Time...

Time was his worst enemy during the times he wasn't being used by 'his new alpha'.

Especially since the news was announced.

Pregnant...

He was pregnant with that bastards child.

Seonghwa curled in on himself, unable to stop the tears from flowing, as they had been for several hours now.

And time was just making it worse. It wrapped it's cruel hands around his mind and heart, squeezing every ounce of hope out of him. With fingers like knives, it sliced apart every happy thing he could think of, instead filling head head with visions of pain and horror.

No matter how hard he tried, Seonghwa could only think about one thing.

Which meant time was winning...

After one particularly cruel encounter with Lance, Seonghwa sat in bed massaging his bruising arms and legs.

The chain around his ankle allowed him some mobility, but it was still too hard for him to really stretch his limbs and try to keep his body fit.

But still he tried, especially with the thought of needing to protect his pup.

And with that thought came the awful ideas of what Mingi would do when he found out...

Seonghwa ran his fingers over the mark Mingi had left on him and felt a chill go down his spine. He missed his alpha so much. It made his heart ache thinking about being separated from him again.

Especially now...

The hours dragged on.

He had no concept of time, but at one point, Seonghwa started to wonder when his next meal would be delivered. They were usually pretty good with making sure he was well fed. Lance didn't want anything happening to his pup after all.

This was starting to get worrisome though.

The first thought that came to Seonghwa's mind was him wondering if he did something wrong during Lance's last visit.

He replayed it in his head, cringing while doing so, and tried to remember if he had done anything to upset the alpha, but nothing came to mind.

Suddenly, the door was smashed open.

Seonghwa yelped and dove behind the bed, cowering in the corner and covering his stomach to protect it from whoever was intruding on his room.

It was his first and only instinct.

Protect his pup at all costs.

But then something else filled his senses. Something he had been longing for for however long he had been imprisoned here.

Mint.

Seonghwa's head flew up in time to see Mingi running over to him.

His alpha collapsed in front of him and pulled him to his arms. "Hwa, baby, you're ok." He sobbed, rubbing one hand down he back of Seonghwa's head.

"M-M-M-Min-n-n-n..." Seonghwa spluttered, clinging to Mingi like his life depended on it. He could smell blood, and knew some of it belonged to his alpha, but there were other scents as well.

"Shh, it's ok. You're safe now."

"M-M-M..."

"It's ok." Mingi tilted his head to nuzzle his nose against his omega's mark, making him cry harder. "I'm here. Everything is going to be ok."

They sat there for a long moment before someone else walked in. "I found the keys, if you had only waited like five for minutes." Jongho chuckled.

Seonghwa gave him a watery smile over Mingi's shoulder and reached out for his other alpha. Jongho took his hand immediately and they stood there for a few seconds before Jongho started messing with the keys to unlock the chain around his ankle, and then the collar at his neck.

"Are the others here? What happened?" Seonghwa asked, wiping his eyes with the back of his hands.

"Yeah, they are here, just making sure that everything is ok. Let's go home, baby." Mingi cupped the older's face and started to lean in for a kiss, but Seonghwa placed a hand on his chest.

"I... I need to tell you something." Seonghwa whispered, looking down in shame. "Lance... He..."

Mingi sat back and tilted his head to the side. "What did he do to you?"

Seonghwa swallowed and felt the color drain from his face. "I'm... I... Mingi, I'm..." He placed a hand over his stomach to try and convey the words that kept getting caught in his his throat.

It took a moment, but then Mingi realized what he was saying and his mouth fell open. Then he started to turn red. "Please tell me it's not true." His voice was deeper and his eyes flickered between brown and red.

All Seonghwa could do was remain silent and cower under his alpha's stare.

Jongho stepped forward, "We won't know anything until we get back to Maria. Let's not jump to conclusions." He said, placing a hand on Mingi's shoulder.

The older alpha shoved Jongho's hand away and stood up, then stormed out of the room.

