The next few days were... tense for Hongjoong's pack, if nothing else.

There was still a lot of catching up that needed to happen, questions to be asked, and healing to be done.

For everyone, including the pack that still surrounded them.

Eunkwang was doing a fine job organizing everything. He'd set up medical sites, food stocks, guards, and builders to make repairs on any damaged buildings.

There were a few times he stopped by to check in, bringing plenty of food and medicine with him.

Apparently, there were still a few female alphas loyal to Nova and her vision, but they had all been rounded up and imprisoned to await trial.

That was what brought the alpha by one day, along with his mate, to ask Hongjoong, San, Avayla, Theo, and Mingi if the wanted to participate at all.

There was a lot of debating, mostly from Seonghwa, who wanted all of them to suffer, but... the final word came from Mingi and his soft request to just be left alone.

Eunkwang had been very understanding, bowing as he left and letting them know they could ask for anything and he'd do his best.

The other visitors they had more consistently was the Elite.

Minji had led an official apology, with all of them on their knees, to try and gain forgiveness.

Because Avayla was so close to them now, that forgiveness was given, though not everyone gave acceptance.

Again Seonghwa, who glared at all seven alphas whenever they came over. He'd grown so bitter and angry...

Truly, the overall feeling was just the wish to move on.

A week after the fighting ended, Hongjoong gathered everyone in the clearing in front of the house, including Eunkwang and his close group, and the Elite.

"Thank you for coming." He said, bowing his head to both groups. "We've been through a lot together, and... I know you've been waiting for us to do something." The alpha paused and looked over his shoulder at his pack. "We've decided it's time for us to leave."

A few shocked gasps came from the Elite, and they all turned to look at Avayla.

"All of you?" Siyeon asked softly.

"You don't have to," Gahyeon added, her big eyes shining with tears.

Minji and Bora exchanged a sad look. "You can stay with us."

Seonghwa started to growl, but Hongjoong silenced him with a sharp wave of his hand. There was no reason for a fight to break out, not now.

Especially because this was something that had been discussed at great length with Avayla and Theo.

Many times.

They'd even come to Hongjoong one night, wanting the advise and wisdom of their head alpha.

With tears in her own eyes, Avayla walked over to her friends. "All of us." She answered, her voice cracking with grief.

The Elite all surrounded her, their wishes and pleas filling the clearing.

"Don't go."

"We will take care of you!"

"You're our friend."

"We love you..."

The last one made Avayla break down and soon all eight alphas were crying in each other's arms.

Even Maria went to join them, running straight to Yoohyeon and hugging her tightly.

"We would take care of them." Eunkwang said quietly after he approached Hongjoong. His face twisted with pain as he watched the exchange. "Like they are our own."

"I know." Hongjoong murmured without looking away from the mourning friends. "I know you would, but..." he turned to gaze at where Theo was standing next to Mingi, looking just as torn.

Eunkwang followed his movement and nodded in understanding. "You are a pack. It's hard to break those bonds. Especially one as strong as yours. We've never come close to something like that here."

"Yes, you have." Hongjoong nodded to the Elite. "They have it." Then he nodded to Minhyuk, Peniel, Hyunsik, Changsub, and Sungjae. "You have it. You chose your close bonds, just like I did."

He heard a sharp exhale of air and glanced at Eunkwang. The older alpha's eyes swam with pride.

"You're right." Eunkwang's voice was raspy and he swallowed to try and clear it. "You're right. And... for what it's worth... I wish you were staying, too."

Hearing that made Hongjoong's heart ache. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I understand why all of you wish to return home. I just think we could use someone like you here."

The compliment didn't really sit right with Hongjoong. He really wasn't that good of alpha when he thought about all the harm that had befallen his family over the course of their time together...

But then pride started to crush him wen his pack sent it through their link.

Pride... and oh so much love.

Hongjoong's eyes found his mate and endless amounts of words and emotions were exchanged between them.

"Which," Eunkwang continued, missing what had just happened, "is why I have a little parting gift for all of you."

Several pairs of eyes turned to the alpha and San stepped forward. "You didn't need to do anything."

"It's for us as much as it's for you, honestly." Peniel rubbed the back of his neck and gave a shy smile.

What is it? Theo asked, which Hongjoong relayed while Avayla and the other alphas collected themselves.

"Tell them." Minhyuk smiled, a happy twinkle entering his eyes.

"Well, I've been looking over our maps of the surrounding areas, and after meeting with Minji and the others to go over where they found you... I plan to send a team out to clear the canyon Siyeon took you through."

"Canyon?" Jongho shook his head in bewilderment. "What canyon?"

"Here." Eunkwang motioned to Changsub and the beta brought over a roll of paper, which he and Minhyuk held open so Eunkwang could point to different parts.

By now, Avayla had come to join them with Maria and her friends close behind. Theo had also crept a little closer, using his height to peer over everyone with Yunho.

