Hongjoong waited patiently while San fumbled through what happened to his pack. He had sensed the Hunters, and tried to lead them away, only for them to run into an alpha pack that had tormented the other three before.

It was all too much and too close to home for his liking. But he was impressed that they had managed to get here.

He found it a little ironic that San had met Seonghwa and Mingi too, but it also worried him because it made this area seem so much smaller than he originally thought. However, it was a blessing in disguise since San said it was Mingi's scent that led him here.

"I didn't know if it would work, but I had to try. I'm sorry for putting you in danger." San said as he finished his story.

Mingi let out a rumbling chuckle as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm just impressed you remembered me."

San arched an eyebrow. "It's hard not to. Mint already has a strong smell, and you were getting a little overly protective."

Hongjoong saw Seonghwa turn bright red as he busied himself with grabbing a plate of food for San. He had to fight to hide the smile.

"I didn't expect to see you again, though." San turned to look at Hongjoong. "You guys managed to stay away from the Hunters ok?"

"Yeah, we haven't run into any issues."

"Where have you been?" Yeosang asked, coming to sit next to him on the couch.

"Just wandering, like I always have. But I ran into these guys when I came across the cave they were hiding in. I was getting ready to strike out on my own again when I sensed the Hunters. Everything happened so fast." San said quietly, staring down at the omega.

Hongjoong sniffed as he watched the alpha. He glanced at the omega and the beta, taking note of their mating marks, but he didn't see any on San...

He glanced at his mate and Yeosang nodded, picking up on Hongjoong's concern.

"Well we haven't seen any sign of these Hunters or the alphas. Maybe they killed each other." Mingi said, crossing his arms and glancing out the window. "What did they do to the alphas anyway?"

"I don't know. From what I picked up on they were a pack of rogues that wanted Yunho and Wooyoung. I think Yunho managed to would one of them, so he was out for blood." San shivered. "I had managed to kill the alpha attacking me, so I know at least one of them is dead. When I went to help Jongho, something happened to the other two so I sent him away. I only survived because the Hunters showed up and started firing to the alpha focused on them."

Yeosang placed a hand on San's knee and smiled at him. "You're safe now." San visibly relaxed at the touch and sank into the couch, only sitting up again when Seonghwa came back with a plate of food.

"We should get these three into beds. We have plenty." Mingi said, looking down at them.

Hongjoong studied them too. The alpha, Jongho, was still in his wolf form and both boys were turned into him, hands tangled in his fur. "Leave them. I don't want to risk upsetting any of them." He glanced back at San and saw him watching the other's too. "Where is your mark?" He asked, his voice getting stern.

Everyone looked at Hongjoong with surprise, except San. He just closed his eyes. "I don't have a mate."

"Who are they mated to then?"

"Joong. That's a little personal." Yeosang said, giving him a stern look.

"Jongho." San answered.

"And?"

"Jongho." San said again, now looking at his hands.

"What?" Seonghwa sat in front of him. "You mean that Jongho has claimed them both, right?"

"Yes, and they are mated."

"I don't understand." Hongjoong said, starting to feel frustrated.

"Trust me, I don't either. When I found them, Wooyoung was by himself and unclaimed. I went hunting with Yunho, already mated to Jongho, and when we got back... Wooyoung and Jongho were mated." The tone of his voice said that the action had hurt him more than he wished to admit, even though he kept his face expressionless.

"Is that even possible?" Mingi said, pushing away from the wall.

No one could answer him. Hongjoong chewed on the inside of his cheek as he looked down on the trio. No wonder the alpha had freaked out when both boys were touched. His alpha instincts must be on over drive.

"Yunho said he didn't mind." San added after a few minutes, as if it would give them an answer. "I guess he and Wooyoung are from the same pack originally, so they were already really close." He sighed and rubbed his head.

Silence answered him.

Two mates. Hongjoong had never heard of an alpha having two mates before, but he supposed anything could be possible... If only he still had access to his pack logs. Maybe something in there would have the answer. But it was too risky to go back there now.

He sighed and ruffled his hair. "Mingi, why don't you and Seonghwa go into town to get some supplies? We are going to need a lot more food with four more mouths. At least until we figure out what to do."

San looked up at him.

"I'm not going to just kick you to the curb." He walked forward and placed a hand on the alpha's shoulder. "As long as no one gives us any trouble. My house. My rules." He added, feeling his dominance come forward.

San nodded immediately and closed his eyes, leaning his head on the back of the couch.

"What do you want us to get?" Seonghwa asked ask Hongjoong handed over the checkbook.

"Some clothes for them would be good, we probably need more medical supplies too. And just food." Hongjoong sighed, signing one of the checks so all they had to do was fill in the amount.