Seonghwa broke down into another wave of tears and buried his face in his hands. This had been his worst fear... There was no way Mingi was going to accept another alpha's baby...

"I- I'm sure he just needs some time." Jongho hurried forward and pulled the blanket from the bed  to cover Seonghwa. "It wasn't an easy battle. Lance taunted him a lot, so I think Mingi suspected it could be true." He said gently, rubbing the omega's shoulder.

Footsteps echoed down the hall and Wooyoung came running into the room wearing only pants, indicating he had just shifted. "Hwa!"

Jongho gave him an adoring smile and moved out of the way so the younger omega could move in to hug the older. He had several scratches on his arms and chest. "Y-Youngie, were you f-f-fighting?"

"You bet I was! I wasn't going to let anyone keep you away from us. Mingi called the Colonel and everything!" Wooyoung beamed and looked over his shoulder at where San was standing, also shirtless and covered in battle scars. "Come on, let's go home."

Seonghwa let Wooyoung and Jongho help him up from the ground and lead him through the house he had been imprisoned in. Apparently he had been locked up for almost two months now and had no idea.

His heart ached when he thought about how Avayla must be doing without him and he wanted nothing more than to be home with her again.

Mingi was standing by a few military trucks with his jaw set and arms crossed. Colonel Gregson was next to him talking to a few of his men, but he looked up when he saw movement and gave Seonghwa a look of relief. "I'm so happy to see you're ok."

Seonghwa started to answer, but was cut off when Mingi growled and stalked over to the other truck.

Jongho growled in response and glared at him.

"What was that about?" The Colonel straightened up and turned to looked between Seonghwa and Mingi, who was trying to listen to Yunho but was also obviously ignoring him.

Seonghwa closed his eyes once more and looked down, feeling ashamed of himself. His wolf churned within him, begging for its alpha's attention, and howling in pain when it felt the sting of rejection.

Silence followed the question, which the omega was grateful for. Someone else could explain... right now he just wanted to go home.

Wooyoung and Jongho helped him into the back of the truck, and his fellow omega cuddled into his side, providing a little comfort for him.

The only two not present were Mingi and Yunho when the truck started to move out. They must be riding in the other car.

Jongho's face would scrunch in concern occasionally, which meant Yunho was upset about something and sending it through their bond.

Thankfully, Seonghwa managed to get some sleep during the long drive, so he didn't have to think about Mingi's reaction until they got home.

He was woken up by Wooyoung gently shaking him, and even more so by the familiar squeal he heard from outside the truck.

Stumbling on his shaking legs, Seonghwa hurried to get outside.

Avayla was already in Mingi's arms and holding him tight. Theo was mimicking her, clinging to Yunho like he would never let go again and silent tears streamed down his face. Yeosang and Hongjoong hurried down the stairs and started to head in Seonghwa's direction, but paused when Avayla shouted, "MOMMA!!!!"

She squirmed her way out of Mingi's grip and flung her self at Seonghwa, tears renewing tenfold. "Oh, my precious baby." Seonghwa said, pulling her in close.

"Momma, Momma, Momma!" Avayla sobbed, fisting the blanket around him in her tiny hands. "Why did you leave me?"

"I'm sorry, my love. I'm so sorry." Seonghwa pressed his lips to the side of her head repeatedly.

"Momma's here now though."

Avayla continued to sniff and tremble in his arms while Seonghwa looked up to see both Jongho and Yunho hugging their son.

The sight broke Seonghwa's heart even more when he saw Mingi storm inside.

"Call Maria." San said, walking over to Yeosang. He kept his voice low and even, where Wooyoung was visibly shaking next to him glaring after Mingi.

"Why? Is everything..." Yeosang paused and he turned to Seonghwa. "No..."

Hongjoong hesitated for just a moment, then ran inside the house.

It was a few moments later that the shouting started.

"NO!" Mingi's voice roared from inside. "You can't make me!"

