If he was still in his wolf form, Yunho knew his hackles would be standing on edge and his entire body would be trembling with a vicious growl. Part of him wished he had shifted again, but he was trying to be on his best behavior...

Although he could tell Jongho desperately wanted to shift as well. His eyes were bright red and locked on the omega in front of them while he held his arms behind him to keep Wooyoung pressed against his back.

The crowd around them shuffled in place nervously, yet no one made an effort to leave. Instead, more just kept coming to watch the new encounter.

"Leave. Now." Jongho growled, his lip curling into a terrifying snarl.

"Please." Lionel held up his hands in surrender and took a step back. "Please let me explain."

"No! You don't get to explain!"

Everyone paused and looked down at where Chan was standing next to Jongho, his own eyes flickering between red and his natural brown and gold flecked eyes.

Wooyoung was quick to duck under Jongho's arms and pull Chan into his chest. "It's alright. Calm down, Sweetie."

Chan looked like he wanted to argue, but instead he stood up straighter and puffed out his chest a little, as if trying to be big like Jongho and create a wall between Wooyoung and Lionel.

A surge of pride came from their alpha as Jongho gave him a reassuring nod.

Before anyone else could speak, a gasp came from Lionel and all eyes turned back to him.

"Is... Is this him?" He asked, looking at Wooyoung with a mixture of awe and pain. "Sir..."

Wooyoung tensed, his hands tightening on Chan's shoulders. His scent reeked with anxiety and uncertainty.

An increasingly heavy and awkward silence fell over the area. Yunho knew that he wasn't sure what to do next. So far, Lionel wasn't giving off any signs that he was a threat. He was timid and cautious but also curious.

No one in his pack trusted it though. They all moved as one to gather around Wooyoung again.

Yunho stood directly behind him, wrapping an arm protectively around his chests, while Yeosang and Seonghwa stood on his other side.

The crowd started to grow a little restless, most shooting questioning glances at Wooyoung and his pack. They were the outsiders here...

When the murmurs started to grow louder, Wooyoung bit his lip and asked, "What are you doing here Lionel?" He shuddered when saying the name, although he kept his head up and his voice stayed strong.

Lionel's face softened with relief, and he bowed at his waist. "Thank you, Sir." He stood again and took a took breath. "I have been living with this pack for about... three years now? That sounds right I think, the days all blur together now. But after-" His voice cracked and he looked at his feet. "After you forced Ultima to disband, I gathered the remaining pack members and we tried to make it on our own. It wasn't meant to be... It's like we were cursed."

Wooyoung tilted his head ad his forehead creased a little.

Youngie, don't. Yunho said softly.

We can't trust him. Seonghwa agreed. He will do anything to try and manipulate you.

We should just walk away. Yeosang added. He doesn't deserve our time.

He deserves nothing. Jongho was trembling next to them.

They all started talking at once, each fighting to be heard while also trying to pull Wooyoung away from this situation.

That is until he surprised them by shouting, STOP! I can't think with all of you talking!!

Everyone shared a second of shock, but obeyed and stayed silent, which allowed Lionel's voice to come through again.

"No matter what we did, we kept losing pack members, and for the oddest reasons." The omega was saying. "One fell off a cliff, six died from lingering injuries from the battle, eleven died from illness. We just couldn't seem to catch a break, that is, until we split into smaller groups and broke off the pack bonds." Lionel's voice remained grave. He seemed unaffected by the fact that several dozen men and women were all staring at him, listening to his story. "The others managed to find their peace with it, choosing to go with those they were closest with, no more than six staying together, while I... I didn't quite belong anywhere."

"Why not?" Wooyoung asked. Both he and Chan were watching the omega without blinking, all of their senses tuned in to everything he said and did.

Lionel's shoulders fell and he slowly sank to his knees. "Most of the pack didn't know... We fed them the same lie we told you. And... I was too ashamed to tell them the truth as to why you left us. Because of that, I was also unable to comfort them. I... I'm a coward... I couldn't tell them the truth, so I made sure everyone was settled and doing alright before... before the last group left me and I was alone."

Yunho bit the inside of his lip and scowled at the omega. The last thing he wanted to do was fall trap to some pity party and risk him stealing Wooyoung away again.

