Chapter Text
It’s a gloomy September morning, the chill of the changing season already creeping over the capital. At the top floor of a tall stone building overlooking the capital, narrow windows stand slightly ajar, allowing the breeze to slip into the quiet meeting room.
There he was, standing with all his glory — Jungkook, the infamous leader of the Jeon Dynasty. Tales of his ruthless conquests and iron will echoed through every pack in the region.
“Why this land specifically?” Yoongi asked, furrowing his brow. He knew his brother’s greed for territory well, but this small patch of land had something else —something Jungkook couldn’t quite understand yet.
They had spent the past year circling the lands bordering their own, and with Jungkook’s goal set to make his dynasty the largest it had ever been, he was ready to cross any line to achieve it. Like Alexander the Great, conquest was in his blood. Though he hadn’t always been like that. There was a time, where all Jungkook had ever wanted was to be a good leader for his people.
“There’s something about this land, hyung. I can feel it — I need to make it mine,” Jungkook replied, eyes fixed on the map spread out before them.
Namjoon, seated across the table, nodded thoughtfully. “I know the leader. I met him during a diplomatic visit.”
“I’ve seen him too,” Jungkook smirked. “Park Hyungsik, wasn’t it? Never seen a weaker leader in my life.” He chuckled, taking a slow sip from the beer in front of him. He wasn’t much of a drinker, but tonight felt like an exception — a night worth celebrating.
Yoongi shook his head, pouring more beer into his cup. “I don’t know, Jungkook. Let’s be reasonable. Do we really need more land? We barely manage what we have.”
Jungkook’s eyes flared, his red irises locking onto his brother’s. He hated being questioned — especially when it concerned his territory.
“Don’t you glare at me like that.” Yoongi stared back, his red eyes piercing Jungkook’s.
Jungkook’s eyes diverted to his usual brown, and he took a deep breath to calm his wolf. His Alpha was at the back of his head, screaming at him to show his dominance, to show that when it came to his territory, no one had a say. And yet, he retreated. Despite Jungkook being the True Blood Alpha of the Jeon Dynasty, he still respected his older brother with his whole soul.
“I’m sorry, hyung,” Jungkook took another sip of his beer. “The past few days have been… nerve-wracking, to say the least. And with Hoseok gone to fight off the remaining of Bogum’s pack…”
“I know, Kook, I know.” Yoongi interrupted him. He stood up and patted his younger but strong brother on the back.
The past year the pack had seen nothing but endless battles—Jungkook’s military fought through hell and back to fulfill their leader’s wishes and to prove themselves worthy of him. It is no secret to anyone that Jungkook’s the best leader the dynasty has ever seen. The pack and the military are proud of the leader they have over their heads, he isn’t just the embodiment of the ideal wolf, a True Blood Alpha through and through; he’s also the kind of leader other packs envied. It’s not like land conquering is all he has in mind. Jungkook loves his pack with his entire being — they are his family, and to see his family thrive would mean a life well lived to him.
He rose from his seat, his worldly aura filling the room like a storm. The Alpha was built like no other wolf — tall enough to nearly graze the meeting room’s ceiling, his physique pressed against the white shirt he’d chosen for the day. Beneath the fabric lay rock-hard abs and a lattice of scars — each one a testament to the countless battles he had fought, proof that nothing could stop him.
His right arm was entirely cloaked in black ink, curling over his solid biceps in intricate designs that told stories of war and conquest. The largest of them all was the Dynasty’s symbol, inked boldly where no eye could miss it. At its heart, a wolf stood frozen in mid-howl, its silhouette carved from bold sweeping lines. Etched into the wolf’s chest, the triple spiral curled in perfect symmetry—three endless arms representing Omega, Beta, and Alpha. It was more than a mark of rank; it was the unshakable unity of the three that made up his pack. It was a reminder that power was nothing without the balance between them.
Another scar rested on his left cheek, one he had carried with him for years now. He had received it by the sword of his father’s enemy— a pack leader who was seeking for revenge after his father had slaughtered the entirety of his pack—Omegas included. Just like Jungkook, his late father was a fighter worth remembering, although Jungkook hadn’t always agreed with the ideologies he had.
The younger was a man of pride. In each and every battle, he made sure that the only ones affected were those who could fight to defend themselves. Omegas and pups had always remained unharmed; the weaker kind didn’t have to pay for the wrongdoings of the stronger. Where his father had never shown much care for them, he had been driven by his Alpha wolf—much colder than the one Jungkook had inherited.
