Chapter Text
I was four when I was taken…
They trained me, beat me into obedience…
Forced me into hard labor…
And then fighting…
It’s all I’ve ever known…
I don’t really know anything about a family, a pack….let alone…love…
We can teach you… I can teach you.
He laid against the cold, gray bars, staring out into oblivion. The floor was filled with hay, disheveled everywhere. He could hear the growling in the pit from here. Snaps, snarls, bites, as people shouted and yelled words of encouragement or anger. They could never decide. Fur flying everywhere. Bloodlust high in the air. Blood splattered or dripped from wounds. Strong or haggard breaths from the mouths full of sharp, aggressive teeth. Unknown malice found in each of the fighters’ eyes. They circled each other before one made a move, lunging forward at the other as the hollering from the spectators went wild. Limbs flying and moving fast to avoid the sting of pain that those sharp teeth were most certain to cause. Occasionally there would be a crack of bone, a yowl of pain, or maybe the crack of a neck and a slump of a body with the winner standing over proud. Shouts of utter joy and shouts of acrimony. Money placed into hands, taken out of hands with smirking “thank you’s” and grumbled “yeah yeah’s.” Then spectators would go back to their seats awaiting the next fight as the body of the defeated would be dragged away.
This was the world that he lived in.
The world of no mercy, only fighting instinct. Survival was everything and he was one of the best at it. For eight years he fought, not knowing anything else but fighting for his life. He became the favorite to bet on in the pit despite his smaller size and almost unnatural beauty. Compared to the other alpha shifters who held strength and muscle against him, he was surprisingly strong, incredibly fast, and smart. He not only became a favorite to the spectators, but to the Boss himself.
This is all he’s ever known and what he was trained for. So when one of the guards started walking over, he was already getting up off his feet, a clank of the ring of his collar hitting the cage bars briefly as he was shaking off the hay from his black hole-ripped pants, white t-shirt, and green jacket. The guard opened the cage door as he shifted into his true form and lightly jogged down the wooden ramp making his way to stand near one of the entrances that led out to the pit. He shook, fur moving from side to side as he took a stance, mentally preparing himself for another battle for his survival. But this one would be different. This one would change everything.
The announcer finished his introductions and called for the next two contestants to be led to the pit. The welcoming bright lights screaming with excitement, he stepped out letting them consume him.
~*~
A crack of leaves here and there as paws slowly padded on the ground, stepping on leaves that would soon cripple as summer started turning to fall in a couple weeks. Gentle feet and small breaths enough to make their presence known to any nearby company. Branches from bushes rattling as large figures move through the forest at a slow, watchful pace. Heads ducked low, keeping the slow pace as they check the boundaries, keeping a look out for intruders. One of the movements stop. A large, black head slowly makes its way high in the air, above the bushes, as it sniffs quickly, its ears twitching, listening intently for anything unnatural. Gold eyes peer out into the distance. He looks around and then ducks his head low again, continuing the pace set before.
Patrolling wasn’t the most exciting jobs as a deputy, but he took it seriously. It protects the pack and that’s his job as a second alpha to the leader. So, for as long as he is needed as a deputy, he will take his job seriously, paying attention to every detail as he passes by the borders of the territory. Not to mention that there have also been strange occurrences as of late with pack moves and rogue wolves. Something strange was happening with the packs to the east as they and the packs around them have spotted a higher number of rogue wolves recently.
As he passed by the edge of the river, he watched as the water made its way downstream in the riverbed. He made his way back to the group of two wolves who went ahead when he stopped earlier. Nothing unusual, he thought to himself. And yet, he couldn’t shake this weird feeling as they got closer, looping back around to make their way back to the camp.
~*~
He had the dog’s neck within his teeth’s grip as he held tight. He could hear the creature below him whimper and snap his jaws frantically trying to dislodge the wolf’s superior strength, but to no avail. Then the dog below him finally finds a stable footing enough to push him off and they continued to circle each other, both panting and baring their teeth. The dog had more visible scratches than did the wolf as they were hidden underneath his longer, darker fur. New blood covered the ground from their wounds. His leg had been nicely cut, blood streaking down, and his cheek had a few scratches. On his left side held a large scratch on his tummy where the dog had used his back paws to scratch him while pinned earlier. But he was still better off than the dog who circled him. More scratches, bite marks, and gashes littered the poor creature in front of him who was panting hard, obviously tired. The dog’s eyes held unnatural anger toward the wolf, but he kept a skeptical eye on the dog circling him. Then a lunge and they tumbled teeth sharp, biting, growling and razor nails scraping skin and fur.
