Chapter 4

Notes:

A short chapter in which observations are made and a backstory begins to come into focus.

Chapter Four

As he continued stoically standing his post at the studio, Yoongi began observing other aspects of Hoseok - like how the Beta was able to sternly command the attention and respect of an energetic group of teenagers one moment while gently encouraging the small pups in the beginner classes the next.

He overheard the dancer informing a single mother that was having a hard time making ends meet about a scholarship that had recently been established by an anonymous donor (although Yoongi was almost certain the funds were coming from Hoseok himself) which would cover the cost of tuition and fees for the woman's two children who both showed real talent and drive.  He later noticed Hoseok sneaking a bag of groceries into another family's car when he thought no one else was looking.

For his part Hoseok began paying more attention to how seriously Yoongi took his job of protecting Jimin, particularly noting how often the bodyguard checked in with the police regarding the progress on finding Jimin's other attacker.   He could sense the mounting frustration building in the Alpha as he was repeatedly told that the perp he'd captured remained in jail, stubbornly refusing to implicate anyone else in the crime and since no further attempts had been made on the Omega that the police weren't able to make the case a priority.

Yoongi's friends on the force quietly assured him it had probably been an isolated incident but that they'd keep poking around as much as they could in their free time.  The bodyguard obviously wasn't satisfied with that answer and maintained a state of constant vigilance at all times.

Hoseok would never have admitted it out loud but he was gradually beginning to appreciate the way that Yoongi made a concerted effort to keep his presence from being too much of a disruption while still diligently watching over not only Jimin but all the other occupants of the studio as well.

The Beta was especially intrigued one day when he witnessed a small four year old student marching over to insistently tug on one of Yoongi's sharply creased trouser legs.  The bodyguard gave a furtive glance around the room before kneeling down so the child could whisper something in his ear.  He appeared to think carefully about whatever the little girl said before answering her with a very serious look on his face.   He then waited patiently as the she related something else to him in a very animated manner.

The exchange lasted almost two minutes until finally the child seemed satisfied with whatever response she'd received.  She gave the man a warm smile and waved enthusiastically before scurrying back over to take her place by the mirror as Yoongi returned to his standard, impassive stance as if the conversation had never occurred.

Hobi briefly wished he had the Alpha gene for enhanced hearing so he could discover what that discussion had entailed. The mystery was solved two days later when he spied Yoongi covertly handing the girl a small object when she arrived for her class.

During a break, Hobi was able to sneak a peek into the child's open backpack where he spied a tiny plastic spray bottle filled with lavender scented water that was neatly labeled  "Monster Repellent"  in Yoongi's distinctive handwriting.

An unexpected warmth spread through Hoseok's chest and a lump briefly formed in his throat but he shook his head and violently swallowed it down.  The last time he'd let himself be vulnerable with an Alpha other than JK or Namjoon it had ended horribly and he didn't intend on making the same mistake again.  Not until he was reasonably certain the same cycle wouldn't repeat itself.

Maybe Yoongi was different, like Jimin kept insisting.  Maybe he wasn't.  Hoseok didn't feel like he had enough information to make that determination yet and until that time arrived he vowed to maintain a safe emotional distance.

Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me, Hoseok reminded himself.

xxx

The pair continued to give each other breathing room until one particularly exhausting day, almost two weeks after Yoongi began accompanying Jimin to the studio.

Jimin had finished changing into his street clothes and on his way out he discreetly signaled Yoongi that he needed to make a pit stop in the men's room.

Yoongi gave an understanding nod and positioned himself by the check in counter so he could keep an eye on both the front entrance and the restroom door.

As he waited, a sweaty and out of breath Hoseok staggered out of the other dance room where he'd just finished working on some intense choreo for his advanced hip hop group.  He gave Yoongi a curt nod as he made his way to the front desk computer to check on the following day's schedule.

The bodyguard watched out of the corner of his eye as the Beta grabbed one of Jungkook's towels from the back of a chair to wipe the sweat from his face and neck, causing the oversized shirt he was wearing to slip just enough to reveal a faded mating mark.

Having noticed the scar several times before, curiosity finally got the better of Yoongi and without really thinking the Alpha asked, “Does your mate mind when you come home reeking of the pup?”

Hobi kept his eyes fixed on the computer screen in front of him.  “Not an issue.  I lost my mate two years ago.”

“Oh.  Shit.  Uh...Apologies.  I-I didn’t know.  My deepest condolences on your loss.” A chastised Yoongi averted his eyes as he bowed respectfully.

He was thrown off guard when he heard Hoseok snort in response.

“He’s not dead…unfortunately.  He left me for me for someone else.”

Yoongi choked on the air in his lungs and stammered out the first thought that leapt into his mind.

"He...he was an Alpha?"

Hoseok's jaw tensed at the question but he still refused to look at Yoongi when he answered.

"Ding, ding, ding.  Congratulations.  The Microscopic Mentalist gets it right on the first try.  Hope you aren't expecting a prize for puzzling out that stunning revelation."

Yoongi's brain completely skated over the insults as he struggled to process what he was hearing.

The taking of a mate was as extremely serious matter in their culture.  For anyone - especially an Alpha - to walk away from that commitment once it had been made was incredibly rare with serious physical, social and emotional implications for the mate that had been left behind.

 “W-wait...you're telling me that an Alpha willingly abandoned his bonded mate? That he left you alone and unprotected and...”

Hoseok's entire demeanor changed in an instant and Yoongi realized too late that he'd crossed into very dangerous territory.

The Beta rounded on him with a snarl, eyes flashing and teeth bared.

"Stop right there, Rent A Rambo!  I don't need your ******* pity and I certainly don't need anyone else's protection!  I can take care of myself, thank you very much!  I'm not  some weak, defenseless thing that can't care for themselves and if you or anyone else has a problem with that then you can fuck off!"

He kicked the chair beside him out of the way before storming into the changing room leaving Yoongi wide eyed and speechless.

The bodyguard waited for Hobi to come bursting back into the lobby to yell "And another thing...!" but he didn't and for some reason Yoongi found the ensuing silence far more unsettling that the shouting had been.

Notes:In the next chapter we will learn the full story of what happened to Hobi and see Yoongi's reaction to it all.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***