"Are you feeling okay?" San asked when he started to sense some unease coming from Jongho.

They had moved up to his Alpha's room and curled up together, both needing to be alone for a bit to just be.

But then Jongho's scent started to turn slightly pungent and San could feel something changing.

Jongho tightened his grip around San and pressed his nose to the top of his head. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You know you can't lie to me, right?" San said, trying to tilt his head back a little.

The younger sighed in acknowledgment. "I don't want to talk about it..."

That made San frown a little and he squirmed out of Jongho's grip to sit up. "Now you have me worried."

Jongho closed his eyes and stayed in place, but the unease, the hurt, the sadness continued to grow.

San reached out to brush his fingers through his Alpha's hair. "Jongho-yah, please..."

With a sigh, Jongho sat up as well and looked at him. "It's nothing, really. I'm trying to work through it."

"So let me help you." San said with a slight whine. "We are in this together. Bonded. You are so important to me."

The younger looked up at with glistening eyes. "I... I can't..."

The turmoil started to grow but now it was mixing with fear.

This worried San and he reached out to cup Jongho's cheek. "I can tell you're scared. Please Jongho-yah. What's wrong."

"I-I... Y-You're going to hate m-me..."

"Never!" San said quickly, his forehead creasing with concern. "I could never hate you."

Jongho closed his eyes and pressed his cheek further into San's palm, even letting out a small whine. "San... I..." He hesitated again and fell silent.

San licked his lips, then chewed on the lower one for a few seconds as he tried to figure out what to do.

Alpha. Praise. Help.

His wolf always knew the best answer. San took a deep breath and leaned a little closer. "Alpha."

Jongho's eyes shot open and his pupils were blow wide as he stared at San.

"Alpha. Tell me." San purred, leaning a little closer.

He opened and closed his mouth a few times, clearly still fighting the urge to keep whatever was hurting him a secret.

But San could have never predicted what he would say next...

"I-I'm in love with Wooyoung-hyung." Jongho finally forced out with a raspy voice.

San's heart stopped beating for a few seconds and he knows his mouth opened in shock. A million thoughts began to run through his head.

Jongho... loved Wooyoung??

How long had this been going on for?

When did it start?

What does it mean?

San knew that he and Wooyoung were forever, especially after this new bond had opened between them.

So... What did that mean for Jongho?

Alpha. Pack. Good.

Good?? How could this be good?

Distress radiated through his bond with Jongho and he allowed his mind to clear enough that he could see Jongho had started to tear up.

Which just made San feel absolutely horrible.

"Hey, it's... It's alright." The Omega said wrapping his arms around Jongho's neck to pull him into a hug.

But Jongho's arms just stayed limp at his sides as the younger began to openly sob. "I-I d-don't know what t-t-to do! I d-don't want to h-hurt you, b-but at the s-same time, s-seeing him w-with... It h-hurts me."

Seeing him with Yoongi? Seeing him with... with San?

The Omega didn't know what his mate had meant, but it was hard for him to fight the rejection that flashed through him.

No. Good Alpha. Support. Help.

How was he supposed to help...?

"I-I'm s-sorry... I'm so, s-so sorry..." Jongho's sobs grew harder and San was quick to snap out of his head when he realized Jongho was really spiraling.

He shushed him gently and started rocking him back and forth. "Shhhhh, it's okay. We... We will figure this out."

"H-How? I-I'm supposed to take care of everyone, of you. I'm Head Alpha. Head Alpha. I'm in ch-charge and here I am th-thinking of m-myself and b-b-being selfish b-because I know he's with y-you."

Good Alpha. Cares. Love.

San realized then that his wolf was telling him what he needed.

He was part of a pack now. There was no such thing as being with just one person. Not from what he could tell.

They all needed to support each other.

"Jongho, look at me." San pulled back to cup both of Jongho's cheek with his hands. He brushed away all the tears with his thumbs and leaned forward to kiss his nose. "I'm not mad or upset. Confused maybe, but not mad. Maybe in another time I would be, but things are so different now."

The Alpha's eyes began to quiver a little and he let out a small whine.

"When he comes back, I think you should tell him how you feel."

"N-No!" Jongho pulled away from his hands and shook his head rapidly. "I-I can't! It would ruin everything!"

"What would it ruin?" San asked reaching out to place a hand on his mate's shoulder.

