Joining His Pack: Burning
Description: Sanctuary Series: Joining His Pack. It feels like time is running out and you and Namjoon still haven’t found a proper den.
Warnings:
Posted: 04/20/2020
Tags: Hybrid Namjoon, Wolf Hybrid Namjoon, Wolf Hybrid Reader
I don’t even know what genre this is: 3,503 words
A/N: Oof.
Previous Part.
You looked around, but there was this feeling in the pit of your stomach that you just couldn’t shake. Rationally, it was everything you and Namjoon wanted.
Irrationally, it wasn’t the right place. Not for you, not for your pups.
“Y/n?” Jimin asked, looking a little worried. “What do you think?”
“I know…I know it checks all of our boxes,” You started, speaking slowly and measuring your words, “and it’s a very beautiful house.”
“You don’t like it,” Namjoon said bluntly, not looking surprised.
“I don’t understand why, though. It’s perfect in all rationality, but every time I think about our life here…it feels wrong.” You whined along with the words, distressed at what you couldn’t decipher within yourself.
Jimin’s ear flicked and he stepped back as Namjoon hurried to your side. “Um, I’ll step outside and let you two talk.”
“I’m sorry,” You said, tears brimming.
Namjoon quickly folded you into his arms. “Shh, baby. It’s okay. He understands.”
Jimin nodded, smiling a little before ducking out the back door and closing it.
“I don’t,” You sobbed out, tucking into his shoulder.
Namjoon let out a thoughtful hum. “We’ll find a place that will check all of our boxes that you feel comfortable in, I promise. It’s okay if this place doesn’t feel right to you. But can we keep it on the list in case we don’t find anything better?”
You nodded, sniffling and trying to get control of yourself. “I just feel so bad! Jimin’s been working so hard and I can’t settle on anything.”
“It’s okay, y/n.”
“He probably thinks I hate him and I’m trying to make his life difficult,” You squeaked.
“He doesn’t think that, baby.”
“I’m a terrible mate,” You wailed.
“Omega,” He said, his voice dangerously deep.
You gasped, falling into silence, holding your breath and tearing up even more.
He pulled away and wiped the tears from your face. “Enough of that. You’re not a terrible mate, nor will you ever be a terrible mate. You’re wonderful. I think we should get you home, though. You’re going through the preheat hormones again, and you won’t be able to settle on a den in this state. We’ll go back to one of our places and make a nice nest and cuddle for the rest of the evening, okay?”
“Alpha?” You whispered.
His gaze was gentle, and loving as he gentle wiped more tears from your cheeks. “It’s okay, omega. I’ll take care of you.”
The door opened again, and Jimin came in on the phone, but he looked nervous.
Namjoon pulled you back into his arms, a little protective, but mostly comforting. “I think we need to be done, Jimin.”
Jimin hung up after a quick farewell. He hesitated when about to say something, then cleared his throat. “There’s one more place. We can’t get into it any other day of the week. It needs some cleaning up, and most of the windows need to be replaced, but…it’s the one I really wanted to show you guys. It had a sort of vibe to it that I thought you would like, hyung. I wouldn’t normally insist, but—”
“Okay,” You said. The distress had started waning with Namjoon’s ministrations, and you were starting to be able to think clearly again. As long as nothing set you off there, you would be okay. Just in need of extra sleep. You’d been struggling with preheat hormones for a week now, and preheat symptoms for two weeks—which included making nests every night, insisting on getting scented by your alpha at strange times in the day (getting you in trouble at work when you just randomly skipped out), food hoarding, and even more clothing snatching.
You were worse when Namjoon couldn’t stay the night with you, sometimes unable to even get out of bed because all rational thought had left you and all you could focus on was that your alpha hadn’t spent the night with you. He called every morning he didn’t stay with you after the first three times that had happened. And house hunting had been an absolute nightmare.
Namjoon guided your eyes to meet his. “Are you sure?”
You nodded, blinking. “Yeah, it’s fading again. As long as I don’t get upset again, I should be semi-rational.”
Namjoon nodded slowly in return. “Okay. Okay, Chim. Let’s go.”
“Here’s the address.”
The three of you headed out, you and Namjoon in his car, and Jimin in his.
