As they followed Minhyung through the village to where the Seer stayed, Yunho had a hard time keeping himself together.

Seeing his alpha stand up for him and their pack to that... that slimy omega... made him want to pounce on Jongho right there and be claimed all over again.

It was the perfect proclamation of his love and Yunho couldn't be prouder to call Jongho his.

His alpha.

He was practically glowing with how much he loved his mate.

They held hands the entire time, which showed him that Jongho didn't want to be parted from him either.

Yeosang and Gunner stayed close behind them. They were tense and ready to act, just in case something happened.

There was no questioning that things were not in the best place. Minhyung asking them to leave was not unreasonable, but it was certainly unfortunate.

Hopefully the Seer could get them some kind of information.

When they arrived at the cabin, Minhyung stepped aside and motioned for them to go in. "Be warned, he's very old and his Sight isn't as reliable anymore."

"Is that so?" Yunho asked, narrowing his eyes at the alpha.

Minhyung clenched his jaw but didn't say anything. They all knew there was no point in arguing anymore.

"Thank you," Jongho nodded before leading the way inside.

They were instantly blasted with the powerful scent of burning cinnamon. It was... horrible, if Yunho was being honest, burning his senses and bringing tears to his eyes.

"Wow." Yeosang hissed.

"What is that?" Gunner took a couple of steps into the room while holding his nose.

Jongho growled a low warning, although he looked like he was barely keeping himself together.

The group of four scanned the room they were in. It looked to be a modest living room with an eclectic collection of random things that didn't match at all. Some of it looked like it hadn't even touched in ages if the layer of dust on them said anything.

Just when Yunho was about to ask if they should leave, shuffling came from another room.

Both alphas moved to stand in front of the betas, eyes trained on the new beta making his way from the darkness.

He was an older beta, the oldest any of them had ever met. His back was horribly bent, making him appear even smaller than he already was, and his tanned skin looked like aged leather. Only a few white wisps of hair clung to his balding head and they matched something else about the man.

His eyes. They were milky white.

The beta was blind.

As he drew closer, the burnt cinnamon smell grew stronger.

Yunho didn't bother hiding his displeasure when he realized that was the beta's scent.

Is this what happened with old age? Or was he sick?

"I thought you may stop by eventually." The man's voice was weary and broken, yet he managed a mostly toothless smile in their direction. "Although I believe you've created quite a scene."

Jongho bristled instantly. "Because of something you supposedly saw!"

The Seer sighed and hobbled over to his couch, something he must have known where to find by memory, because he did it without any issues. "I only relayed what my gift showed. Wooseok has always been kind to me."

"Oh, but's it's ok to tear my relationship and pack apart?"

"To be honest, my Sight only provided me with a name, a rank, and a scent." The beta's head dropped in shame. "So I had no idea you were already mated. A long time ago, I could have asked for more details, but now I don't have control..."

He sounded so ashamed... heartbroken... lost...

"So then why did you see it?" Jongho's tone was a little softer now, and Yunho couldn't blame him. There was clear remorse in the man's voice.

"Wooseok was talking about you. I believe hearing your name is what triggered it, that seems to be the most common thing right now. Or maybe..." He hesitated for a second, then sighed, "For him, maybe it was how much emotion he gave off when talking about you."

Jongho pressed his lips together in an attempt to keep his anger under control.

Yunho detected it immediately and squeezed his hand. As much as he wanted to be angry at the old man too, he just... couldn't.

If anything, Jongho proving his love and both of them renewing their bond had awoken Yunho's wolf to it's true nature. Now all he wanted to do was support his alpha, the way he was meant to do.

And right now that meant being the calm one. "So this has happened before with other names? Have you predicted Soulmates?"

"Yes... Wolves used to come from far and wide to ask me for my help." The old man admitted. "Not as many recently, but I think that's because word has spread that my gifts are leaving me."

Yeosang exhaled sharply and stepped forward with his arms crossed over his chest. "Prove it then. Prove to us that you have this, this, this 'Sight'." He held up a hand when Jongho tried to get him to stop, which he should have known wouldn't have worked, not with the determined look on Yeosang's face. "All you need is a name, right?"

The older beta's face creased with a mixture of thought and concern. "Yes, I think, but it's not that simple. I don't have control, so I can't promise it'll work."

"Yet it magically works at a time to benefit your pack and tear mine apart." Yeosang growled, making the Seer flinch.

"Sangie..." Yunho said softly, earning him a death glare from his pack mate.

The old man was silent for a few, long seconds. His scent spiked again, filling the room with his pungent smell. "Tell me the name."

"Hongjoong." Yeosang said without hesitation.

Silence reigned after that. It was nearly as thick and heavy as the burnt cinnamon threatening to suffocate them.

Or maybe that was the overwhelming heat trapped inside the small cabin that Yunho was starting to notice.

Either way, he felt like hew as going to jump out of his skin as they waited.

And waited.

And waited...

Minutes felt like hours, but none of them could tear their eyes away from the Seer as he sat perfectly still on his couch.

That is, until he uttered one word.

"Soulmate."

Yeosang let out a small whimper and opened his mouth to talk, but the man kept going. "He's safe, at the moment, but... I sense that he is in a dangerous place."

"Is he alone?" Jongho asked. He let go of Yunho's hand to pull Yeosang into a comforting hug, rubbing his back with a gentle touch.

"I... I can't tell."

"Can we give you other names?"

The beta bit his lip and nodded. "I will try, but one at a time, please."

"San." Jongho said quickly, staring at the Seer with building hope.

Once more, the man was quiet for several minutes, although this time felt a little shorter. "He... He is with the other. Safe for now."