"Wanna bet?!" Hongjoong yelled back at him. "Sit your ass down, NOW!"

"NO!!"

"MINGI! You are being ridiculous right now!" Hongjoong's voice grew deeper as he forced more of his dominance out. It caused both Yunho and Wooyoung to fall to their knees and Theo buried his face in Jongho's neck.

"I'M being ridiculous?? Could you do it if you were in my place?"

Seonghwa felt the tears rolling down his cheek as his heart started to shatter more and more.

"Do I want to know what is going on right now?" Colonel Gregson asked, walking over to them.

"I'm pregnant..." Seonghwa said. Even he could hear how dead his voice was. "And it's not Mingi's."

Wooyoung immediately came to wrap his arms around the older omega, as well as Yeosang. Even Yunho crawled across the ground to place a hand on his knee. "It's going to be ok. We all still love you and support you." The beta said.

Seonghwa just held Avayla tighter and tried to hold back the tears coming forth. What Yunho said was sweet, and meant a lot to him, but all he really wanted was his alpha to look at him again.

He needed Mingi...

He couldn't do this without Mingi.

Next to them, Colonel Gregson crossed his arms and glared at the house where the two alphas were still arguing, but they must have moved elsewhere because no one could understand what they were saying anymore.

Maria arrived a short time later. By then everyone had managed to get Seonghwa inside the house and dressed in warm, comfortable clothing.

Besides Avayla, she was the most comforting thing that Seonghwa could see right now.

The kind beta hurried to him and sat on the couch while taking his hands. "Oh honey, I'm so glad to see you home and safe." Her natural healing energy started flowing into Seonghwa immediately and he sagged into the couch cushions.

"Maria." He whispered, closing his eyes.

"I said get away from me!" Mingi's voice came from the back yard now. Yunho and Hongjoong were both out trying to reason with him now.

Everyone looked at the back door accept for Seonghwa and Maria. "What happened?" She asked, patting his hand gently.

All Seonghwa could do was look at her with watery eyes. She leaned forward to pull him into a hug while placing another one of her hands on his stomach. Both Wooyoung and Yeosang had their hands on him as well, lending their support and comfort.

"MINGI!" Hongjoong roared from outside. "SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!"

The head alpha's dominance made everyone flinch, even Maria.

Rage and anger rolled through their link. "MINGI!!!"

A howl came from the forest. It was a heartbreaking sound that ripped the last of Seonghwa's soul from him.

His alpha... His alpha had left him.

Hongjoong stormed back into the house and slammed the glass door closed. He was grumbling and cursing under his breath while stomping down the hall.

Yeosang gave Seonghwa an apologetic smile before hurrying after his alpha to try and calm him down.

"When he comes back I'm going to give him a piece of my mind." Wooyoung said through gritted teeth.

But it was just words to Seonghwa. He had become numb to everything, even Maria's touch.

"Seonghwa. Seonghwa, honey, I need you to tell me what you want to do." Maria said, cupping his cheek.

"Sleep..."

Wooyoung jumped up immediately and he and San helped guide Seonghwa to his bedroom. It felt so good to lay down in his own bed again, although it smelled of Mingi and that didn't help the hallow feeling in is chest.

He didn't get out of bed the next day.

Or for the next week.

Maria had to force him to drink or eat something easily swallowed, and she only succeeded because she told him he needed to think of the baby.

The baby...

The pup growing in his stomach that didn't ask for any of this...

Everyone in the pack did their best to help him, though. Yeosang and Wooyoung spent a lot of time with him in his room just cuddling on the bed. It was comforting to have others around him. They gave him the strength he needed to get through each day.

That, and his precious Avayla. He could never leave her, even if it was hard for him to care about anything right now. She would come and snuggle with him several times a day.

Weeks started to pass and there was still no sign of Mingi.

He had gone full rogue, apparently.

