Chapter Text
Jimin adjusted the black, silver, and gold robe that hung open over his white silk shirt. He snapped the fan open and closed four times, trying to release his nervous energy.
“You’ll do fine, Min. We’ve practiced this at least a hundred times for the past six months.” Hoseok wore a similar outfit, his fan tucked into his belt.
“It’s not that. I’m still upset about Hajin.”
“Don’t think about it. You’ll just lose focus. Be here, with me, in the now .” Hoseok gave him a quick hug and patted his back.
It was a slightly chilly evening, and the sun was starting to set. Colorful paper lanterns were hung from every tree along the wide path, now lined with some spectating pack members who would follow the head family to the clearing at the fairground. They were about to start the procession to the platform where Head Alpha Yoo and the rest of his family would perform the opening ceremony. Jimin and Hoseok were at the very back of the dancers, right in front of the Head Alpha’s sons.
Being the main performers, they would dance and twirl their way up to the platform, part for the family to walk up the stairs to their seats, and then complete a dance in honor of the Moon Goddess, Mene.
They had chosen to dance with fans this year instead of the traditional silver hoops, often used to symbolize the moon. Jimin has suggested shaking things up and using something else for once. Hand fans were once widely used in courtship, and there was a secret language that Jimin had studied extensively to choreograph and integrate into this dance. True, no one used it today… but interest had spread like wildfire as people had come to watch the duo practice. Jimin had taught anyone who’d asked what each move meant. As a result, the pack was now very excited to finally watch the performance to see if they could understand what was being “said” in the dance. It was all quite fun for them.
It started with the drums, and the fire twirlers lit their poi. The scent of burning oil filled Jimin’s nostrils and added to the excitement for the two friends.
“Where did Tae say he was going to be?” Hoseok asked. The third member of their best friend trifecta was not a dancer. He was a playful sort of lazy, but he worked hard for the pack and his family on their farm. He preferred to watch the two friends perform and had been their biggest supporter.
“He’s already sitting on the raised benches. Captain Yoongi reserved him a spot right in front near the dais.” Jimin responded. He began gnawing at his plump lower lip as worry filled him.
“Nepotism at its finest,” Hoseok smirked.
“What do you mean? They’ve barely spoken a word to one another. Captain Yoongi is so professional and cold. Why would you call that nepotism?”
“Oh… no reason. We’re up!” Hoseok began counting quietly for Jimin, just like they did in practice. It relaxed Jimin and helped him focus. As the dancers just in front of them moved a few meters away, they ran and did an aerial flip kick to begin their part of the procession. They were like twin flames, burning bright in the moonlight. They moved in perfect tandem, awing all who watched. They spun together, moving away and then back to one another like two ribbons tied to the same branch as they were caught in the wind. They fluttered apart, then came together to twirl around one another as they made their way closer and closer to the platform to the sound of the music.
Jimin saw Taehyung cheering for them as the path widened, and they once again ran, kick-flipped, and landed low. They stalked toward one another, circling each other before parting for the Head Alpha’s sons to climb the stairs up the platform. They snapped open their fans and dropped in a low bow with one leg extended before them. They both held a fan open in each hand.
The three sons took the stairs, one at a time, to their places.
The eldest son sat to the right of the gilded ceremonial thrones set up for their father and mother. His mate happily sat beside him, dressed in fine silks and carrying their pup in her arms.
Namjoon followed, sitting to the left of the thrones, and Jungkook sat to his left. He turned his face toward the performers, his eyes glued to one in particular.
Head Alpha Yoo and his mate were the last up on the dais. They each turned toward their pack, bowed low to signify their respect for their people, and then sat.
The head alpha smiled and nodded, which was Jimin and Hoseok’s cue to begin their performance. They were still in their low bow, waiting for their musical cue. When it came, they rolled backward, moving smoothly into a standing position with nothing but their legs and core strength. They danced a wide circle around each other, fluttering their fans, snapping them open and shut, occasionally dancing close and apart again. Their facial expressions added to the story.
“It’s so beautiful. What does it mean? I heard there is a language to it.” Jungkook’s mother asked Head Alpha Yoo.
“I don’t know, little flower. I think perhaps-”
To everyone’s shock, Jungkook began translating.
“I wish to meet you.
I wish to meet you.
Come, talk to me.
We are watched.
Follow me.
No.
You are cruel.
Yes.
I hate you.
No.
I am sorry.
Come and talk to me.
Yes.
Kiss me.”