The crowd went wild with cheers and shouts. But it was sudden and almost too soon when the back doors of the facility near the rear of the spectator-area of the pit open unexpectedly. All heads turned to the noise before running and shuffling in the opposite direction as they realize who it could be. A large group of police officers with guns at the ready were shouting for everybody to stay still and cooperate with capture. But, of course, all the spectators ran, trying to escape the law forbidding dog fighting. They gambled off the fights, keeping them going and enhancing an underground empire that ruled the east side of the city.
This was the moment he was waiting for and he quickly turned to head back to the exit toward the cages, but the dog stopped him quickly, bloodlust thick around him and malice dripping down along with the saliva from the dog’s bared mouth. The battle wasn’t finished. He scanned the dog, back in his defensive stance, but as the dog lunged forward again a shot rang and the dog went limb, body slumped to the floor directly in front of him. His eyes went wide as he realized that one of the officers shot the dog and was trying to shoot him as well. More bullets flew as he jumped over the body toward the exit and shifted, running as he did so. He was panting heavily, scared and fidgety as he grabbed the keys from the dead guard-keeper. He ran over and unlocked the cages of multiple people around his age and younger. Their eyes went wide at the commotion that was overtaking the facility, but as he unlocked each of their cages he quickly told the older shifters to gather everyone quickly.
When he finally unlocked the last one which held a few pups, they were all gathered, awaiting further orders.
In a hurried, tired, but anxious voice he says, “Go northeast, past the city limits and into the forests beyond. We’ll meet up somewhere there if anyone gets lost or separated from the group. Make sure to stay on the territorial lines so as not to draw any unnecessary attention to any of you,” he rehearsed to the group as Jonghwa had told him before. “I don’t know any of the territories well, but this is our best chance. Minaje, Sunjae, Irene, Hyungsik take care of the pups and make sure they find their packs and are safe before you find yours, okay?”
“Taehyung, what about you?” Hyungsik asks accusingly.
“You all need a distraction, so I’m going to hold them off so everybody can get out of here, but we gotta hurr—”
The boss’s guards came running through the door on the opposite of them, eyes wide as they realize that the shifters were all escaping, reaching for their guns. Tae screams at them to go, eyes wide and frightened they all comply.
Tae turns back around lowering himself a bit into a fighting stance, but a loud sound rips through the air throwing him back a bit. Feeling something incredibly hot near his left side of his head, he reaches with a hand to grasp at his bleeding ear the bullet caught as the noise pushed him back. Holy shit—. He shifted then, jaw wide, lunging at the two guards in front of him. He threw one into the wall off to the right and then latched onto the other’s bare leg creating an unnerving yell that filled the air. The guard grabbed him scruff hard and then threw him back. Tae landed on his feet and lunged again at the wounded man, knocking him into one of the cages. Tae took the chance to run out the doors the group had taken and into the dark, damp street. He ran as fast as he could northeast, past all the streetlights that gave his position away just as Jonghwa said. The guards were too far behind anyway. Or so he thought.
When he finally caught up with the slowest part of the group who must have separated, he saw Minjae struggling to carry two pups in his mouth. He told him to slow down so he could grab Kiwon and Minjae accommodated. Not even a few miles left until they reached forest, a four-wheeler came streaming down the road yelling at the wolves running. Tae and Minaje ran faster as bullets again flew in their direction. They hit forest and ran for miles, but the two men on the four-wheeler was persistent. Tae mentally communicated to Minjae to split up, keep to the borders, and find the rest of the group. With a look of worry, but sensibility, Minjae ran off toward the river as Tae led the four-wheeler in the opposite direction, west. He decided that he would have no choice going into a pack’s territory as it may be the only way to fend off the boss’s men. He runs into the territory hearing the man curse slowing their pace as the trees grew thicker making it impossible for the four-wheeler to comply with the terrain.