Jungkook moved toward the single window in the room that opened to the sight he loved most. He slowly drew back the curtain that hid the secrets within, revealing the capital he had built. Perfectly placed atop a mountain, the view stretched out to hundreds of stone buildings, each sheltering the families of his pack. The roads below were alive with movement—markets bustling with people trying to make a living, selling everything from herbs to warm clothing made from the hides of animals they had hunted. Winters in the Jeon Dynasty were like nowhere else.
Jungkook’s gaze softened at the sight of pups darting along the rocky yet steady roads his people had carefully created. Carriages rumbled past, carrying the wealthier members of his pack. He had made sure that vibrant flowers decorated every corner of the city, their scent radiating pure hope. He wanted his people to always wake to the special scent these flowers carried—special blooms he had discovered and brought back from a newly conquered land during one of his battles.
The capital he had created was unmatchable; no other surrounding territory had one quite like the one Jungkook had built. During the diplomatic visits from the surrounding packs, the diplomats and pack leaders always left in pure awe. He wanted his entire territory to look like this, and he had been working hard to bring wealth to every corner of his dynasty. However, with all the newly conquered pieces of land and territories, it had started to become more difficult to maintain each passing day, but he wasn’t going to stop until he was satisfied.
Yoongi stood up and made slow steps toward his brother, who was too immersed in his thoughts and the sight before him. His head rested against the window as he breathed softly, his warm breath causing fog to form on the colder glass. With slow movements, he turned his brother toward him and pressed a hand to his shoulder.
“Everything will be fine. If this is truly what you want to do, you know we’ll do it,” Yoongi said, giving him a complying nod.
During moments like this, Jungkook was immensely grateful to have his brother right next to him. There wasn’t a moment where he took him for granted, and despite the little feuds they might have from time to time, in the end, it would always be the only bond that brought him back to his senses—the bond that would always keep him on his feet, and the bond that would end up saving him from his self-destruction.
The meeting had ended on a positive note for change. One of the soldiers had called Jungkook to take a look at the arrival of his new carriages and horses and at the meantime Namjoon and Yoongi retrieved to a walk at the markets.
‘’Your brother’s slowly losing it,’’ Namjoon started the conversation, while picking up apples from a vendor he always paid a visit to when at the market ‘’I’m worried Yoongi. What has gotten into him this past year? This is dangerous for him’’
Namjoon and Yoongi have been friends for years, they had attended the military together and during the service and the tough days that came with it, they created a brotherly like bond. Namjoon not being the best of soldiers became the Diplomat of the Jeon Dynasty. His skills might have not been enough to make a good fighter on the battle field, but they were more than enough to fight verbal battles which came with the role of being a diplomat.
He had refrained many times to not speak about the choices the younger had been making the past year, he thought to himself that it could be a coping mechanism for him after the death of his father. But seeing as how long the situation had stretched, he had started to grow weary.
‘’Fuck, you think I don’t see that? Do you think I like this? The military is tired, the families yearn to be reunited with their Alphas who are too busy fighting.. and for what?’’ Yoongi took a deep breath at that, ‘’It kills me that I don’t know how to help him. There has to be a logical answer to this, right? It could be him trying to prove as the strongest Alpha in the region, but would he cross such battles just to do that?’’
He noticed people looking at him in… fear. He could smell the omegas slowly growing anxious. It must be his scent burning with the anxiety he can’t hide. The entirety of the market could smell him now.
‘’Calm down,’’ Namjoon whispered ‘’Let’s go find Jimin.’’
Jimin, as in his mate.
And after arriving home, Yoongi found himself in the embrace of his most beloved, and at that moment, every internal and external battle of his suddenly made sense.
⋆˙⟡
Hidden at the top of the mountain stood Jungkook’s fortress. From the distance, it rose with all its glory. The stone was dark and aged, as if it had seen centuries of battles and would see centuries more. The path leading up to it was narrow and steep — with torches lighting up the way towards the entrance.
Jungkook made his way toward the double doors, made of pure gold. It was the doing of his father, as Jungkook had never been the kind of person who sought validation through wealth. Each time he was met with the entrance, it took him all his strength to force himself to actually make his way in, almost dragging his feet to do so.
He hated it.
And when he did manage to push himself to get in, he was met with pure silence. Of course, there were loyal soldiers surrounding the area and inside the actual fortress, servants ready to lay anything their Alpha wanted at his feet — but he still felt it.
