Seonghwa scrunched his nose with displeasure once the door opened and Wooseok rushed inside to embrace Jongho again. The omega was way too touchy for his liking, and it hurt him to feel Yunho's discomfort.

"How do you like the house? The trees here are even better than back home, so we've really perfected the design!" Wooseok asked. He stepped back, then ran his hands down Jongho's arms until their hands almost connected.

Thankfully, Jongho started talking and had turned away just before that happened. But both Seonghwa and Yeosang had noticed and exchanged a quick glance.

"It's amazing!" The alpha's smile widened and he held out his hand to Yunho. "I was just telling my mate that this is the kind of house I would have built for him as my courting gift." The pride in Jongho's eyes was unmistakable when Yunho moved to join him.

But so was the pain and hurt that flashed across Wooseok's face. "Y-Your... Your mate?"

"Oh! Now that we are all human, I can introduce you properly." Jongho took his time introducing everyone and explaining his connection to them. He saved Yunho for last, wrapping an arm around his waist to pull him closer. "And this is Yunho. My beta. He saved my life after the war and has saved my life many times since."

The alpha tilted his head back and laughed when he noticed how red Yunho's ears and neck were.

Seonghwa watched as Wooseok schooled his features while bowing to show them all a little respect. "It's nice to meet you. Thank you for taking such good care of my- of Jongho. Loosing him took a huge toll on our pack."

He's unmated... Yeosang's deep but quiet voice entered Seonghwa's mind through a private link.  At least from what I can tell.

Odd for an omega that's been in a pack for so long. Seonghwa narrowed his eyes. You don't think...

Just as the omega was about to reach out to Wooyoung as well to get his opinion, pain shot through his mating bond like a wall of white hot flames. It came so fast and so hard that he didn't even get the chance to scream.

Gunner was at his side instantly, catching him when his knees gave out. "Mama? What's wrong?"

His pack moved closer too, all looking at him with concern as he slapped a hand over his mating mark. He whimpered and shook his head rapidly.

Mingi was hurting... There was so much fear and defeat rushing through their bond...

It was starting to overwhelm the omega. His eyes overflowed with tears, stinging and burning, just like his mark.

"Hwa? Breathe for me." Jongho was kneeling in front of him now. The alpha cupped his cheeks so they could look at each other, and action he had learned from Hongjoong. "What's happening?"

"M-M-Mingi." He sobbed. "Something's..." The words got caught in his throat. The pain was growing, but it wasn't physical. To Seonghwa, it felt more like emotional pain.

Like... Like Mingi regretted either what was happening to him or what he was doing.

"Seonghwa, I need you to take a deep breath with me." Jongho urged gently. "Please. You can do it."

The omega focused on the worried brown eyes in front of him, using them to ground himself so he could do as his alpha requested.

Once he was able to calm down a little, his opened his arms and Wooyoung was there in an instant, nuzzling into his neck and sending soothing emotions through the pack link.

Being connected with his fellow omega helped even more, and soon Seonghwa was able to speak clearly again. "Something's happened to Mingi..."

"You can still feel him though, right?" Yeosang asked, his own hand drifting up to brush over Hongjoong's mark.

"Yes. You?"

Both Yeosang and Wooyoung nodded, although they both whined a little.

"I haven't sensed anything... bad..." Wooyoung said softly. "Just worry and confusion mostly."

"There was one point where they were really scared." Yeosang continued, closing his eyes and hugging Rhodey when his son came to sit next to him. "But that was before we left."

Jongho pursed his lips and looked around the room. "What about you, Lorelai?"

Lizbeth and Stephan turned to look at the other omega, who was leaning into her sister. "I've felt the same... mostly confusion and fear, sometimes a spark of anger."

"What's going on?" Wooseok asked, his eyes flicked between Jongho and everyone else. "I know you said you were looking for pack members?"

"Yes, several of our pack members were taken and we are trying to find them." Jongho stood and faced his old pack mate. "Is there someone here I can speak with? Your Head Alpha?"

"Minhyung is the closest we have. Our last Head Alpha died several years ago when a sickness took most of the pack. We haven't had anyone want to step into the role since, so all the alphas share the responsibility, but Minhyung is the oldest and usually the one we go to."

A wave of shock passed through the pack at the mention of the sickness. All of them had a collective thought, wondering if it was the same disease that had hit them.

Jongho shuffled in place, then looked first at Stephan, followed by Gunner, before speaking again, "Can you take me to him?"

"Of course." Wooseok smiled at his friend and walked to the door.

"Stay here and rest." The alpha said to his pack. "I'll see what they know and then we can come up with a plan."

Yunho immediately whined and moved closer to his mate. "I'm going with you."

For a moment, Seonghwa thought Jongho was going to argue, but he nodded and took his beta's hand before following Wooseok out of the cabin.

"I don't like him." Wooyoung whispered as soon as the door closed. His forehead furrowed with concern and he glanced at where the other omega had been standing.

"Me neither." Chan sniffed the air. "His scent turned sour when Uncle Jongho mentioned that Uncle Yunho is his mate." He added.

The young alpha was as perceptive as ever. Seonghwa had noticed the same thing.

"Let's not be hasty." Yeosang sighed. "As much as I don't like it either, Jongho never showed any signs of distress or being uncomfortable."

