"Colonel!" Mingi ran into the camp and straight for where everyone was gathered. "Colonel we have stop!"

The man looked up. "What's wrong?"

"Lizbeth said that it's a trap. They are waiting for us."

"Are you sure?"

Mingi bent forward and placed his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. "Yes. They might not be expecting us to come with an army, but I don't want to risk it."

The Colonel glanced at his men, then nodded, indicating they could disperse for now. "So what do you want to do?"

The alpha sighed and straightened out. He honestly had no idea how he wanted to handle this now. If the Alpha Pack was waiting for them, then they must have lookouts everywhere. He should have thought of this, of course they would anticipate him coming to rescue everyone, especially since they have Seonghwa.

He was such an idiot...

"I don't know. The hard thing is that the mind link doesn't work within the walls, otherwise I'd say I'd let them take me. But I'd have no way of contacting any of you..."

"Well Lizbeth knows things about spells, can't she do something?" Colonel Gregson glanced at the motel.

"She's too weak. Plus it's a different pack that specializes in it. Each pack used to have their own specialty when the race was still young. We call then the ancient packs now. I might be able to figure something out if I had access to some of their books, but I'm sure they are all gone or at the fortress..."

Then the Colonel straightened out and ran back to his tent. "Follow me." He called and Mingi didn't hesitate.

Inside, the man started digging through a chest. Mingi cringed because it smelled of death. He didn't know if he wanted to know what was in there, until the Colonel pulled out a giant, leather bound book. He felt his jaw drop as he looked at it. "Where did you get that?"

Colonel Gregson carefully handed the book to Mingi. "It was passed down to me when I took over as head of the Hunters. Apparently we've had it for generations. It's all gibberish to us though, it's written in some ancient language. Maybe this will help you."

Mingi gently stroked the cover. It was embossed with a crescent moon and stars. He could tell it was old just by the cracks in the leather and the yellowing of the pages. His heart pounded as he carefully opened it to the first page.

The man was right, it was an ancient language. He had come across some books when he was growing up, but he had never been taught to read it. He had a feeling his father didn't know how to either and that's why he joined forces with Primera.

"Thank you." Mingi said softly. "May I take this to Lizbeth?"

The Colonel nodded. "We will lay low here until we figure out a better plan."

The alpha bowed low and then hurried back to the motel room. He was happy to see that Lizbeth was still awake. She turned to him immediately and her eyes widened. "Where did you get that?" She held out shaky hands and took the book from Mingi.

"Colonel Gregson had it..."

The three pack members all gathered around Lizbeth as she opened the book. "It's... It's Primera's..." She gasped, running her fingers over the pages.

"Do you think there could be something in there that can help us?" Yunho asked, leaning closer to her and placing a hand on her back.

"I don't know, I've never seen this one before. It's going to take time for me to decipher it." She gave Mingi an apologetic look.

He just shook his head. "It's ok... If we can find some way to get us into the fortress with the least amount of lives lost, it'll be worth it... But please, do your best to hurry." He didn't like the thought of leaving Seonghwa and the other's in there for longer than they had to, but right now it didn't feel like they had a choice.

"I will." Lizbeth bent over the book and started to read through it. "If I could get pen and paper I can organize my thoughts."

"I'll go get her some." Yeosang jumped up and ran from the room.

Mingi sighed again and sat down on the other bed. He had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that things weren't going to be easy for them. Closing his eyes, he sent out a prayer for the others to stay strong.

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Hongjoong groaned as he tried to stretch. He was immediately restricted. Opening his eyes, he realized he was bound to a chair in a dark room.

His head fell back and he hissed as the collar burned him, but he was having a hard time holding it up. It felt so heavy...

So he closed his eyes and tried to stay calm, hoping that would ease the pain. But it wouldn't go away. Especially when he started thinking about how he was separated from Yeosang again... At least they got him this time and not his mate.

But what did they plan on doing with him and the others? Would they try to control them like they did with Mingi?

If they tried to he knew he'd do everything he could to resist.

A few hours passed. Hongjoong slept fitfully, but he snapped awake when a key could be heard turning in the lock. Silas walked in, followed by a couple of other alphas. They untied him from the chair, but quickly tied his hands behind his back again and led him out of the door.

At one point Silas stepped down a different hall without a word. Hongjoong was pushed forward. He recognized the mail hall from his first time here and saw a man sitting in the throne there. He guessed that was Mingi's father.

Standing behind him was another alpha reading a small book. He leaned over and whispered something to other and they both smiled.

Then he heard a muffled protest and he turned to see Jongho being lead out by three other alphas. San was right behind him and he was bound tighter than either of them. It also looked like he had two collars around his neck.

All three of them were forced to kneel in front of the alpha in the throne. He smirked down at them. "So this is the pack Mingi has chosen over his own father. I must admit, I'm impressed. I'm going to give you a choice. Join me willingly and serve the greater cause, or face the consequences." He looked at each of them in turn. "What do you say?"

San immediately started pulling against his bonds and screaming into his gag. Hongjoong turned to look at him and could have sworn he saw a flash of red in his eyes. He looked at Jongho, who was breathing hard as he watched the other alpha.

"Make him stop."

A cloth was pressed to San's nose and he passed out immediately.

"I figured that would be his answer. So he now he will suffer for it. What about you two?" The alpha turned to them, his eyes flashing red. "Well?"