You don't really believe this, do you? He asked Jongho in a private link. I don't like this.

Me neither. Jongho's nose crinkled in disgust. What are the chances of us running into him here of all places?

"I don't know how long I was on my own for," Lionel continued, cutting off their conversation, "And I honestly don't know how I survived. I fed myself by scavenging the scraps of other predators and hiding when I needed to. I came across this pack and was invited to stay once they learned I was on my own. It was then that I accepted Ultima was truly gone forever."

A wave of guilt burst from Wooyoung. He started to tremble against Yunho's chest, making the beta tighten his grip on his friend.

The others all moved a little closer too.

Except for Chan.

The young alpha actually took a step away from Wooyoung and moved closer to Lionel. His nostrils flared, scenting the air, and getting a grasp on what was going on.

Lionel watched him with watery eyes that slowly widened the longer he stared at the young alpha. "You-" He brought one hand to his chest and slowly reached out with his other. "You're grown into such a handsome young man. And your eyes..."

Seeing that Chan had inherited Wooyoung's eyes broke the seal. Lionel bent forward and cried into the ground, openly sobbing, and forcing out apology after apology.

By now most of the spectators started leaving, wearing either looks of disinterest or being uncomfortable. They drifted off one by one until all that was left was their little pack and Lionel.

Wooyoung was the next to move, walking up to stand next to his son. The two of them shared a glance, held hands, then Wooyoung kneeled in front of the omega.

A low growl came from Jongho, but it was quickly quieted by his shock when Wooyoung placed a hand on Lionel's shoulder.

"I forgive you." Wooyoung whispered.

.

.

.

.

San clutched at his chest when pain and confusion flowed through his link with Wooyoung. He'd give anything to leave this place and run to him. No matter how long it took, San wouldn't stop...

But he couldn't. Especially with what Eunkwang had just said.

"What?" Hongjoong said, twice. He and San drifted closer together, both ready for anything because this was the last thing they expected.

"I know this is hard to understand of believe." Eunkwang pressed his lips together and sighed through is nose. "I will always call this place my home, but we have never forced others to stay with us."

Minhyuk nodded in agreement. "Like I was telling you, we don't agree with how Nova likes to run things sometimes. She can be a little extreme."

"Oh, kidnapping is considered just a little extreme?" Avayla stepped forward, clutching Kendra to her chest and rocking her back and forth.

Eunkwang twisted his lips to the side. "It's... complicated. Please, sit. We will do our best to explain." He looked at his mate and they both shook their heads a little in silent conversation.

At first, San wanted to be defiant and stay where he was, but he could feel his weary legs trembling beneath him and he could tell Hongjoong was also about ready to collapse. They made their way to one of the long couches where San sat on Hongjoong's left and Avayla on his right while Theo and Maria sat on the floor in front of them.

They seemed awfully calm given the circumstances, and why had they been so at ease with Siyeon?

The unanswered question flowed between San and Hongjoong, amplified by their unease.

Do you think we can trust them? San asked, watching the couple in front of them without blinking.

I don't know if we can afford not to at this point. Let's hear what they have to say, and we can go from there. Hongjoong kept his voice even. He was in Head Alpha mode, and it made San feel a little better. Knowing his alpha was on high alert and soaking everything made it easier for San to support him however he could while easing his own fears.

Especially with his concern for his mate.

What has happening to Wooyoung right now?

It was so hard for San to contain the whine his wolf begged for him to release.

"Before we begin, I want you to know that we didn't know anyone else from your pack was here." Minhyuk said as he took a seat across from them. "Moments before you arrived, Peniel and I were ordered to look after you and put you to work. Any questions were not allowed, and the chain had to stay on at all times." His eyes drifted over to Avayla and her family. "If I had known you knew each other, I would have tried to do something sooner."

"So you knew Avayla was here this entire time?" San sat up a little straighter, a low growl vibrating his chest.

"Yes. New female alpha additions are not uncommon." Eunkwang narrowed his eyes in warning, though his voice stayed calm and understanding. "Nova considers this place a sanctuary for female alpha's since they are the least common member of our race. She has always done what she can to protect them, shelter them, educate them, and give them be best life she can. And in return, they defend and protect the pack."