"Everything!! You and me, what we have here. It could cause a tear in the pack! He's with Yoongi-hyung now and I don't see him being very happy about it either!"

San frowned. "Jongho-yah, these are all just assumptions. But keeping these feelings bottled up isn't healthy for you. We can tell him together if that'll help."

The younger looked so defeated for such a long time but San knew he needed to stay silent so Jongho could think.

After several minutes, Jongho wiped his eyes and sniffled a couple of times. "You... You're really not upset?" He asked in a tiny voice.

San finally managed a genuine smile. He grabbed Jongho's hand and placed over the mating mark scarring his neck. "Does it feel like I am?"

Jongho swallowed, his throat bobbing a little with the action. "But... Why?"

The Omega shrugged and dipped his head down to nuzzle into Jongho's palm. "Honestly? I have no idea. Probably because my wolf if basically begging me to make this work." He let out a little giggle after he finished talking.

Which seemed to help Jongho relax just a touch. "I never wanted to hurt you or come in between you and Wooyoung-hyung." He whispered. "For years I've been okay with loving him from a distance. Just... getting to be around him was enough. But now..."

"Now our feelings and instincts are heightened and we have these other packs in the mix." San said, hoping that finishing Jongho's sentence would help reassure him.

"Yes... When he was volunteered to make the mating bond with Yoongi to seal the pack alliance, I wanted to pull him back and never let go..."

"I did too." San said. "Which was weird because I've never been the jealous type." He laughed again, this time with a nervousness to it.

A slight blushed began to color Jongho's face and he quickly looked down at his lap. "This doesn't change how I feel about you."

His voice was so soft, San probably wouldn't have heard him if he wasn't so in-tune with his Alpha at all times. But he did, and he swung his legs around to get on his knees so he could lean forward to nuzzle against Jongho's mating mark. "I know. It doesn't change for me either." When he pulled back, Jongho was still blushing, which San found very endearing. "I know what we have may not be love... but maybe it could be one day? Though if anything, part of me feels like the bond is even deeper than if we were just in love."

A sense of relief rocketed through their bond and San knew that they would be okay.

"Should we go check on the others?" San suggested after a few minutes.

"We probably should... but can we stay here just a bit longer?"

When San didn't argue or disagree, Jongho wrapped his arms around his Omega and pulled so they could both lay down again.

San took a deep, long breath, then exhaled with a content hum. "This place wouldn't be so bad if all we had to worry about was this." He huffed a soft laugh.

That got Jongho to smile too. "I miss it though... Our old life? How all we had to worry about was perfecting the next dance move or learning a new harmony or when we would be traveling again to see our fans."

"I know... All of the stress we felt then seems so petty now." San agreed. "To think we used to lose our minds over a hard diet or a crazy rumor."

"Funny how some of those rumors are true."

San felt his cheeks heat a little when he thought about all the shippers online. He and Wooyoung had worked so hard to keep their love for each other a secret, but both knew that they couldn't truly hide what they felt. Not when hundreds of cameras were on them at all times even when they didn't know it.

Stray looks, soft touches, all of it gave them away, to the point where they'd occasionally had to not be around each other as much.

But in the end, none of it matter.

Not anymore...

"Don't stress about it right now." Jongho whispered, sensing the change in San's thoughts. "Let's just focus on getting through this one day at a time."

San nodded and pressed himself closer to his mate.

After a while, they decide to go back downstairs and check on the others. Jongho also felt like he needed to start planning their next steps.

They found Yeosang in the living room with a worried look on his face.

"What's wrong?" Jongho asked, rushing over to him, and falling into his Head Alpha role naturally.

"Seonghwa-hyung went to go check some of our traps since we are running low on meat... and he came across Mingi and Yunho. Mingi's rut started..." Yeosang said softly.

Jongho and San exchanged a quick glance before Jongho spoke again. "Are they okay? Do they need anything?"

Yeosang shook his head and pulled his knees to his chest. "I guess Mingi was pretty far gone, so both hyungs left just a few minutes ago to bring them some blankets and... and lube."

"He and Yunho are-"

"Yeah, in the middle of the forest." Yeosang cringed a little.

"Fuck..." Jongho sat next to him, then peeked at San. "I'm guessing that means mine could be any time now..."

San also sat and placed a hand on his knee. "We will take care of it when the time comes, don't worry."