At this last part, the two performers began a more intimate dance, coming together and ghosting their lips over one another’s, not quite touching.
Once the implied kiss was performed, they danced close briefly before moving apart. The music changed to a darker performance, with a hint of melancholy. Their already sensual moves became even moreso.
Jungkook continued translating quietly for his family—this time with a gravelly sound to his voice.
“Do you love me?
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
Wait for me.
Yes.
Don’t forget me.
Yes.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
Kiss me.”
The performance ended with Jimin dipped low in Hoseok’s arms, Jimin’s fans splayed wide on each side of their heads in an implied private kiss.
The pack exploded with cheers and roars for them. They stood back up, smiling with pride, and faced the dais. They bowed low before the Head Alpha and backed away, each to a different side of the clearing.
Both omegas in the head alpha’s family were wiping away tears. The performance and its meaning had been beautifully different, and so profoundly touching.
Jimin was standing alone now, happily basking in the satisfaction of a job well done. Haneul… the most significant omegan pain in Jimin’s ass, came to stand beside him. Her long black hair was piled high on her head, and her sickeningly beautiful face wore a sneer.
“I guess it wasn’t terrible. I still think an omega should have taken your part. It makes more sense than a beta opposite Hoseok. He’s such a strong alpha. An omega would have been so romantic.” She put her arm around him and gave him a squeeze. “You should teach me.”
Jimin’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “You do realize you’ll have to sweat for that?”
“Gross. Nevermind. Ugh.” She removed her arm from him. “Whatever. I guess you can keep doing it.”
“Shh!” Someone nearby in the raised seating scolded them. “They’re starting!”
Haneul stood up straighter, very excited.
“Why are you even standing down here with me? I’m only down here because I have to perform again with the rest of the dancers after the opening ceremony is complete.” Jimin frowned at her, disgruntled at her presence.
“I want to make it easier for him to get to me.” She was staring at Jungkook.
Oh. Right. “What makes you so sure it’ll be you?” Of all the omegas in Moonstone Pack... Haneul was the most... challenging to get along with.
She scoffed. “Please. There’s no one else even close to being more acceptable than me.”
Well… it would be what everyone was expecting. At least no one would be disappointed. They would finally see the two families joined.
The head alpha began with a reading from the holy scripts, speaking the words of the Moon Goddess, Mene.
“My light brings love. What I have destined for your soul, you shall find in passion for another. You shall burn for them, and nothing but their love shall quench the moon's fire burning within. Devotion shall meld your hearts, and ever after shall they beat as one. Take to the moonlight and push the seedlings of love to the surface. There, in the night, shall I guide you.”
Everyone placed a hand over their hearts and finished the prayer in unison. “In Mene’s light, we walk.”
The first to offer a gift was the eldest son, Minho. He was already mated, but this courting ceremony was also meant to remind the mated of the sweet beginnings of their life together. He gifts his mate a white hanbok with gold filigree and a matching hanbok for his pup.
Namjoon was sweating and looking extremely nervous as his turn came. He slowly strode down the steps and walked directly into the central seating. He moved slowly to the tall, exquisitely beautiful man whom everyone was well aware he had loved since childhood.
A servant followed behind him with a box.
Namjoon spoke, his hands and lips shaking. “I… I know th.. that… we were.. Um… talking about always being there for each other… but… I w…want more. I want no one but you. Please accept m… my gift before the Moon Goddess and the pack.”
Seokjin was crying. His lovely blue eyes were full of love as Namjoon turned and pulled forth an ornate silver circlet designed to look like sprigs of berries. The berries were large blue sapphires, the same lovely shade as his eyes.
Seokjin sniffled and choked around his words. “I accept this gift before the Moon Goddess and the pack.”
Namjoon’s eyes were also full of tears. He placed the circlet over Seokjin’s light brown hair, then kissed him tenderly. The pack was all sniffling and silent during this solemn event. Namjoon then took his hand and led him to the dais.
When he had climbed back up the steps, Seokjin took his seat atop Namjoon's lap as per tradition.
Jungkook stood.
There was a heavy silence. Jungkook had given no signs of whom he favored, aside from three nights ago when he almost came to blows with another alpha over Haneul. Some had wondered until then whether he even liked the girl his father had chosen for him. He must, though... if he was willing to fight for her.
Or so they all thought.
The servant was ready to follow him down the steps, but the huge young alpha popped the lid off the box and pulled his gift free.
