"Alright dear, let's see how things are going." Maria said as she helped Yeosang sit down.

The beta groans as he adjusts. He had been experiencing a lot of back pain recently and had voiced his concerns to the midwife, worried about the baby.

He was about two months along and his belly was forming nicely, and he was thankful that he hadn't had too many problems with morning sickness. He had more good days than bad when it came to the nausea.

Maria leaned over him and lifted up his shirt so she could ran her hands over his stomach. A pleasant warmth filled him as she did so. He loved this feeling and he instantly felt calmer.

"Well, baby feels perfectly healthy." She gave him a reassuring smile. "You, not so much." Her tone turned harsh.

Yeosang sighed and ran his hand over his face. "I know."

"Well if you know then you know what you should be doing. Stress is not healthy for you or the baby. Are you making sure to eat properly too?"

"I'm doing the best I can." He said, his voice quivering a little. "It's just so hard sometimes..."

Maria took his hands in hers. "I know dear. But you need to try and relax a little more, ok? Leave the kids to me and Hongjoong."

Yeosang nodded and gave her a grateful smile. He really was trying his best, but he hated no knowing what was going on with their family. The thoughts plagued him day in and day out, wondering if they were ok or where they were now.

Hongjoong did his best to keep him distracted, but Yeosang knew his mate felt the same way.

And that just laid the guilt on even thicker... He felt like he was keeping Hongjoong trapped here, leaving the others one man down. But at the same time he was grateful that he had his mate because he knew he couldn't do this alone.

Yeosang sighed. These were exactly the thoughts that had him so stressed out.

Maria patted his knee and gave him a knowing smile. "Come on, I say we get you situated with a nice warm bath. That should help with your aches and pains."

"That sounds amazing actually." Yeosang said, letting her pull him out of the chair.

As they started to walk down the hall, the phone rang.

Yeosang spun around with wide eyes to the living room. He could hear Hongjoong running to where he kept the cell phone plugged in and started heading in that direction himself.

He and his mate locked eyes as the alpha pressed answer and held the phone to his ear. "Hello?"

Hongjoong instantly let out a strangled cry and fumbled with the phone trying to put it on speaker.

"Hongjoong? Are you still there?" Jongho's voice came from the other end.

"Y-Yes, I'm here. Yeosang and Maria are here too. Are you ok? Where are you? Have you found Seonghwa? Did San and Wooyoung find you?" Hongjoong asked quickly, holding out his hand to pull Yeosang into his chest.

"We are fine. And yes, we are all together. How are the kids?"

"They are both doing ok. I'm not going to sugar coat it, they miss you terribly. But they are handling it as best they can." Hongjoong said, keeping his voice low. "They are in the other room watching a movie right now."

"Good, I think it's best if they don't hear us right now." Jongho sounded tired.

"Is that the rest of your pack, love?" A woman's voice said.

Hongjoong and Yeosang exchanged quick glances as their mouths opened a little.

"Yeah, I'll be right there." Jongho told her quietly, then his voice got louder, indicating he had turned back to the phone. "How are you two doing? And Maria and Kenneth."

"We are fine, dear. We are more worried about you." Maria answered, leaning closer to the phone.

Hongjoong pursed his lips. "Jongho, who are you with?"

"We ran into a beta couple who offered to help us. We are staying at their cabin right now. They were kept prisoner in the same wing as you, Yeosang..." The alpha said hesitantly. "So I think we can trust them. We found the canyon that leads to Ultima, but we had to turn back. It's too heavily guarded according to San."

"So what are you going to do?"

"We called in the cavalry."

Yeosang could tell the younger was smirking just by the tone of his voice. "What do you mean?"

"Mingi just got off the phone with Colonel Gregson."

Hongjoong and Yeosang both gasped. This was both a good thing and a bad thing in their mind. If they needed to call for the extra help, then getting into Ultima really was going to be harder than they hoped it would be. But if the Colonel was willing to help, then maybe they stood a chance.

Jongho took their silence as his cue to continue and kept going. "He agreed to come meet with us to hear out the situation. We were worried he wasn't going to answer or be in charge anymore, but apparently he is. So we gave him our location and we are going to try and work something out."

"That sounds like a really good idea." Hongjoong said, a wide, proud smile crossing his face. "How long until he gets there?"

"Sometime tomorrow or the day after we hope. There's another storm rolling in so we are hoping he is going to miss it."

"How's Mingi?" Yeosang asked quietly."

Jongho was silent for a moment. "He's hanging in there. The longer this gets drawn out the more he's going to stress. Which is understandable."

"Is there anything we can do for you?"

"No, Sangie, you are doing enough by taking care of Theo and Ava. Thank you. I should probably get going though, we are supposed to figure out sleeping arrangements and watches and such."

"Be safe. Thank you," Hongjoong said, sighing as he said the words, "Thank you for calling us. And check in when you can, ok?"

"Will do. Be safe and give the kids a hug for us." Jongho said before ending the call.

Hongjoong set the phone on the counter and pulled Yeosang into a tight hug as a sense of relief washed over them. Their family, most of them, was ok.

"Well, I'll go check on the kids, how about the both of you go and take some time. Hongjoong, honey," Maria raised her eyebrows. "Make sure he relaxes."

The alpha nodded and pulled Yeosang down the hall and into the large master bathroom. Hongjoong turned on the water to the oversized tub and checked the temperature before pouring in essential oils and bubble bath.

Then he turned around to where Yeosang was slowly taking his clothes off. The beta blushed and smiled at his alpha as he walked over and leaned down to kiss his stomach. Then he started kissing up Yeosang's chest, shoulders, neck, and finally his lips.

