Yunho glanced around nervously as he approached the nearest city. He hated being so tall because it made him stand out a little more. Maybe Jongho should have done this...

But he needed to have some time with Wooyoung. That was more important right now. The omega needed to try and open up and trust Jongho.

He found it odd that he didn't really feel any jealousy, knowing that his mate was alone with Wooyoung. Maybe it was because it was his friend, maybe it was because he had only known the alpha for a month, maybe he was just an accepting person. He didn't really know.

If anything, it made him happy that they could all be together as one pack.

He walked into town, doing his best to keep his head down and not make eye contact with anyone while strolling through the market. He understood why Jongho felt guilty about not having money. The thought of stealing from all these people who also needed to make a living didn't sit right with him.

But he had a family that needed his help, and he wouldn't let his alpha down.

He walked up to stands individually, working hard to distract the merchants while swiping things with his other hand and slipping them into the bag he brought. His best find was a couple of knives. Those would come in handy both for defense and skinning animals.

As he made his way out of town, he felt a chill run down his spine and spun around. Something was wrong and his wolf was going crazy. Scenting the air, he picked up on alphas, but he couldn't pin point where they were.

His heart started racing. He thought about calling for Jongho, but he was so far away. It would be better if he could try to slip out quietly. A large crowd of humans passed in front of him and he pushed his way through, crouching low to match their height.

The alpha smell was still really strong. And there was more than one.

Yunho weaved through the city. He managed to snatch some kind of fancy perfume and sprayed it on himself hoping it would cover his wolf smell.

As he was forced deeper and deeper into the city, he knew he had to get out of there somehow, so when they passed by an alleyway he ducked down it and ran. Thankful for his long legs, he made good time to the outskirt of town.

But the alpha smell was still there. He kept running, dodging around trees. He just couldn't pinpoint where the alphas were.

Jongho! He called out. He was so scared.

What's wrong?

Alphas.

Where.

The town to the east. I smell them everywhere but I can't find them. Yunho said, looking over his shoulder only to stumble on a root. He yelped as he slid across the ground.

What happened?

Yunho groaned. He could feel Jongho running to him. I tripped. I'm ok.

Stay where you are.

He didn't need to be told twice. Yunho crawled to a tree so he could have something at his back.

The alpha smell was stronger. He felt his wolf cowering inside him and he had to work to fight back a few sobs.

Then he saw them.

Three large, grey wolves came into his view. They snarled at him and watched him with hungry eyes. Yunho pressed himself into the tree and fumbled in his back, pulling out one of the knives.

The alpha in the middle let out a deep, gut wrenching sound that could only be a laugh. But it sounded horrifying. Yunho whimpered as he held the knife up in his shaking hands.

Stepping forward, the alpha straightened out and leered. He let out a deep, rumbling snarl and Yunho was forced to cower on the ground after dropping the knife.

The beta whimpered as he bowed in submission. Please hurry... He felt his alpha growl and run faster.

Then he heard laughing in front of him. At least one of the wolves had shifted. "Well, well, well. What do we have here? A beta, all alone?" A large hand grabbed his jaw and forced him to look up.

A grey wolf was a fitting color for the man. It matched both his eyes and hair. But he was a big man, someone Yunho didn't want to cross. It made him worry for Jongho when he got here.

"Oh? He's marked too. How foolish of your alpha to let you go out on your own." He licked his lips and leaned closer. "How about you leave him and come with us? We could show you a good time." His lips were almost touching Yunho's now.

"P-Please..." The beta whimpered. He tried to pull his head away but the alpha squeezed harder. He cried out and closed his eyes.

The alpha chuckled, then closed the distance and slammed his lips into Yunho's. His wolf snarled inside him and Yunho tried to push the alpha away, but the other two growled at him, causing both him and his wolf to cower in fear. Tears started to run down his cheeks.

Then another snarl joined the group and the alpha was wrenched away from Yunho. He looked up to see Jongho's beautiful tan and black wolf digging his teeth into the other alpha's shoulder.

He cried out in pain and the other two alpha's moved to help.

Jongho was outnumbered.

He yelped in pain, releasing the one alpha, as another on bit his back leg.

Yunho brought a hand to his mouth as he tried to control his crying. He had to do something, but he was so scared he couldn't move.

Jongho cried out again and swiped at one wolf, snapping his head to the side and sending him into a tree. Then he spun around and nipped at the other wolf. His eyes were a deep, blood red as he protected his beta.

The third alpha shifted and lunged at Jongho. They rolled on the ground, sounds of snapping and snarling seemed to echo through the trees.