"Having so many alphas in charge will only lead to problems." Hongjoong started to say, but the other alpha held up a hand.

"We know of this Alpha Pack you speak of and I can promise you, we've never been that way. While everyone here might not be treated as full equals, no one is disrespected to the level they harmed those betas and omegas."

Hongjoong started to tremble, and San knew he was thinking of what they'd done to Yeosang. He placed a hand on Hongjoong's leg and squeezed, trying to give him strength to keep a level head.

"And yet Nova is ok with kidnapping entire families to feed her superiority complex?" Avayla asked, her displeasure coming through now as well. She didn't give the others a chance to speak before she continued into a rant of her own, one that twisted San's stomach into knots.

"I don't care if I'm 'special' since I carried my pups and not Theo." Both Minhyuk and Eunkwang gasped but she barreled right over them. "They threated my family and endangered my daughters by taking us! And now they want us to stay here where it's safe? How is it safe for my family if things are going to be this way? Are they going to ask me to start taking others too? Will they keep me here if I try to leave? And why are my uncles being held prisoner if this pack is so amazing?"

For a long moment, the room sat in silence. All four alphas in the room were struggling with their emotions and the air reeked. Avayla was the closest to snapping now, which make Theo twist around so he could rub both her legs to try and calm her down.

San, however, never looked away from the couple across from them. Confusion was the first emotion he could read, but there was also a hint of curiosity and fear. "You truly didn't know any of this was going on?"

"No." Minhyuk answered first. "You're the first female alpha I've heard of that has successfully carried her own pups."

Avayla huffed and rolled her eyes. "I don't see how that's possible. It's not like it was hard! Sure, submitting to Theo was a challenge, but-"

"But nothing." Eunkwang interrupted. "That shows you have incredible restraint as an alpha. We don't give in to the other ranks easily because of how strong our instincts are. That must be what Nova sees in you. You've been able to do what so many female alphas here want."

"That still doesn't explain why they took us." Hongjoong relaxed a little and sat back into the couch. He crossed his arms and tapped his fingers rapidly. "Unless Nova thinks she can use us against Avayla? To get her to stay?"

"I could see that." Minhyuk nodded. He looked up at his alpha and ground his teeth together. "I don't like this."

"None of us do. How do you plan on helping us get home?"

Eunkwang didn't answer right away. His eyes flicked between everyone in the room. Then he started to pace. "This new information complicates things. If it were still just the two of you, we could have snuck you out during the next new moon since it would be so dark. But this is too much. I don't like how Nova is handling things. She's... She's up to something. And I think it would be too risky to try and move you until we know what. I have a feeling it would be too much of a challenge to try and get to Avayla, especially with the Elite so close by..."

Avayla shifted in place, unease filtering into the air now. "The Elite?" She asked hesitantly.

Minhyuk offered her a kind smile before speaking. "The three with you today. There are four others, all making up Nova's Elite. They are next in command under her and the one's she trusts above the rest of us. They are usually the ones to bring new female alphas here, although you're the first ones I know of that were actually taken. Everyone else has come on their own free will."

"I wasn't the only one. They took Serena too, another family member of ours, although she mated into the pack."

Both Minhyuk and Eunkwang whined at the news.

"So, we are still stuck here then." Hongjoong said. It wasn't a question.

"For the moment. I have a few others I trust absolutely. Let me talk to them and we will gather some information." Eunkwang walked forward to stand in front of Hongjoong and held out his hand. "But I swear, I will help you get out of here. If we work together, I'm sure we can do it."

What do you think? Hongjoong turned his head to San, ignoring the hand extended to him.

Do we have a choice? They seemed genuinely shocked by what Avayla told them. But I think we need to look for a way out on our own too.

Agreed. Hongjoong then turned to look at Avayla. "Are you ok with this?"

She glanced at her mate and daughter, then nodded a couple of times, though she seemed conflicted.

Hongjoong still accepted that answer and finally took Eunkwang's hand. The other alpha gave a grim smile.

Then the door opened behind them, and they all looked to see Peniel and another beta looking at Eunkwang with wide eyes. "We have a problem."