Jongho grunted as he shoveled snow away from their driveway. February was being brutal to them again and they had about two feet of snow surrounding their house, which prevented anyone from coming or going. And there was more on the way.

He decided that he officially hated winter. And he hated Mingi even more right now for making him do this just so he could run into town to get something for Seonghwa for some human holiday they didn't even celebrate.

Although, he had to admit it was really sweet that he wanted to do something for Seonghwa because he loved him so much.

Jongho sighed and glanced at the house. Yunho was inside working with the kids on their alphabet. He loved teaching them. He and Seonghwa shared the duty when they could, but Seonghwa was busy getting things set up for Avayla's sixth birthday.

Six years...

Their family had been incomplete for almost six years. The pack link had broken as soon as San and Wooyoung crossed the territory line, so they had no idea of where they were or if they were ok. Although it would have been that way if they traveled to far away too, it still made Jongho feel empty.

After being abandoned by his pack, Yunho and Wooyoung had helped him feel whole again. And while San was unexpected, he trusted the alpha with his life.

Which means he trusted him with Wooyoung's life.

Man he was a mess...

Jongho shook his head and threw another pile of snow over his shoulder. He was about to do it again when he saw movement at the end of the drive. Pausing, he straightened up and tried to focus. The air was so cold it messed with his senses.

Hongjoong? He sent through their private link.

I sense it too. Someone crossed the border line. I'm on the opposite side, but I'm coming.

I can't tell who they are. I'm going to shift and investigate.

Be careful. Hongjoong said and Jongho could feel him putting on a burst of speed.

Jongho grumbled to himself as he stripped down. His human body trembled for a few seconds before he was able to shift into his warm wolf form. It was still cold, but he was more comfortable now as he padded slowly down the drive way.

It wasn't easy with how deep the snow was. There were a few times he had to jump forward, only to sink down and have to dig his way out.

He scanned the tree line, his breaths turning into fog in front of his face as he panted. Who was there?

Then he saw the movement again. It was a wolf, and he was dragging something...

The wolf...

No. It couldn't be. He had to be dreaming.

Hongjoong! It's them!!

Are you sure?

Jongho didn't answer as he struggled to run forward to the soot colored wolf in front of him. He yapped several times to announce his presence.

San turned his head and swayed where he stood, but a look of relief crossed his face as he turned to nudge Wooyoung.

Mingi get out here now! We need help.

Jongho ran up and crouched down next to Wooyoung. The omega's eyes fluttered open and he let out a soft whine. They both looked exhausted. He started to lick Wooyoung's face and neck, unable to contain himself. Even in his wolf form he could feel the tears falling from his eyes and freezing in his fur.

San whimpered and nudged his head into Jongho's side, rubbing against him and filling the air with his rosemary scent.

Two howls came from either side of them as Hongjoong and Mingi arrived, bounding through the snow and sending it everywhere.

Their greeting was kept short as they worked to lift Wooyoung onto Mingi's large back. Hongjoong trotted by his side to make sure they omega didn't fall off while Jongho worked to support San.

Yeosang, love, get warm towels, blankets, anything we have. Hurry. Hongjoong said.

Is it really them? The beta asked, but Hongjoong didn't answer. He was more focused on keeping Wooyoung safe.

Jongho rubbed his head against San's as they moved forward. He wanted so badly to speak with him and tell him how damn much he missed both of them. Plus there were so many questions he wanted to ask, but that would all come in time.

When they reached the house, Yunho was already waiting on the front porch. He rushed to Mingi's side, sobbing heavily, and lifted Wooyoung off his back to carry him inside. San scrambled up the steps after them, followed by the other three alphas.

Once inside, Jongho, Mingi, and Hongjoong all shifted and got dressed. Yeosang ran to them with blankets before trying to hurry back to the others. Hongjoong grabbed his arm. "Love, you need to calm down."

Yeosang took a deep breath and nodded, but still ended up pulling his alpha behind him.

Jongho pushed ahead to the living room. Seonghwa was standing off to the side, covering his mouth. Mingi went to stand next to him. "Where are the kids?"

"In Avayla's room. I set up a tv for them and turned the volume up for her."

Mingi nodded and pulled Seonghwa into his arms as they looked down at their friends.

San and Wooyoung had yet to shift back. Both were huddled under blankets and warm towels. Yunho had Wooyoung's head in his lap. Jongho moved to sit next to San. The alpha shifted so that part of him was still touching Wooyoung but the rest was reaching for Jongho.

It was then that he noticed a parcel tied to San's front leg. He reached for it and untied it.

"Wh-What ar-re th-those?" Yunho said, having a hard time containing himself. Wooyoung licked his arm, trying to comfort him.

"They look like more spell books..." Jongho said. There were three of them, one he recognized as the one Lizbeth had used to help save them from Alpha Pack. He looked at San, who just closed his eyes and whined. "San, can you shift back?"

The wolf shook his head in response, whining again.

"Wh-Why? Wh-What h-hap-pened t-to you?" Yunho looked down at Wooyoung, who just closed his eyes too. "H-Hongj-j-joong, can't you d-do something ab-bout the link?"

"I don't think so. From everything I know, we have to be humans..." A pained look crossed the head alpha's face. Jongho knew he was trying to work something out, but things seemed pretty bleak right now.

Why couldn't they change back? What happened to them?

He swallowed his questions and moved closer to San. "Can you not shift back because you're too weak?"

San shook his head and pawed at the books.

"Was it a spell?"

San huffed and nodded his head.

Yeosang sat next to them and took one of the books. "It's all in an old language... How are we supposed to find how to help you?"