The pack gasped at the sight of the exquisite and luxurious white fur cloak in his hands. It was enormous. Fit for pack royalty.
“Th… that’s a moon bear skin… that must have been why he was away for six months! He was hunting the moon bear!” Someone in the crowd whispered loudly.
On the dais, Jungkook shook his head at the servant, who still seemed ready to follow, unsure of what to do.
“I will do this alone. Just myself and Mene, who walks beside me.”
Everyone gasped at the invocation, which should have been a clue to what was about to happen.
Invoking the Moon Goddess was only done to prevent the Head Alpha from forbidding the courtship. It was also used after presenting the gift if the alpha happened to be rejected, which demanded at least a chance from the one receiving the gift.
Head Alpha Yoo shot to his feet, but Jungkook ignored him, taking to the steps calmly.
He knew right where to go. He always knew where he was. He could feel him. He knew everything about the one person who had stolen his heart at the tender age of 5 when he had fallen from a tree, and his love had found him there. His love was only seven at the time…
Haneul stood very still, her eyes wide as Jungkook strode toward her.
She stepped forward, a radiant smile on her face, the acceptance she had practiced poised on her lips.
…and he stepped past her, throwing the white bear fur over the shoulders of the beta, Park Jimin.
Jimin, who had been looking down at his feet, not wishing to see Haneul’s smug face as she was chosen, slightly jumped in surprise.
“Wh… what? You… you missed!” Jimin’s huge, beautiful brown eyes met Jungkook’s. “I… but she… You missed!” He was pointing slightly toward Haneul, but Jungkook was staring only at him.
Titters and gasps had gone around the pack. Everyone was talking at once, others shushing them.
Haneul had turned towards both of them, fury in her eyes. “Jungkook… what are you doing?”
The captain of the guard, Yoongi, had been waiting for this and took Haneul by the elbow, steering her away. She started to fight him, but he whispered in her ear. “Do you truly wish to suffer more humiliation? I can always lock you up for the night. You’ll have plenty of company once everyone is nice and drunk from the festivities. There are always a few brawls afterward.”
She quieted then and went willingly, cursing under her breath. He handed her off to his men and went back to support his friends.
Jimin couldn’t breathe. He was so confused, still trying to point, now with both hands, to where Haneul was no longer standing. “B…But she was… and you were… huh??”
Jungkook smiled softly, a rare occurrence since he had presented, and placed a finger over Jimin’s lips. He spoke.
“My first memory of you was under an apple tree in the orchards. I had fallen and been crying there forever when you found me. You lifted me up, though you were hardly much bigger than I, and kissed away my hurt.”
Jimin’s breathing stilled as he realized, yes… this was really happening…
“You told me of your little brother and how much you loved him. You told me I was a good boy for being so brave. You stole my heart on that day, though I did not yet understand it.”
Jimin’s eyes began to well with tears as Jungkook continued. “Through the years, I’ve watched you. I was always waiting. I waited first for you to present. When that failed to happen, I waited for some sign that, although you are a beta, you would still accept me. Please, do not make me wait another day.”
Okay… now Jimin was REALLY confused. Typically, the betas are the ones shunned for ‘not having a proper subgender.’ They couldn’t scent their mates, and the males could not bear children, though they could father them.
Jungkook went on. “I will do anything for you. Even make myself small, for in my heart will I always lift you up to shine in Mene's light, and there will I reside joyfully in your shadow.”
The alpha took a deep breath.
“Please, Jimin…”
He got down on his knees, and the pack was getting louder in confusion. Begging one’s chosen was unprecedented. “Please, my heart, be my forever. Please accept my love, my loyalty, my protection, and my gift before the Moon Goddess and the pack.”
Tears were coursing down Jimin’s cheeks. His heart was not prepared for this. Everything made sense now. The past three days... all the puzzle pieces were snicking together in his mind. He began to feel dizzy but fought back the darkness that threatened to take him.
He stole a wobbly, hazy glance at Taehyung, who was standing nearby. His eyes were wide, but he had a happy smile on his face.
Jimin looked down at Jungkook, whose face held a deep, sad, fearful vulnerability. The face that he had once found so intimidating. He hated seeing that fear in the eyes of one of the strongest pack alphas. That look brought back the memory of finding the little boy under the apple tree, and his heart lurched in fear at what he was about to do.
It was almost a whisper… but the words left his lips.
The nearby members of the Moonstone Pack grew louder as his words were repeated, rippling through the crowd like a stone tossed in water...
And then he fainted…