Seonghwa sighed as he stepped into the kitchen and started trying to put some food together. It was so hard just sitting there and waiting.

It had been a few hours since Jongho had gone up to be with Wooyoung, and now...

He peeked over his shoulder at where Yunho was curled up in the corner of one of the couches picking at his lower lip.

He'd been there ever since Mingi had gone upstairs...

Wooyoung had woken up about thirty minutes ago wailing in pain once more.

At first, they'd assumed Jongho would just stay and continue helping, but Yeosang was quick to look at Mingi and suggest he tried to help.

They thought they heard a thump at one point, like someone falling on the floor, but all four of them were too nervous to move.

Jongho came trudging down the stairs several minutes later with a scowl and marched straight out the front door.

It slammed behind him, and all four Betas flinched, but otherwise didn't move.

Now they all just stayed in semi awkward silence while waiting for whatever was going to happen next to happen.

With another sigh, Seonghwa pulled out a pan and set it on the stove to start warming it up.

"Can I help?" Yeosang's deep voice came from behind him and Seonghwa turned to offer a soft smile.

"Sure. Maybe get a couple of fish out of the freezer? We can just defrost them in the sink."

Yeosang nodded and stepped outside, returning a few minutes later with four wrapped fish in his hands. "We will probably want to go again soon."

Seonghwa hummed and nodded. "We should go to the next market too to see what we can get to help us. We have more money now."

With all the stress around Wooyoung's heat and dealing with the sudden intensity of the Alphas, Hongjoong hadn't even been able to announce the results of the competition.

They'd won.

It had almost been too easy. With Oneus' help, they'd found the last two tokens and ran all the way to the arena, where the Android's declared they were the first pack to finish.

Once three o'clock hit, the points from all three events were tallied and the top ten teams were announced in order from tenth to first.

Stray Kids had come in fourth, which they were clearly upset about when they stormed out of the arena as soon as Ateez had been announced the winners.

Hongjoong, Seonghwa, and Yunho had graciously accepted their 200 gold and celebrated on stage for a minute or so before they hurried back home.

Now it all seemed like it happened ages ago...

"I think Wooyoungie would like that." Yeosang placed the fish in the sink and started running cold water over them. "I think we should start that garden, too. The more we can do for ourselves, the better things will be."

"I agree." Seonghwa said while slicing a few potatoes into thin pieces to fry in the pan. "We need to start approaching things very differently now. And is it tomorrow they will announce the head pack?"

The younger pursed his lips. "I think so? I don't even know where we are at points wise."

"I don't either, that's the last thing I've been worried about." Seonghwa stirred the potatoes a little harder than necessary and huffed when a couple flew out of the pan and landed on the floor with a splat.

Yeosang snorted and lifted a hand to cover his mouth, trying to hide his smile.

"Shush you." Seonghwa scowled in his direction and flicked the spatula at him.

The younger giggled, then looked up at him with wide, gorgeous brown eyes. "It's going to be okay, Hyung."

Seonghwa's eyes flick around Yeosang's face, taking in the soft features and the gentle smile. "Thanks, Sangie." He whispered.

Yeosang bit his lip and a pretty red dusted his cheeks as he turned back to the fish. "I think these are almost ready."

"Good, I'm sure they others are going to be hungry."

They cooked in silence after that, doing their best to scale and debone the fish, then cook it in the oven.

By the time they were done, Jongho had come back inside and was sitting next to Yunho, the two of them conversing with Hongjoong quietly.

"Dinner is ready." Seonghwa announced. "Jongho-yah, come get yours first."

The Alpha didn't hesitate to jump up and run to the kitchen. "Thanks, Hyung. I'm famished!"

Seonghwa beamed when he saw a bit of the old Jongho coming back, his precious maknae grabbing a plate full of food and shoveling it in. "Chew! My goodness." Seonghwa scolded even though he was laughing softly.

The younger flashed a bashful smile, then shuffled back into the living room.

Once everyone had their food and was settled, Hongjoong sighed and asked, "So. Now what?"

Jongho took a second to swallow his mouthful of fish, then wiped his lips. "I don't know if we can really decide on anything right now, Hyung. We are all in the process of changing still."

"He's right." Yeosang said. He pushed his food around on his plate absentmindedly. "It makes sense that the four of you have been affected first, but it's possible the rest of us will start experiencing things soon too. Plus, we have no idea how everyone else here is taking things."

"For now, I think we need to keep playing the game." Yunho added. His leg bounced endlessly, showing how restless and anxious he was feeling.

Seeing it broke Seonghwa's heart and he wished he knew what he could do to try and make him feel better.

Jongho, however, nodded and sat up a little straighter. "I think so too. I don't want to risk upsetting the Androids, and whoever is behind this. If they were able to... this... to us, then there must be a way to change us back."

