Hongjoong snarls at the female, who in turn cowers and moves away, but once he has his back turned to the other female she makes a move to sniff at him. He snarls, snapping at her, barely nicking her snout.

She yelps, falling back away from him while swiping at her snout. He didn't leave a visible mark (yet) but he's not making promises for the next time one tries to advance on him. He is right about one thing, next time they come in to bring in food for them all, he's making a run for it.

How's Youngie? He asked Yunho, backing himself into a corner to keep an eye on both females as they lay on the ground across from him, completely submitting themselves to him.

He's laying down, he had another moment... Yunho trails off, sighing tiredly, I want to get us out of here. We need to get Youngie out of here, I'm afraid if we don't the pup won't make it...

We're getting out of here one way or another, Hongjoong snorts, I will tear apart whoever I need to tear apart to make sure we do.

"Food call!" Jin enters the cell holding them all, keeping his eye on Hongjoong and the wolves as he tosses fresh meat.

Hongjoong crouches, ready to pounce on Jin but the man was too quick. He dodged the wolf, opening the gate door and slipping effortlessly behind it and locking it back up. Hongjoong growls, locking eyes with Jin as the man sighs in relief and wipes the sweat off of his forehead.

"I know you're hungry but I'm sadly not on the menu," Jin jokes, looking from the females eating to Hongjoong. He frowns, seeing the distance Hongjoong is putting between the females and himself before humming, "Well, it looks like if you're not going to show interest any time soon, we're going to have to figure something else out..."

Over my dead fucking body you will, Hongjoong snorts, his lip curled as he snaps his jaw at Jin. The man's eyes widen before he turns on his heel and leaves, locking the door behind him. Hongjoong growls, sensing one of the females coming over to him to sniff him again, only for him to snarl and snap while charging her.

Eventually, they come in and remove the females, knowing they're not going to get any action between them from watching in the security cameras. Hongjoong sighs, relaxing once they are gone before looking out of his cell. It was all concrete. The floors, the walls, the only insight he had for the enclosure with Yunho and Wooyoung was a small vent that let in sunshine. Judging from the dark slowly settling in, it was nearing night time.

He paces the cell, once more reaching out to Yunho, This is fucking ridiculous. I feel like a prisoner.

Tell me something I don't know, Yunho snorts, I'm never going to complain about being bored again when we get home because now I realize there's so much shit I could do to keep myself busy.

How's Wooyoung? I should be in there to help you watch over him.

He's sleeping, I'm not as worried for the pup as I was earlier but my worry won't go away until we get out of here.

Why aren't you as worried? We should still be worried.

I know Joong. But for the longest time I didn't feel the baby. But today I felt it. It's fine.

It won't be for long, Hongjoong growls, We're losing precious time, every hour that goes by without us getting out of here and shifting is another hour of us losing ourselves and the pup dying.

Hongjoong could practically feel Yunho wince. Maybe he was a little harsh for saying that but it's true. He knows they're losing their true selves in here. He knows the longer Wooyoung stays in wolf form the short time that baby's life will be. They've each been having more moments where they lose focus of themselves, Joong usually snaps right out of it by himself, but last time went on for far too long and he almost couldn't snap back...

Hongjoong lost track of time, realizing it is now dark and the sensor lights kick on so it's not pitch black in his prison. He sighs, laying in his corner to fall into another uncomfortable, restless sleep. The floors were cold, the walls were cold, he couldn't help but shiver.

Then the his senses kicked into over drive when he sensed it.

Alpha.

He stands to his feet instantly, his head lowers to the ground as he kept his ears open. He heard footsteps quickly approaching the cell with the cages for the wolves. He backed himself up, keys jingle as they rattle to unlock the door.

No one comes in here late at night, except for the cleaning crew but they never cleaned the cages at night. Only during the day, when all of the wolves were in the enclosure. What's going on?

Yunho?

Yeah, Hongjoong takes in a sharp breath, the hair on the back of his neck bristles with Yunho's reply, I can sense it too.

••••••••

Mingi paces back and forth from where Yoongi told him to stay. He kept his ears open and his senses on high alert, anything that gave off the slightest scent of Hongjoong or the others he was barging in there with or without help from Yoongi.

Footsteps are heard walking towards him and he ducks behind a bush near a map, not wanting it to be security and to get caught. Although, Yoongi's strong sent filled his nose and keys jingle as he gets closer, "Mingi!"

He immediately hops up from behind the bush, "Did you find them?"

"Only two, that means your third wolf is in the kennels," Yoongi grabs his keys from his belt, flipping through them until he finally finds the right one and hands it to him, "There's only one key for the cell they lock the wolves in and for the kennels. That's the only place I can think of your other wolf is in. Follow me."