“You’re getting worse,” Namjoon murmured quietly, worry clear in the profile of his face.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to be sorry, baby. It’s not like you can help it. I’m just worried about you. Look, I can rework my finances so that you can afford to quit that job. You can move into my apartment until we do find a place for us, and then we won’t both be paying for a place. I know you wanted to keep your place, but…nights and mornings are the worst for you—”
“And you can’t sleep when you stay with me, I know.”
He winced. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m okay. We’ll talk about it after we see this house.” You closed your eyes, trying to ignore that weir prickly feeling under your skin.
He reached over and took your hand, squeezing it.
“Besides, Jimin did say this was the one he really wanted to show us. Maybe it will be the one.” You curled in your seat at the uncomfortable pain in your abdomen. “It’s like cramps now. Whyyyyyy….”
“I think there’s still some ibuprofen in the glove box.”
You paused, then looked in there, finding a bottle. “You’re the best mate ever.”
“You put it in there.”
“I did?”
“You did.”
“Are you sure that was me?”
“You told me that if we were going to be mates, then I should have some emergency stuff for you and you put that in there.” He smiled, but you could see the worry in his gaze.
You frowned. “I don’t remember that. It’s probably just the preheat hormones getting to my head. I don’t really even remember what I had for breakfast this morning.”
“Jimin brought muffins, you ate a blueberry and a cranberry muffin, and then you also had a hashbrown.”
You blinked. “Oh yeah. Those were good muffins.”
“I think they’re still in the back seat if you’re hungry.”
You shook your head. “Too cramp-y.”
“Better than feverish,” He murmured, glancing over at you. Then his eyes widened as he looked ahead. “Hey, baby, look at that.”
You didn’t remember him turning down the driveway, but sitting in front of you was a house that was situated in the perfect yard. It definitely needed work. Most of the windows were broken or looked like they were damaged, and the porch looked like it was sinking in one corner.
But it looked solid.
You got out of the car in a daze, breathing in the air to determine whether you liked the smell of the area.
Namjoon took your hand and squeezed it.
“Like I said, it needs some work, but I think it’s one of the best options on the market and it has all of the elements you guys listed. And it has four bedrooms. It’s slightly bigger than what you guys said, but it has a new furnace and water heater and the roof and foundation are both in good shape. And it has a fireplace and a wood-burning stove. And is ten minutes from Micheal’s, twelve minutes from Jin’s, and twenty-five minutes from town. A little further than the other places we looked at, but the trees here….”
“They’re wonderful,” You whispered. “Is that a Christmas tree farm?!”
“Yeah, that comes with the property,” Jimin said. “I mean, it wasn’t commercial or anything, but they did use them for their own Christmas trees.”
Namjoon smiled as you bounced a bit with excitement. “Better show us the inside, Jimin-ah.”
“Right,” He said, leading the way up and into the house.
Namjoon was still talking to Jimin about something or other after touring the house.
You were thinking about where to put the furniture.
“Baby, what do you think?” Namjoon called over.
“I think the couch would look good against that wall,” You murmured, still staring at the wall.
There wasn’t a response, so you looked up.
“Do you think it won’t, alpha?” You asked, head tilted.
They both looked amused and you weren’t really sure why.
“Yeah, I think she wants this place,” Namjoon finally said.
“I’ll put in an offer as soon as I get back to the office,” Jimin replied, looking pleased and proud. “From what I know most people have been overlooking this one, so it’ll probably go through quickly.”
You bounced over to Namjoon, taking his hands. “I love it. I really really love it.” You were struggling with resisting the urge to try and nest already. “But we need to leave before I can’t.”
He nodded, wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you to his side where you very happily wrapped around him and tucked your nose up to his neck so you could smell him. “Alright, let’s get you back to my place.”
Jimin led the way out.
You were loath to leave the house, but the way Namjoon’s fingers rubbed on your hip was satisfying enough to move you to the car. “Where in your place?”
“Bed, you’re getting really warm, omega. We’re gonna get you a temporary nest going, and we’ll get you comfy,” He murmured, pressing a kiss to your forehead.
“With you?”
He hummed. “I need to do some work when I get home.”
You pouted.
He kissed your forehead. “If I get it done quickly, then we can do anything you want.”
“Anything?” You asked, trailing a hand along his stomach.
He chuckled. “Anything within reason.”
You pouted. “No romps?”
“I did not say that,” He huffed, pressing a couple more kisses to your face and then helping you into the car, peeling your fingers off of his wrist while you whined and whimpered in protest. “Have to drive, baby.”
