy as he let Jungkook roll his body against him. He swallowed heavily, gasping when Jungkook held him more firmly against him. It wasn’t until the young alpha bit at his neck harshly, right over a mate bite, that his eyes cleared a bit. 

“Uh, ummm,” Jimin said suddenly tense in Jungkook’s hold. “Oh no. Jungkook you’re…you’re…”

Jungkook moaned into his neck, grip tightening, one hand going into his hair and tugging it back to get him to bare his neck for him. It was a forced action, one that left Jimin whimpering in pain and setting off an unfortunate turn of events…

Rut manifested in different ways for every alpha. Some grew possessive. Other’s grew more needy and affectionate. Some just wanted a warm hole to sink their knots. Others wanted to care and soothe and create a safe space for pupping an omega. First time ruts were usually shortly after the person presented as an alpha from ages sixteen to twenty. For those that presented younger they were given medicinal suppressants to help stabilize their moods and instincts and have as painless ruts as possible. For those older beyond the age of nineteen would hopefully have a pack to help offer assistance or there were facilitates or luxury hotels to help lone alpha’s with their ruts. But it was rare for an alpha to experience a rut so late after his presentation like Jungkook.

He hadn’t learned what his symptoms were or how rut manifested in him. How he reacted to others and how to control his instincts. He had learned some things by going through Namjoon and Yoongi’s ruts, but watching and experiencing were two very different things. 

So really he was not to blame for what happened next. 

“Jimin, come here, now ,” Yoongi said, using his full alpha command in his voice to make Jimin more aware of what kind of situation he was in. The omega tried to step away from Jungkook, got just enough out of his grip to reach out to Yoongi, his special alpha, but not before Jungkook was growling. 

“Mine, back off, ” Jungkook growled, yanking him back, and fully snapping his teeth at Yoongi. His eyes nearly black with his sudden possessive nature. Yoongi set his shoulders back, baring his own teeth but not reaching for him again. Knowing the young alpha hasn’t met to threaten him and the omega that held both their mate bites. But still his fangs burned to bite down on the alpha and tame him. Make him submit and regret his sudden outburst. 

“Jungkook! Stop, let me go!” Jimin shouted, eyes welling up with tears. 

The young alpha’s scowl faltered a moment, dark eyes looking down at the omega and his wobbly bottom lip before he gasped, grip loosening. But the low growling continued when Yoongi took a small step forward. 

“Jungkook, don’t —.”

A low growl ripped from Jungkook’s throat just before a fiercer one echoed in the room. The pack in the kitchen froze when Namjoon suddenly appeared, reaching out and scruffing Jungkook by the back of the neck, firm fingers pressing into his scent glands, fangs at his throat — making the young alpha go limp.

“Jungkook,” Namjoon warned, baring his alpha sharp fangs as he backed them out of the room.

Jimin quickly flung himself into Yoongi’s arms, Taehyung coming to soothe him and check the dark red marks on his skin. He’d never seen Jungkook act like that. He had never been a truly possessive alpha. Would never hurt a fly. It made Taehyung even more worried for their mate, knowing he was probably in pain and the regret he would feel for lashing out. Their poor baby.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Jungkook gasped out as Namjoon held him down with the grip on his neck, not letting up as Hoseok and Seokjin rushed into the room, their scents full of worry. 

“What’s going on? What happened?” Seokjin asked, hands reaching out for Jungkook and halting. Knowing he shouldn’t cross their pack alpha when he had crossed this line of control. Jungkook was held down firmly, arms limp at his sides, head hanging down as Namjoon kept a low steady growl to keep the younger alpha in his place. 

“He snapped at his mate and hurt his omega,” Namjoon growled, his scent a mess of sadness, worry, anger, and disappointment. Not in Jungkook. But in himself for not being a minute faster with his shower and for leaving Jungkook alone to put himself in that situation. If Namjoon had been out here he could have helped quicker, prevented Jungkook from…

“He’s going into rut,” Yoongi said softly. “That’s all it is, Joon. He didn’t really hurt Jimin, did he, baby?”

