Chapter Text
~Epilogue~
“Daaaaad, my feet are tired.”
Jeongguk rolls his eyes, squeezes Jimin’s hand before letting go, and runs up behind Byeol. The ten-year-old pup yelps in surprise when Jeongguk hoists him up from behind and lifts him onto his shoulders. Byeol holds his hair tightly when he runs and jostles the boy around, loud laughter shattering the quiet morning of the forest.
“S-slow down, dad! I’m gonna fall!”
Jeongguk slows but only to fake drop Byeol. He grabs the pup’s legs sandwiching his neck and moves him backward until the boy is forced to dangle upside down behind Jeongguk’s back. Squeals and giggles spilling out of the wild pup’s mouth.
“Don’t let go!” Byeol shouts between his hearty amusement.
“I would never,” Jeongguk responds, swinging his pup back and forth.
“You did that one time when—”
“Shh! That’s our secret, remember?! If your dad found out I’d be dead meat.”
“I heard that!” Jeongguk spins to see Jimin coming up the trail behind him with Dal in tow. The omega is shaking his head with a smirk on his face and when Jeongguk sets Byeol down, they share a look of faux shock at being overheard. The pup laughs behind his hands and takes off toward Jimin.
Jeongguk waits for his family to reach where he is on the dirt path and then falls into step with them. “Don’t worry, I did not drop our son. I merely misjudged the height we were at when I rescued him from a tree and let him go to the ground— Oof!” Jeongguk gets a backhand to the stomach.
“I can’t believe you just admitted to dropping our son from a tree,” Jimin says with a shake of his head, combing his fingers through Byeol’s unruly hair, who suddenly ducks to pick up a caterpillar on the trail. Jeongguk replaces the pup’s spot and snakes his hand around his mate’s waist, kissing the omega’s cheek who grumbles but doesn’t reject the affection.
They walk peacefully through the forest, the spring bringing with it freshly bloomed wild flowers that Dal is currently picking, using Myung’s knife Jeongguk passed down to him as a tool to cut the stems. He has quite the collection in his hands and Jeongguk knows he’s going to turn it into a flower crown as soon as they reach their destination.
“Have you heard from Hobi? Will he be there too?” Jimin asks when they cross under the arched trees Namjoon told them about in his roughly given directions.
Jeongguk nods. “Yeah, he finally sent a message that he had arrived at the port city two days ago. So he should meet us at the hut too.”
Seven years ago, Hoseok sent word to Jeongguk through a little square device Taehyung had made for them all to communicate long distance, about coming across another human civilization. Of course his first words were, I told you! , since he used to talk Jeongguk’s ear off about his belief that there had to be other cities than the one they knew. Turns out he was correct.
“Perfect. Dal, you can ask him about those cool rocks you found the other day. Hobi will know what they are,” Jimin directs to Dal who just nods, too busy with his flower picking.
“Dad, how much longer?” Byeol grumbles with an exaggerated slouch, trudging behind them.
They have been trekking for a few days now, his family shifting into their wolf forms every now and then just to primally soak in the expansive nature, but it’s not the first time they’ve gone such a distance. Making it a habit to visit the Noh pack at least twice a year so that the pups can be around other kids. They also, as of a year ago, visited the city for the first time to gather a few supplies and see Taehyung, Yoongi, Zen, and Naksu, who still reside there.
The city has changed quite a bit within the last decade but it’s still not perfectly rid of the old ways. As Taehyung has said multiple times, it will take a near lifetime for things to be completely okay. However, the classes he has integrated into the city for the citizens have been taken positively, and the people are becoming a bit more outspoken and overall human. There’s still some segregation of the species, but rather than wish for the wolves’ eradication or removal, they just ignore the wolves’ existence altogether most of the time.
They still don't plan to make a habit of visiting though. Jeongguk and his family only went to the city that one time because they struggled with obtaining necessary supplies in the forest for the harsh winter. Although meeting their friends was a bright highlight, there was a heaviness that weighed on them as soon as they stepped foot into the, now, wall-less city, and they did not like that familiar negative sensation.
