Chapter Text
It was the end of his first week at the prestigious Hybe University and Jungkook already felt behind. He was gathering moss and algae for his ecology class in a nearby lake. The moon illuminated the water, and he caught a glimpse of his tired reflection. With a sigh, he reminded himself that he had transferred to Hybe as a third year because of their environmental science program. The late nights would all be worth it once he was saving the local wildlife.
He suddenly heard the mournful howls of a pack of wolves. There was at least a dozen of them, and they were close. Jungkook shoved his specimens into his bag and hurried through the woods, shining a light on the path ahead of him. "Damn it, where the hell is the main trail?" He grumbled to himself. A spine-chilling growl came from his left and he broke into a sprint, twigs snapping loudly beneath his feet. He could hear the wolves getting closer, almost as if they were hunting him.
He suddenly stumbled and threw out his hands to catch himself, but someone else caught him instead. A very naked someone else. "Who are you and what the hell are you doing out here alone?" Jungkook's mouth went dry at the guy's taut, rippling muscles, his gaze following the sweat glistening on his bare chest and broad shoulders. "Well? Are you gonna say something, or are you just gonna stand there staring?"
"Sorry." Jungkook said sheepishly. "I was distracted by you." His eyes widened a bit as he realized what he said. "I mean I thought I was the only one out here. I never expected to find someone so…" His gaze drifted down the stranger’s body once more.
The guy's chuckle sounded almost like a growl. "Careful. For all you know, I could be the most dangerous thing in these woods."
A pack of enormous wolves stalked out of the underbrush, each standing at least four feet tall at the shoulder. "Oh my god…" Jungkook breathed out, eyes widening even more. The stranger's hands tightened protectively around Jungkook, causing him to realize that he'd backed right up into him. As terrified as he was, Jungkook couldn't help but be distracted by the feeling of his body pressed against him. God, how horny was he that he was thirsting over a stranger when he was about to die?
One of the wolves began to approach, its piercing eyes focused solely on Jungkook. "Stand down." The stranger said with a commanding tone. "He isn't a threat." To Jungkook's shock, the wolves in the clearing suddenly went calm and submissive. The wolves' ears flattened against their heads and with a chorus of meek whines they retreated into the forest.
Jungkook sighed in relief, but the stranger didn't ease up on his grip. Rather, he pressed closer, murmuring in Jungkook's ear. "You never answered my question before. Who are you?"
The crisp earthy scent of the guy made Jungkook dizzy, as did the heat of his body at Jungkook's back. "I-I'm Jungkook. And I'm single, for the record."
The stranger let out a husky, growling laugh that made Jungkook shiver. "I had a feeling it wasn't the wolves making your blood pump. Do you have some kind of danger fetish?"
"I'm only human." Jungkook said. "In fact, I might just thank those wolves for bringing us together tonight." But even Jungkook wasn't convinced by his words.
The guy's expression softened, and he let out a heavy sigh. "Come on. Let's get you out of here before things get worse."
He led him silently back to the path to Jungkook's apartment but blocked him before he could leave. "The forest is dangerous. An ordinary hu-student shouldn’t be out there alone."
Jungkook furrowed his eyebrows. "I need to go out there for research. You can't just order me around like you did with those wolves."
Surprise flickered across the stranger's face. "You heard me tell them to stand down?"
Jungkook blinked. "That's what you're hung up on? You're a strange guy, you know that? You're out here grilling me about my nighttime habits when I don't even know your name."
"It's Namjoon." He said, smiling a bit. "Remember it for the next time we run into each other.
"What makes you so sure we will?" Jungkook asked.
Namjoon's wild smirk made Jungkook's whole body pulse. "Because apparently you don't know how to stay out of danger." He stepped past Jungkook down the path. When Jungkook glanced over his shoulder a second later, Namjoon was already gone.
***
Hoseok, Jungkook's friendly neighbor who'd been helping him settle in, stepped into Jungkook's apartment with a puzzled look on his face. "Sorry to just drop in but…this was delivered to me by mistake." Hoseok tossed Jungkook a package, which Jungkook snatched easily out of midair. Hoseok whistled appreciatively. "Jeez, you and your superhuman reflexes. You ever think about going out for baseball?"
