The second the scent of lavender grew stronger, Yeosang turned to his bedroom door and waited for Wooyoung to poke his head in.

"Hey." The omega whispered. He stayed hidden behind the door, tapping on it while looking at the floor.

"You feel it too?" Yeosang asked, opening his arms to welcome the younger into as tight of a hug as he could manage.

All he got as an answer was a quick nod, but he didn't mind.

They could both sense that something was wrong through their Soulmate bonds.

Their mates were scared... so scared...

Yeosang had almost bolted out the door the second he felt it, but he knew that would have been a mistake. There would be so many obstacles, the main one being that he had no idea where to begin looking. His back needed him here too.

It killed him to stay, but Hongjoong would want him to.

Although, the second he felt some kind of pain, he was running as fast as he could.

"I didn't tell him..." Wooyoung whimpered. He forced his nose against Yeosang's neck and tried to take a deep breath.

"Tell him what?" the beta lifted a hand to gently stroke the back of his packmate's head.

"That I love him... I was angry with him when he was leaving, and I d-didn't-"

"Shhhh." Yeosang whispered the moment he heard Wooyoung's voice crack. He tried to hug even harder, wanting to do everything he could to comfort the younger. "He knows. "He always knows. That's the amazing thing about your bond."

The omega sniffled and nodded.

Again, Yeosang understood. He knew Wooyoung was going through all the 'what-ifs', each and every possible scenario of what could happen. It was something he himself had been doing the second Hongjoong passed out of mind link range.

"Mama?" Chan's voice came from the door. He was standing in the hall with Rhodey, both of them looking concerned.

Wooyoung immediately turn to puss his son to him. "I'm ok."

The young alpha was quick to wrap his arms around Wooyoung's hips. He turned his head to the side to rest his cheek against his mom's stomach before saying, "Dad is strong. He and Uncle Hongjoong will be fine."

Yeosang beamed at the boy while hugging his own. "You're absolutely right, Chan. Now, why don't we go find something to eat and maybe look for a movie to watch?"

"Yeah!" Both boys said at the same time before running from the room.

Wooyoung took Yeosang's hand as they walked down the hall together. He seemed to have calmed down a little, but the beta could still sense his stress.

It was obvious that Chan did too, because he kept coming to give his mother a hug in between setting up things in the living room.

Thankfully the house was peaceful and quiet for the evening. The kids who didn't live in the main house anymore had all gone home, and the rest of the pack was sleeping.

So the four of them curled up together, bundled in fluffy blankets and pillows that Wooyoung insisted on adding to make a little next. He hummed happily when he curled into Yeosang's side.

Even with the nagging feeling that something was wrong, the beta had to admit that this was pretty perfect. He could still feel Hongjoong's fear, but it was enough to distract him.

That is, until a howl pierced the quest of the night a few hours later.

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.

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A low groan vibrated the back of San's throat as he slowly worked his way back into consciousness.

He hurt. A lot.

Every miniscule movement sent a new wave of flames through each of his muscles. Even the through of opening his eyes seemed like too much.

What had happened...?

His mind was so fuzzy right now, and every time his head throbbed, a burst of red broke the never-ending black provided by his eyelids.

San groaned again and he rolled into his back. While the action itself was perfectly normal, it felt... wrong.

That's when he realized he was human.

The alpha's eyes snapped open and he sat up. Which ended up being a huge mistake. He whimpered and pressed the heels of his hands against his temples.

"San!"

He recognized the voice as Hongjoong immediately, but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. "J...ng..."

"I'm here. You're ok. Just take your time." His alpha's voice calmed him a little, allowing him the time to open his eyes and take in his surroundings.

He blinked slowly. His eyes couldn't seem to adjust to the bright light, but on the other side of it he could make out some kind of shape.

"Just take a deep breath." Hongjoong urged. His voice was rough, as if he'd been yelling or crying.

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure. I don't remember anything after the rockslide. But..." the clinking of metal joined the sound of Hongjoong shuffling in place, "we aren't in the canyon anymore."

San's head snapped down to where he now realized a large, metal cuff was locked around his left ankle and was attached to what looked to be a cavern wall. Now that he could look around, they appeared to be in some kind of underground gave with the only source of light coming through a grate in the ceiling.

His heartbeat started to rise when the realization set in. "Joong..."

"I know." His alpha said. "I've been awake for some time now, there's been no sign of any movement anywhere. But someone brought us here and dressed us after we somehow managed to shift back."

San didn't miss the angry tone to the older's voice. He also knew Hongjoong was blaming himself for getting them into this situation, and for trusting another stranger. There was no way they could blame Siyeon for this. For all they knew, she has been buried in the canyon and someone else had captured them. "You couldn't have known."

"But still..." Hongjoong leaned against the wall and tilted his head back. "Why does this keep happening to us? What am I doing wrong as an alpha?"