It was nice to see that Taehyung’s grueling efforts weren’t for naught though. Jeongguk always misses his best friend and wishes Taehyung could live for himself for once, but he understands his friend’s determination to see through what he started. Taehyung was born to be a leader and luckily he doesn’t seem too distraught over being one, probably because he is too used to it.
Jeongguk thinks it would be different if progress wasn’t showing through, but thankfully it is, slowly but surely. Especially after Taehyung tore the outrageous walls down and opened trade with the civilizations Hoseok has been finding on his journeys. Which, by the way, already had a human and wolf integrated system. Jeongguk is sure having those foreigners travel in and out of the city has helped spread the truth that the two species can live civilly with one another.
Surprisingly, there is still yet to be evidence of another half-wolf like Jeongguk. Although these cities live well with wolves, Hoseok says the species still stick pretty closely with their own; crossbreeding is generally frowned upon.
It makes Jeongguk wonder sometimes about his biological father, and just how in love he must have been with his mother to break such a deeply embedded custom. But he doesn’t care to find out. He decided to not meet with his mother and ask those questions, and still refuses to. One, he’s worried seeing her will trigger unwanted memories and emotions that he truly has no patience nor energy to deal with anymore. And two, no matter what she would say, it wouldn’t change anything. Sure, he might have a better understanding of who his father was, but it’s hard to want that for someone he never knew about until he was in his mid-twenties.
His mother neglected him, and whether it was for self-preservation or not, it was still wrong of a mother to do. So he continues to pretend she doesn’t exist, just like he has since he was young.
“Jeongguk,” Jimin says, squeezing his hand. Jeongguk comes out of his reverie and squints his eyes to make out a silhouette figure in the distance waving at them. When they get closer and Jeongguk sees the familiar stature of Namjoon, he smiles.
“Hey, guys! Glad you could make it,” Namjoon says enthusiastically just before he wraps Jeongguk up in a big hug, doing the same to Jimin and then the pups. “Did the journey treat you well?”
“It went as smooth as it can be with a pup who likes to complain and get distracted every ten minutes,” Jeongguk gripes lovingly, staring at Byeol who shrugs with a mischievous grin and runs up to hold Namjoon’s hand while they follow the tall man back to his home.
“Just wait til we get to the hut,” Namjoon says with a wink. “Plenty of distractions for you there.”
The port city is lively and somehow more bustling than the place Jeongguk grew up in. People and wolves alike line the main streets, working tirelessly to make a pretty penny for them and their families. As they walk, people greet Namjoon left and right, and only a few times do they ask about the family trailing Namjoon who promptly introduces them all.
It’s a bit overstimulating, if Jeongguk is being honest. Not just because he and his family have lived rather isolated for a decade in the woods way west, but the atmosphere is way more warm and welcoming than anywhere Jeongguk has been.
Jimin nudges his shoulder and the expression on the omega’s face, and the emotion coursing through their mating bond, hints that he too feels the same way. They aren’t used to such acceptance whatsoever.
“It stinks here,” Byeol says shamelessly and Jimin pops the back of his head.
‘Manners, Byeol.”
Namjoon laughs at the antics. “He’s not wrong. It’s the smell of fish—people here mostly fish to make a living. It is quite stinky though, but you get used to it after a while.”
“What do you do here?” Jeongguk asks, glancing around at the various merchant tables selling a variety of seafoods.
“I actually am a fisherman myself. Every morning when Seokjin goes to work at the infirmary, I meet with others at the dock and we just collect fish all day long to then sell or trade.”
Jeongguk hums. He too enjoys fishing and would likely be a fisherman if he lived here as well. Their cabin is located near a river and he and Dal have gotten into the habit of fishing together once a week while Jimin collects herbs and plants around the area with Byeol (who just tags along to chase butterflies).