The three of them sat there for a long time waiting for any kind of update.

But none came... and soon Jongho was pacing in front of the fireplace and San was curled up with his head in Yeosang's lap.

A knock on the front door pulled their attention and Jongho growled in response even as he slowly walked over to it.

He immediately relaxed, unlocked the door, and opened it with a soft, "Sorry, I didn't realize it was locked."

"That's alright." Hoseok beamed and clapped him on the shoulder. "How are you guys doing?"

The rest of his available pack followed them inside and scattered around the room so everyone could share an update.

Namjoon had wanted them to check out the area around them to see if anything had changed.

And unfortunately, he said that things seemed a little quiet...

Which led them to worry about other packs or what could be happening elsewhere.

"Have you even seen the entire arena?" Taehyung asked from where he was leaning into Seokjin's side.

"No." Yeosang answered. "We have no idea how big this place is, nor how many packs are left."

"Especially now that the alliances started." Jongho agreed with a slight frown.

"Maybe we need to do a little recon." Namjoon started rubbing his chin, a familiar crease appearing between his eyebrows. "What if we gather everyone and pick a few groups to go exploring?"

"That's not a bad idea." San perked up a little. "We could see if the market has a map or something? Or maybe even just some parchment that we can make our own map?"

Namjoon nodded in agreement, then looked at Jongho. "What do you think?"

The younger Alpha took a long breath, his eyes drifted away to somewhere in the distance.

San could feel that he was conflicted, the biggest worry being everyone getting separated.

But then he sighed and said, "Yeah, I think that's a really good idea."

"Maybe we can even look for a way out..." Yeosang said softly.

Everyone heard him, but they all pretended they didn't.

Sure, they could look, but there was no point in getting hopes up.

"Well let's talk to everyone when they get back." Namjoon said. "I know things may be a little tricky with ruts looming over our heads, but we can work around them."

Jongho sat up suddenly and looked at Yeosang. "Why aren't they back yet? Should we go check on them?"

Yeosang frowned deeply, then nodded. "Can we?"

"What's going on?" Jungkook asked.

"Mingi's rut started... Kind of in the middle of the forest. Seonghwa-hyung and Hongjoong-hyung went to go bring him a few things." Yeosang stood and fiddled with his fingers in front of his stomach.

Namjoon nodded. "Well that's two down..." He murmured, then glanced at Jungkook. "Go make sure they are okay, then we can start planning."

With that, Jongho, San, and Yeosang hurried out the back door.

San fell into step next to his Alpha, not wanting his leash to be pulled too tight as they started to run in the direction Mingi and the others were supposed to be.

But they weren't prepared for what they came across minutes later after they picked up on the sounds of moans coming through the trees.

"Oh fuck." Jongho breathed and immediately pushed San behind him with a slight growl.

While Yeosang let out a whimper and his scent instantly soured a bit.

A large blanket had been spread out in the clearing and Yunho was laying on the edge, his clothes hanging off him in shreds, passed out.

And next to him, Mingi had Seonghwa caged on his hands and knees beneath him.

The Beta's head hung low to the ground and he had bruises and small bite marks all over his shoulders and back.

"H-Hyung?" Yeosang croaked.

Mingi's head snapped up and he growled in Yeosang's direction, his hips never slowing.

But the sound was enough to rouse Yunho. He looked around wearily, then gave a relieved look when he saw the others. "H-Hey..."

"What happened?" Jongho asked after moving Yeosang behind him as well.

"I... c-couldn't keep up." Yunho cringed and closed his eyes again when Seonghwa let out a loud moan and lost the support of his arms, falling face first into the blanket.

The Alpha above him straightened up and squeezed his hips, growling hungrily as he pistoned his hips even faster.

"Where's Hongjoong-hyung?"

Yunho opened his eyes once more. "He th-thinks Chan's rut s-started too, so he left t-to help."

Jongho swore and took a step back. "This isn't good..."

"No..." Yeosang agreed.

"G-Go." Yunho tried to lift a hand, but all it did was limply flop at his side. "We've g-got this. H-Hyung agreed to h-help to give me a break."

Jongho hesitated, especially when Seonghwa started to moan louder, almost in pain.

They realized why seconds later when Mingi roared and his hips stilled.

Seonghwa's strength left and he collapsed, the only thing supporting him was Mingi's hands and his knot.