Jungkook snorted. "As if I have time for that." He turned the package over in his hands, frowning at the envelope.
"I snuck a peek at the return address." Hoseok admitted. "When the hell did you get in with Alpha Tau Sigma?"
"And just when the hell did you get so damn nosy?" Jungkook retorted teasingly.
"Us journalism majors are nosy by trade." Hoseok chuckled. "Just like you enviro-sci majors are always covered in dirt. Though youmanage to pull it off." He shot Jungkook a flirtatious grin.
Jungkook rolled his eyes although he was unable to help himself from smiling. "I'm not tight with Alpha Tau…yet. But I was considering rushing since I transferred late. I really want to find a community. It's hard enough making friends as a transfer. I figured joining a frat would be an easy way in." Curious, Jungkook tore open the envelope, finding a note on Alpha Tau's letterhead.
Jungkook,
If you're reading this letter, it means you made it home safely last night.
Since you seem to love wild things, I'm inviting you to party with Alpha Tau. Tonight, nine o'clock sharp. Formalwear is encouraged.
You've got potential, Jungkook. Don't waste it.
Namjoon Kim
Namjoon. The memory of his eyes pierced Jungkook like an arrow, making his heart thump unevenly. "You got a letter from the leader of Alpha Tau?" Hoseok asked in surprise after reading the letter over Jungkook's shoulder.
"Namjoon is the head of Alpha Tau?" Jungkook asked. "I had no idea."
Hoseok hummed. "You must've really impressed him."
Jungkook bit his lip. "I don't know if impressed is the right word, but we had one hell of a first meeting." He quickly filled Hoseok in on his meeting with Namjoon, leaving out the moments of heat between them.
Hoseok's eyes widened. "This is wild. Alpha Tau never invites people to rush. They're scary exclusive." He smiled. "One of the many reasons why I've been dying to write an exposé about them. They're practically a cult."
"A cult?" Jungkook repeated. "Then what the hell is in this package they sent?" He nervously tore open the package to find a sexy see through shirt and pants tailored to his exact measurements.
Hoseok whistled. "Okay, you definitely impressed Namjoon. He's obviously into you. Imagine the look on his face when you show up to the party in that." Jungkook quickly pulled on the outfit, leaving the first few buttons of the shirt undone. He posed in the mirror and gave Hoseok a mischievous grin. Hoseok slow clapped in response as he admired Jungkook. "He's got an eye for style, I'll give him that. I mean, it helps that it's you he's dressing."
"I feel hotter than hell in this." Jungkook said.
"You look hotter than hell." Hoseok complimented. "Namjoon won't know what hit him." He turned to leave but hesitated in the doorway, drumming his fingers nervously against the wall. "Word of advice? I'd get all the info you can about Alpha Tau before you make any promises."
Jungkook snorted quietly. "You mean dig into their dirty laundry mid party? What do you think I'm gonna find?"
Hoseok shrugged. "You'll know it when you see it. They have a reputation, Jungkook. I just want you to be careful." He shut the door behind him, leaving Jungkook wondering what the fuck he was about to walk into.
***
Jungkook trekked to the Alpha Tau Sigma house, which rested at the edge of a dark, dense forest. Music thumped from the porch and twinkle lights illuminated groups of Alpha Tau members, many of them dressed to the nines, all laughing and having fun. Jungkook climbed the steps and entered the house where he immediately spotted two members of the frat chugging beers. "There he is!" One of them cheered as he spotted Jungkook.
"Told ya he'd show." The other one smiled.
"You look fierce." The first one said as he looked Jungkook over.
"Maybe even fierce enough to leave Namjoon speechless for once."
Jungkook smiled a bit awkwardly. "As much as I love compliments…do I know you?"
The first frat member shook his head. "Not officially but we saw you-" The other member shot him a look that made his mouth snap shut.
But they were both all smiles when they offered up handshakes. "Name's Seokjin." The second one introduced himself. "This here himbo is Jimin."