Jimin shook his head. “No, no he just startled me that’s all I’m fine. Really, hyung I’m fine. Jungkook it’s ok.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Jungkook continued to chant from his bowed position, finally bringing his hands up to cover his face. The entire pack’s bond hurt when the youngest alpha tried to choke back a sob.

“Namjoon,” Seokjin urged softly, placing one hand on his neck, rubbing at his agitated scent glands. “Alpha, he’s ok.”

Namjoon nodded, scent plummeting from his commanding tone to a more soothing pheromone. He slowly and carefully released his scruffing grip on Jungkook, following his baby down to a kneeling position as Jungkook sank to the floor tried to hide himself in his own arms. His body curling in on itself. Namjoon felt panic rise up in his chest, he hadn’t seen Jungkook like this since those first few weeks of having him stay with his pack. He had been so unsure back then. So scared. But he had quickly grown to trust them, to love them. To find comfort in them. Seeing him so upset and distraught now was killing him. Namjoon only ever wanted his mates to be happy and content, especially Jungkook. Especially Jungkook.

“Baby please, it’s ok. Hyung is sorry he had to be rough on you, please don’t hide my love,” Namjoon pleaded softly in his ear, wrapping one arm over his shoulders and carefully trying to move Jungkook’s arms away.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry I didn’t mean it,” Jungkook cried, fighting against Namjoon. 

Seokjin was quickly at his other side, rubbing slow circles into his back. His scent soft and pretty and calming as it wrapped around them. Hoseok knelt down in front of him, keeping his hands in his lap even though the beta wanted nothing more than to reach out and pull Jungkook towards him, hold him close. He was getting a slight headache from how many different emotions were bouncing around the three before him. Jungkook’s rut scent mixed with fear and guilt. Namjoon’s with his sadness and disappointment while trying to push out a soothing tone that only a pack alpha could do. Then Seokjin’s calm scent, the only one actually making the situation slightly better. 

“Jungkook,” Hoseok said softly. “No one is upset, it’s ok baby. We should have been more prepared, sweetheart. It’s not your fault.”

“It is,” Jungkook sobbed, bowing his head lower until he was nearly fully on the ground. The three others going lower with him. “It’s my fault something’s wrong with m-me. I s-shouldn’t have I j-just I was I’m —.”

Namjoon and Seokjin both tried to hush him gently, rubbing at his body as he continued to cry. Their Jungkook had always been sensitive. Always felt more than everyone else. It was really no surprise that his first rut would be this way. Namjoon should have been paying closer attention. Should have canceled or postponed their trip and kept their mate where he felt safest. At home in their den in their nest with their pack. Jungkook’s alpha was probably feeling lost and unsure in this strange place full of sanitized, clean scents. Frazzled and unable to focus on bonding with his alpha. Namjoon blamed himself…but so did Seokjin. The pack omega who could smell rut on his mate’s before they could feel the first symptoms. Knew when his fellow omegas were entering pre-heat by just the smell and consistency of their slick. Knew when Hoseok was experiencing nest fever and needed the pack to be beside him, scenting him, bonding with him. As the heads of the pack in their own rights, the two felt like they had failed Jungkook.

But it was Hoseok who knew they were all being a bit too hard on themselves. 

“My loves,” the beta sighed, placing comforting hands on Seokjin and Namjoon’s shoulders before moving to place them on Jungkook’s head. “We are all still learning. No one is at fault for the things our nature makes us do. We just learn and adapt and figure these things out as we go. We do our best, that’s all we can do. Look at me Jungkookie, look at hyung please.”

Jungkook sniffled, finally raising his head, eyes red and swollen from crying. Lips quivering as he sniffled, face wet, and let Hoseok wipe away his tears as he cooed at him. “We know you didn’t mean to snap at your hyung. You didn’t hurt your cute omega. No one is upset at you. Your alpha had to be stern with you which I know makes you sad, but he’s not mad or upset. We just want to help you, baby. We need to understand what’s going on. So we can help. You have to talk to us, so we can help you pretty baby.”