You started feeling worse as the drive went on, but not in a preheat or heat way. Your throat was feeling scratchy and you were starting to have some sinus drainage.
You flinched when he turned into a pharmacy. “Why are we here?”
“Because I needed to check on you. You weren’t responding, baby. I think you’ve got a cold.” He felt your cheeks and forehead, then reached in the back and grabbed one of the blankets. “Here. I’ll be right back, I’m gonna get you some stuff for your cold.”
“Does this mean no romp?”
“Sorry, babe.” He got out and headed into the pharmacy.
You gathered the blanket up and buried your face in it. It smelled like both of you, and you did your best to drown your senses in it.
“Baby? Y/n? Come on, we’re here,” He said, pulling the blanket from your face.
You blinked. “What?” You looked up and past him and the car was in the parking lot for his apartment.
He looked worried, and he had a bag from the drugstore hanging from his arm.
You coughed a bit. “I haven’t been this sick since I was little,” You murmured, shaking your head a bit to try and clear it.
“I had Jungkook meet us. I can’t carry you with my shoulder the way it is.” He stroked your hair gently. “I don’t want you walking like this.”
You nodded, finally scenting Jungkook.
The bunny gave you a soft smile, but you honestly don’t remember much of him carrying you upstairs, until he was setting you down on the bed and Namjoon was sticking a thermometer in your mouth.
“Maybe you should have taken her to the doctor, hyung,” Jungkook whispered.
“Her fever isn’t that high, it’s just because it’s mixing with her preheat symptoms. I’ll take her in if she gets worse, but she hasn’t even taken medicine yet. See, she barely has a fever.”
“Alright, just call me if you need help moving her again.”
“Thanks, Jungkook.” Gently hands caressed your cheeks, and then he helped you sit up. “Need to give you some medicine, baby, then you can sleep.”
You complied with a small whine, curling into him afterward to sink into slumber while he did what he could to form a nest around both of you.
———
“Y/n?”
You tossed and turned, scrambling to try and get comfortable. You shoved the blanket, but it wasn’t right either.
“Y/n?” Namjoon called again.
You tore at your tail, screeching at the unbearable heat.
“Oh my—” Hands grabbed at yours, holding them tightly, pushing them to your chest. “Oh man. Oh man.”
You screamed weakly.
“You’re burning up, holy f—”
You fought against the hands holding onto you, holding you still. You needed to get away from the unbearable heat.
“Omega,” He ordered lowly.
You keened, growing still at his order but feeling like you were burning alive.
“It’s going to be alright. I’m going to take care of—”
A loud pounding sound, followed by a crash, and suddenly there were many foreign scents that you didn’t want in your nest and sounds and people.
Namjoon growled and snarled, but they still came and brought you to your feet.
“Stop! She’s sick!” He demanded.
You wobbled, but were kept upright by the officers.
“Y/n, you’re under arrest,” One of them said, then continued, probably reading you your rights or something, and then they were dragging you out of Namjoon’s apartment as he protested and tried to protect you.
And you were still burning up, almost puking in the elevator, unable to keep your feet under you.
But you sort of blacked out somewhere, in the car or before the car.
And woke up in a holding cell. A very secure one.
You felt terrible, and you could recognize the uncomfortable feeling to heat suppressants.
“Y/n,” Namjoon said at the same moment he opened teh door, rushing in and wrapping you in his arms.
You whimpered and nuzzled into him. “This is because of her, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know.”
“What if they take me away?”
He shook his head. “We won’t let them.”
“How are we going to stop them, Namjoon? They already took my independence. They can legally send me back to her.”
“I won’t let them take you. You’re mine. My mate. You’re going to bear our pups, and live with me forever in our den.” He held you tighter.
You whimpered, tucking into the safety of his arms. You still feel the burn of your heat trying to sear through, barely repressed by the drugs that the police had given you. “Hurts Joonie.”
“I know, baby.” He gave you another gentle squeeze. “I know you’re in pain. You should be safe in a den, nestled in our nest.”
You made a crooning noise that had a high-pitched whine underlying it.
“I called Emma and Micheal. They’ll know what to do. We’ll get you home.” There was a waver in his voice that spoke more of his anger than of fear.
“I’m okay.”
“You’re sick and in heat,” He argued. “And those suppressants are going to make you even more sick.”
You whimpered, rubbing your face against his shoulder as the distress became evident in his voice.
He held you tighter, rubbing your shoulder.
“Time’s up.”
