Seonghwa felt his chest tighten when he didn't get an answer right away from his alpha. The pain and hurt on Hongjoong's face didn't help things either.

"Where is he? Where is he?!" The omega begged, falling forward to curl in on himself.

He didn't know what to think, what to feel... But he knew something had happened to his alpha. Something that was still keeping them apart.

He was the only one who hadn't been reunited with his mate. The agony that created within him made the omega want to scream.

"Hwa, I-" Hongjoong started to say.

Joong, I think we have a problem. San said through the pack link, capturing all of their attention.

What is it? Hongjoong asked, his eyes still on the hurting omega in front of him.

The fighting is stopping. All of the alphas are going somewhere. A few are dragging wounded or prisoners.

Sure enough, when Seonghwa looked out the open door, only a few wolves were still tangled up together.

Where are they going? Jongho asked, frowning slightly. And... What has even been going on here? What is this war? What side are we on?

Hongjoong sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. It's a long story that we don't have time for. Right now all you need to know is that most female alphas are the ones we will fight, but only if they attack us first.

We have friends here too. I hope they got out... San adds, concern coming from the alpha.

Eunkwang is wise. He will protect the others. Hongjoong said softly. But for now, I think we need to investigate what's happening.

What do you want to do? Yunho stands, then helps the others get on their feet as well.

For a moment, they all had to wait patiently for Hongjoong to decide. The alpha seemed conflicted, like he wasn't sure what he truly wanted.

So Seonghwa spoke up first. I want to find Mingi. And I will do it with or without your heIp.

I want to find him too. But we need to be careful. There is so much you don't know. Hongjoong said, holding out a hand for the omega to take.

"Then tell me! Tell me what happened!" Seonghwa roared, dropping from the link and batting Hongjoong's hand away.

Gunner stepped up behind him, grabbing both of his shoulders to show his support. His eyes flashed red, giving away that he was upset too.

Surprisingly, Hongjoong started to tremble... It was rare for their head alpha to show any kind of weakness like this... Even the pain that had flashed in his eyes from Seonghwa's rejection caught them by surprise.

But that only fueled the fear growing inside Seonghwa.

Hongjoong, more are coming. We need to do something soon. San said hesitantly. They seem anxious.

Jongho stepped forward, eyes flicking between the two eldest memebers of their pack. We can't stand here and continue to fight. Maybe Mingi is at this gathering.

Panic instantly shot through the link and Hongjoong paled. We need to go. Now. He said, then ran from the cabin.

Seonghwa roared with continued frustration, but joined the others as the followed their alpha.

Joong, what's going on? Yeosang pleaded, sticking close to his mate.

Mingi is in danger. More than any of us. More than Avayla, mo-

Excuse me?! Seonghwa lunged forward to yank Hongjoong back by his shoulder. Did you just say that my daughter is here too?!

Hongjoong stiffened at the sudden outburst, but managed to regain control of himself before he snapped. Yes, by some miracle we are all here.

Before he could say anything else, a piercing howI came from the distance, followed by what could have been hundreds more. Something was happening... And with the knowledge that both his mate and his daughter were in danger, Seonghwa couldn't wait anymore.

The omega ran forward, leading the charge toward where San, Wooyoung, and Chan were waiting for them.

His heart was racing, sheer terror, unlike anything he'd ever felt before driving him forward.

If Hongjoong was this worried, this unwilling to tell him what happened, then they needed to find the rest of their pack before it was too late.

San directed them on where to go, taking them to a part of the forest that was secluded so they didn't have to worry about coming across any unfriendly female alphas.

But that was not an easy task.

More of them started to appear, along with a handful of male alphas and betas of both genders.

I don't understand... San whispered. Where do they keep coming from?

That's what I would like to know too. Hongjoong huffed. I wish we had a way to contact Eunkwang.

Seonghwa fought a snarl, becoming increasingly upset at the lack of answers they were getting. He could feel it coming from the others too, especially Yunho as his concern for Theo started to grow as well.

When they finally reunited with the other three, those still in human form stripped and shifted. San was given only a few seconds to greet everyone, especially enjoying reconnecting with Jongho and Yunho, before he quietly led them up a hill.

The pack gathered at the top, crawling forward on their stomachs to stay low to the ground.

Even with all the confusion, none of them expected to see what was waiting for them at the bottom.

Seonghwa, Jongho, and Yunho all rose a little, whimpering as they watched Maria get dragged forward by her wrists, Kendra in the other arm of the alpha. Her small cry of pain still reached them, even with how far away they were, and the only thing stopping them from charging forward was the sea of people in their way...

But they didn't stop Seonghwa from rounding on his head alpha, Yunho joining him this time, and snapping his jaws several times. What the fuck is happening, Hongjoong?

Explain. Now. Yunho snarled, his eyes flashing a vibrant blue.

Hongjoong lowered his head, conflict and confusion rolled off him in violent waves. From what I know, Avayla and her family was taken to add to the pack, something Siyeon genuinly believed in at the time. But what she didn't know was that her leader, the leader of this pack, had also taken an interest in Mingi.

Why? Gunner asked, leaning into his mother to try and calm him down.

She's calling him a True Alpha. Somehow she learned his history, his family, and... Hongjoong's ears fell back. She was hoping to use him to create more female alphas once she learned abou how strong Avayla is and what she has accomplished as an alpha.