While Jongho was distracted, one alpha stayed to help while the other one turned his attention to Yunho. His lips curled up, bearing his teeth. Yunho shrank, feeling so powerless.

The alpha got closer and closer...

Then a flurry of orange and white slammed into the alpha they rolled away.

"No!" Yunho shouted, snapping out of his fear as the small omega sprang to his feet and ran away from the alpha. Yunho could have sworn he saw a playful look on the omega's face as he ran away, but he probably imagined it.

Jongho had paused when his beta called out, needing to make sure he was ok, but that gave the alpha he was fighting with the opportunity to pin him to the ground and snap at his neck.

Hearing his alpha cry out in pain set Yunho on fire. He shifted, not caring that his clothes were ripped apart, and charged at both alpha.

The one closest to him try to use his dominance to stop him, but Yunho was so focused on his alpha, it fell on deaf ears. He tackled the alpha to the ground and connected his paw to his face, drawing blood. Then he turned to the biggest one and snarled, feeling his hackles rising.

The alpha pushed Jongho's face into the dirt and turned to face Yunho, towering over him.

The beta felt himself wanting to cower, but he shook his head and fought through it. The alpha glared at him and loosened the pressure on Jongho, allowing him to throw the alpha off him.

They both advanced on him, heads low. The alpha eyed them and huffed.

A second alpha moved behind him, but they were backing away. They were retreating.

Then a high pitched yelp came from behind them.

GO. Jongho said, not moving from his position.

Yunho spun around and ran at full speed. He saw Wooyoung laying on the ground, his back leg had a large gash in it and blood dripped from the alpha's mouth.

Rage filled the beta as he charged forward. His teeth sank into flesh as he latched onto the alpha's face and muzzle. Even though the other was bigger, Yunho managed to plant his feet in the ground and swing him around, tearing out a chunk of flesh as the wolf flew out of his mouth.

The alpha screamed in pain and quickly ran away.

Yunho spat out the flesh and blood in his mouth and hurried over to Wooyoung.

Are you ok?

Y-Yes... The omega tried to stand, but he immediately fell to the ground.

Dammit Wooyoung, what are you doing here? Yunho said. Stay here, I'll be right back.

The omega whined at being scolded but didn't move. I just wanted to help...

Yunho huffed as he went in search of his torn clothes. He brought the scraps back and shifted. "Shift."

Wooyoung seemed to struggle with it, but he managed to shift and immediately cried out in pain as everything settled in his human body. The gash ran from his right hip down to the knee.

Working quickly, Yunho did his best to secure and bind the wound with his clothes. It wasn't deep, thankfully, but it was still going to be painful.

After a few minutes, Jongho came running over to them. His human body was battered and bruised, but for the most part he looked ok. He immediately hugged Yunho and started kissing every inch of his face that he could and finished by nuzzling his mark. "Are you ok? Please tell me they didn't do anything to you."

"I'm fine. I'm fine." Yunho said. He started trembling again from remembering how intimidating the alphas were. "Who were they?"

"I don't know, but I have a feeling they are stragglers from the war." Jongho closed his eyes, savoring his mate's touch. Then he pulled away and turned to Wooyoung. "I told you to stay at the cave." He didn't sound overly upset, probably because Wooyoung had helped by causing a distraction.

The omega whimpered and looked at the ground.

Jongho reached out a hand to caress his cheek. His chest swelled as he said, "But I'm very proud of you. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come to help. Thank you."

Wooyoung smiled up at him and reached out. Jongho immediately pulled the omega into his arms and lifted him off the ground. The smaller hissed as his leg shifted, but he nuzzled into Jongho's neck and closed his eyes.

Seeing as he had no clothes, Yunho shifted and walked next to them after grabbing the pack he had discarded.

The walk home was quiet. They were more focused on making sure that there were no other enemies nearby.

They worked together to get Wooyoung into the cave. After Yunho dried himself off, he grabbed a spare set of clothes and then pulled out the few medical supplies they had and got to work on Wooyoung while Jongho got to work on the deer. They would all need to eat to keep their strength up, especially the omega.

Wooyoung did his best to stay quiet as Yunho stitched up his leg. When he was done, he hugged the omega. "Thank you." He whispered.

The younger smiled and hugged him back. "It's what we are supposed to do for each other, right? I couldn't let anything happen to either of you. I don't know what I would do if I lost my pack again."

"You'll never lose us." Yunho said, looking up to see Jongho smiling at them. "Because you're right, this is how being in a pack is supposed to be."

Wooyoung hugged him tighter as Yunho placed gentle kisses into his hair.