They walk in relative silence until they reach a cedar structure with a straw roof at the end of the city. “Everyone is already inside so make yourselves at home. I just remembered I was supposed to pick up a salmon on my way back, so I’m gonna run and do that or Seokjin will have my head.” Namjoon shags Byeol’s hair and then takes off in a jog in the way they just came.
Jeongguk looks at Jimin who is already looking at him, smiling. Holding one another’s hand tighter, they knock on the wooden front door and step inside.
“Hello?” Jeongguk utters, creeping forward into the hut. The entire interior is made of the same cedar strips and it looks a lot like Jeongguk’s cabin. The biggest difference being the type of wood used and the ceiling material since the environment here is a bit different than in the colder, western side of the large forest. It’s decorated in shades of brown and beige, with the occasional pop of teal. It’s quite cozy and has an air that feels fresh and…salty?
A cacophony of voices erupt from further inside and Jeongguk is already smiling when he can recognize all of them before seeing them.
“Gguk!” Taehyung shouts, jumping up from the couch.
“JK!” Hoseok shouts, jumping up from the rug.
“Ahh, must you guys be so loud? I only have one ear left and I’d like to keep it,” Yoongi gripes, not jumping up from the couch where Taehyung was plastered to his side.
Hoseok and Taehyung reach Jeongguk at the same time and wrap him up in an embrace, trapping him between their bodies.
“Tae, who the hell is leading the city in your stay?” Jeongguk asks with his cheeks squished between his best friend’s hands.
“Kwan and Naksu. Those women are my backbone if I’m being honest so they’ll be fine.”
That sounds about right.
“We missed you!” Hoseok continues to scream, kissing the side of Jeongguk’s head dramatically. A gasp rings in his ear right after, and his sunshine friend is looking behind him with his hands covering his mouth in shock. “No fuc—freakin’ way! Dal?! Byeol?! Holy moly, you both are so big now!”
Hoseok barrels into Dal who had quickly set his flowers down on a side-table as if he knew what was about to happen before he was taken into Hoseok’s tight embrace. The two teeter back and forth and Jeongguk can only smile at the shy upturn of his son’s lips.
“Jimin! Wow, you are as radiant as always,” Taehyung says, turning his attention to the omega and wrapping him up in a hug. They start conversing quietly with one another but Jeongguk is already heading over to sit next to Yoongi.
“Hey, Yoongi, how’ve you been? How’s Geumjae?” he asks, careful to not hit Yoongi’s injured leg when he crosses over him to plop down.
When they visited the city last year, Taehyung informed them that those who were Owls weren’t doing so well. Not because they weren’t regaining humanness again after acute lessons, but with the slow obtaining of their identity and minds, it triggered most of them into extreme panic attacks. Many severe enough that they either had heartattacks as a result, or they committed suicide—the emotional trauma that hit them when they recalled the stripping of their humanity, and then couldn’t speak on it because of the removal of their tongues, was all too much for them to suddenly handle.
Yoongi sighs and rubs his temple. “He’s doing much better. Seokjin visited recently and showed the healers in the city how to make a form of tranquilizer that Owls can ingest each day to keep them calm. That’s helped a lot with his bursts of irritability, but for the most part Geumjae is doing well. He’s picked up the sign language we implemented and I caught him trying to teach another Owl the other day.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Jeongguk says with a pat to his friend’s leg.
Suddenly a gust of air flows through the hut and Jeongguk turns to see Seokjin poking his head through a backdoor. A delicious smell wafts through the opening which means the healer is cooking outside. “Oh! Hello, Jeongguk and family. Where is Namjoon?”
“He said he had to go back and get a salmon because he forgot on the way,” Jimin responds, smacking Taehyung’s hands away from his body, who pouts. “Can I help you with anything?”