The omega nodded and followed Mingi out of the house.

Yeosang stood and came to his side, taking his hand. "Come on, let's give them some time to rest." He said, pulling Hongjoong down the hall to their room.

They laid down on the bed, wrapped in each other's arms. Hongjoong ran a hand through Yeosang's soft hair, eliciting a purr from his wolf.

"What a mess." He finally said.

"Only if you make it one." Yeosang said quietly, shifting his head to rub their noses together. "Things seemed to line up perfectly to bring them here, to a place that can protect them."

Hongjoong scoffed, knowing full well his beta spoke the truth. San had run into both them and Mingi and Seonghwa, and they had come across this house. He wasn't one to believe in fate or destiny, but if he did, this would be one of those times.

"Four alphas under one house... That seems like we are testing our luck."

"Well, we don't know how Jongho will be until he wakes up, but San seems like an easy going person. He survived a protective Mingi."

Hongjoong glanced down to see a smile tugging at the corner of Yeosang's mouth as he tried not to laugh.

It didn't work.

Soon they were both laughing at the image of Mingi fawning over a reluctant Seonghwa. It was obvious that the omega had been claimed by Mingi, as the alpha wasn't marked, but they seemed to have some sort of an understanding.

Hongjoong pulled Yeosang closer to him, lifting his chin up to connect their lips. "You always know the perfect thing to say." He whispered, kissing him a couple more times.

"I know." Yeosang smirked and nuzzled into Hongjoong's chest.

.

.

.

.

Jongho opened his eyes slowly. Even in his wolf form he had a screaming headache. He licked his lips and felt two bodies shift closer to him. He sighed, letting the scent of his mates wash over him.

They were alive. They had survived. They were safe.

He lifted his head and saw San curled up on a couch. He felt grateful to the alpha. Everything had happened so fast, and yet he had formed the pack link without question and fought to protect them.

The other pack was nowhere to be seen, but he could sense that two of them were still here. He scrunched his up at the thought of having to confront the alphas.

Yunho shifted next to him and Jongho turned to look at him for the first time. He nearly snapped again when he saw his bruised throat.

His beta blinked and opened his eyes. They instantly found his and relief washed over him as he sat up and wrapped his arms around Jongho's neck. "You're... Ok..." He forced out, then sat back and gently touched his throat.

Jongho whined and shifted. He reached for Yunho and stroked his cheeks. "You're ok too. It's probably bruised. Don't talk love."

Yunho covered his mouth and leaned into Jongho's shoulder.

San was there in an instant, checking on both of them.

Jongho placed a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, San. Thank you." Tears came to his eyes as the events of the previous day's events flashed through his mind.

San just blushed a little and smiled.

Then they all turned when Wooyoung let out a small sound.

"Wooyoung!" Yunho rasped, scrambling on his hands and knees to check on his friend. He knocked a vase over in the process but didn't stop until he was holding the omega's hand.

Jongho flinched however and looked down the hallway where he sensed movement. He picked up a nearby blanket and wrapped it around himself before moving to be in front of his mates. San had moved over as well.

Two men walked cautiously down the hall. Alpha and beta. The alpha was holding his hands up, but his face was stern.

The beta watched them but stayed by his alpha's side.

"You're awake. How are you feeling?" the alpha said.

San placed a hand on Jongho's shoulder. "Jongho, this is Hongjoong and Yeosang. We are in their house. I met them on the road some time ago. We can trust them."

Jongho glanced at the other alpha wanting to question him. But he trusted San, so he had no choice to trust these two as well. Until they gave him reason not to.

"Weak, but otherwise fine. Thank you for helping us." Both alphas nodded at each other.

Wooyoung let out another sound, but this one was a hiss.

Jongho spun around to see him clutching his stomach. Panic started to rise.

But then Yeosang was there, placing a hand over the omegas. "Try not to move. You have several broken ribs and some major bruising. And you," He looked at Yunho. "Don't talk. I think your windpipe has been bruised. It's going to take time for both of you to heal. I'll get you some pain killers, hang on."

Jongho watched as he ran down the hall and heard pill bottles falling to the floor in the bathroom.

Hongjoong got some water for all of them, bringing them over on a tray. By then Yeosang was back and handed them all some pills to take. All four of them took them gratefully. Yunho stroked Wooyoung's hair and they smiled at each other.

"You are welcome to stay here." Hongjoong said, drawing Jongho's attention. "But as I told San. This is my house, and you need to follow my rules."

Jongho felt his wolf want to push back against the other alpha's demands but he managed to push it down. "Of course. Thank you for helping us. You had every right to turn us away."

"Thank San. He saved us before, it's only fair we returned the favor."

Jongho felt San fidget behind him and turned to look at him. He owed this lonely alpha his life.