The vast hallways were built wide enough for a wolf to run through, fitting for the nights he wanted to set free and be in control of his wolf form. The ceilings were high, and the stone floors stretched endlessly. On the walls hung portraits of the past pack leaders, the very last one being of his father. Every time he stood in front of it, he felt his breath halt; to him, it felt like the eyes followed him, even in death.
He shook his head and continued his way towards his room. The entirety of the stone flooring was covered in furs and hides of animals, turned into carpets — each being a reminder of the hunts he had been on at faraway destinations. He had a habit of bringing souvenirs from all the adventures he went on.
The walls, on the other hand, were lined with weapons — blades, spears, and shields, ready to be used when they would be needed.
And no matter how many torches were fixed on the wall, Jungkook could still feel the darkness creeping in. He had thought of tearing the entire place apart multiple times, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. What if the Goddess of the Moon saw it as an insult to her? What if the past pack leaders saw it as an insult to them? What if his father saw it as an insult to him?
He shook the thoughts off his head and walked steadily towards the stone staircase leading to his study — the one place he could truly unwind from the daily chaos that accompanied him. He was met with the familiar scent of wood and books, almost immediately calming him from the day’s misfortunes. Some of the books on the walls had aged for centuries, brought there by the very leaders whose portraits decorated the hallway.
A huge stone fireplace was carved into the wall on the left side of the room, ready to be lit to warm the Alpha from the almost-rainy weather. He hadn’t noticed how rainy clouds had formed in the sky — it was as if the Goddess could tell that her loyal follower was having dangerous thoughts. The wind was strong; one would think it wanted to tear down the fortress and take it into the abyss. And although he, as an Alpha, didn’t feel cold like an Omega would, he still enjoyed the feeling of being warm — hence the fireplace. In front of the door was a window taking up the entirety of the wall. The Alpha could look out and see every stretch of his land, every forest, every shadow between the hills. From here, no enemy could come unseen. And despite everything, this was where he felt safest.
A knock on the door echoed in the study.
“Come in,” he acknowledged. He figured it must be one of the soldiers bringing updates about the military’s whereabouts. He prepared himself for the worst, as he always did. It didn’t matter how sure he was about his pack and military — he always mentally prepared himself for the worst. Fortunately, he was met with the head servant, Jiwoo, instead.
Jiwoo had been serving the family of the Alpha ever since Jungkook was a pup. She was the Omega who took care of him and Yoongi the most — their mother figure, as they had tragically lost their mother during childbirth.
“Jungkook, it’s so good to see you,” she breathed softly, entering the room and caressing the younger’s long black curls, which reached the bottom of his neck — something new he was trying.
“Jiwoo,” her name fell softly from his trembling lips. He took a deep breath and embraced her tightly. He furrowed his nose close to her neck, letting himself take in the scent of lavender the woman in her sixties radiated. It immediately calmed him; that’s all he needed to… breathe again.
“Hard day? I was expecting Yoongi to come with you,” she pulled back from the embrace and looked around to make sure the latter wasn’t there. “He hardly comes home anymore.”
“He has a new home now.” Jungkook smiled softly while thinking about the happiness his brother felt with his newfound mate.
A smile — that was new.
“It doesn’t stop me from missing him,” she sighed and started moving towards the study table, placing a plate of boiled deer meat, potatoes, and a cup of beer to accompany his feast.
Jungkook took in the smell of the meat and his wolf growled in excitement — he had just remembered he hadn’t eaten the entire day. He loved Jiwoo’s cooking. It was all he had ever known. He took in the smell and made his way towards his chair, but just as he was about to have a seat, he was interrupted.
“Oh! Before I forget, this was sent here by the pack’s mailman.” She placed a letter next to the plate, sealed with red wax and a symbol engraved on it.
He took the letter into his hands and examined it. He concentrated his eyes on the red seal, trying to search his memory for which pack the symbol belonged to. And although Jungkook had never had any issues with his memory, this one symbol must have slipped from it. Realizing there was no use in trying to remember, he tore the seal open impatiently, only to find a short but satisfactory letter inside.
And that’s when he knew — it was the perfect time to start planning the attack.
⋆˙⟡
The lowlands at the foot of the eastern mountain had always been a place of life. Meadows stretched endlessly, painted with the greens of wild grass and the gold of wheat swaying with the wind. It was a land that breathed freely, far from the stone walls and rigid order of the mountain capital. However, all of that would come to change with the merciless summer that had found its way there. The sun had scorched the fields, the lively river that once went through the entirety of the village had shrunk to a sad, shallow stream, and the once-rich earth had turned brittle beneath the farmers’ hands.
