"Annabelle, if you don't take me now, I will find my own way." Mingi said, on the verge of pleading. "But it would be easier with you guiding me."

"I can't... Theo asked me to keep you here and keep you safe." The beta spoke softly. Her voice trembled, like she was struggling with something.

Something that made itself known when the contents of her stomach ended up on the ground. The awful smell made Mingi turn his head away and he cringes.

A few, strangled howls came from the fighting, ringing out above the growls and whines and snarls. But... it was starting to die don a little from what Mingi could tell, thanks to his sharp ears.

The only reason he was moderately calm was because he could still feel his connection to Seonghwa. That magical string binding them together have him enough hope to keep going.

And when Annabelle started to heave again, Mingi put his faith in his other senses, and walked toward the war continuing to rage in front of him.

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Yunho stumbled to the side, his vision blurring for a second. He'd just chased off a small, female alpha who he didn't have the energy to chase after.

He didn't want to admit it, but he was fading fast. There was no way to tell just how long they'd been fighting, although the sun dipping behind the peaks towering over them told him it had been a few hours at least...

To top it all off, a familiar tightness was slowly taking over his back.

Jongho seemed to sense that and hurried this side. Are you alright? He started herding his mate away from the others, his ears on a constant swivel.

I'm so tired... Yunho admitted, not even trying to stop what Jongho was doing.

Take a break. Find a place to hide. I can't risk you getting hurt. Jongho said gently.

But you need me. They need me. I just need a minute to catch my- Mid sentence, yunho paused and his head jerks up and to the left.

Just in time to see Theo charging toward the courtyard.

Theo!! Both parents shout out of instinct.

Exhaustion forgotten, they try to run after their son, panic and joy fueling their adrenaline.

Yunho bowed, tears already soaking into the fur around his eyes. But it wasn't answered, by anyone in their pack.

He wasn't going to let that stop him though. Yunho would do anything to get to his son, anything to protect him and save him.

His alpha felt the same, and together they pushed through the swear of wolves blocking their path.

They pushed to get to their precious Theo.

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Rhodey! Hongjoong yelled right before shoving his son out of the way when an alpha tried to get her jaws around his back leg.

He took the attack instead, yelping in pain when teeth sank into flesh. She tried to yank her head back, but Hongjoong was able to twist around and make her stumble. As soon as she let go, he lunged at her and forced her to the ground, grabbing her neck at the same time and squeezing until no more breath left her bod.

Dad! Rhodey was by his side in an instant, rubbing up against him and whining, with Yeosang close behind.

I'm alright. Hongjoong said, licking his mate's muzzle. I'm aright.

Joong, we can't keep this up much longer... Yeosang said, glancing around them.

I know. Let's try to gather everyone so we can get to Avayla and the girls.

Yeosang nods I confirmation and makes sure Rhodey was between himself and Hongjoong. After you. He meets his alpha's gaze once and does his best to keep his head held high.

Hongjoong pressed his nose to his family's necks once, then surged forward with his new goal burning the determination building within him.

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Wooyoung slid to a stop, looking around frantically for his son and mate. He had been separated from them some time ago and now he was waving a hard time trying to stay calm.

San! Sannie! The omega called, whimpering when an alpha starting running for him. He scampered out of the way, looking for a place to hide or at least protect himself.

I'm coming. Hang on. San answered, his voice tight with concentration.

But before he could get there, Chan flew past and slid underneath the alpha's neck. He tilted his head back to latch onto her throat and let his momentum yank her to the ground.

Wooyoung turned around with a whine and ran to his son, pounding on the female to keep her pinned so Chan could pull his head back, ripping her throat out with a spray of blood.

San appeared seconds later, panic clear in his eyes Are you both alright? I'm sorry I tried to get away. He lowered his head and started herding them away from the fighting.

Where is everyone? I haven't been able to find them or contact them... Wooyoung whined, shoving his head into San's neck.

His alpha leans into him, too. I don't know... there's too much going on, I don't think they can pay attention to the link.

That, and Avie is in the center of the courtyard. Chan said, his ears swiveling back and forth.

Wooyoung had seen that too. Yet there was no way to reach her.

A howl drew their attention and Wooyoung was shocked to see a familiar wolf running in their direction.

She was drastically underweight and her coat had lost its shine, but it was her!

Wooyoung shifted at the same time she did and opened his arms to welcome Serena, hugging her as tightly as he could. When he felt her shaking, he started to whisper gently in her ear. "You're alright. It's alright."

"I can't believe you're here!" The alpha sobbed, nails digging into Wooyoung's skin with how hard she was clinging to him.

"Are you ok?" San asked after shifting and cupping the back of her head. "What happened to you?"

"N-Nova had me locked up after asking too many questions. She told the others I was working somewhere else in the pack... At least that's what I heard her say she was going to do." Serena shook her head and tried to control her breathing. "How did you find us? How long have you been here?"

"Later." San squeezed her shoulder. "How did you escape?"

"Eunkwang. He's rallying everyone for a final attack to try and clear out Nova's alphas."

Wooyoung looked at San with concern. "Avayla and the girls..."

"It could be the distraction we need to get them and find the others." San frowned a little while glancing back at the battle.

While he thought, Serena looked around slowly. "Is..."

"No." Wooyoung answered softly, already knowing what she was going to ask. "But she tried. Stephan and Lizbeth too. Unfortunately they had to go back home."

Serena instantly straightened, her scent souring with worry. "What happened to them?"

Wooyoung offered a small smile to try and reassure her. He wasn't sure if he should wait or not, but he knew Serena would worry herself sick if she didn't get any answers. "Serena, the twins are pregnant."

The omega watched as his words soaked in. Then the tears came and she threw her arms around his neck.