"You've done nothing wrong." San tried to move closer to his alpha, but he chain restricted him to his little area. "You've done nothing wrong." He stressed while also trying to express his feelings through their link. "You're the best alpha I've ever met. Look at all the good you've done for our family, all the times you've lifted us up and held us together. Look at the two amazing boys you've raised, and the community you've started to build with the other packs back home."

Tears started to form in Hongjoong's eyes. "Thank you, San."

"You don't need to thank me. I'm always here to support you, you know that."

"I do."

"And it's not your fault that we are here."

Hongjoong sighed, then let out an almost maniacal laugh. "However our fate is decided, it sure has a twisted mind."

The younger alpha huffed a laugh. "You've got that right. Why can't they just leave us alone and let us live in peace?"

It was a question neither of them had an answer to, but they knew that they would make it through this, just like they always did.

Because if there was one thing San did know, it was that no matter how cruel fate could be to them, somehow it was still always on their side and would help them obtain happiness once again.

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Yunho was out the back door faster than anyone else.

He would recognize his son's howl anywhere, especially when it was one of pain.

After shifting midair, shredding his clothes in the process and leaving them behind to flutter to the ground, he flew through the trees faster than he had ever run before.

Yunho, slow down! Jongho called, but there was fear in his voice too.

The beta was just about to answer when he noticed a flash of white to his left.

It was Seonghwa. Eyes bright gold and muzzle curled into a vicious snarl. Don't slow down.

Wasn't planning on it. Yunho huffed, but he did slow his pace just a touch so that he and the omega could stay together.

They zigzagged through the trees with a combination of grace and urgency, rustling branches and kicking up dirt behind them.

Even with their speed, it still took them over twenty minutes to reach their children's house. It looked fine on the outside, if they ignored the obvious stench of several unfamiliar scents infiltrating the air.

Mingi was the next to arrive, growling a quick order for them to stay put before he rammed his head against the front door and rushed inside.

Yunho's ears fell back and he let out several low whines, his anxiety rising with each one.

Something horrible had happened here. Something had happened to their family.

Soon Jongho was there as well, his head on a constant swivel as he looked between the house and the surrounding area.

What is going on? What happened? Wooyoung asked. His stress flowed freely through their link and he let slip in his emotions that he was ready to come join them.

Stay there. Jongho ordered, mimicking Mingi's command from moments ago. Don't leave the kids.

Wooyoung was displeased, but he didn't argue.

A minute later, Seonghwa took a few steps forward when Mingi stepped out of the small house. His entire body was trembling. Well?

Mingi's ears fell back and he looked around the small clearing Avayla and Theo had chosen to call home. There's signs of a struggle... but I don't recognize any of the scents. They are all gone.

NO! Yunho's head whipped around and looked at his mate. His heart instantly started to crack from the weight of his own pain combined with the distraught looked that entered his alpha's eyes.

Seonghwa, however, let out a long whine, tilting his head back and letting out all his emotion.

Mingi rushed to his side, rubbing against him while also whimpering.

I knew we shouldn't have trusted her... Seonghwa's voice held hints of anger and loss, straining even through their link.

Now Hwa... Mingi started to say.

Don't 'now Hwa' me! The omega snapped. He even nipped at Mingi's neck to force him to back up. Who else could have done this?

But she left with Hongjoong and San... Wooyoung said. They could all feel that he was trying to send calming emotions through their link, but they were mixed with confusion and worry.

Don't be so naïve just because you could get all 'buddy-buddy' over Lizbeth.

The younger omega's whimper was strong enough that it came through their link, although it didn't seem to phase Seonghwa, who was now pacing back and forth.

Seonghwa. Don't take it out on Wooyoung. Jongho growled. The hackles on the back of his neck were starting to rise and he lowered his head.

Our children are GONE. And that bitch is the one who organized this! You saw how she was getting obsessive over Ava. I don't know how she did it, but THIS IS ALL HER FAULT.

Anger flowed off the omega in waves. Every single strand of his fur was standing on end, making it look like he was growing in size.

We are going to figure this out. Jongho said softly. Yunho and I will follow the scent and see where it leads. Why don't you go back to the house and call Tina and Marylou to see if they-

I will not call them! Seonghwa roared. They took Ava, Theo, Maria, and EVEN THE BABY!

He's right. Yunho moved to stand next to the older. He could feel his wolf surging forward, bringing the brilliant sapphire blue to his eyes. We can't wait for someone to come. We­-

Another howl drew their attention. All four wolves turned to the west, bodies frozen and ears forward, while the howl continued.

Then it was joined by two more.

Panic flowed through the pack link.

Wooyoung had just run from the pack house.

Jongho was the first to react, bolting into the trees, followed closely by Yunho.

Fear for his son was joined by concern for his best friend. Especially now that the younger omega had run off, on his own, into the forest. He couldn't tell if  Yeosang had gone too, but now there was just one more thing to add to the heaping pile of stress their pack was feeling.

Something had happened to the twins.