Eunkwang started by pointing to the left side of the map. "This is us." He touched a circle labeled 'Carnal Pack'. Then he dragged his finger along a winding route. "This is Frozen Pass, the canyon that cuts through the mountains." He followed it almost to the right edge. "You live somewhere over here. We've never gone to fully map out the area since it's been claimed, but if we clear out Frozen Pass, we think it may only be a two or three day trip to visit each other."

"Really?!" Avayla, Siyeon, and Gahyeon exclaimed at the same time.

"Where the hell did we end up then??" Yeosang said at the same time.

Eunkwang gave a crooked smile. "I think you may have followed the mountains too far north, so you missed the canyon entirely."

"Figures." Yunho scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "We could have saved so much heartache if we had just found the damn thing."

Next to him, Jongho smiled softly and looped an arm around his beta's waist. Yunho's ears turned red and he made sure to look anywhere but at his mate.

But that was as far as the jokes went...

A low growl of anger came from Seonghwa.

Hongjoong glanced at the omega and frowned when he saw his friend trembling where he stood. "Alright, let's-"

"So what you're saying... is that we could have prevented all of this?!" Seonghwa was full on shaking now. Fire blazed in his ice blue eyes, though they darted between several targets, mainly focusing on Jongho.

The alpha's shoulders fell and he spoke first, taking the brunt of Seonghwa's fury. "I'm sorry, Hwa... We don't know what would have happened, but as the head alpha at the time, I-"

"No! You shouldn't have to apologize!" Wooyoung shook his head, leaving San's side to stand before Seonghwa. "I know you're upset, but we've all been here. Getting angry will solve nothing and only cause more-"

"Don't tell me what to do! You know nothing!" Seonghwa's eyes flashed bright gold as he snarled at the younger omega.

Everyone started to move, wanting to come to Wooyoung's defense, but he stopped them with a simple, powerful tilt of his head.

Even Hongjoong shivered as he watched Wooyoung's eyes narrow and his head tip back.

"Are you saying I know nothing of the pain you're in? Of regret? Of wishing I could have done things differently?" He asked, his voice low... smooth...

Intimidating.

Enough so that Seonghwa hesitated for a second before lashing out again. "Don't speak to me like that. Our entire pack has suffered because we took a wrong turn!!"

"Yes! We took a wrong turn in a pursuit that we had no direction for!" Wooyoung's fists started to shake at his sides. "But how dare you try to blame any of us for it! Did you ever hear me blaming anyone for how long I was trapped in Ultima?? No! Because as much as it hurts, there's no saying what could have happened if things had gone differently!"

The clearing was quiet now, all attention focused solely on Wooyoung.

"Yes, maybe things would have gone just fine. Jongho wouldn't have been manipulated by the Colonel's bastard of a grandson, my pregnancy wouldn't have been so rough, and San could have been there for most of it. But..." Wooyoung turned his head to look at his mate. They both had tears in their eyes... "Things could have been worse, too. Maybe Caius would have seen you coming a-and-" his voice caught in his throat right as Chan ran to him and hugged him as hard as he could.

No one needed him to finish... there was no doubt that Caius could have taken both him and Chan away... permanently.

Seonghwa watched as mother and son embraced, anger still burning within him.

"He's right." Everyone froze when Mingi broke the silence, except for his mate, who whirled around to run to him.

"Don't say that." Seonghwa's voice hitched and he cupped Mingi's cheeks. "I could have protected you! I-I c-could have-"

"Stop."

"I could have prevented all of this. I-"

"Please."

"-could have kept her away from you so that this never-"

"Stop it!"

"-happened. She would have never-"

"Enough, Seonghwa!!" Mingi's voice sliced through the fog of emotion weighing all of them down. And the power brought Wooyoung, Seonghwa, and even Sungjae to their knees. "What's done is done! We need to focus on moving forward, not on the 'what if's'! It won't change anything!"

Hongjoong had to close his eyes from the sudden onslaught of feelings that twisted together throughout his pack.

His own pride for Mingi finding his voice.

The shock from everyone at Mingi speaking to his mate like that.

And the ever growing pain and hurt all of them needed to figure out how to work through.

Seonghwa shook his head a couple of times, his mouth opening and closing with the urge to talk back. But he ended up bowing his head instead and rising to return to Mingi's side. He kept his eyes on the ground and his lower lip wobbled.

Mingi turned toward him and lifted a wavering hand to find his mate's cheek, then used that to guide himself to Seonghwa's ear, where he started whispering low enough that no one could hear what he was saying.

His omega visibly relaxed, though, a little bit at least. And he turned his head just enough to nuzzle Mingi's mating mark.

"I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean to cause problems." Eunkwang frowned a little. "I just wanted to offer something that could benefit us all going forward.

"I know." Hongjoong placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "And I appreciate it. Thank you." He added sincerely.

"Yes, thank you." Maria said from where she was tucked into Yoohyeon's side. "I want to go home, but... I don't want to say goodbye."

Yoohyeon let out a little breath and hugged the young beta tighter. "Now we don't have to. Not for long."

Avayla smiled at them. Her eyes still glistened slightly, but she also seemed a little more at ease as she turned to Hongjoong.

"Let's go home."