"Can you see where they are?" Yunho asked. His heart started to race, just like he knew the others were too.

Sweat started to accumulate on the Seers forehead as he scrunched his eyes. "I... It's clearer with two, but..."

"There's more." Jongho spoke even faster, the urgency of their situation growing. "Maybe they are all together."

"T-Try."

"Avayla, Theo, Maria, and Kendra. They are a family."

A groan of pain came from the Seer and he doubled over. He was panting heavily now, his wrinkled hands trembling violently.

"Jongho," Yunho hissed. "It's too much..." The stench was getting stronger...

Before anyone else could speak, the front door burst open and Minhyung rushed in. "What's going on? What did you do?!" He knelt in front of the Seer and tried to hold his hands, but the beta pulled them back with a snap.

"Mountains. I see... mountains. Like ours... but different." The old man's voice was even more haggard now, thick yet broken from the strain. "They are together. All... All together. Avayla is... a target? Maybe? Along with another... woman?"

"Serena!" Yunho and Jongho said at the same time.

"Yes... Yes..." the beta was slowly growing paler, even as he ignored the alpha crouched before him begging him to stop. "They... They are all safe right now. The pack they are at... it doesn't seem hostile. Except for one."

Minhyung started to shake his head. "Please, stop! You're going to kill yourself!"

It was starting to look like the alpha was right. Sweat now drenched his shirt, working deeper and deeper into the fabric. Not to mention the cinnamon smell was giving way to something that just smelled like the burnt bits of food left at the bottom of a grill that kept getting burned over and over...

"They have allies... There are some there who will help..."

"Is-" Jongho hesitated, his anxiety spiking. "Is Mingi there too? Where are they?"

Now a cry of pain came from the Seer. He slipped from the couch and fell into Minhyung's arms. "I... I can't..." He started to cough, as if choking on is words.

"It's alright," Yunho held out a hand and started to stop forward. A harsh growl from Minhyung had him pausing, but he still said, "You don't need to keep trying. Please, you're hurting you-"

"N-No. I n-need..." The Seer gasped. "Important... This is important... He... is with them..." He gasped, over and over, as if it was impossible for him to breathe. "He... Mingi... He is in terrible pain!"

Suddenly the Seer wailed, as if he could feel whatever pain Mingi was in and was now making it known to the world.

"No!" Gunner sobbed. He whirled around to look at Jongho with wide, pleading eyes.

Nothing needed to be said before the older alpha nodded. "Please, can you tell us where to go?"

It was a horrible thing to do, Yunho knew it the second the Seer started to gasp for air again.

They were watching him die...

Using his power to help them was killing him.

"Don't answer that!" Minhyung begged. He threw his body over the beta as of that would protect him.

Yet the old man shifted so he could sit up again.

The small pack of four all gasped and the drastic change happening before them.

His eyes were sinking into head, giving him a haunted look that would give children nightmares. Deep crevices were now carved into his skin from where his wrinkles seemed to accelerate and get even worse. And his skin itself was starting to... flake... as if he were getting ready to disintegrate before their eyes.

Everyone was too stunned to speak. Shock, despair, confusion, fear. It all filled the air, mixing with the scent of putrid, burning flesh.

"Head... Southwest... Over..." The Seer clutched at his chest and gave another cry of pain. "Over... mountains... But use... caution. Most... innocent. One... N... V... No... V..."

Then, just as suddenly as everything seemed to escalate, it was over with a final, ragged breath.

The Seer slumped into Minhyung's waiting arms, eyes completely lifeless and still. His awful scent permeated the air, settling in like an invisible fog that was determined to bring as much misery as possible.

The man had given his life to help them...

Yunho bowed his head and placed a hand over his heart. If he'd known... If there was any other way...

Remorse weighed heavily on him and the others. No one dared move, too afraid to make the situation worse than it already was.

"Get out." Minhyung said after what felt like an eternity.

Jongho tightened his grip on Yeosang. "I'm so-"

"Get out!! I want all of you out now!! Leave my pack!! You've done nothing but bring heartache and pain!"

When he noticed his alpha going to argue, Yunho just placed a hand on his arm to stop him and motioned for the door.

There were too many emotions happening right now, he knew it was best to just leave.

At least now they had an idea of where to go.

A small gathering of other wolves awaited them outside the cabin, including Wooseok. He was staring at the cabin with wide eyes that tried, and failed, to stay away from Jongho.

Yunho couldn't help glaring at him, giving him a silent warning to stay away from his mate as they marched passed everyone.

Even though they'd helped hunt, there would be no grand send off, no safe wishes. It was going to be awkward and silent... and potentially dangerous.

Everyone, I don't have time for questions. Grab everything we can carry. Now. We are leaving. Jongho sent through their link while starting to walk faster.

What's going on? Seonghwa asked while sending through that he was still obeying the order.

Too much to explain now. Get everyone ready.

Jongho, I don't know if the twins can travel... Seonghwa's voice was hesitant, full of unspoken things.

When Jongho didn't say anything right away, Yunho took over for him. They all started to walk even faster. What's wrong?

I... Seonghwa started to speak, then stopped. For a couple of minutes.

It sparked the four of them to run, attracting even more attention to themselves than they probably needed, but word was also going to travel fast that they had been kicked out.

Sorry, Wooyoung just found out but he... I'm worried about him... but the twins are pregnant. Seonghwa's concerns flowed openly through the pack link, along with mild excitement from others.

They are going to have to. Jongho signed. We can't stay here anymore.

Where are we going to go?

A low, rumbling growl came from Jongho. It was full of anger and anticipation, but there was a bit of pride and hope in there too.

The sound made Yunho's wolf churn as adrenaline shot through his entire body right before his alpha said, To bring our family home.