Yeosang closed his eyes and hummed a little at the contact, but he pulled away to go shut off the water before the tub got too full. "Are you joining me?"

Hongjoong scurried to get out of his clothes and then got into the tub first, allowing Yeosang to get in and lean against his alpha's chest. Hongjoong surrounded him with his arms and legs, pulling him into a protective embrace.

"This is nice." Yeosang sighed, rubbing his back against his alpha's chest as his settled in. He closed his eyes and tilted his head as Hongjoong placed gentle kisses along his shoulders. "Joong..."

His alpha just smiled into his next kiss. "Yes love?" He asked as he used his legs to spread Yeosang's. His hands ran over the beta's chest, sending a shiver down his spine. He could feel his length starting to harden at the feeling.

"Should... We...?" He gasped and let his head fall back onto Hongjoong's shoulder as the older started to tease his nipples.

"Why not?" Hongjoong whispered before sucking on his ear. "I was told to help you relax."

Yeosang knew he was a goner after that and accepted what was coming with a wide smile. He could feel his mate growing hard behind him to and wiggled his ass a little to let him know he got the message.

"You're playing a dangerous game, love." Hongjoong chuckled before nipping at his mating mark. The beta moaned and arched his back a little

Hongjoong's hands traveled down Yeosang's chest and rubbed his belly for a second before they drifted to his back and started to rub where he had been having a lot of pain. This caused the beta to groan and lean forward a little to allow him better access.

"Does that feel good?" Hongjoong asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

"Yes baby, this feels amazing."

His mate continued to massage his back for several minutes as they continued to soak in the warm water. It really was helping Yeosang relax. He hadn't felt this calm in a long time.

Once the water started to cool, Hongjoong pulled the drain for the tub and helped Yeosang exit it, then proceeded to towel him dry.

Yeosang watched as Hongjoong's face twisted with concentration, and smiled when his lover stuck the tip of his tongue out of the corner of his mouth while making sure that every inch of him was dry before he dried himself.

Then he was being pulled to their bedroom and Hongjoong laid him down gently while connecting their lips for a deep and sensual kiss. Yeosang brought his hand up and twisted his fingers in Hongjoong's hair, trying to pull him closer.

His alpha brought a hand up to start stroking his member slowly, causing Yeosang to moan into their kiss. He arched his back of the bed as Hongjoong twisted his hand in circles and used his thumb to tease his tip.

Yeosang whimpered and rotated his hips, silently begging for more.

Hongjoong chuckled and moved to grab a bottle of lube he had bought the last time they were in town and squirted some onto his fingers. He reconnected their lips, plunging his tongue into his beta's mouth while circling his entrance and slipping a finger in.

Damn this felt good. Yeosang didn't realize just how much he needed this until his wolf churned within him, loving his alpha's touch.

Soon a second and a third finger had been inserted, stretching him out. Yeosang felt like he was on fire as he panted rapidly while Hongjoong sucked and nipped at his skin.

They both worked hard to keep things down, not wanting anyone to hear what was happening, which meant they also had to keep their wolves in check. Which wasn't easy, but somehow they were managing it.

When Hongjoong felt Yeosang was ready, he withdrew his fingers and poured some lube on his own member, pumping it a couple of times before slowly easing it into Yeosang's entrance.

This was it. This was Yeosang's favorite part, when he was connected with his mate. It made him feel invincible.

And it felt even better when Hongjoong started to rock his hips at a steady pace. Each thrust got a little harder and a little faster. It was perfect.

Yeosang reached up and pulled his mate in to kiss him again, loving the way he tasted as their tongues danced together.

They both inhaled sharply through their noses as they ran their hands over every inch they could reach.

As they both got closer to their peak, Hongjoong snaked his hand down and started pumping Yeosang's length in time with his thrusts.

Now Yeosang was having a hard time holding back his moans, so he was thankful that Hongjoong muffled them a little through their kiss.

Especially when his climax came. He screamed into their kiss and arched off the bed as Hongjoong continued to stroke him through it and rotate his hips in circles as he rode out his own climax.

As it started to fade, Yeosang relaxed into the mattress, feeling like a limp mess.

Hongjoong kissed him a couple more times before pulling back and smiling. "Feeling better?"

Yeosang sighed happily. "Yes. Thank you."

His alpha kissed his forehead and pulled out so he could get them cleaned up before tucking Yeosang into bed.

"Aren't you joining me?" The beta asked, holding onto Hongjoong's hand.

His mate glanced at the door, then chuckled. "I think Maria can handle herself a little longer." He said before slipping into bed behind his beta.

Yeosang smiled as Hongjoong settled in behind him and placed a few kisses on his mating mark.

.

.

.

.

Seonghwa stared down at his hands as they shook in front of him. He had been in panic mode all day after Lance's announcement.

Juno had brought a collection of herbs and pills for him to take to make sure the baby was healthy, which Lance threatened to shove down his throat if he found out Seonghwa wasn't taking them.

Then he was left alone yet again to ponder his thoughts.

He was pregnant.

There was another life growing in his belly.

While he had wanted to feel this again, this wasn't what he wanted...

"Mingi... I'm so sorry..." He whimpered while placing a hand over his stomach. "What is going to happen to us now?"

Seonghwa lifted a hand up to run it over his mating mark and closed his eyes. With his wolf locked away, he didn't get the same thrill from it that he normally would, but it was a least a small comfort he had.

"Mingi..."