Chapter fifteen

"So, he is the omega everyone is talking about."

"Yes, that's him." Jungkook nodded, not really knowing what else to add, though he felt the insatiable need to add something, wanting to keep the conversation flowing.

Said boy raised his gaze almost instantly at the mention of his rank, his cheeks glaring a pretty pink color, his blur of blonde hair falling over those sublime lashes of his.

"And he will be training my army?" Yumi questioned, her brow raised while her eyes scoured over every inch of Taehyung's position; contemplated the exact measurements of his face, seemed to overlook every edge, every crevice of skin, every single thread that bounded together the mysterious mess that Kim Taehyung was.

Her hair was captured in a sleek French twist, baby pink lips pressed together in a thin line. Conventional beauty cladded in business casual went against Taehyung's expectations for a place like this, but it garnered a little more of his respect.

The omega felt cold all over as he made out the woman in front of him: she was tall, almost as tall as Jungkook himself. A silver-blade sword rested particularly nicely along her hips, her posture was strong and powerful, the heavy smell of lavender and musk reeked out of her.

It was a little disquieting how beautiful she was, despite her obviously flawed features. Her hair was red, red like fire, red like passion, red like Hell. Taehyung thought perhaps she had sold her skin to the devil in order to appear so enchanting.

Lee Yumi was an alpha woman and the general of the pack's army. She was unbelievably beautiful and strong, with sharp features and blazing fire in these brown orbs. Most of the wolves would bet she was the second strongest among them after the head alpha.

Jungkook yet again nodded his head in response, keeping his hands folded behind his back as he skidded his gaze across the nervous omega.

"I'm surprised to hear that your father actually agreed to this, Jungkook. The old man is either out of his mind or we're indeed desperate." Yumi continued, she didn't sound impatient, nor angry, just rather indifferent, as if nothing was of any particular importance to her. Still, Taehyung didn't wish to see this indifference transmogrify into a crepuscular example of aggression.

A river of toxins ran though those anomalous eyes, mountains bathing in unsaturated tastes, a yearning for something so risible, it almost seemed like a drizzling daydream as those eyes raked across Taehyung's fibres.

"I would say both." Jungkook said, the corners of his lips curled up in a small smile as he eyed the alpha that was standing at his right side. He'd known Yumi since they were kids, and she was probably the most admirable warrior in their pack. If they weren't that busy and occupied with work, he would gladly challenge her to have a quick fight. But they had more important things to take care of.

Today, the young omega would be put in charge of training the new wave of drafted soldiers, sculpting them, and beating them to perfection to defend their pack against the impending threat of war from their enemies.

Taehyung wasn't prepared for this day. Panic was coursing through his body and his heart was hammering gutturally in his sullen chest, the bubbling anxiety twisted knots in his stomach, tearing through him like chaotic electricity.

Everything could go wrong. What if the other wolves didn't accept him? What if no one wanted to listen to him? Jungkook promised to be there for him all the time and beat the ass of every warrior who dared to spit profanities and accusations in his direction. Taehyung was flattered to know his savior in a shiny armor and only person close enough to be called a friend would have his back.

"I hope you're right and everything turns out well." Yumi sighed tiredly and walked over Taehyung, handing him a pair of clothing and armor.

The omega hurriedly closed his mouth and looked down at the items in his arms to move his attention somewhere other than the woman's intimidatingly attractive face.

"Go ahead and wear them." Yumi said, or more like demanded. The stern baritone of her voice could be easily mistaken for a command.

"H-here?" Taehyung asked shyly, his pupils swelled up in size and he had to gulp down the vacuous lump stuck in his throat.

He didn't expect the alpha to respond with a laugh, loud and squeaky and much higher pitched than Taehyung would've expected.

"Oh, poor boy. There isn't a place to change, this is the military. We should better get comfortable with each other now, yes? Strip on down." She gestured up and down Taehyung's body, who immediately flushed and swallowed loudly. It wasn't that he was ashamed of his body or anything, but he was not prepared to strip naked in front of two alphas in his first hour of being a soldier.

The omega looked around one last time for a place he could find some cover, but to no avail. He was trapped in the small chamber, being inspected by the two-awaiting pair of eyes. Reluctantly, he dumped his armful of gear to the ground and toed off his shoes.

Glancing up to grant Jungkook with a dangerously angry glare, he tugged his pants down and stepped out of them as quickly as he could. Somehow, he got them off without tripping, which he mentally patted himself on the back for. He pulled on the darker, thicker trousers of his uniform and tied them securely around his waist.