"So?" Wooyoung turned to the beta, shifting slightly in Seonghwa's arms. "I'm not going to relax as long as we are here! I don't trust anyone outside our family." He glanced at the twins and smiled sadly. "We've had too many close calls."

Silence fell over the room as the giant void of the unknown continued to swirl around them.

Seonghwa let Wooyoung go so he could sit with the twins and Chan. Then he turned to Gunner and cupped his cheek. "Thank you, Sweetheart."

"Are you alright?" His son asked, eyes still filled with worry.

"I will be."

"Once we find Dad."

Seonghwa hummed as an answer. The pain had faded to self loathing now. He would give anything to give his mate some kind of reassurance, or even just a sign that things would be ok.

He kept his fingers on his mating mark, needing to feel something of his mate, while his pack settled in to wait for Jongho's return. 

.

.

.

.

"Wow." Minhyung said. "That's... I'm so sorry." He glanced at the other alphas in his pack, who all had similar looks of pity and sadness.

"Have you seen or heard anything?" Jongho tried not to sound desperate, but recounting everything his pack had been through recently had his wolf churning with worry.

He missed Hongjoong so much... His alpha always knew what to do in these situations.

"No... not recently." Minhyung answered. "We are pretty isolated here, which is what we wanted. After the war, and then that horrible sickness, we've really tried to limit our interactions with anyone."

Jongho and Yunho both sighed with disappointment. They still had no idea how to find their family, and the more time that passed, the more danger they could be in.

"I'll ask around," Wooseok said gently, stepping forward to place a hand on Jongho's arm. "Not everyone here is from our original pack. Maybe they will know something."

"Thanks, Seokie, I appreciate it." Jongho tried not to let it show just how upset he was.

We will figure it out. Yunho said, leaning into his alpha. We don't need them.

Jongho looked up at his mate, sensing his unease. You don't know that. Maybe Seok-

Yunho's eyes flashed blue and the beta's chest rumbled with a low growl.

Before Jongho could say anything else, Minhyung started speaking again. "You're welcome to stay as long as you need to, as long as your pack helps with the hunting. There are unfortunately too many of you to support long term on our own... But the cabin is yours for as long as you need it."

"Thank you, that's very generous of you." Jongho bowed his head to all the alphas in the room. "I will talk with my pack and let you know our decision."

"We don't need one immediately. Please rest. We will bring you some food for tonight."

Jongho bowed one more time, then led Yunho from the main hall they had met the pack alphas in. They were still holding hands, but Yunho's was stiff and felt like he was trying to pull away.

The alpha waited until they were away from any other wolves before turning to face his mate. "What was that?"

"What was what?" Yunho mumbled, his eyes drifting to focus on something behind the younger.

"Yunho."

"What?" The beta's eyes turned blue again.

The sudden change made Jongho recoil a little in shock while his wolf grew upset at it's mate's distress. "Yunho, please talk to me. Are you really that uncomfortable being here?"

"What I'm uncomfortable with is some grimy omega putting his filthy hands all over my mate!" Yunho took a few steps back and balled his fists at his sides.

Jongho froze. A mixture of confusion and hurt slammed into him and he couldn't help but shake his head slightly. "Yun, what are- Wooseok is ju-"

"Don't say it." Yunho growled.

The alpha hesitated and looked to the side. "I'm sorry if I've given you the wrong impression. I was trying my best to show you everything and make sure I was connected to you. Wooseok has always been touchy, much like Wooyoung, so I never noticed... I fell back into old habits with my friend... I'm so sorry."

When the silence between them stretched for longer than just a few minutes, Jongho's shoulders fell in defeat. He'd sensed his mate's unease, that's why he made a point to show off the cabin and touch him in some way.

It was so rare for Yunho to act like this. Usually he was so happy and laid back, and he'd never had a problem with sharing Jongho with others before.

"I'm sorry, my love." The alpha whispered, desperate to make things better "What can I do?" He added with a whine.

Now Yunho's head was turned away. He looked like he was having a hard time choosing between scowling and pouting...

"Alright, I'll give you time..." Jongho lowered his gaze, rejection cutting deep in his heart. "I love you."

He turned around and started walking back to the cabin so he could talk to the others.

What's wrong? Wooyoung asked softly in private link. Yunho won't answer me, but I can tell you're both upset.

Have I been causing problems because of Wooseok?

It took the omega a moment to respond, his voice still gentle, I mean, it's strange... And I don't trust him one bit. I'll admit that I don't like seeing a strange omega touching you, but I'm also possessive and you're one of my alphas. Still... I also understand that you have a bond with this omega, who you thought you'd never see again. Is this what Yunho's upset about?

Yes... Jongho whined, even though he knew Wooyoung couldn't hear it.

Displeasure flowed through their link. Hold, please.

Woo? Jongho asked, but the omega didn't respond, so he kept walking slowly back to the cabin.

Less than a minute later, Yunho's fir scent grew stronger and his beta was lacing their fingers together.

Jongho looked up at him, fighting a smile when he noticed Yunho's lower lip jutting out and his very red ears.

His mate squeezed his hand, and Jongho knew that nothing needed to be said.

Hand in hand, they took their time, fully understanding that they were delaying the inevitable. But right now, all that mattered was that they were together.

And that's how Jongho wanted it to be. Always.