I thought the pain would never end until the sound of her own cry of pain broke through and drew my attention. Her discomfort and pain would always be more important than my own. The wolf within me raged, the need to transform and protect trying to take over. It took every ounce of my self-control to keep it pushed under. The feel of her body in my arms, keeping me grounded.
The pain was made all the worse through our newly developed bond. My pain met and commingled with hers at the joining of our minds, doubling and flowing easily between us. It took all of my strength as a Beta to slowly build that wall in my mind back up, slowly, just enough. As our pain calmed, the searing of the tattoos lessened, and both our heart rates slowed.
I could feel the wolves inside us both struggling to take over, to get to one another. But as the beautiful woman in my lap lost consciousness my wolf calmed once more and I was able to think clearly for the first time in minutes.
After allowing myself a few minutes to take in her beauty, I worked to bring down the walls of my mind once more and allow my strength to flow slowly into her beginning the process of healing her injuries. I knew that this would sap my own strength and I would tire easily but I wouldn't allow her to spend a moment longer than necessary in pain.
Soon I stood in the clearing with the love of my life cradled in my arms as I began the 8-mile trek back to our pack's territory and towards my...OUR home.
Sometime later I stumbled past the border of our territory and into the center of our small village. I ignored the curious stares of the others as I made the way towards our home until our Alpha stepped out of our common house and into the path before me.
As long as I was moving it was easy for me to keep my focus on the task before me and the woman in my arms but as soon as I stopped before my Alpha instinct took over and it took everything I had to stop the wolf from taking over and tearing every man in the village to shreds just for looking at her. A male's mating instincts are strongest in the beginning when all of the emotions, hormones, and sensations are new and unfamiliar. With time, familiarity, and after we'd completed the mating ritual my protector instincts would calm, a little, and I wouldn't want to kill every male within a mile of my mate.
Namjoon's eyes widened as he took in the sight of our bond tattoos and scented us; our natural wolf scents had now combined to create a scent uniquely our own that told every other wolf that we belonged to each other.
"Jimin, I'd love to tell you how happy I am for you and have you explain what happened in the 3 hours since I saw you last. But I can tell that she's injured, you both need rest, and it's taking every bit of your control not to rip my throat out. So go. I'll let the others know the good news and none of us will bother you for the next few days. Spend all the time together that you need and come to find the elders and me once you're ready. Congratulations little brother."
He clapped me on the shoulder as he walked away, grinning slightly at the rabid look on my face as his hand drew near my love. I let out a low growl in warning before continuing the walk to our home on the southeast edge of the village square.