Jungkook nodded, sniffling again and sitting up a bit more. Namjoon and Seokjin still kept their arms around him, but Jungkook couldn’t look at either of them yet. “I feel so bad. All the time. I thought I was just…I don’t know. My alpha has been so restless for days. I feel nauseous but also so hungry all the time. My body hurts. Everything hurts. I just.” His bottom lip wobbled again and this time Namjoon reached up and wiped the wetness away from under his eyes. Jungkook glanced at him and his face crumbled. It took Hoseok and Seokjin to hold Jungkook’s hands to keep him from covering his face again. “I didn’t want to mess up the trip. I’m so sorry hyungs. We love this trip. I love being here with you all. But something is wrong and I can’t figure it out and I’m tired and angry and sleepy and hungry and…and horny but I don’t know. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

The entire pack couldn’t help the coo’s and low rumblings of endearment. Of soft fondness. Of love they had for their mate. Who had thought of them first before himself even when silently suffering. Taking on all his burden’s alone when he didn’t have to because he didn’t want to worry them. Even now after all this time together, they were still learning to lean on each other. Still learning they weren’t alone in this world. Not anymore.

“Shhh, our baby it’s ok,” Seokjin said as Jungkook began to cry again, hot wet treats spilling down his cheeks. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. We’ve just been worried and wanting to make sure you were cared for.”

“I didn’t w-want to w-worry you,” Jungkook sobbed. “I feel s-so confused I hate this.”

Yoongi, Jimin and Taehyung had moved over to kneel down behind Hoseok. Keeping back but still wanting to be close to their pack. Their fussy upset little alpha making them all want to care for him. No matter who it was in their pack that was hurting they all wanted to surround them with love and care and help make it better. That was the whole point of a pack after all. Of course having regulated heats and ruts and willing and eager partners was the base desire of a pack, a pack was also there to lean on. To care for their own. To protect and love and cherish. 

And their little alpha needed as much cherishing and love they could all give right now.

“It’s ok to be confused,” Namjoon said softly, wiping his mates tears again. “This is new for us all, but we’re here for you. Want to help you make this as good for you as possible. I know you’re hurting right now but we can help baby.”

Jungkook nodded, sniffling and wiping his nose with the back of his sleeve, body finally resting back and fully leaning into his pack alpha. Namjoon tried to keep his happy scent subdued as he wrapped his arms fully around his big puppy, nuzzling into his hair as the pack all scooted a little closer to them. They sat like that for a while, all huddled together on the floor until Jungkook’s tears ceased and his scent became that smooth creamy heat of arousal. 

“Hyung,” Jungkook finally muttered, wiping his face on Namjoon’s freshly clean shirt as he tilted his head back to look between Seokjin and Hoseok. 

“Yes baby?” Seokjin asked as he tucked his hair behind his ears, murmuring how pretty he is even when he cries.

“I’m hard.”

There was a surprised pause before a soft giggle erupted from the pack and then the baby alpha was being coddled and cooed over, his face a furious blush but his lips fighting a smile. Namjoon and Seokjin were nuzzling at his neck, leaving open mouth kisses over the heated skin as Hoseok tried to get everyone up. Yoongi was holding back the other omegas, who just wanted to get their hands on their mate too.

“You’re going to smother him and we need him safely in a nest before he gets overwhelmed again. Seokjin and Namjoon have to settle him first,” Hoseok said calmly as he took Jungkook’s hands and pulled him up into him, wiping the final remaining wetness from his eyes. He gave Jungkook a soft, kind smile, rubbing his thumb across his cheek soothingly. He knew his baby was going to be uncomfortable and in pain again and again before his rut was complete, the waves of discomfort and heightened arousal were soon to come. But with a single look he knew Jungkook knew his pack was going to take care of him. 

They would always take care of him. In any way they could.

 “Come on, we have to prepare for a rut.”