It was a happy moment that he wished could have lasted longer, but Chan whined from where he was evening an eye on the fighting.

"Eunkwang must be close." Serena said. "We should go help."

"Are you sure you can?" Wooyoung watched as she backed away and struggled to shift. But she did, then nodded at him once.

He and San took their turns to shift, then the four of them turned to face their next step.

Serena glanced to the left, directing them to watch as a large group of wolves, led by Eunkwang and Peniel, started to slice through their divided pack.

It came as a large enough shock to everyone that they stopped attacking each other d either joined the growing group or moved to defend themselves.

Eunkwang's plan was working. He had gathered enough wolves to make a difference and the fighting, the killing was slowing to a halt.

So Wooyoung turned his attention to the courtyard, which was slowly being cut of by Eunkwang's forces he whined and lowering his head, not liking what he saw.

Avayla, still human, was standing against Nova and several alphas with the rest of the Elite, while Theo stood by her side in his wolf form.

Next to him, Serena growled, echoing his concern.

They needed help.

And Wooyoung was ready to charge forward...

Until Nova lunged, catching everyone by surprise, and closed her jaws around Theo's throat.

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He should have seen it coming. He should have. Theo knew it the second Nova's teeth pierced his skin...

But he'd been having such a hard time picking something or someone to focus on because he didn't want to miss anything. And because of that, he had missed the most important thing.

The beta did his best to get his feet underneath Nova's body so he could push her away. He had the advantage over her when it came to size, but not by much.

Plus, she was quick. And strong.

Nova was able to o twist himself around to avoid all of his attempts to attack her or even defend himself as they rolled together across the dirt and stone beneath them.

Theo!! Avayla's voice screamed in his mind.

He wanted to look at her, to go to her, but all of his attention had to remain on Nova.

Despite how weak she'd looked mere moments ago, her grip on his neck was iron tight. Blood soaked into his fur slowly, making it thick and matted.

Suddenly, the pressure was gone. Theo inhaled sharply before falling to the ground, forcing the air from his lungs, and he turned his head to see that Avayla had shifted and was trying to shred one of Nova's legs.

Theo whimpered and flailed his legs to work on getting himself upright. It took too many precious seconds... precious seconds that kept his mate in immediate danger.

Then two more wolves charged forward, one going for Avayla and one sprinting to intercept her if she tried to get away.

With a tremendous growl of determination, Theo rolled onto his feet. He stumbled for a second, but a body was there to help keep him from falling again.

One quick glance told him it was Yubin. The alpha nodded at him, concern flickering in her eyes, before she turned back to where her friends had formed a circle around Avayla and Nova. They had chased away the attacking wolves and now worked together to keep all others at bay.

Theo growled in anger when Avayla was shoved to the ground, and despite his dizziness, he surged forward.

With a mighty leap, he flew over Gahyeon and landed on Nova's back. His teeth tore into the back of her neck, right before they slammed into the stones of the courtyard. The impact forced Theo to release the alpha, but he was quick to roll over and get back on his feet.

Avayla had returned, nipping at Nova's legs to try and distract her.

Waves of movement teased the corner of Theo's vision and he couldn't help but look around to make sure there was no other danger.

What he saw made him a title grateful he couldn't hear what was happening...

A wall of wolves had formed around them. A few, actually. Siyeon and her friends made up the inner most ring, still handling those loyal to Nova who had slipped past the two-layered ring consisting of mostly male alphas and then the betas and omegas who had felt mistreated he thought he caught a glimpse of Minhyuk and Hyunsik to his left, but he couldn't waste any more time on distractions.

Theo focused in on Nova and jumped at her again, ramming her just before she closed her jaws around Avayla's retreating tail.

A snarl rumbled deep in his throat, foam dripping from his jowls.

He and Nova started to circle, pacing round and round.

Her upper lip curled in a sneer and Theo knew she would be taunting him if they were human.

But that was the nice thing about this form and his situation.

Nothing else around him mattered. Not the others fighting around him, not Siyeon and her friends, not even his family.

It was just him and Nova now.

Him and the alpha bitch who had ruined everything.

Theo, stand down. Avayla's voice was distant in his head. When he didn't answer her, she spoke again, Theo, stop!!

It was like a string snapped. Whatever small forced that had been keeping Theo and Nova at a perfect, never changing distance apart suddenly vanished, and they were hurdling at each other.

Tooth and claw sank into fur and flesh.

Awful, coppery blood filled his mouth, coating his tongue and throat.

His limbs became tangled with Nova and he poured every ounce of hatred and rage he felt toward the alpha into his attacks.

For his girls.

For Avayla.

For their freedom.

They rolled together, each one trying to gain the upper hand. He would get a good bite in, then she would toss him to the side. He would flip her onto her back, then she would go for his stomach.

But he could tell... with each attack Nova was getting weaker.

Theo reared up on his hind legs when he got an opening and forced Nova to the ground. Her jaws opened in a yelp that was silent to him and her eyes flicked to his.

They flickered a muted red, pupils wide...

Fear. Theo could practically smell it on her.

His vicious growl vibrated his entire body, his eyes glowing a brilliant sapphire, his teeth dripped with blood.

Any sane wolf would be scared too.

Oh how he wished he could tell her just how much he hated her, how much he wanted her to suffer for years and years.

But he would never get that pleasure.

Instead, he had to take the scene in front of him.

The alpha bitch tilting her head to the side, submitting to his domination.

With one final, triumphant roar, Theo sank his teeth into her throat. He clamped down as hard as he could, savoring the feeling of muscle tears and bone cracking, of the air and blood leaking from her body.

He readjusted, taking more of her neck into his mouth, ignoring the pathetic flailing of her front legs to try and dislodge him.

Then he yanked his head back as hard as he could...

Taking Nova's head with him.