You gripped him, making distressed sounds.
“If I let go she might go crazy,” You heard Namjoon say. “She’s sick and in heat. I’m her mate. I have every right to stay with her.”
“No, you don’t. Please step away—”
“Don’t do anything of the sort,” Emma snapped. “Or was can press charges against this officer for breaking the law. You, sir, may remove yourself. Section 306Q, subsection 5167B states that any legal actions involving a hybrid in heat or considerable distress are to be postponed until the heat has passed or the source of distress has been neutralized, and during all of this the hybrid’s mate is allowed to remain with the hybrid in question until a later hearing date has been set for after the heat has passed and someone has posted bail I have posted bail, and we should have a new court date in about five minutes. So, sir, I suggest you let her go before I charge you for every law and right you just violated and denied.”
Your pack matron was the best.
Namjoon guided you from the holding cell.
The other officers looked terrified of your pack matron, or perhaps they were ashamed. You wondered how long she had been there chewing them out.
Micheal was talking with a man in a suit, and someone who must have been the chief of police.
Emma told you and Namjoon to wait there while she went over and talked with the strangers.
Whatever they were saying seemed to be agreeable to her, and she shook their hands before coming back over. “Come on.”
Namjoon was practically carrying you at that point, not completely since his shoulder was hurt.
You felt ill. You were beginning to burn again, and you were extremely nauseous. Starting to unconsciously whimper.
“They gave her suppressants,” Namjoon told her, and his concern made you whine.
“That’s why we’re going to the Sanctuary hospital. She’ll be safer there and you’ll be able to stay with her. The case won’t hold since they broke laws and arrested her without a warrant. Our lawyers will crush them and rake them over the coals if they try anything else,” Emma said, sounding so casual about it.
“What’s going on?” You asked through clenched teeth. “Why did they arrest me?”
“Honestly, I think the deputy called for your arrest to sabotage their case, but they said you had several charges. Micheal is getting the paperwork with the lawyer and we’ll talk to you about it when you’re feeling better.” Emma’s tone changed to a motherly one, gently and caring. “There are blankets and Jin went to pack bags for both of you.”
You nuzzled into Namjoon’s shoulder, grateful for his pack. Your pack. You felt so well-looked after and protected—even if you felt like hell.
But your fever rose, and you didn’t remember getting to the hospital, or getting treated, but you were now forming the back of a nest and growling at the tubes from the IV when they got tangled in your nesting materials. You were aware of one of the pack pups sleeping toward the front of the nest, and you checked on her now since the pup was wiggling now.
Satisfied that she was still asleep, you tucked up next to her to wait for your pack to return and kept a careful eye on the three pups that were reading together outside of the nest.
You weren’t necessarily worried about the missing pup, something told you he was safe with his parents.
Pack matron returned, gathering her pups softly while the pack leader carefully took the pup that was napping in the nest with you while still holding the other smallest pup.
Your soon-to-be-official mate entered as they left, coming over and silently asking permission to enter the nest.
You huffed and pulled him in forcibly, yelping when the galoot tripped and crashed onto you.
“Sorry, sorry baby.” He quickly got u p and checked you over. You’d probably have a bruise on your leg from his knee.
You pinched his arm as penance for his crime.
Crime.
“Hey, focus on me, baby.”
Crimes. Arrested. Trouble.
“Omega,” His voice came out impossibly deep and seemed to reverberate within you.
You tensed, ducking your head and then shifting to bare your neck to him and expose the main artery.
“Omega,” He whispered, voice soft and gentle.
You looked up, meeting his gaze. Your fluffy-haired alpha who wore a smile so well. And that white undershirt with a v-neck that exposed such pretty skin. Honey-olive skin.
“Back with me, omega?” He asked, grinning and flashing those dimples—those seductive little indents that you would do anything to see.
You crawled over, draping yourself across his chest and lap, tail swishing happily now that hew was here. He must have taken a shower because his hair was a bit damp.
He stroked your head, rubbing your ears to calm you further. “You still need to take it easy, baby.”
You whined.
“I know, baby. It’s going to be okay. I’m here to help you. We just need to take it easy.” He pet your hair. “They gave you something to counteract the suppressants. So, we need to relax while you’re okay.”
You whimpered at the thought of burning again.
He shushed you softly. “I’m here. We’re going to be fine. I’m going to take care of you.”
——
Previous Part. Next Part.
Masterlist. Series Masterpost.