"Alright 'Mam... Enemy is in sight. How do you want to proceed?"

"Carefully. We can't alert them to our presence."

"Roger that. Stay low to the ground, we can't risk him seeing us."

Yeosang hummed to himself as he folded laundry. He would smile softly and place a hand on his small belly as he turned to grab another shirt.

"Approaching target. Slowly..."

"Attack on my command."

The beta grabbed the laundry basket and started walking to the laundry room to get more clothes.

"Target is on the move. Hold your position."

"Wait for him to come back."

He returned after a few minutes and dumped a pile of socks and underwear onto the couch to start sorting. Theo was sitting on the couch next to him, trying to help sort the socks, but he didn't seem to understand the concept and just kept handing them to Yeosang. The beta ruffled his hair and always said thank you.

"Ok, get ready. In three..."

"Two..."

"Hongjoong are you going to sit there and keep staring at me or are you going to help?" Yeosang said without turning around."

"Retreat!" Hongjoong yelled, swooping Avayla up into his arms and running down the hallway while she giggled at the top of her lungs. "Abort mission!"

"We've been discovered! Uncle Joong! Enemy approaching!"

The alpha looked over his shoulder and saw Theo running after them, a bright smile on his face as he clapped. "That's no enemy!" He brought his face close to Avayla's. "That's our spy!" He hissed, rubbing their noses together.

"Agent Theo! Report!" Avayla said as Hongjoong set her on the floor and crouched next to her.

The boy just kept giggling and then held up a sock.

Hongjoong gasped and stared at it with wide is. "He did it! He got the secret weapon!" He reached out and carefully took the sock. Both kids 'ooo'd' and stared at it with wide eyes. "Do you know what this means Ava?" He whispered.

She shook her head.

"It means the enemy can't finish his mission. We have succeeded!" He cheered, picking both kids up, one under each arm, and spun them in a circle.

"Hongjoong." Yeosang said from the end of the hallway. His arms were crossed and he was tapping his foot, but there was a twinkle in his eye.

"Yes love?" Hongjoong said, arching his eyebrow and backing up slowly. Both Avayla and Theo covered their mouths as they giggled and squirmed against his side.

"Sock."

"What sock?" He asked, still backing up. He tightened his grip on the kids and turned around right as Yeosang opened his mouth to speak. "You can't catch us!" He tore down the hallway and turned into one of the bedrooms."

"I don't need to catch you. I just need to threaten to not feed you!" Yeosang yelled.

Hongjoong cried out and clutched his heart after setting the kids down. They were giggling still, but also clung to him. "Uncle Joong! What's wrong?"

"He discovered..." Hongjoong fell to his knees. "My weakness..." He twisted and fell down so he could lay on his back, letting his arm fall above his head so his hand thumped against the wooden floor in the hallway.

"Uncle Joong! How do we save you?" Avayla asked, kneeling next to his head. Theo put his head on Hongjoong's chest.

"Maybe..." He croaked, making his voice intentionally raspy. "If you return... The sock... He may spare... My life..."

"Theo! The sock!" Avayla screamed, pointing at the discarded object by the bed.

The young boy ran and grabbed it, handing it to her quickly before the two of them ran out of the room.

Hongjoong smiled to himself but stayed in his position, not wanting to give up the game yet. He could hear Avayla begging with Yeosang to save Hongjoong. He could hear his mate's deep chuckle and knew he was rolling his eyes.

And sure enough, a few moments later, Yeosang was standing over him, hands on his hips, and nudging Hongjoong's head with his foot. "Alright, I suppose you can have lunch."

"Yes! I live!" Hongjoong cheered, springing off the floor to another round of laughter. Avayla and Theo clung to his legs as he pulled Yeosang into a deep, loving kiss. He could feel his lover melting at his touch. It made his wolf churn.

"Uncle Sangie! We're hungry! You promised to feed us." Avayla said, tugging on his jeans.

The couple broke apart and Hongjoong stooped down and picked them both up again. "Aye, you both worked hard and deserve a good, hardy mean." He paused and looked at Theo. "Mac and cheese?"

He clapped his hands and nodded.

"Mac and cheese!" Avayla and Hongjoong cheered at the same time before running down the hall.

Yeosang already had the water boiling, so Hongjoong was able to take over and pour in two boxes of noodles.

The couple fell into an easy rhythm as they prepared lunch for the kids. Maria was out for the day buying more groceries for them, but she had been a huge help while everyone was gone.

Avayla had cried for several hours the first day, and off and on the next two. Theo had done the same, once he realized his parents weren't home.

That had been hard on everyone. But Hongjoong did his best to keep them entertained. He limited his perimeter runs to when they were eating or taking a nap or doing bookwork so he could sneak away. Kenneth had even volunteered to do a quick sweep occasionally.

They were approaching a week since everyone had left and he would be lying if he said he wasn't worried sick. During the calm moments, like now, their presence was sorely missed as the house became quiet.

Hongjoong and Yeosang had many private conversations voicing their fears and concerns. Yeosang had said he felt like he was holding Hongjoong back because of the pregnancy, which he immediately shot down. There was no way he was putting his child at risk. Plus, Yeosang staying behind left a member of the pack behind for the kids.

As much as they loved and adored Maria, there was a different bond shared between pack members.

They just prayed that the others would be back soon.

.

.

.

.

Mingi whined as he struggled to find Seonghwa's scent. They had been searching for several days and still had no idea where his mate had been taken.

His trail had been lost just outside of the territory line. Jongho guessed they were using the same spell that was used to block the pack link inside the fortress, only enhanced to effect scents as well.

It made sense.