Once Tae and the pup were far enough, he slowed down, checking his surroundings carefully before finally picking a spot to catch his breath. The weight of the pup and running for what felt like twenty miles was taking its toll. He found an old oak whose roots made a sort of shelter and he entered, putting the pup down and breathed heavily. He finally laid down, fur ruffled and dried blood that covered his fur from his old wounds with new blood still streaking down his face from his ear. Kiwon joined him and balled himself up against Tae’s belly. Tae could feel the fear running off the pup; the anxiety and restlessness that mimicked Tae’s own. He tried to put aside those feelings for the sake of the pup and after a while he felt Kiwon’s restlessness come to a slow halt as the pup fell asleep through the comfort of the wolf’s calming presence. Eventually feeling a bit of exhaustion come over him, he briefly closes his eyes and then unknowingly succumbs to a light slumber.
~*~
His eyes open suddenly, and head flies up and the hair on the back of his neck flies up, as a few foreign scents wander through the air. They are coming from the west at a quick pace from what Tae’s paws could feel from the ground. He jumps up realizing that he won’t have enough time to get out of the area with Kiwon. He forcefully nudges the pup awake, mentally communicating with him.
Kiwon, I need you to be a big wolf and run to find Minjae’s scent for me, okay? It’s really important that you stay between the borders of the different territories, okay? Stay between the two bigger scents and you should find Minjae.
The pup’s eyes held confusion and worry, his scent leaking fear, but he nods hurriedly, and Tae pushes him off in the opposite direction of the nearing wolves. He watches the pup take off as fast as he could. Tae comes out of the tree’s roots and waits for the approaching wolves, already in a defensive stance almost growling in apprehension.
He first hears the growling coming from the bushes in front of him, an overwhelmingly powerful scent filling his nose, and then emerges snarling white teeth which came closer, belonging to a large black wolf; red eyes locking and staring into Taehyung’s. Two other wolves appeared on either side of the black wolf, growling; one dark brown and grey and the other cream with lighter brown and white spots littering his coat, legs, and snout, both with yellow eyes. A big alpha and two betas. But Tae was ready to defend himself; this was like any other battle—except with other, bigger shifters. No wolf-dogs this time.
But Tae didn’t back down or away from the three wolves. Ears back, he growls back in defiance. He sees the bigger, black wolf step forward, still growling. Presence ever growing. Tae feels something strange nip at the back of his subconscious, but he quickly shakes it away, focusing on the dangerous fight that was about to unfold before him. He must be using his dominance. Taehyung just lowered his stance, eyes narrowed, serious and ready for anything. The black wolf’s crimson eyes, never leaving him, narrowing in confusion for a second before the cream wolf lunges at him. Tae quickly dodges the snapping teeth that almost caught his front leg, by standing on his hind legs for a second before going in to grasp the wolf’s neck with his teeth. He successfully bites down, hard for a second before being thrown off, hitting the tree and slumping down a bit. Pain rushes through his body, from the old wounds still healing and the new. Of course, the cream wolf had the advantage of being stronger and bigger, but that’s never stopped Tae from beating dogs like these. The brown-grey wolf was next to lunge at Tae who used the tree in his favor as he pushed with his hind legs off the base of the tree, sliding forward on the ground, avoiding the attack.
~*~
He watched the smaller, brown wolf defend himself well considering that he was already bloodied and bruised, panting, almost out of breath with every movement his body made. His omega scent gave him away considerably, but there was something weird about it. Jungkook noted in the back of his head that it was a naturally sweet, fresh lavender scent that was incredibly pleasing to his nose, but he pushed it far to the back of his mind considering the time and place. The brown wolf was a skilled fighter which didn’t match any omega he’s ever seen. Omegas weren’t usually taught to fight all that much considering that Alphas and Betas protected them in the pack. They only learned basics generally. He watched the rogue wolf avoid another attack. But another thought lingered as to why the Omega was by himself in the first place which was very strange. What was an omega doing out here all by himself? Does he not understand the times they were living in?
His thoughts shattered when he watched the brown wolf get thrown against the large oak behind him. In that moment Jackson joined the fight lunging for the small wolf but slammed into the tree, whimpering loudly, as the small wolf used his hind legs to push off the bottom of the oak, flipping forward, flying toward him. He was ready for him, already in his stance, teeth bared, but the wolf just ran right past him. Whipping his head around, he tried to catch his tail at the last second, but the wolf was fast.