He leads Mingi down a path of many halls and turns, eventually stopping at a large barn like building, "Here we are," he hands the key to Mingi, backing away, "Once you free him, leave the keys in the lock and get out as fast as you can. Cameras turn back on in forty minutes. Get in, get your wolf, get out. Alright?"

Mingi nods, holding his hand out for Yoongi to shake, "Thank you, for everything."

Yoongi nods once, turning his back and walking away silently. Mingi knew he would never see the Alpha again, but he was forever and will be forever thankful for him. He turns to the door and sticks the key in the lock, feeling the weight of everything hitting him at once.

And then fear. What if Hongjoong wasn't in there? Where could he possibly be if he wasn't in there? Mingi shakes his head, no, he had to be in there. Yoongi even said so, where else would he possibly go? Ever so slowly, he turns the key, and easily it unlocks the door. He barely cracks it open, the smell of cinnamon fills his nose.

Yep, that's him.

••••••••

The sound of a lock unlocking made Hongjoong's stomach drop. Everything happened in slow motion, and it was dead quiet. You could hear the water droplets falling onto the floor from the ceiling from how quiet it is. The door barely opens a crack, the smell of the Alpha fills his nostrils.

Paprika.

His heart beats faster, his tail wags as he walks closer to the door, Mingi?

The door seemed to open in slow motion, and before him stood his Alpha. He seemed to stand there for a moment, stunned that he actually found Hongjoong. The Beta whines, barking at him, Mingi!! Mingi oh my god!!

The Alpha snaps out of his trance, walking quickly over to the kennel holding Hongjoong before taking the keys and unlocking the padlock. As soon as the kennel was open, Hongjoong pounces on him, licking his face all over excitedly.

Mingi laughs, burying his face in Hongjoong's fur, "Oh my god baby, I never thought I'd see you again!"

Hongjoong whimpers, nuzzling against Mingi desperately for the Alpha to scent him, to mark him as his again. Mingi pulls away, cupping his face in his hands and looking Hongjoong deep in the eyes, "Shift them for me." His eyes flash red, "Show me you're still there."

Hongjoong's eyes flash blue, he whines again before licking his Alpha's nose, I'm here Mingi! I'm here!

Mingi sighs in relief, placing his forehead against Hongjoong's, "Can you shift for me? I know it's been a while but I need you to try baby. Please, for your safety."

Hongjoong snorts, stepping back and focusing his energy on shifting his body back. He shook fiercely, his breath coming in pants as he forces his body to shift from wolf to man. It was almost too painful, but he growls as he done so which turned into a humanized cry.

When his body was fully transformed, he pants harshly as he laid on the floor. His body was covered in sweat, his limbs shook with adrenaline before he looks at his hands. He smiles slightly as he wiggles his fingers, feeling the blood flow move between them.

He looks up at his Alpha, moving too quickly to try and be with Mingi but his vision blurred and his body fell against the dirty, concrete floor once more. Mingi brings the Beta in his arms, holding him against him as he rocked back and forth gently, "I'm here, it's okay."

"I-Is this a dream?" Hongjoong asked suddenly, his voice felt weird being spoken aloud and slightly scratchy. It even sounded different.

"No baby, it's not," Mingi whispers, grabbing the bag off of his shoulder and helping Hongjoong slip on a T-shirt and sweatpants, "We are running out of time, we need to get out of here."

Hongjoong nods, and Mingi picks him up effortlessly to carry him out of there. It all happened so fast. The scenery of the zoo and enclosures passed by in a blur. No sounds were heard, his ears rung with a piercing wail. He seemed to have blink, and they were outside.

Outside. They were free.

"Hongjoong!" Yunho's voice called from the distance and Hongjoong tilts his head to find him.

He stood by Wooyoung, still in wolf form along with San and Jongho, everyone was waving at them furiously to hurry. Mingi hands Hongjoong to San, the other Beta climbs in the van with the others and made sure they were all comfortable while Mingi drives off.

No one said anything for a while. It was eerily quiet as they drove out of the city and away from the zoo. The sun was rising when Mingi finally pulls over to the side of the road, getting out of the car to climb in the back. He pulls Hongjoong in for a hug, the Beta took in a deep breath as he breathed in that paprika scent he fell in love with.

"We're finally free," Yunho interrupts the silence, looking at Wooyoung and Jongho who was protectively holding on to him. Mingi looks over at his brother, seeing the Alpha nuzzling his face in the Omega's fur while his hand rubbed soft, gentle circles on his stomach. He was really showing now, they made it just in time.

Hongjoong closes his eyes as tears fill them, they slip down his cheek as he mind links to the three wolves he was captive with, We made it guys. We're going home.

••••••••

Written by @JinJin0309