The Maze seemed to go on forever.

Hongjoong did the best he could to mark where they'd been, even taking to using a sharp rock he found to mark each turn with an arrow, so just in case they went in a circle somehow, they'd know which ways they'd already been.

But after a few hours, there was no sign of finding the end.

They'd encountered three more tables, one more that tested their sense of smell by having them identify different herbs. Seokjin was able to easily pass that one because of all the time he'd spent cooking.

The next two, however, tested their sense of touch.

All of them were provided with blindfolds and they had to correctly identify the objects placed in their hands. A rock. A spikey ball. A sock filled with rice.

It seemed pretty simple, so they passed both tests with flying colors.

The group was mostly silent now as they trudged forward. Yunho was leading now, a hard look set on his face that Hongjoong knew was partially from concentration and partially from how hard he was still trying to ignore Mingi.

"Do you think they will be okay?" Chan asked softly.

Hongjoong glanced at his Alpha and shrugged. "I hope so. They've never had a rift between them like this before. It worries me..."

"What if I try to talk to him?"

The Beta reached over to take his hand and his wolf instantly churned with joy. "That's sweet. Maybe. I think he needs some time to cool down, though. If there's one thing I know, it's that you don't talk to Yunho when he's angry because he will most likely only get worse."

Chan hummed. "That must be hard for you to deal with sometimes."

A crooked smile tugged at Hongjoong's lips. "Sometimes. But I learned to manage. I had to so I could keep the peace sometimes."

"I understand how hard that can be."

Hongjoong moved a little closer and squeezed Chan's hand. "I'm glad you're here, but I'm sorry you had to leave Felix behind."

"Thanks." Chan whispered. "It... It's not easy, but I can feel that he's okay right now, so that helps."

"Yes, that's definitely the best thing about this new connection."

"I couldn't agree more." Chan lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of Hongjoong's.

By now, the pack had taken a few more turns and Yunho was holding up a hand to get them to stop.

Once they were gathered, Hongjoong could see they had come across another table.

"How many of these things are there?" Seoho muttered. "I hate being useless..."

"You're not useless." Hoseok with a kind smile. "You're still here helping us and are part of this pack now."

Seoho and Keonhee exchanged a look, but they don't look like they are convinced.

"You will put on these blindfolds and identify the sound I play." The Android instructs, motioning to the pile of black fabric in front of him.

Everyone complied, having already decided to do every challenge they come across since they counted for points.

Hongjoong cracked his neck and waited. He wasn't stressed about this test at all, given what their profession was.

The first sound that comes through might have stumped a different group because it could have either been rain or wind, but Hongjoong and Jisung answered with wind at the same time.

Next was footsteps on sand, followed by hummingbird wings.

Once again, they passed the test and continued on, with no idea as to how much further they had to go.

But it was then that they came across another pack. Yunho froze the second he rounded the corner while both Jongho and Namjoon surged to the front with low growls in their throats.

The pack was small, only five of them and a mix of men and women. They looked just as startled, all five of them threw their hands up and took a few steps back.

"We aren't going to hurt you." Namjoon said in English, holding his hands out in front of him. "I'm sorry we scared you."

All five members of the other pack exchanged looks and slowly lowered their arms. "Way out?" A woman asked slowly.

"Not that way." Namjoon motioned behind them. "You?"

The woman shook her head and pointed back and to the left.

There was another path to the right though, so slowly the two packs traded spots, eyeing each other the entire time, before they continued in the direction neither hand motioned to.

"Well, that could have gone worse." Seokjin said with a small laugh. "I'm pretty sure we scared them shitless though."

"Be nice." Namjoon gave him a pointed look, though there was a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

Running into the other pack did throw them off a bit though. Everyone was tense now, always looking over their shoulders and taking corners slowly.

And Hongjoong knew that the biggest fear right now was running into Tressor. He had a feeling a fight would break out instantly if that were the case...

Suddenly, a high-pitched beep had all of them except for Keonhee and Seoho looking around. Those two just stared at the others, not sure what to make of what was happening.

The beep happened again and Yeosang was the first to react, turning right as soon as he can.

As a group, they start to jog, following the sound almost like it was something they were trained to do.

Left, right, left, left, left, right...

And then an Android appeared holding some kind of speaker in its hand. "Well done. Hearing test passed."

"What the fuck?!" Mingi growled. "It was just another stupid test??"

"Looks like it." Minho grumbled next to him. "I supposed they did say they are going to test all our senses."

His statement turned out to be true when they came across another test that had them identifying different instruments and one that had them identify different forest sounds.

By now, they sun had passed the midday point and was well on its way to setting.

"What happens if we have to stay the night here?" Taehyung asked eventually.

"Then we set up shifts to keep watch." Jongho stopped to look at everyone. "I don't want to risk another pack coming across us and trying something."

Hongjoong felt a surge of pride rush through him, both for his maknae and for his Alpha.