"Momma!" Avayla called. Seonghwa flinched and dashed down the hall as both Wooyoung and San lifted their heads and looked in the direction of her call.

The room was silent and grew tense.

"Let's get them in a room to rest." Mingi said, his voice low and protective, although Jongho couldn't tell if it was because he wanted to help their friends, or if it was because he wanted to protect his daughter.

Jongho felt his wolf bristling if it was the latter. San and Wooyoung would never do anything to harm Avayla.

San must have sensed Mingi's tone too because he licked Jongho's hand to distract him. He returned his attention to San and helped him get off the floor while Yunho helped Wooyoung. They led them to their old room and helped them climb onto the bed.

Wooyoung huffed and moved to shove his head into Jongho's chest for the first time since being home. Now it was his turn to break down as he wrapped his arms around the orange and white neck in front of him. "I missed you so much, Woo." He sobbed. "But I'm so glad you're ok. We are going to figure out how to help you. I promise."

The four of them sat on the bed together, thankful to be connected as their mini pack again, even if there was no bond.

Eventually both wolves fell asleep and Jongho pulled his mate from the room to let them rest. They embraced right outside the door for a long moment before going to seek out their son.

Theo was waiting patiently in his room. He had a book in his lap and was tracing the letters with is finger. When the door opened, he noticed the movement and beamed.

Yunho sat next to him so he could sit in his lap. Theo tilted his head and tapped Yunho's cheeks. The beta let out a shaky laugh and placed a hand over his heart. "I'm ok, sweet boy." Then he reached forward and fingered the locket around Theo's neck.

Jongho smiled as Theo pointed at the wall in the direction of San and Wooyoung's room.

"That's right." Yunho said. "They are home. You can meet them later."

Theo looked up and reached for Jongho. Once he was in his dad's arms, he patted Jongho's cheek. "I'm ok. It's just a lot to take in."

.

.

.

.

"Momma I want to see them!" Avayla said, trying to run for the bedroom door.

"Hey now, missy. It's bed time." Mingi said, scooping her off the ground and throwing her over his shoulder.

"No Papa!" She yelled, tears started coming from her eyes. "Papa down!"

"Yup, it's definitely bedtime." Mingi grunted, holding her in place on his shoulder while she had her little tantrum.

Seonghwa sighed and rubbed his head. There was so much for them to process and he couldn't blame Avayla from wanting to go see the newcomers. But it was late and they were both obviously exhausted. "Ava, honey, they have had a long trip and they need to rest."

"B-But you said San and W-W-Wooyoung are family." Avayla said, large tears dripping from her eyes. "I wanna meet them!" She sniffed, trying to keep her crying under control.

"You can meet them when they are feeling better munchkin. But for now you need to go to bed. It's very late." Mingi tucked her under her covers and sat next to her so she couldn't squirm away. "I can see you fighting sleep."

"No Papa, I'm not sleepy." She said through a yawn.

Seonghwa let out a soft laugh and moved to sit on the bed too. "Yes you are. You can barely keep your eyes open." He leaned over, "Give Momma a kiss." She puckered her lips and Seonghwa gave her a quick peck.

"My turn." Mingi said softly, repeating the same thing. Then he sat up he rubbed the top of Avayla's head gently. "Just think of it this way, the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner you can get up and play with Theo again."

"Mmmkay Papa." She mumbled, already falling asleep.

Seonghwa whipped one stray tear off her cheek and kissed her forehead. "Good night baby." Then he and Mingi turned out the lights and moved to the living room.

The other four were already waiting for them. Yeosang had two of the book in his lap and was flipping between them.

Yunho was snuggled into Jongho's chest. Both of their eyes were puffy and red.

"How are they doing?" Mingi asked, placing a hand on Yunho's shoulder.

"They are both sleeping." Jongho said quietly, then sniffed a couple times.

"Good, they need it." Hongjoong ran his hand over his face. "Well this isn't what I was expecting to happen. Why do you think they are stuck in wolf form?"

No one had an answer. They had never heard of this happening before, but then again, there was a lot about the old magic that they still didn't understand. The only problem was they had no idea how to read the ancient language and their only connection to it had died saving Wooyoung's life...

Seonghwa chewed on the inside of his cheek. "Do you think Maria or Kenneth would know anyone?"

"It's possible. They have done a bit of traveling." Yeosang's head snapped up from the books. "I'll call them in the morning and see what they have to say."

"So what happens now?" Seonghwa looked at the rest of them. They had been a pack of six plus two pups for so long now, he was worried about how hard it would be to try and work them back into the picture. Then he scolded himself, of course they would fit back in. they were family. This was all just so surreal right now...

"We take things one day at a time." Hongjoong said, looking at each of them in turn. "They would do the same for any one of us. And we need to be patient and understanding. We will figure it out as a family."

.

.

.

.

San felt the bed shift as Wooyoung moved closer so he was curled into his alpha's side. He let out a content sigh and lifted his head so he could lick the top of his omega's head.

How are you feeling?

Tired... Like I could sleep for years... Wooyoung said, not opening his eyes. It feels weird being home.

It does, but it feels nice too.

What if we don't fit in anymore?

San moved to lick the side of Wooyoung's face. Don't think like that my love. Of course we will fit. Everything will be ok. We will figure it out.

I love you, Sannie. Thank you for everything.

San purred as Wooyoung started to rub his face against San's, letting out small whines and whimpers. They needed to find out how to shift soon. Both of their wolves were having a hard time with the overwhelming need to touch each other.

It had been so long...

When they settled back down again, Wooyoung let out a small sigh.

I love you too, Youngie. Now and forever. We will figure this out.