Hongjoong and San took turns heading out to look for him, following his scent to try and see if they could bring him home, but he always managed to stay ahead of them.

But he couldn't avoid the Colonel.

Two weeks after he ran out on them, Colonel Gregson kicked open the front door, dragging Mingi in by the scruff of his neck, which was quite the feet for a mere human.

The others had convinced Seonghwa to come out of the room to stretch his legs, so he was standing in the living room with Avayla in his arms when it happened.

Mingi's claws dug into the hardwood floor, leaving marks behind as he snarled at the Colonel.

It was amazing that the Hunter wasn't dead yet.

Hongjoong and Jongho ran into he house behind them and slammed the front door shut. Then both of them started to pummel Mingi with their dominance.

The black wolf whimpered and cowered underneath them.

"Shift, Coward." Hongjoong demanded. Jongho growled viciously to back him up.

"Yeah!" Wooyoung said, hurrying out of the kitchen. "Shift so I can kick your ass myself!" San hurried to him and looped an arm around his stomach to hold him back.

Seonghwa covered his mouth at the sight, then moved his hand to the back of Avayla's head when she started crying.

The sound made Mingi freeze. His ears fell back and his body started to shake.

"SHIFT." Hongjoong ordered.

Slowly, the alpha shrunk into his human form, ending up on his knees with his back bent and head bowed.

"Explain yourself."

Mingi flinched, but didn't move to speak.

"Daddy..." Avayla whined. Theo appeared at Seonghwa's side and looked up at Avayla with a worried expression with Yunho close behind him.

"Leave us." Seonghwa said quietly.

"No! No way are we—" Wooyoung started, but San shushed him quickly and pulled him from the room.

Slowly, the others left, although the Colonel stayed leaning against the far wall. His presence didn't bother Seonghwa too much.

He set Avayla on the ground and she moved to the hallway where Theo was standing waiting for her, but her eyes stayed glued on her father.

Seconds ticked by without anything being said.

Finally, Seonghwa took a shaken breath. "Do I disgust you that much that you'd leave me?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "After all we've been through?"

Mingi didn't answer, but Seonghwa could feel the shame rolling off him through their link.

"Because if I do, I will walk out those doors right now and never look back and take Avayla with me." The omega's lip started to quiver and he wrapped his arms around himself. "B-Because I would if I c-could. I d-disgusted with myself. You don't think I knew what this-s would do to us? I half expected you to r-rip my s-s-stomach open! I've been violated in every w-way possible, but what y-you did hurt me m-more than anything else!" Seonghwa was yelling by the end of it. His voice kept cracking and his entire body shook. "I have d-done EVERYTHING for you! Do y-you think I chose this? That I wanted this? ANSWER ME!" He screamed, then fell to his knees. His sobs seemed to echo in the room as he fell forward to brace himself on his hands. "Wh-Why, Mingi... Why?"

His alpha stayed silent.

Seonghwa nodded and felt his thoughts grow fuzzy in his head. He didn't want to leave his mate. He would do anything for Mingi. Anything...

A drastic thought came to his mind and suddenly he was scrambling for the kitchen. His fingers wrapped around a knife and he turned around to look at Mingi, his eyes flashing gold.

A strangled cry came from the hallway and Yeosang moved to block the children's view, which caused Yunho to start pulling the doors own the hall.

But Seonghwa only had eyes for Mingi, who was now finally looking at him as he turned the knife to point toward his stomach. "Is this what you want?"

Mingi reached an arm out and started to open his mouth.

"Do you want to kill it?!" Seonghwa yelled. "Would that fix everything? Would that make you love me again?!" He lifted the knife up and away from his body, ready to bring it down as hard as his weak body would allow him.

Seonghwa woke with a start when the door to his room slammed open.

Lance sneered as he closed it and locked it with a resounding click.  "Hello gorgeous." His words were slurred. "I need to let off some steam. I hope you're ready to please your new alpha."