Seonghwa froze as he tried to process what Hongjoong had said, You mean...

It's not my place to tell you everything, but Mingi has been in the worst situation out of us all. And Hwa... He is-

A soft howI cut the alpha off and the entire pack moved closer together, moving down the hill a little ways and prepared to defend themselves.

But then both San and Hongjoong perked up, the older shifting again and dressing before moving to stand in front of everyone.

An alpha stepped around a tree, blood on his hands, arms, and chest, yet he looked to be mostly unharmed. "Hongjoong, I'm so happy to see you. Are you alright?" Relief was woven into every word as he spoke, as well as on his pained yet friendly face.

"We are fine, but you look like you're hurt. What happened? What's been happening?" Hongjoong stepped forward, lifting his arms to reach for the other alpha, but hesitating and lowering the slowly after a few seconds. " Are the others...?"

"Safe. Peniel is with them. And Sungjae find his way back to us. Thank you for helping him." Eunkwang bowed his head once before continuing, "But that's why I'm here. I have news from Sungjae and what he's been doing... All of the babies have died..."

Hongjoong and San exchange a surprised look, while the others turned to them in confusion.

"Sungjae believes it has something to do with Mingi again. Something about his Pure Alpha DNA that makes him incompatible with the female alphas. Not a single baby survived, and most of the mothers have passed as well..." Eunkwang bowed his head, the pain of something like this affecting his pack warring with the unnatural and horrible way all the events had played out in his ever changing facial expressions.

"So that means-"

Eunkwang nodded. "Nova is dying."

"Then what is the gathering for?" Hongjoong motioned over his shoulder. "What is she pIanning?"

"I don't know, I haven't made it that far. I've been looking for you. But most of those I've been trying to convince to leave have ignored me or even left the clearing we've been meeting in to come back. Many of them still trust Nova. It's been... difficult trying to protect everyone..."

Seonghwa couldn't take it anymore. His anger had been growing and growing and growing the more the two alphas chatted.

Enough was enough.

The omega swiped at the forest floor, a furious snarl rumbling his chest. He looked directly at Hongjoong, eyes glowing a vibrant, raging gold.

I know, but we can't go charging it, not with so many wolves in our way. We need to play this smart, otherwise we could be putting them in even more danger, Hwa. Hongjoong kept his voice low and calm, even though he also tried to share that he understood Seonghwa's fear and anger, too.

We are wasting time! Yunho yells, stepping up to stand next to Seonghwa. This Nova bitch could already be preparing to kill our family!

And standing here arguing isn't going to help anything. Wooyoung whimpered, slowly moving to stand in front of Yunho. The beta towered over him, sapphire eyes glowing with rage, but Wooyoung stood firm. Please, we need to trust our alpha. Just like we always have.

Seonghwa growled at his fellow omega, tired of being told to wait, tired of being forced to be patient, tired of doing nothing.

He was about turn and leave when a loud chorus of booing came from the large gathering at the bottom of the hill.

They all turned in place, thn sprinted to the top so they couId see what was happening.

The number of wolves gathered had multiplied, all crammed in between buildings leading into a square.

Now that they had a chance to really look and observe, Seonghwa could see that eight poles had been placed in a curve in the courtyard Maria and Kendra were in, but some of the buildings blocked the bottom halves of the poles.

In the center stood a female alpha, the one Seonghwa guessed as called Nova. She was turning in a slow circle, looking around at those who still showed loyalty to her.

But they couldn't hear what she was saying.

Until Eunkwang started to speak next to them.

"Thank you for choosing the right side and sticking by me." He said, his voice monotonous yet still filled with pain at the same time. Deep frown lines creased his face. "Those fools who still stand against me shall be punished appropriately. I have always sacrificed everything for this pack, for all of you. And now, I even give my life."

Even from a distance the concerned uproar could be heard.

"Who's there?" Hongjoong whispered, his gaze fixed on the older alpha.

"Hyunsik... He's hiding with some of the other betas..." Eunkwang rasped. "He... Wait..." The alpha paused for a second, then started relaying Nova's words again. "I know this news is upsetting. But I always promised to tell you the truth. A plague has been brought into our home by the traitors you see before you now, a plague now eating my own body alive."

Seonghwa started to growl again. What is she- He started to say, but stopped when San gave him a horrified look.

The general feeling coming from both him and Hongjoong told Seonghwa that whatever Nova was talking about... it was serious.

"It breaks my heart to tell you that my trusted former Elite are the ones who brought it here." Eunkwang continued, his voice growing thicker and thicker with terror. "They will be sacrificed, along with the ones responsible for the plague, that way we can end it once and for all."

Cheers errupted from the pack below them, although there was still a little bit of uncertainty to them.

Uncertainty that started seeping into Seonghwa's very soul.

Before he could ask the question stuck in his throat, Hongjoong held up a hand, then asked it for him. "Eunkwang, who are they talking about."

The older alpha was bone white, his eyes wide and fixed on the pack, his pack, now chatting for an execution.

"Eunkwang." Hongjoong said again, his voice a little firmer. "Who is Nova referring to?"

Seonghwa knew the answer the second the alpha's eyes flicked to him. And it tore him apart inside.

Next to him, Gunner started whimpering repeatedly, his head whipping back and forth between the courtyard and Hongjoong. Mama...

All of them felt it.

All of them knew.

Avayla was one of the wolves about to be sacrificed.