Hongjoong stared back, not wanting to back down. Then he shook his head. He caught Jongho doing the same thing out of the corner of his eye.

"So be it. Take them to their stations. You know what to do."

Jongho growled and turned to look at him. Hongjoong knew he was telling him not to fight them and to stay calm. He nodded and tried to tell him to be safe.

He was pulled down a side hallway where several more alphas were waiting, all dressed in their military uniforms. Hongjoong felt his heart start to race as he looked at them. What was going on?

"Ah, Hongjoong, it's nice to see you again." He turned to see Lance walking over to him. "Mingi told me so much about you." He smirked and gripped Hongjoong's chin. "I see you refused to join. Fine by me. Now you'll just get to be used as bait." He laughed and walked away.

Bait? What was he talking about?

Then the alphas bowed and Hongjoong felt a presence behind him. He knew it was Mingi's father. He walked slowly to stand in front of the smaller alpha and addressed his men. "Alright, this is it. I know they are coming for us. We will station our forces deep within the trees to draw them out. Percival from Primera has rigged traps all along the main road. You have been given the maps of their locations so make sure you don't set them off. They are all none lethal, but they may all be needed. We have traps set up at each entrance, and I have sent scouts out who should be returning soon to report on their position."

And as if it was planned, a small beta ran in. "Sir!" He bowed low. "We have a problem."

"What is it?"

"There is a large gathering of Hunters to the south of us. And... I think your son is working with them."

"WHAT?"

Hongjoong flinched at the power of his voice. But he couldn't believe it either... Mingi wouldn't team up with their other enemy, would he? But then again... That could be genius. They had to of come up with some kind of deal. He knew he would put his faith in his friend, trusting him to do the right thing.

"Move up the plan. We should try to draw them out before they have a chance to get organize." Then he spun around and rounded on Hongjoong. "You. When you are outside the walls," Hongjoong felt like his very soul was shaking as the alpha spoke. The alphas behind him had to hold him up once his knees gave out. "You will not shift. You will call to your pack and tell them to come help you. You will tell them to come immediately and alone. You will tell them you are dying."

Hongjoong let out a muffled whimper as he felt the seep into every fiber of his being.

"And that last part will be true." The alpha chuckled as he pulled out a knife and shoved it into Hongjoong's side.

He screamed into the gag, then whimpered as he was dragged from the room and out the side entrance. His entire body trembled from the pain, but also from the command that had been to him.

The alphas took him out of the side gate and the collar was removed before he was shoved to the ground. He could feel the blood seeping from the wound and he took a ragged breath.

Yeosang? Mingi? Can you hear me?

Oh my god, Hongjoong! Yeosang's voice came back to him. He could feel his mate sobbing through the link. Baby where are you? What happened?

M-My love... I n-need you... Hongjoong whimpered, wanted desperately to fight against the command, but he couldn't... I need y-you... P-Please hurry...

Hongjoong, what's wrong? Mingi asked.

I'm dying...

NO! Yeosang cried out.

Y-Yunho? Now Jongho's voice now joined the conversation.

I'm here, oh I'm here. Where are you? Please, what is going on? Again Hongjoong could sense the beta's tears.

This must have been what he meant by both entrances... They had done the same thing to Jongho.

We n-need you th-three... Jongho said. He sounded weaker than Hongjoong.

Where are you? Mingi asked. What the hell happened?

We need you to hurry... Hongjoong said.

We don't have much time left... Jongho added.

Are the others with you?  Mingi said softly.

Hongjoong groaned, unable to say what he wanted to.

Hongjoong. Where are they?

I... I...

It's ok, we are coming. Yeosang said. Stay strong. We are coming.

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Yeosang ran to the front door but Mingi beat him to it. "What the hell?" He asked, spinning around to face the alpha.

"This has to be the trap that Lizbeth was talking about. Think about it Yeosang. How could they both suddenly contact us like this?"

"But you heard them!" Yunho jumped up and came over too. "You can hear and feel their pain!"

"I know, but us running there blindly is exactly what my father wants!"

"Mingi please... I can't lose him!" Yeosang said, tears welling up in his eyes. He could feel his mate's pain and every single instinct was telling him to run to Hongjoong.

The alpha nodded and tried to pull Yeosang to him, but he backed away. "I know it's hard, Yeosang, but we need to try and think with a clear head."

"If we do that we could lose them!" Yunho roared, stepping closer to the alpha, his eyes a bright blue. "I am going!"

"NO YOU ARE NOT!" Mingi towered over both betas and they fell to their knees. He reached out to him and they flinched away. "I'm sorry... I'm just trying to protect you..."

Just then, the door was pushed into Mingi and he jumped out of the way as Lizbeth walked in, clutching the book to her chest. She froze when she saw the scene in front of her. "What happened?"

"Hongjoong and Jongho contacted us... They said they need us and that they are dying. Is this the trap you foresaw?" Mingi asked as he shut the door and stood in front of it.

Lizbeth closed her eyes, then nodded. "Yes. It's a trap to draw you there. But they have both been seriously wounded... Jongho, I think... I think he is worse..."

Yunho sobbed and tried to get up off the ground, but Mingi's order kept him pinned there.

"But." Lizbeth knelt in front of the older beta and smiled at him. "I found a way to help."