Jimin clicked his tongue as he saluted Jungkook. "Namjoon appointed us as your welcome wagon so…welcome! Have some new blood punch." He handed Jungkook a red solo cup.
Jungkook eyed the drink. "How much emphasis on the blood?"
Seokjin stared at him. "It's just rum and a bunch of mixers. Don't tell me you believe we're some kind of blood sucking cult. We just happen to be selective about who we let in." He smiled. "And our leader happens to be super charismatic."
Jungkook nodded. "Yeah, Namjoon is way too hot to be a cult leader. Which is a sentence I never thought I'd say, but I'm not wrong."
"Down, boy." Seokjin laughed. "If you're looking for a boyfriend, you're barking up the wrong tree."
"Namjoon never dates." Jimin said. "There's no time for that when you're the-" Seokjin elbowed Jimin, who fell silent again. Jungkook was starting to wonder why Seokjin wouldn't let Jimin finish his sentences.
"Jungkook, Namjoon's waiting for you in the kitchen." Seokjin then told him. "You should head over and say hi."
Jungkook was suspicious as he stepped into the kitchen, but the sight of Namjoon pushed all other thoughts out of his mind."
Namjoon smiled at him. "Glad you could make it, Jungkook." His gaze raked down Jungkook's body, openly appreciative of how much skin he was showing in the outfit he'd picked out for him. "Just like I thought…you look fine as hell in that."
"I hope you're not expecting a 'thank you'." Jungkook teased him.
"No need." Namjoon shook his head. "This gift was more for me than you anyway." Jungkook rolled his eyes and crossed the kitchen to stand away from where he was leaned against the counter. At least that's what he'd planned to do. But Namjoon's presence was so alluring, Jungkook drifted so close that his hip brushed against Namjoon's. Namjoon chuckled and bumped his shoulder against Jungkook's. "Couldn't stay away, huh? I was right about you. You have a knack for running toward danger."
"Danger?" Jungkook raised an eyebrow. " You keep talking about yourself like you're some feral animal."
Namjoon smirked, flashing a brilliantly white--incredibly sharp--canine. "I'm worse than an animal, Jungkook. At least most animals can be tamed."
Jungkook huffed out a laugh, but the intensity of Namjoon's gaze sent a rush of blood straight between his legs. He looked away, fidgeting to keep his arousal from growing. "You didn't invite me here because you think I'm scared of you. You say you're dangerous, but you saved me. And when you walked me back, it felt like there was something between us."
"I wanted to see you again." Namjoon said. "Is that so bad?"
"I'm asking why." Jungkook reiterated. "You can dodge the question all you want but I'll warn you. I'm stubborn."
After a beat of silence, Namjoon pushed off of the counter and turned to face Jungkook. He stepped toward Jungkook, whose posture shifted to let him closer. Namjoon's hips settled flush against Jungkook's, his lips near his ear, and Jungkook stifled a moan when he just barely pressed against his growing erection. "Look at that." Namjoon murmured. "You're not so stubborn when I apply a little bit of pressure."
Jungkook narrowed his eyes. "And you're a jackass no matter what the circumstances."
Namjoon chuckled and fell back, leaning on the kitchen island across from Jungkook. Jungkook pushed down his aching need as he continued to try to look mildly annoyed. "Not many people are brave or stupid enough to wander the woods at night. When I met you, I saw potential." Jungkook stifled the little kernel of disappointment building inside him at the words. Then Namjoon's face turned serious. "Why are you here, Jungkook? Why did you transfer to Hybe?"
"Hybe has one of the best environmental science programs in the country." Jungkook said. "My parents were environmental scientists-"
"And you want to follow in their footsteps." Namjoon finished for him.
Jungkook nodded. "But honestly, something about Hybe drew me in. I can't really explain it but it's like-"
Again, Namjoon finished his thought. "Something called you." There was something smoldering in Namjoon's gaze that Jungkook couldn’t quite define. It made blood rush to his face. Namjoon opened his mouth to speak again. Then a glass shattered in the other room and Namjoon growled. He headed to go check it out, pausing to give Jungkook a final heated look. "We'll talk later."