The anger that Jungkook had felt for being pulled away within seconds from meeting his mate had dissipated the moment he found out what the Alpha had needed from him that day. It had distracted him for a moment, even if the Alpha's request had caught him off guard, leaving him feeling unsettled that he couldn't give a direct answer on whether or not he was capable of accepting his duty. Thankfully, the older wolf seemed to get it, and had let Jungkook go on his way and let him take his time to consider.

For a time, thinking about the job he was meant to deal with had managed to occupy his mind just enough to push the thoughts about his mysterious mate out of his head. But as days continue to pass and it simply seems as if the entire universe is plotting to keep him away from his mate, Jungkook's frustration begins to build up that he can barely do his daily duties well. From messing up with the border patrol schedules to spacing out on the job, he knows that everyone can easily notice just how badly he has been doing lately. And that is why it is no surprise when the Head Enforcer finally decides to ask him to meet up privately one morning after an early meeting with the Alpha.

"You seem to have something occupying your mind, Jungkook. Is there something wrong?"

Having more used to deal with Hoseok's playful side, Jungkook is completely unprepared when his superior is regarding him with a frown and a serious look on his face. And it is hard for him to even pretend that everything is alright when Jungkook feels terribly scrutinised under Hoseok's gaze.

"Nothing is wrong, really. Why?" Jungkook answers him while keeping his eyes away from his superior, afraid of what his eyes may reveal if they exchange gazes for too long.

Both his defiance and the denial should have pissed Hoseok off as a more superior wolf, yet Jungkook's reaction only brings a small grin to Hoseok's face. It is obvious that he is quite amused to see Jungkook trying to weasel his way from answering his superior, and looking terribly flustered while doing it. But there is also a concerned look appearing in his eyes that makes Jungkook feel somewhat guilty for hiding things from him.

He doesn't even know exactly why he feels the need to hide the fact that he may have a chance to meet his mate and how the thought keeps bothering him. Perhaps the conversation that he had with Hoseok the other day still lingers in his mind. He still finds it hard to shake off Hoseok's reservations about fated mates and the scepticism that he has against it that he is afraid of what the other wolf would think if he ever shares anything about his mate. At least, not before he can be completely sure about her really existing. Perhaps it is because sharing the news also means that he is sharing his mate's existence with other people—which is something that makes everything seem even more ridiculous to think about.

And then there is also the fact that he keeps missing the chances to find his mate, even when he can already feel all the signs around him. Truth be told, it is starting to make him doubt her existence. He even wonders if it is possible that he has only been imagining things—that he has let his hopes of finding his mate to grow so strongly that his senses have decided to create a mirage of the mating bond for him to feel hopeful about it.

Even before Jungkook turns back to look at his superior, Jungkook can feel Hoseok's gaze on him, and he can feel his doubt showing in his eyes. But before Jungkook can give him another excuse, the Head Enforcer simply shakes his head and changes the subject. "What did the Alpha ask from you when he called you the other day?"

Swallowing his sigh of relief, Jungkook gladly answers his superior, "Alpha Namjoon asked two things from me. The first thing was his plan on sending me on a mission this winter to go North. He wanted me to pick somebody up for him, but he hasn't gotten any other details on it since it seems to have been a request from Mage Cian." Thinking about this request—since it was given to him more as a favour instead of an order—makes him bristle.

Because the quest would give him a deadline, forcing him to leave when he has yet to figure out a damn thing about his mate.

"He also asked me to take over the training session for the new pack members, especially from the former Hollow Pride pack. He wanted me to give them the beginner level training starting this week so he can focus on training the new Enforcers and prepare the group that has been set to guard the South borders."

Right as Jungkook mentions the pack training, the thought of him leading the pack of fox-shifters into today's training starts to bring him more hope. By having the newcomers joining for the first time today, it would probably give him a chance to get a closer look at them, and maybe he would be able to finally recognise his mate if there are more female pack members who would join. It is the one thing that makes the Wolf Moon Pack different from others, as the pack allows female shifters to join their battle training and to even allow them to become Enforcers when the other shifters community tend to refuse to let any female to fight. For the first time after so many years, Jungkook is more than grateful to be a part of a pack with a progressive way to deal with their pack members. And he will even be more grateful for it later once he can prove that his mate is not a ghost or a figment of his imagination when he sees her there.

Unaware that Jungkook has his mind wandering somewhere else, Hoseok gives an understanding nod. "I suppose he had taken Mage Cian's advice about splitting his work with others. He had taken up too much responsibility over the past year and we know it's been draining him since."