They had asked him about the 'L' on the tree and he told him his theory. When he thought back to it, no one had told him anything about seeing Lance on the battle field. It made sense, the man was a little weasel when it came to actually fighting.

Mingi was looking forward to ripping his throat out after making sure he suffered. He couldn't believe he used to call the man his friend.

Jongho and Yunho were never far away as they searched. They agreed to always be within line of sight, which meant a little bit of a greater distance in wolf form, but they didn't want to get separated.

No one voiced their weariness or desire to go home. All of them missed their family and their child, so they pushed it aside as best they could to stay focused on the task at hand.

But it was hard to look for someone when you had no idea where to go or where to start.

It was like Lance and Seonghwa vanished into nothing.

.

.

.

.

It was hot... Too hot...

Which could only mean one thing.

The pill was working.

Seonghwa whimpered as he panted into his gag. He could feel his stomach churning as his heat came through.

He couldn't even remember the last time he experienced a heat... His father had gotten him on suppressants right away, and when it came that time of month, Seonghwa went to a private cabin on a different property to ride it out until his body got used to the suppressants.

He didn't want to be here. He didn't want to go through this.

Lance would be back to check on him anytime now, and Seonghwa could feel his wolf begging for an alpha's knot.

His biggest fear was about how this would affect his bond with Mingi. If he was knotted by another alpha, did that mean his mark would fade? Although, Lance could make that happen by marking over it... But something told Seonghwa he wouldn't just so Mingi could feel everything.

So did that mean his mark would stay as long as an alpha helped him through his heat?

He didn't know which option was worse...

As the cramping started, he cried out into his gag and slumped in the chair. He didn't even have the strength to fight against the ropes anymore, although he could barely feel his hands.

Everything hurt. And his wolf was itching to break free.

Seonghwa knew that if he wasn't gagged, he would be saying 'alpha' every time he exhaled.

.

.

.

.

Wooyoung and San paused at the edge of their territory, nervous to proceed. They had no idea what state of mind everyone would be in, or if the others were back with Seonghwa.

But San put on a brave face and nudged the omega's shoulder before trotting forward. Hongjoong would know someone entered his territory.

It didn't take long for them to reach the house. Once it came into view, they shifted and changed. It almost felt weird to wear clothes again, but Wooyoung loved the warm embrace of one of his old, oversized hoodies.

They walked slowly up to the door, holding hands, and before they could knock, it was pulled open slowly.

Both Yeosang and Hongjoong gave strangled cries of joy when they saw the pair standing on two legs.

All four of them embraced immediately.

Wooyoung hummed at the feeling. He had missed large group hugs like this. "Hi guys."

Yeosang sobbed and hugged him tighter. "I missed your sweet voice so much."

"I missed being able to use it." Wooyoung chuckled, returning the gesture.

"Come in, come in. Let's get you out of the cold." Hongjoong said, tugging on San while Yeosang guided Wooyoung inside.

He froze when he saw Avayla and Theo watching them with wide eyes.

Wooyoung took a deep breath and stepped forward once, then got down on his knees. San copied the motion and they waited.

"Avayla, use your senses. You should be able to recognize who they are." Hongjoong said, assuming his mantle as leader of the pack.

Her nostrils flared as she scented the air, and Theo copied her a moment later. His face changed immediately and he ran forward to Wooyoung, who opened his arms wide. The boy jumped into them and patted Wooyoung's cheek several times, then leaned over and did the same to San.

Avayla followed shortly after. "Uncle San and Uncle Youngie?" She said, watching Theo nervously.

"That's right." San said gently, holding how his hand. His scent washed over her and she glanced at Theo one more time. Once she saw him snuggled into Wooyoung's neck, she placed her hand in San's. He beamed and watched as she moved forward to hug him.

"It's weird seeing you like this." She said softly, still watching Wooyoung hold Theo.

"It's weird for us too." The omega said with a smile. His heart felt so full right now as Theo stared up at him with Jongho's bright eyes. "Have you heard from-?"

"No." Hongjoong said quickly.

"How long have we been gone?" San shuffled so he could sit down with Avayla in his lap.

"Almost a week." Yeosang sighed. "Maria is out now getting groceries for us. But we've been worried sick."

"You can't be doing that!" Wooyoung said, sending the beta a slight glare.

"I know. I've been doing my best to stay busy. But I can't help it. It's so quiet here sometimes." The beta bowed his head and Hongjoong went to his side immediately.

"Well, I guess that means we should get going then." San said quietly, glancing and Wooyoung. "That was the plan after all."

Wooyoung nodded, giving Theo a tight hug before standing. "We will go look for them. We have an idea of where they could be too."

"Where?" Hongjoong stepped forward, his eyes flashing red for a second.

"We know where Ultima is. I'm betting Lance teamed up with them, if he really is behind this." San snarled and held out his hand.

Hongjoong clasped his forearm immediately and both San and Wooyoung fell to their knees as the pack link opened to them.

Wooyoung's wolf practically howled with joy as he felt his mind open up. Yeosang helped him stand and pulled him into a hug.

"It's not fair. I hate that you have to leave again so soon." The beta said, holding on tight.

"I know." Wooyoung whispered. "But the sooner we leave, the sooner we can come back. With everyone. We need to do this."

"You sure have grown a lot, Youngie." Hongjoong said, ruffling his hair.

Wooyoung beamed at the praise.

As they all said their final goodbyes, San and Wooyoung replenished their packs and shifted in the backyard. They latched onto Mingi's scent since it was the strongest of the three, and ran as fast as their legs would take them, hoping to catch up to their other pack members soon.