"Maybe when the games are finally over?" Hongjoong sat back in his chair, the frown on his face giving away how much he didn't really believe it.

None of them did... but maybe a little hope could help them.

"I suppose tomorrow some of us should head to the courtyard and see if there are any new announcements or any information we could use." Seonghwa said after a minute. "We could use a little more variety in our food if possible."

"We should probably get in the routine of going there every day." Hongjoong scrunched his nose, making Seonghwa smile at the endearing habit of his. "That seems to be the center of everything here."

"But in groups. Eyes are going to be on us now." Jongho added, looking at his pack with concern. "And as much as they are going to hate this, Wooyoung and San should stay here as much as possible."

The protectiveness in his voice was evident and Seonghwa could see the way he was fighting to keep looking at them and not turn around to look up the stairs.

"Either that, or you and Mingi must always be with them." Yunho was the one to look at the stairs now, his frown deepening.

"We will figure things out." Seonghwa said softly, hoping the sincerity he was trying to convey got through to Yunho especially, but he did look to everyone else in his pack too.

Hongjoong returned his gaze and Seonghwa couldn't help but let a small smile cross his face as his heart started beating a little faster.

The conversation lulled for a bit, no one quite knowing what else to say about their current situation.

It was going to be hard, but Seonghwa knew that if they continued to work together, they could do anything.

"Man, I wish we had a TV." Yunho groaned suddenly, stretching his long arms over his head before flopping back on the couch. "It would be so nice to just zone out for a bit."

The unexpected statement had the rest of them laughing softly before nodding in agreement.

But Seonghwa had a thought that immediately soured his mood, and it distressed him too much to keep to himself. "What do you think everyone watching thinks of the show? What does Atiny think of us."

He knew he struck a chord when Yunho sat back up and the air in the room seemed to grow thick.

"I hope they aren't..." Hongjoong murmured, distress crossing his face to the point that he looked like he might cry. "I don't want them to see us like this. I don't want them to hear us and what we've been talking about."

"Maybe the producers will take mercy on us and edit some of it out..." Yeosang whispered.

"I just... Why would they do this to us if the show is being aired to the public??" Yunho leaned forward and fisted his hair. "It just doesn't make any sense."

"None of this makes sense." Yeosang sighed. "The transformation, the size of this place, the mystery behind it all." He paused and looked directly at one of the cameras in the corner of the room. "I hope we get some answers soon."

A door opening upstairs drew all of their attention. No one breathed while they waited to see what was happening.

Jongho stood slowly when Mingi slowly descended, looking exhausted and disheveled.

The older paused when he saw everyone looking at him, meeting each of their eyes, except for Yunho.

"Well?" Jongho asked.

"He's sleeping. San said he'd stay with him." Mingi's voice was gravely, and his eyelids drooped with exhaustion.

Seonghwa was quick to stand up, rushing into the kitchen to get the Alpha some food. He got a small, whispered thanks before Mingi sat down in a chair to slowly eat.

"How are you?" Hongjoong asked tentatively.

"I feel weird." Mingi lowered his plate a little and looked at Jongho. "Did you feel... I don't know..."

"Content? Proud?" Jongho supplied.

The older nodded a couple of times. "I knew exactly what I needed to do... And I don't know how. And everything in me is telling me to not go any further away."

"I know what you mean. But knowing that they are together makes me feel a little better too."

"It does." Mingi hummed. "I just... I don't get it."

"None of us do." Hongjoong pursed his lips, then rubbed his neck. "So we just need to pay attention and let's promise to tell each other if something changes or if we are feeling something. Alright?"

"Like how my sense of smell has heightened and I swear that Wooyoung smells like lilacs?" Mingi said. "And I'm pretty sure I smelled cinnamon while I was in there too."

"Wow, they really are trying to be as accurate as possible." Yeosang sighed. "My guess is we will each develop our own scent in the following days. Which honestly will be really useful in case we get separated. And Jongho and Mingi you can start using yours to mark our territory."

"The pond." Seonghwa's eyes widened.

Yeosang nodded. "We should go there tomorrow. It's time we start fully thinking like a wolf pack."

"He's a smart one." Madame Curator crosses her arms over her stomach and smirks at the screen. "I like him."

The two men in charge of watching this pack both nod. "He's figured out pretty much everything about The Change."

"Have any other packs done the same?"

"A few. They are scattered though. Most seem to be falling into a state of shock. Three more dropped out in the past hour."

Madame Curator tsks with annoyance and shakes her head. "Weaklings. Have they been contained?"

"Yes Madame. All three packs, twenty-five people total, are being studied as we speak."

"Good. We need to know everything. If it's something different in their DNA or something with their chemistry. Compare it to the ones who became sick after taking the serum. Compare everything."

Later that evening, Mingi sighed heavily as he leaned against the bathroom sink. Every muscle in his body ached, yet they screamed for him to return to his bedroom where the two Omegas were curled up together on the bed.