His words barely register inside Jungkook's head as he is suddenly overwhelmed with enthusiasm, not even when the Head Enforcer leads them both back to the packhouse to rest. He can barely hold down his giddiness for the rest of the day ever since the thought occurs to him. As the day turns into noon and he joins the Alpha and the other ranked wolves at lunch, Jungkook can barely sit still. His impatience keeps brewing inside him as he devours his meal, eager to hurry up and rush towards the training grounds.

And it doesn't help his case at all when Heesung comes by once lunchtime is over to announce to him and the others that the new pack members are already waiting for them in front of the packhouse, waiting for their next instructions. Jungkook forces himself to remain calm, to reign down both he and his wolf by clenching his hands tightly as the Alpha moves from his seat, instructing him to follow just as he comes so close to shifting into his wolf and starts rushing out of the packhouse.

The warm sun that would usually be enough to calm Jungkook's nerves welcomes him the moment he steps out of the front door, though it does nothing to stop his heart from racing rapidly inside his chest when the scent overcomes him. It is the same woody fragrance that he sensed on the new pack's arrival day, and the same one that has been haunting him for days and even dares to come to him at night in his dreams.

Startled to know that his mate is here, he immediately looks around, searching for its source.

That is when he sees—him. Standing with the line of new pack members right outside the packhouse.

The fox is watching him with careful eyes, as Jungkook follows close to Alpha Namjoon and Hoseok who are heading straight to them. While he feels as if he is threading through a thick fog, as if he is dreaming and simply floating on the ground with his heart plummeting down to his stomach, the wolf inside him howls with joy and pure bliss, happy to finally lay his eyes on its pair.

But he finds it hard to relish this moment the way his wolf does when he is too shocked to react, completely unprepared for this.

A male? He questions his wolf, even as the beast seems to choose to run around inside his head to celebrate this meeting instead of answering his master. Our mate is a male?

Everyone around him starts to speak, yet everything sounds muffled with his head spinning and wondering if this is real. Beside him, the Alpha introduces everyone from the home pack who have joined him today, while announcing the start of their training. His Alpha's voice sounds fade to Jungkook's ears as he tries to wrap around his mind on the situation. He begins to doubt himself, believing that perhaps his mind is playing tricks on him, only to find the fox in front of him is still looking at him with a deep gaze which flickers to silver for a split second just as his wolf releases a howl inside his head.

He can sense me too.

"Let's all move to the training grounds to get things started. Pretty sure not all of you have seen the place, have you?"

Despite not being able to catch everything that Alpha Namjoon had said, the words snap him back to focus and he manages to move along with the group just fine as everyone makes their way towards the area where they are going to join the pack training just beyond the small hill nearby.

Jungkook keeps his distance, walking in the back with the other Enforcers while the Alpha and his Beta lead the way. He tries his best to conceal his agitation, yet he seems unable to keep his eyes away from the fox who is walking ahead of him, with his shoulders slightly slouching though his back seems stiff, as if he can feel Jungkook's gaze on him.

He follows silently as the group stops at one corner of the open plane and then quickly takes his place next to the Alpha Namjoon who continues to talk. Once again, everything slowly pans out as Alpha Namjoon talks more about today's training, to explain all the rules and the instructions needed for the beginners, and even explains why they are required to join and to get used to fighting if they are planning to stay here permanently. He ends the talk by explaining about the changes that they will have to endure by joining this pack, and none of the shifters within the group shows their displeasure of what they are required to do.

The conversation going on around Jungkook seems as if it is coming from far away, barely registering inside his head with his mind focused on one specific place. If he had been terribly distracted before, everything has only escalated today as the source of his distraction is currently standing right there, right before his eyes, currently returning his gaze with his own.

All so suddenly, Alpha Namjoon ends his talk and introductions, then turns to Jungkook with a nod. "Jungkook, I'm sure you can take it from here?"

Jungkook's eyes grow wide then becomes rigid when everyone else turns to him, while he is completely unprepared to have all attention placed on him. He takes a deep breath, focused on keeping himself as composed as he possibly can before finally stepping forward to take his place to lead the training.

Seeing him looking all prepared to take over, unaware of how troubled Jungkook's mind truly is, Alpha Namjoon simply smiles and gives him an approving nod. "I'll be on the other side of the training grounds with Taehyung and Hoseok so you can fetch either of us anytime you need some help."

"R-right, of course, Alpha." Jungkook keeps his head bowing low as Alpha Namjoon walks away, followed by his loyal Beta and the Head Enforcer while Jungkook is left with his group of lower-ranked Enforcers and the new pack members who are looking at him curiously.