A lone white wolf darted across the now-faded meadows, paws brushing over the cracked soil as it searched for anything remotely edible. The breeze ran through its fur, tugging gently at its ears, which stood tall and alert. Blue eyes scanned the ground with focus, yet there was still a certain carefree light to them. To its surprise, it spotted a small cluster of strawberries hiding beneath the dry grass. Lowering its head, the wolf inhaled the sweet, familiar scent — strawberries had always been its favorite, their fragrance blending effortlessly with its own warm trace of vanilla.
It lifted its gaze to the land before it, and a pang of longing twisted in its chest. Just months ago, these meadows had been alive — greener than anything it had ever known. Now, they lay as a hushed memory of what had been.
From the distance, a larger figure appeared — a grey wolf, almost twice its size, standing like a sentinel on the hilltop. Burning red eyes fixed on the smaller wolf, studying the scene laid out before them. Slowly, it descended the hill, until it reached the white wolf’s side. Leaning in, the grey wolf brushed its tongue against the smaller one’s ear, a silent acknowledgment, a quiet thank you. The scent of melting pine wrapped around the white wolf, warm and compelling.
“What are we going to do, Hyungsik?” a deep voice echoed into the living room they were sitting in.
“I don’t know, Taehyung. All I know is that they won’t last this winter like this,” Hyungsik replied, voice low, looking out the window at the mass of people walking through the village. The two wolves had turned back to their human forms and headed home, the white wolf—Taehyung—now in his human form, sitting on his lap.
“The river’s nearly gone. There’s no fruit, no vegetables. The animals won’t be enough to survive the winter…” He trailed off, shaking his head.
“If we had just one more rain—” the younger murmured, laying his head on Hyungsik’s shoulder, inhaling the fragrance of pine, trying to rub in some of his scent to calm the anxious Alpha beneath him.
“One more rain will not change what the sun has already burned,” Hyungsik cut in gently, letting the scent of vanilla from the younger take over his judgment. The younger male on his lap let out a sad whine, trying to nuzzle his nose deeper into Hyungsik’s neck. He felt a sense of great comfort even during the worst of times when he inhaled the familiarity of Hyungsik’s pine fragrance. He let it consume him; he couldn’t bear to think about the circumstances the pack was forced to live in.
“We need help, and we need it urgently.”
The younger’s ears perked up. He took his head off Hyungsik’s shoulder and looked at him attentively, a pout forming on his lips. Hyungsik took the moment to appreciate the male in such proximity to him.
Taehyung carried a beauty that seemed as though it had been carved by the gentlest of hands. His hair, a cascade of soft golden-blonde, fell in weightless waves that framed his face and caught the light as though each strand had been spun from sunlight itself. Scattered across his fair skin were moles—small, delicate marks where Hyungsik loved to place soft kisses.
There was a moment of silence between them. Hyungsik was too immersed in the beauty of his mate; it had been months since the two of them had made the promise of forever to each other, and yet he still found himself gazing at him.
“Hyungsik, what are you thinking of doing?” Taehyung broke the silence and asked the dreaded question.
“I’m going to contact Jeon Jungkook,” he replied, turning his gaze away from the younger’s.
There had been tales of terror going around the surrounding packs about the great leader of the Jeon Dynasty. His name rolled on their tongues with fear whenever it was spoken. So many of the surrounding packs had lost their sovereignty to Jungkook and his formidable military. Not one of the territories he was able to conquer had been able to stand a chance against him, no matter how strong their Alphas were, none of them were able to fight against him and his military. Afraid of losing to him, the surrounding territories had started giving up their lands without even putting up fights.
Taehyung got up from Hyungsik’s lap, disbelief scattered all over his expression. His gaze was no longer soft and delicate; his features stiffened, a sense of terror creeping up his spine. He almost lost his balance at the sound of Jungkook’s name.
“Jeon Jungkook? As in the True Blood Alpha terrorizing every pack in the region? You cannot be serious,” he replied in disbelief. He thought his ears must be playing tricks on him; he didn’t dare believe that Hyungsik was actually considering this.
How could anyone ask for help from the one person who had been terrorizing everyone left and right, killing every leader who dared refuse merging with him and his pack?