Good. Strong. Protect.

He couldn't agree more. Even if Jongho doubted himself, Hongjoong knew they'd made the right choice by asking him to be Head Alpha.

Especially when no one argued with him.

Without another word, Jongho turned and started to lead the way again, head held high and determination set on his face.

"How's it going?"

"Well. The packs are all moving through at a decent pace, and most seem to be passing the tests just fine. Some better than others, of course."

"And our two top packs?" Madame Curator asks, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at the screens.

"Tressor has actually struggled with the sound tests, but other than that they've been fine. They are actually almost out, I think. Ateez has passed each test easily. They seem to really be coming together as a team."

Madame curator smiles. "I like to hear that, especially with how well The Change has taken." She watches as her pack comes across a taste testing table where they must identify the different types of meat presented to them.

"Ma'am." An older man enters the room and bows. "I think we may have figured out where the rest of their pack is hiding."

"Show me." She orders and follows him from the room.

They step into a smaller office where all the Androids are managed. One screen shows a view from one of the machine's perspectives and it looks like it is camped outside of a cave.

"We found tracks leading up to this point. It's in a part of the forest that no other packs have ever been to, so it seems like a logical place to hide. What would you like to do?"

Madame Curator hums and taps her chin. "I think... It's time for Scenario Six."

Wooyoung let out a long sigh through his nose as he shifts to hug San a little tighter. Despite the situation they are in, he's happy he could be there, like that, for as long as they were allowed.

Especially when San's fingers started to drift back and forth on his arm.

The younger hummed, then found himself wishing they had a big pile of blankets they could burrow into.

Maybe when they finally got back to the cabin.

Yes. Safe. Nest.

Nesting... Yes... That's what he wanted to do.

Any other time he would have thought the feeling was absurd, but his wolf wanted it, so he knew it had to be right.

A feeling of concern started to grow within Wooyoung's chest and he scrunched his nose.

Alpha.

"I'll be right back." Wooyoung whispered. He frowned a little as he stood and San didn't fight him at all. The older just sat up and watched him with a curious expression before going to sit with Seonghwa.

Wooyoung picked his way through the cave to where his Alpha is sitting by the entrance keeping watch.

"Hyung?" He said softly even though he knew that Yoongi was already aware of his presence.

"Are you alright?" Yoongi looked up at him. His forehead was creased and his lips downturned. All of it linking to the feelings swelling within him.

"I feel like I should be asking you that." Wooyoung attempted to joke, but it was clear that Yoongi didn't care or didn't feel like trying to lighten the mood.

So Wooyoung decided to follow his instincts and pushed Yoongi's legs down so he could sit on his lap, legs straddling his Alpha's thighs.

Yoongi's eyes widened in shock, even as his hands found Wooyoung's waist as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The younger flashed a small smile, then lifted a hand to gently rub his thumb over the worry lines on Yoongi's forehead. "I can feel that something is wrong."

"I know." Yoongi whispered, not hesitating, or trying to deny it. "It's just... This is the longest we've been apart..."

Wooyoung's heart ached, echoing the feelings of his alpha and he leaned forward to nuzzle against the mating mark he'd left on the older's neck.

The tension slowly faded and Wooyoung let himself smile. "They are all together, I'm sure they will be fine."

His Alpha wrapped his arms around him and held him tight, taking the chance to also scent his Omega. "Thank you, Wooyoung-ah."

"Hey, why wasn't I invited?" Jimin's voice came from next to them and the pair turned to look at the other, now pouting, Omega.

Wooyoung laughed and slid from Yoongi's lap to sit on one side so that Jimin could sit on the other.

"How is Kookie?" Yoongi asked, his voice even softer now, holding a special fondness that was reserved for his pack.

"Angry." Jimin snorted. "You know he doesn't like being left out."

"It's just for now."

"He doesn't care."

Wooyoung couldn't help but smile. He knew that Jungkook was probably pouting somewhere in the cave, wishing he could be in The Maze. He also knew that Jungkook didn't agree with his assigned ranking one bit, but thankfully he'd sort of accepted it.

Just like the rest of them had to accept it.

The trio had just started to relax, maybe even drift off in the security of their Alpha, when Yoongi suddenly tensed and sat up.

"What's wrong?" Jimin asked, looking around frantically.

Yoongi's nostrils flared and his eyes grew wide with panic.

Seungmin appeared at their side too and they both exchanged a look. "Do you smell it too?"

"Yes." The Alpha said. "Get everyone together, we have to leave. Now!"

"What's going on?" Jimin asked, reaching over to take Wooyoung's hand.

They laced their fingers together, needing to feel comfort from the other as their Alpha ran into the cave and started shouting for everyone to wake up or get their things.

The wind shifted, blowing directly into the cave...

And suddenly Wooyoung knew what had his Alpha so scared.

Fire.