Twirling around, he quickly ran after him, following the strange scent, not exactly thinking in the moment other than chasing the intruder. He’s not getting away. This is all too strange. There are too many questions that needed to be answered.
Jungkook! he mentally heard. What the hell are we doing? Why’re we following him? He’s obviously running away!
Jungkook was still running and he could hear and feel Jackson and Yugyeom a few paces behind him. The cold night started becoming lighter as dawn approached and a light rain started to fall.
It doesn’t matter, he could be a threat to the pack later if we let him go now. A pause. But I think it’s more complicated than that. There’s something strange about him. I’ll explain later, okay?
There really was something weird about this omega who was still running at an incredibly fast pace whilst bruised and bloodied beyond belief. How the wolf had the stamina and strength to continue, he didn’t know. But Jungkook needed to find that wolf. He needed answers to every question that plagued his mind about this strange-as-hell situation.
~*~
There was no way—absolutely no way—he was getting out of that fight alive. The next best thing that crossed his mind was running, not usually something Taehyung did (not that he ever could), but, again, this was just surviving—and Taehyung wanted to survive. He wasn’t quite sure why, the question that always lingered in the back of his mind with every fight, but his instincts told him to keep going.
So he ran, past the big black wolf and straight into the forest, heading toward the unknown. Trees and bushes quickly flying past him. His adrenaline must be kicking in. He could hear and feel the other wolves chase after him, step by step a few meters behind him, but he kept focused on what was in front of him. He didn’t know where he was running to, but it didn’t matter so long as Kiwon was safe. Taehyung was the distraction again. Dawn was breaking, so it was easier to see, but rain started to fall. He came across the edge of the north end of the city, where there were abandoned blocks of white, crumbling buildings. He ran past some of the larger ones, paws hitting puddles, splashing, water protruding through the air. He could feel his pace slowing from exhaustion, the adrenaline leaving his body, meaning the three wolves behind him were coming closer.
Keep going. Don’t stop, he told himself. He pushed on despite the ever-growing pain. He made a sharp turn into the rubble-filled building to his left and up the rock stairs that broke with every step he took. Another floor. And another. Until he reached the roof of the third floor. Breathing heavy, fur rising up and down quickly in large gasps. He padded over to edge and looked down to see quite a bit of a fall. He mentally grimaced. But he backed up a little, fear filling him with the possibility of falling. But he quickly turned around feeling the movement of paws hitting the ground not too far behind him. He couldn’t smell them all too well because of the rain. Then he saw one head then two more pop up from the stairs, seeing the bigger wolves finally make their way onto the roof. The black wolf’s scent overwhelmed Tae again. Apprehension and instinct taking over Taehyung, he lowered himself into a defensive stance as did the other wolves who started snarling. The black wolf’s red eyes now turning yellow, their natural color he assumed, caught Tae’s own. Something strange was behind those yellow eyes—secrets, anxiety, and maybe….understanding? No. They had a stare down for what felt like minutes. But Tae decided and moved in the moment, not realizing himself what he was doing until he was falling.
~*~
Jungkook, Jackson, and Yugyeom caught up with the small wolf on the rooftop of an abandoned, broken-down, three-story building. Jungkook was in between the two wolves as they all started to snarl, paws padding forward slowly toward the Omega. The rain poured down heavily on all of them.
It was only then that Jungkook took in the Omega’s appearance, not properly doing so while in the dark woods. The smaller wolf wasn’t actually all that small. He was about the size of a small alpha. He had a brown coat of fur mixed and matched with different shades of darker and lighter browns and blacks with maybe a lighter almost cream underbelly and snout. It was there that Jungkook realized that the rogue was a very beautiful wolf. But there were also wounds that littered his body and not-so-dried blood that stained his fur. More fighting? As Jungkook looked at his face he noticed a medium-looking scar across his snout, but as he lifted his eyes a little more he noticed something even more alluring: his eyes. They were light purple and if Jungkook really looked he could see hints, or flecks of gold almost. That was most-certainly strange. But not as strange as the dark brown and silver ringed collar that was on his neck, clanking with the wolf’s heavy breathing. What the fuck?