Fucking Wooyoung had been... an experience to say the least.

He'd been so desperate that Mingi had hardly recognized him when he'd stepped into the room. Especially when Wooyoung lunged for him and pulled him onto the bed, taking only a matter of minutes to undress him and start riding his dick.

The whiplash had been so sudden, Mingi nearly had a panic attack. But then his instincts kicked in and all he'd wanted to do was take care of his Omega.

Apparently, his stamina was impeccable because Wooyoung eventually collapsed and gave Mingi the opportunity to flip them and absolutely rail the younger. On his back, then flipping him over... It took him a long time to finally knot Wooyoung, and when he did, he collapsed on top of him and basked in the best orgasm of his life.

Now, all Mingi wanted to do was shower and pass out, although he wasn't quite sure where since the two Omegas had claimed his room.

With another sigh, he stepped into the shower and let out a soft moan as the hot water cascaded over his skin. He watched as it traced the outlines of his new muscles and flexed his arms a little to admire them.

He was so distracted that he didn't hear the door open and close, nor the rustle of clothes being removed and dropping to the floor.

So when the shower door opened and someone else stepped into the shower with him, Mingi startled and fell against the walls with a loud thud.

"Yunho! What the fuck?!" He gasped, placing a hand over his heart.

The older flashed a sheepish smile that quickly turned a little sad and Mingi instantly stood up straight again.

"What is it?" He asked softly, reaching out a tentative hand to twist his fingers with Yunho's.

Yunho's ears started to turn red, giving away how embarrassed he was at the moment. And Mingi knew it wasn't because they were both naked in the shower.

He waited patiently for his best friend to find his words. His thumb drifted back and forth across Yunho's, the intimate touch feeling so natural between them.

"Did you like it?" Yunho whispered so softly that the sound of the shower nearly drowned out his words.

"Yun..." Mingi's voice caught in his throat, and he took a step closer.

Yunho immediately took a step back, but that only served to trap him against the wall.

The shower was completely ignored by both of them now as they gazed at each other.

"I-I know it was my idea..." A small whimper came from Yunho as he spoke and suddenly a blast of honey filled the air.

Mingi inhaled deeply and let out a small groan. "Fuck, Yunho."

"Wh-What?" Yunho asked. "Min... please, just..."

"Just what, Yunho?" Mingi stepped a little closer to him. "You're right, it was your idea. You said we all need to help each other out. And I know you're not going to like what I have to say." Something in him crumbled when he saw Yunho flinch, so he lifted a hand to gently grip Yunho's chin to force him to look up again. "But it changes nothing."

Arms wrapped around his stomach and back to pull him in, and he cradled Yunho to him as the older buried his face in Mingi's neck. "I'm sorry."

Mingi tilted his head to nuzzle against Yunho's ear and whispered, "It's okay. I find it endearing that you're jealous."

Yunho squeezed him a little harder and groaned. "Shut up."

"Yunho-yah, I want you to know that no matter what happens, I want you to remember what you told me earlier. "

They parted just enough so they could look at each other again, and Mingi's face softens to one of pure adoration when he sees the tears in Yunho's eyes.

"Can you tell me what you said?"

The older blushed, his breath coming a little heavier now. "I know your heart." He said, emphasizing his words by placing a hand on Mingi's chest.

Mirroring the movement, Mingi did the same before he said, "And I know yours. Please don't forget that."

When he received a nod in return, Mingi pulled Yunho in for another hug and the two of them just enjoyed each other's embrace.

But the water was starting to get cold, so they quickly washed up, Yunho giving Mingi a little more attention to really help him and slipped into Yunho's room.

The exhaustion it him again when he lowered himself onto the bed next to Yunho. The older opened his arms to welcome him in, and Mingi happily laid down with his head on Yunho's chest.

He instantly relaxed when he smelled honey again, sweet but subtle, yet it seemed a little stronger when it mixed with his more powerful cinnamon scent.

"Your scent is amazing." Mingi said, nuzzling into the strong body holding him. "So perfect for you."

"What is it? I haven't been able to pick up scents yet." Yunho tilted his head to look down at him, then lifted a hand to play with his hair.

Mingi melted even more. "Honey." He said as if it was the most precious thing in the world.

"Honey..." Yunho whispered. "I like that."

The younger could hear the smile in his voice and it made him smile too.

"Get some rest, Mingi-yah."

"You too." Mingi could barely get the words out in an intelligent manner, knowing they sounded more slurred as he slipped into slumber. "Don't forget... Yun..."

He didn't know if it was a dream, or if he heard it with the last strands of consciousness he had left, but the final words Yunho whispered to him before he finally slipped away gave him the peace of mind he needed to let go.

"I won't, My Heart, I promise. I won't forget."