Hyungsik got up from the soft, furry sofa and made his way toward Taehyung, whose vanilla scent burned with fear. Jeon Jungkook’s name brought shivers down his spine; he imagined every negative scenario possible.
“Taehyung, calm down. I’m your Alpha. The Alpha of this pack; I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that.” The young Omega’s whine of anxiety filled the room. Hyungsik’s wolf stirred, protective and restless. He walked toward the shivering latter and embraced him, bringing him as close to his chest as he possibly could.
“We can get through this without anyone having to come into our pack’s business, especially that… beast. Don’t you see what he’s been doing to Bogum’s pack these past few weeks?” Taehyung pulled away from the embrace; the shivers never left him. He stepped back a few times, almost tripping on the sofa they had been cuddling on just a few seconds ago. He shook his head. “Don’t you understand that it’ll be our turn after Bogum? You want to invite him and make this all easier for him?”
Taehyung’s distressed scent was making the Alpha in front of him dizzy; his wolf was screaming at him to protect the young Omega from anything disturbing his beautiful mind.
Protect him. Do something. Do something.
He walked toward Taehyung and held his waist to help him balance. The scent of his anxiety had become unbearable for both Hyungsik and Taehyung.
“Taehyung, my love, please,” the Alpha softly murmured and brought his hands up to cup Taehyung’s cheeks. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise. Your Alpha will protect you.”
At that, Taehyung took a deep breath, resting his head in Hyungsik’s hands, who had gently been caressing his cheeks to calm him as much as it was humanly possible. Hyungsik’s emotions surged. The need to protect what was his made his wolf stir, awakening with a restless intensity. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and reopened them, his red irises locking with the distressed blue ones staring back at him.
“Do you trust me?” he asked after several minutes of soft touches and careful scenting. The mingling aromas of vanilla and pine had filled the room, weaving around them like a protective shield.
“I do. It’s just…” Hyungsik didn’t let him finish. Instead, he cut Taehyung off, pressing a short but meaningful kiss to his lips, pulling him closer from his delicate waist. Taehyung remained frozen, wordless, the tension of fear still visible in his every motion.
“I know what I’m doing, Tae. I promise you, I have a plan,” Hyungsik murmured, attempting to reassure his fragile mate, even though a small part of him wasn’t entirely certain of how it would unfold.
The rest of the night passed in silence. Taehyung retreated to their bedroom without a word of goodnight. When Hyungsik followed, he was met with a heart-wrenching sight: Taehyung, still wrapped in Hyungsik’s fur jacket, nose nuzzling the pillow as if holding onto a shred of comfort from the day. The sight made his wolf melt. The sweet scent of melted pine lingered in the room, offering a calm that would help the Omega rest. Perhaps it would ease him, even just slightly, by morning.
He knew what needed to be done — this was it, all or nothing. The pack could not survive the harsh winter on its own. He would have to lower his guard and seek aid from the strongest Alpha in the region. Perhaps Jungkook would show mercy; perhaps they could find common ground.
He seated himself at his rough-hewn table and took up a quill. He dipped it into ink and began to write, his strokes careful, his words weighed with both respect and urgency.
To His Grace, Jungkook, Alpha of the Mountain Capital
May this letter find you in health and prosperity.
I, Alpha Kim Hyungsik of the Eastern Lowlands, extend greetings and respect.
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you in these trying times. I write not only as the leader of my people, but as one who believes in the strength of the bonds we share. Our lowlands have suffered greatly under the unyielding heat of this summer. The river that has long sustained us has all but disappeared, our fields lie barren, and hunger grows heavier with each passing day.
In the spirit of unity between our packs and as allies under the bonds of the old accord, I request an audience with Your Grace, to discuss the possibility of aid and trade that may prevent this famine from consuming us entirely. I extend this invitation to meet within my lands, that you may see for yourself the state in which we now live.
I trust in your wisdom and in the strength of the bond between our lands.
With highest regard,
Hyungsik of the Eastern Lowlands
Hyungsik set the quill aside, reading over the letter once more before sealing it with red wax. He pressed his signet ring into the warm seal, the mark of the Eastern Lowlands imprinting deep into the red.
He only hoped Jungkook’s answer would come swiftly.
Taehyung hadn’t slept. The scent of Hyungsik’s fur jacket clung to him like a promise he no longer believed in. The moon had passed its peak, and still, no words had been shared. Only silence and the quiet scratch of quill on parchment from the other room.
Something was coming. He could feel it in the marrow of his bones.
But whether it would save them—or destroy them—was still unknown.