He clears his throat, trying to remind himself of the purpose of him being here in the first place. He manages to figure out what to do next and begins to instruct the younger Enforcers who are present to assist him—Heesung, Jay, and Jake. He feels more than thankful to have them helping to make the new members feel more comfortable as the three of them have been responsible for guarding the fox shifters ever since they had all first moved here.

The moment they have them all gathered, Jungkook loses his focus once again when the fox shifter—his 'mate'—stands at the front and center, acting as their leader. Jungkook tries to sense if he has any Alpha powers inside him to make him do so, only to realise that he is not the only one standing in guard around his pack members, as there are a few other males who have formed a circle around them as if they are acting as a barrier.

Warriors, his wolf whispers, clearly astounded to what he is observing from his 'mate'. He is the protector of his pack, just like us.

This thought makes both he and his wolf grow excited, knowing that he has found at least one similarity between them that may explain this pairing. Though he knows that it would still take him a certain amount of time to understand just what he is currently dealing with. For now, however, he only needs to figure out just how to survive the day and how he is supposed to find a chance to be alone with his 'mate' to figure things out.

Together.

Keeping his chin up and his eyes away from the fox shifter, Jungkook questions the pack while keeping his voice as steady as he can. "Before we start, I will need to see what you are all capable of and to get to know you all better. May I request for all of you you to introduce yourselves?"

Jungkook pays close attention to each and every one of them as they shout their names one by one, ending with his 'mate' introducing himself last.

"Yoongi. Min Yoongi, from the Min clan." His deep voice sounds calm and composed, a complete opposite to the way Jungkook is reacting the moment he hears him speak, when his whole body bristles with sparks of magnetic force washing over him.

Jungkook can feel his wolf pushing, wanting to be allowed to come out. It seems that the beast is being playful and suddenly eager to show the fox what a good boy he is. He cannot understand the reason why, but it doesn't seem like he wants to hold the wolf back down either. The fox, however, simply watches him with curiosity in his eyes, no doubt sensing the way Jungkook's wolf seems to be reacting inside him and how he is having trouble keeping the beast calm.

Meanwhile, Jungkook's curiosity begins to grow inside him, as he continues to observe the fox shifter in front of him.

Why is he not reacting? He wonders, tilting his head as he feels his wolf doing the same thing inside his mind. Does he not feel it?

Jungkook resists the urge to reach up, as he continues to feel the sparks that seem to trickle in the air around them, causing goosebumps to grow on his skin. He frowns as he fails to find the same reaction from the fox-shifter, when Yoongi simply stands there, looking at him as if he is a piece of the puzzle for him to solve instead of a shifter that ignites every nerve inside his body to spike.

"So—" Yoongi begins to speak after the silence between them seems to linger for far too long. "Are we going to do this or not?"

Jungkook's frown deepens. "Do what?"

Yoongi tilts his head. "The battle training. We were told by the Alpha that you are the one who's going to lead our group today."

Jungkook bites his tongue to stop himself from sputtering and forces himself to stay calm. Under the fox shifter's curious, yet scrutinising gaze, he suddenly feels completely clueless, but the last thing he wants is for his 'mate' to think that he is unworthy, despite all the uncertainty that he is still feeling inside. So he straightens up, does his best to cool his head and let his smile grow. "Right. The training. Yes, I'll be leading your group. Will it be okay if we all shift? I might need to split you into smaller groups to make it easier for us to introduce you to our training before we can go any further, but I want to see what you guys can do once you are in your fox forms first to know how to divide you into those groups."

This tactic has been used a lot within the pack ever since the previous Alpha introduces it to the pack many years ago. It is always easier to start small, to allow the members to focus better on the instructions until they are used to every step and to find their own footing in the battleground.

The group of fox shifters who had come with Yoongi begins to look at each other, silently questioning each other, and one by one they begin to shrug and agree, while Yoongi seems to take a while to decide. "Alright," he finally says, though his gaze holds a hint of suspicion as he regards Jungkook after getting an answer from his friends and family. "I guess that's fine with us."

"Good. Very good," Jungkook says, nodding while holding back his relieved sigh. As he turns away to leave the new group to prepare for training, Jungkook begins to feel hopeful for today. Perhaps by shifting into his beast form, the fox shifter would be able to feel it. He still has no idea what to feel about having this male shifter as his mate, still surprised to find that his senses come awake at the fox's presence.

But he truly doubts that his senses would be making a mistake in recognising him. Or is it possible that he is mistaken?

All he needs to do is to confirm his suspicions, to know whether or not the fox shifter is truly his fated, that this is exactly what the Mood Goddess had prepared for him. The rest would be another story, and he is willing to take it a step at a time.