“Oh, no, no, you are our guests. Buuuut, there is something you guys might be interested in seeing,” Seokjin bounces his brows as he speaks. Jeongguk tilts his head inquisitively and when he scans over the room to meet Jimin’s eyes, he notices everyone grinning like they’re all in on whatever this is. “Take your shoes and socks off and come out here.”
Jeongguk is confused but takes his footwear off and stands from the couch to help Jimin with his. Then he grabs his mate’s hand and ushers the pups forward through the backdoor Seokjin holds open.
“What is…” Jeongguk’s sentence fails to finish at the insane sight in front of him.
Blue.
A vast, deep blue, spread out as far as his eyes can see, extends before them.
“I present to you guys, the ocean,” Seokjin says with a jovial tune. Jimin and Jeongguk are frozen in place at the mesmerizing sight, but Byeol shrieks in excitement beside them and before Jeongguk can stop them, the pup and Dal bolt across the glittering sand.
Jimin snaps out of the shock first and pulls Jeongguk along as they step onto the white beach. The sand is soft yet coarse, squishing between his toes in a way that tickles and feels good at the same time. It transitions from warm and dry to cool and wet, and when Jeongguk glances behind him it’s to find a perfect print of their feet.
He and Jimin both release a disbelieving gasp when they stop at the edge of where the waves ebb and flow, branching up to kiss their toes on the beach. “Wow, this is beautiful,” Jimin mutters in awe. Jeongguk looks out across the sea, at the rippling waves sprinkling under the slowly sinking sun, and can only repeat the sentiment.
How has this giant body of water existed so long and they have never seen it until now?
He hears Jimin take a deep breath and peers at his mate who has his eyes closed, soaking in the ocean air. The sun illuminates the omega’s face in a spectacular glow, his silver hair gleaming in a brilliant shine, and Jeongguk can say with his whole heart that this majestic scene is only second to Jimin’s beauty.
Jeongguk pulls his mate to his front, back-to-chest, and circles his arms around Jimin’s waist. He dips his hands under the omega’s shirt to splay his fingers across the smooth stomach underneath, and hooks his chin over Jimin’s shoulder.
Jimin instantly sinks into the embrace, his head falling back onto Jeongguk’s shoulders while his hands run back and forth along Jeongguk’s forearms. They watch contently as the pups splash each other in the water in front of them and laugh.
“What are you thinking about?” Jimin mumbles in a peaceful daze.
“Just how I would have missed out on all this had I not met you.”
Jimin hums. “I hope you’re prepared for many more surprising and new experiences.” Hands settle on top of Jeongguk’s own and he smiles.
Nuzzling into his mate’s neck, Jeonggguk kisses the mating bite placed prettily there. No matter how many times he does it, Jeongguk still gets shivers at the buzz that courses through him each time. “I can’t wait. Our lil’ Myung will be a blast.”
Jimin chuckles. “You say that now but you’re gonna have your work cut out for you, Alpha.”
Jeongguk shrugs and turns his mate’s face to place the next kiss on his pillow lips. “It’ll be worth it. I’ve gone through worse, haven’t I?”
Jimin turns in Jeongguk’s arms, circling his limbs around Jeongguk’s neck to pull him in for a deeper kiss. It feels almost magical with the view beside them and the soft breeze twirling around them. “I love you. So much, every day. Thank you for being the best mate and father.”
“Thank you for taking a chance on me. I promised I would devote my all to you and our family, and I plan to keep it that way. I love you so so soooooo much.” Jimin giggles when Jeongguk peppers his face with aggressive pecks.
“Dad! Dad! Dad!” Dal yells out. “The water tastes salty!”
Jeongguk chuckles against Jimin’s forehead. “Duty calls,” the omega whispers amusedly.
With one final kiss to his mate’s lips, dropping to his knees to deposit another on the omega’s slightly swollen belly, Jeongguk takes off across the sand and into the blue water that pales in comparison to Jimin’s azure irises.
“Salty? No way, let me try it!”
🐺 ~Fin~ 🐺
