"Excuse me?"

Jimin rolled his eyes, looking up. He didn't bother to hide his gag as the alpha's scent rolled over him. "What do you need?"

"Uh, I was wondering if you knew anyone with these initials."

Jimin looked down at the paper, then up at the alpha. "You're an alpha?" he said softly, frowning.

Kim Taehyung. He trailed after Yoongi and Namjoon all the time, silently scanning the hallway. Jimin had never been close enough to smell him, but the scent was obvious now. He had been half-hoping Taehyung was only a Beta. He seemed nice enough.

"I'm sorry, but I really don't know who you are," Taehyung glanced down at the paper in his hand, sighing heavily. "I just want to know who left this."

Jimin snatched it away, biting his lip so hard it almost bled.

Hyung,

Please stop trying to link with me. It hurts and I don't feel like talking to you.

JK

JK. Jungkook's favorite way to sign his secret notes. Tears welled up in Jimin's eyes. He'd only seen Taehyung from afar, but the thought that the kind-faced young man and the idiot barging into his friend's mind were the same crushed him. He'd had some sort of hope...

"I'm sorry," Jimin said. "I know him, but he doesn't know his mate."

It was a lie. A big, fat lie. But there was no way he was going to let Taehyung start stalking Jungkook, kind face or not.

He handed the note back, swallowing, and said. "A word of advice. Whoever you're trying to talk to is probably on suppressants. Linking up risks giving them a migraine or worse. Keep your mind to yourself."

Taehyung frowned, sighing heavily. "I just wanted to talk to him."

"That's what you all say," Jimin said, folding his arms and stepping away.

"Are you sure there's no chance?" The pain in Taehyung's eyes nearly made Jimin give up. Taehyung wasn't trying to dominate him, but there was something in his expression that made him desperately wish he could rebuild all the impressions the alpha had shattered.

"Give him space," Jimin said. "You're hurting him."

"How do you know that will help?"

"Are you clueless?" Jimin snapped. "None of the omegas here want anything to do with an alpha."

"How do you know he's an omega?"

Jimin gulped. "He's not?"

"Did you seriously just assume rank..." Taehyung started to laugh, and Jimin whipped around, dashing off down the hallway.

"Hey, wait!" Taehyung called. "I still wanted to ask you--"

Jimin ducked around a corner and shoved his way into the bathroom. He didn't mind hiding in the stall for a bit. He had to take his pills anyway. The suppressants had a short lifespan, but they worked well. He leaned against the wall, staring at the blue door, and took a deep, shuddering breath.

Did Jungkook actually want to see his mate? Should he ask? No, he couldn't. He couldn't do that to Jungkook. No Omega willingly went with their Alpha. The whole school would pity the young man and wonder how Taehyung had forced him. He couldn't do that to either of them.

He shook his head. First things first: he had to know the truth. Who was Taehyung? Were he and Jungkook really mates? He took another deep breath, swallowed his pill, and ran a hand through his hair. He would have to follow Taehyung, risky as it was. To see what kind of alpha he really was.