Looking at the generally broad, more muscular alphas in front of him, he was a bit embarrassed by his scrawny arms and soft stomach when he untied his wrap tunic and let it fall to his feet before replacing it with his new one. It was clearly made for someone bigger than him; it slipped down his shoulders a bit and exposed his collarbones and neck more than it should have.

He tried to tie it tighter and only ended up pinching his stomach in, the tunic was simply too wide for him. He sighed and shoved his feet back into his boots, tucking his pants in and trying to make himself look neat despite his ill-fitting uniform.

"It's not that bad." Jungkook studied him.

Yumi nodded in approval. "It's made for alphas, not omegas. But we'll think of something else in the future. Now try on the armor." She pointed at the pile of armor at Taehyung's feet.

Taehyung was fast in tearing his eyes away from the red-haired alpha, who had her gaze adhered to him like a vulture to rotten meat and heaved an exasperated sigh. He was told to wear the full getup today; he must appear impressive on the first day after all. The heavy armor was unnecessary for agility and conditioning exercises; lightweight clothes were perfectly sufficient for most of the training.

When the omega was done tying the straps, he swirled on his tiptoes and looked at himself, frowning at his reflection in the mirror.

"I look ridiculous!" He exclaimed loudly, probably catching the attention of the sentries that guarded outside.

Yumi chuckled serenely (yes, serenely, because it was a sound which brought forth images of skies painted azure and birds chirping in intense, harmonious adoration), and it was such a beautiful sound, Taehyung almost thought it was preposterous for it to have come from the prettiest mouth. "You look like a real warrior, my friend. We just have to work more on your muscles and scrawny arms." She commented, going over the omega and squeezing his soft biceps.

Taehyung felt even more embarrassed than just awhile ago, the tip of his ears heated up and he wanted the earth beneath his feet to tear apart and swallow him alive.

Thankfully, Jungkook was quick to join the conversation, interrupting both wolves with a light cough. "I think this is enough, Yumi. We should go now." He said with the calmest tone he could pull out, holding back a jealous growl from ripping out of his throat.

The red-haired alpha rolled her eyes at his direction and let go of Taehyung's arm, offering him an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. It's not everyday we have an omega joining the army. You must be really special for alpha to choose you." She said in a rather soft tone, her fingers gently rubbing at Taehyung's back.

"I-I...um, thanks?" The omega blabbed in a slur of incorrect words, not even sure if he'd managed to get all of them in right order, but not particularly caring. He was wondering if Yumi's statement should be accepted as a compliment or a mere observation. 

Yumi jumped forward and Taehyung flinched as her soft hands came to his cheeks, pinching the skin there gently. "Oh, he is so cute, Jungkook! A bit shy but still cute!" She cooed at him.

"Yumi, stop this now. You're making him uncomfortable." Jungkook blurted out, doe eyes on full display as he belatedly realized how rude that sounded.

He wanted to scoff at her statement because Taehyung was everything but shy when they were left alone. Nevertheless, Jungkook did notice that the omega was rather distant when it came to a group of more than two people. He would look down at his feet and shrink from any kind of interactions with other wolves. Perhaps it was the fact that all of Jungkook's friends were alphas and he didn't have the proper chance to meet someone with the same rank as his. The young alpha took a mental note to socialize Taehyung with the few omegas left in their pack, it would help him feel better about the place he was bound to stay in for the next weeks (or maybe even months).

"Oh, our little Kookie is jealous?" She wiggled her dark eyebrows teasingly, letting go of Taehyung's cheeks to place her hands on his shoulders instead, a devilish smirk was plastered on her pretty face.

Taehyung couldn't speak or move, turning into a blushing mess and shallow breaths.

Jungkook scoffed as he felt his face heat up from being called 'little Kookie' in front of Taehyung. He had an image to keep up for fuck's sake.

"Don't call me that." He said through gritted teeth, biting his tongue to stop himself from snapping at her. He hated being treated as the kid of the family, the youngest and most irresponsible member of the pack who always had to listen to his elders. 

"Then learn how to speak with your elders." Yumi demanded with the firmest voice Jungkook had ever heard her use. The anger burnt hot in him, but he knew how to choose his battles, now wasn't the time. Besides, Yumi was capable enough of beating the shit out of him.

When she made sure the younger alpha was tamed up and wouldn't jump on her like an angry animal, Yumi broke the eye contact with him and looked back at Taehyung, offering him the fondest smile in the world.

The omega truly believed she was the only decent alpha in this pack who didn't care about his low rank.

"Well, Taehyung, it was good seeing you. Don't push my people too much and give extra job to the alpha over there." Yumi whispered the last part, winking at him and patting his shoulder encouragingly. 

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👀Yumi is my fav