But before Jungkook could say anything or take any action, the Omega moved forward towards them quickly before turning in a stead-fast way, jumping off the roof completely. Jungkook eyes went wide, mouth slightly opened, stood for barely a second before running over to the edge. He carefully looked down, seeing the assumed dead body of the Omega. He stared. His eyebrows furrowed in absolute confusion. What the hell… But something in the back of his mind told Jungkook that he wasn’t dead.
We need to go check the body, I have a feeling he’s not dead yet, Jungkook told them.
Jungkook, isn’t this too much? He literally jumped off the fucking building, obviously ending his life—or with the intention to. Shouldn’t we just let it be? Yugyeom mentally said, edged with a little frustration and bitterness. But all Jungkook gave him was a hard stare before both Yugyeom and Jackson quickly padded off and Jungkook soon joined them walking down to check the body.
~*~
His eyes and mouth burst open in shock and rippling pain. He forced down a yowl, teeth grinding against each other threatening to escape.
I need to get up. Get up! He forced his body to move. One leg at a time, falling more than once while trying to stand. He was limping heavily, breathing significantly worse. He was cold from the pouring rain. And how he was alive, he didn’t know. Was his intention to live? Again, no answer.
He made his way to the closest building entrance, shifting, groaning in pain and leaned against the wall. He could hear the rain beat against the ground in one drowning sound. He was shaking from the cold rain that left his body soaked and penetrated his wounds. He could very well feel his soul stiffen. His eyes lazy, threatening to close on him completely. But he knew the wolves would be down soon. He couldn’t afford to relax in this situation. He still didn’t understand why they were still after him. The rain would cover his scent, but only for so long. He needed to keep moving. But as he steps, his legs give out and his eyes roll back. His physical and mental exhaustion finally catching up with him in one swift motion, in the most inconvenient time.
~*~
The body was gone by the time they made their way down. He frustratedly told Jackson and Yugyeom to search the nearby buildings as he couldn’t have gone far with his injuries. They couldn’t track his scent because of the rain, but they didn’t relent their search. This was too strange, and he needed some damn answers. This wolf was willing to jump off a building, potentially dying, to get away which leaves Jungkook to assume he was hiding something or protecting something or someone—maybe important, maybe something or someone potentially dangerous to the pack.
Jungkook put his nose down, sniffing trying to get something, but to no avail. He kept going, his instinct telling him to do so, past two buildings and as he turned the corner he saw a young man slumped against the wall, unconscious. He shifted to his human form, soaked already from head to toe. He mentally called to the other two wolves for them to come over.
He looked at the young man. One arm was draped across his left side and stomach, maybe where a large bruise was forming from the fall? The Omega was wearing black, ripped pants, a white T-shirt covered by a green jacket. He was soaked. Jungkook finally looked at the stranger’s face and he almost opened his mouth in astonishment. He was truly beautiful. Silky-smooth skin, perfect facial proportion, and an expression across his face that could kill an angel. His hair was light brown, wet, and stuck to his forehead. He noticed the small scar across his nose as had been on his snout before in his wolf form. His eyebrows were furrowed, probably in pain. He wondered what his natural eyes looked like behind those lids, but they didn’t open, thankfully. He finally noticed the smaller collar he had saw before around the neck of the wolf. It was much smaller on his human form than on his wolf, which didn’t quite make sense to Jungkook, but he didn’t have much time to think about it as Jackson and Yugyeom in their human forms finally arrived at his side, looking at the unconscious body.
“Are we gonna take him,” asked Jackson, staring at the young man on the floor.
“Yeah,” he pauses, then “something’s off about him that I don’t like, and I’d feel better telling and showing Namjoon rather than letting him go and parade around open territory, riling up other packs.”
That’s right. Namjoon would know what to do with him. It would be best to take him.
“Alright I guess,” says Yugyeom with a sigh.
Jungkook moves to go over and pick up the small Omega who looked to be around the same height as him with less build. When he touched the man, Jungkook felt something strange mentally and physically, but he pushed it to the back of his mind, picking up his body. His scent filled his nose and now he let the thought of how good he smelt come back to him from earlier. This was strange. He’s never met someone who smelled so good, but he wasn’t going to indulge in the thought. He had no idea who this wolf was, and he has already caused enough trouble. The Omega wasn’t all that heavy as Jungkook picked him up, bridal style, the easiest way to carrying him. He motioned for them to leave and they padded away, back to the territory without another word.