"It was an asthma attack... a reaction to...ah, looks like Tae can't hold onto dust very well." Jisoo sighed. "So looks like Seokjin really didn't do anything. Chaeyoung, help me organize these herbs, please? I think I'll have to go and apologize for speaking so recklessly to him..."

Tae lifted his head with a sniffle, snuggling into Jimin's soft belly. "Mommy," he croaked, and Jimin blinked open his eyes, nudging his pup worriedly, "c-can I see Uncle Seokjin...?"

Jimin's eyes flared. He looked away coldly at Jisoo who glanced over at them briefly before turning back to Chaeyoung, who was helping her organize her herbs. "No. You cannot."

Tae whined. "B-but why? He didn' do anything!"

Jimin growled and Tae quieted down, and Jimin looked away so that he was facing Jisoo while Tae scrambled to his feet and climbed up onto Jimin's back with a huff. "Uncle Seokie said he's always sad because nobody likes him!"

"He's not wrong there." Jimin mumbled, sinking his jaws into Tae's extremely fluffy scruff and bringing him off his back. "He's a really bad guy when he's angry."

Tae sneezed and shook his head. "No, s'not! He's super duper nice! He told me tons of cool stuff, like how dandelions are weeds, and that—!"

"Tae, quiet, please. You're hurt, and I don't want you wasting your breath over useless things like your uncle." Jimin wrapped his tail around Tae's tiny figure, and the green-eyed pup snuggled into his mother's belly with a frown. "Get some rest, please, my love..."

Tae huffed and looked away, evidently not in the mood to speak with his mother. "I saw Rose outside practicing how to hunt down fawns. Can I join her?"

Jimin glanced out through the entrance, where he spotted his daughter playing noisily with the other pups, including Hoseok's only son, Jungkook. The teen-pup looked awkward as Rose hopped around him, and the brown-pelted wolf eventually got up to run shyly back to where Hoseok was bathing in the weak sun for any warmth. Jimin sighed. Was Jungkook still not going into training yet? The poor wolf was so quiet and shy and unable to socially react that Hoseok was beginning to worry about Jungkook's place in the pack.

"Yes but," Jimin said reluctantly, "I'd rather you get some rest, Tae..."

"Playing with Rose is more fun than getting rest." Tae retorted stubbornly, scrabbling out from his spot against Jimin's belly and running out. Jimin tucked his snout between his paws, his stomach queasy as he watched Tae trip over his own paws and stumble towards where his sister was. Rose burst out in howling laughs and eventually the two began tackling each other.

"Jimin?"

Jimin's hackles rose and he growled, turning around to see Seokjin standing in the back entrance of Jisoo's cave. The alpha wolf looked disheveled, his eyes still that dark shade of red, and he looked meek. "Is Tae okay?"

"Like you'd care." Jimin's voice was a bitter whisper and Seokjin shifted into his wolf form to sit besides the small, frail-looking omega.

"I wanted to say sorry."

"Apology accepted." Jimin grumbled.

Seokjin blinked slowly, looking down at his paws that seemed massive compared to Jimin's nimble, smaller ones. He sighed and laid down besides Jimin, bringing his cousin into his chest and burying his snout into Jimin's scruff. The omega huffed and looked away, ignoring the fact that he really was enjoying the alpha's hug. Jimin hadn't realized he missed this feeling of being cuddled: Taehyung used to cuddle him every night, so when Seokjin brought him against his chest, Jimin relaxed slightly and closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Jimin." Seokjin mumbled.

Jimin snuggled back with a sniff and shook his head. "Don't care."

Seokjin frowned. "C'mon, Jimin...can't you at least forgive me?"

Jimin rolled his eyes and shifted into his human form as he sat up, stretching out his stiff limbs. Seokjin followed suit, getting up when Jimin just began to walk out.

Jisoo raised her head and caught the alpha's eye, and when the Healer began to speak Seokjin just raised his hand to silence her and nodded knowingly. Jisoo smiled and returned to Chaeyoung who was spitting out a mouthful of bitter-tasting leaves.

"Jimin," Seokjin called, running after Jimin who was heading towards his den and pulling on human clothes, "what are you doing?"

"Going for a walk, and to eat some ramen." Jimin responded, "I think I want to and visit Namjoon too..."

"W-well, then I have to come too!" Seokjin yelped, cheeks dusting pink at the mention of Namjoon's name. "I need to visit my mate too!"

Jimin just shot the alpha a dull look. "Fine. Tag along."

-

Namjoon scowled as he sat back with a bandage on his neck and shoulder, all while a very meek looking Taehyung nibbled on the edge of some raw beef in his wolf form, the sandy brown werewolf splooting, gnawing on the bone chunks in the beef.

"Did you have to do that?" Namjoon grumbled, leaning down and nudging the werewolf. Taehyung whined, opening his jaws and revealing his long fangs as he sank into the chunk of meat.

Taehyung swallowed and looked away, mumbling under his breath. Namjoon just pressed the ice pack to his neck harder, when suddenly the doorbell rang loudly.

Taehyung instantly jumped to his feet, a loud, rumbling bark echoing through the apartment. Namjoon hushed him and pushed his head back to the bowl of huge beef chunks, and Namjoon shook his head before opening the door.

Seokjin and Jimin stood there, eyes wide. Namjoon blinked in surprise, and Seokjin grabbed Namjoon by the wrist and growled.

"Did I just hear a bark?"

-

o shit man