San stretched as he sat up. He wasn't used to sleeping on a rock floor so his muscles felt stiff.

Yunho had convinced Jongho to let him stay for a couple of days so he could rest. San appreciated the gesture, especially because, for the first time in his life, he was drawn to another wolf.

He had told himself for years now that he didn't need anyone else in his life, that all he needed was to survive and take care of himself. And yet... The first time he saw, no, scented the small omega, it was like reality had slapped him in the face.

And then it punched him in the gut when he came back from hunting to find out that he was now freshly mated with the other alpha.

It surprised him in more way than one too. Maybe it was because he never had a pack, but he had never heard of an alpha being able to mate with more than one wolf. He had heard of claiming more than one wolf, but mating? No. Plus, he realized the hunt had basically been used as a distraction since Wooyoung hadn't been claimed when he got there.

He gritted his teeth as he looked over at the sleeping pack. It was obvious that they had been close before everything had happened. They looked so comfortable laying together with Wooyoung wedged in the middle. Something must have happened to the omega for the other two to feel the need to protect him like this.

San sighed and went to the edge of the cave to get a drink. He needed to decide what he wanted to do. The other alpha was obviously stronger than him, so there was no point in challenging him, but did he really want to join a pack just to stay close to an omega that had mated with someone else?

Yes. His heart instantly told him yes.

Sighing again, he ran his hands through his hair and sat at the edge of the cave so he could let his feet dangle in the water.

What the hell was wrong with him?

"Hey."

San turned to see Yunho walking over to him, running a hand through his fluffy brown hair. He plopped down and stuck his feet in the water too.

"Morning." San smiled at him. He liked the beta. He had a good aura around him.

"So."

"So." San looked at the waterfall.

"What's your plan?" Yunho asked, leaning back on his hands. "Are you going to head back out on your own?"

"I don't know. I haven't decided yet."

"I get it. I was by myself for a while too."

"You were?" San turned to him and tilted his head. Yunho didn't seem like the kind of wolf that liked to be alone. He was too sweet and caring.

"Yeah, I didn't agree with the morals of my pack. So I left."

"Wow. That's impressive."

"You're more impressive. Not many pups could survive on their own like you did." Yunho nudged his shoulder and chuckled. "But we aren't meant to be alone forever."

San chewed on the inside of his cheek. Yunho had voiced his inner thoughts perfectly.

"I'm sure you could stay with us, if you wanted to."

"I don't think Jongho likes me very much."

Yunho chuckled and they both looked to the back of the cave to see Wooyoung shift and Jongho tighten his arms around the omega, pulling him closer. "He has a good heart. I'll talk to him."

San's eyes lingered on the sleeping omega's face. How could someone look so perfect, even while sleeping? His heart beat faster. Then he felt Yunho start to fidget next to him and he quickly turned away.

"Look. I like you. You're not like most alphas." Yunho said quietly. "But I have to warn you... If you stay, I wouldn't try anything. Wooyoung has had a hard life and is just now started to feel whole again. He is my best friend, and I don't want anything bad to happen to him ever again."

San looked at him, his mouth slightly open. "I... I..." he sighed. "Maybe I should just go then. I don't know what's come over me."

Yunho placed a hand on his shoulder. "Look, I understand. If I hadn't been raised with him and practically help raise him myself I'd probably feel the same way. Wooyoung is special." The beta glanced over his shoulder again and smiled.

San looked down and felt himself blush. This beta was observant and it scared him. "But he's mated to Jongho, so that doesn't matter anyway." He picked up a rock and threw it into the water. "You guys made sure of that." He let out a soft chuckle, even though the thought actually hurt.

The beta bit his lip and rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I don't have an excuse for that."

"Does it hurt? Knowing your mate is mated with someone else too?"

"No. Not really. And probably only because it's Wooyoung. I also haven't known Jongho for very long. Plus," He let out a nervous laugh, "My parents were in an open relationship, so I'm used to it."

San hummed, not sure what to think about this strange pack.

Then the hairs on his arms rose and he snapped his head up, a small growl coming from the back of his throat.

"I sense it to." Yunho whispered. He stood and touched San's shoulder once then moved to the back of the cave.

San sensed Jongho and Wooyoung stirring.

There was something outside the cave.

And it wasn't friendly.

Yunho knelt beside his mate. "Jongho." He whispered, shaking him gently. "Jongho wake up. Something's here."

The alpha sat up immediately, waking Wooyoung up in the process. "What is it?"

"I don't know, but it doesn't feel right." He looked up to see San crouching at the entrance. Then he spun around and ran to them.

"We have to go. Now. Gather what you can." He had a panicked look on his face as he started stuffing things into bags.

"What's going on?" Wooyoung asked, rubbing his eyes.

"San, what is it?" Yunho walked over to him and grabbed his arm.

"Hunters." The alpha said, his eyes flashed red for a moment.

Jongho stood and clenched his fists. "What do you mean? Like, humans hunting deer?"

"No, humans who hunt us." San's voice shook. "I've run into them before. They are smart and stronger than normal humans. Plus they know how to track us. Some ancient magic from the old days. It won't be long before they find us here and then we will be sitting ducks."

Yunho glanced at Jongho and they both nodded their heads and began to help pack up their belongings. They knew that they couldn't hide their presence as their scent was all over the place, but the best they could was make sure they weren't here.

Once they were packed, they quickly swam out of the cave, holding their bags over their heads, and left the place three of them have felt the safest in a long time.

"I don't think we should shift if we can help it." San whispered as they gathered on the shore. "It makes our scent stronger. We should stay in this form for as long as we can help it, and maybe try to find some place with humans to we can try to hide."

"We'll follow your lead." Jongho said. He held out his hand. "But I'm in charge if anything goes wrong. Got it?" His eyes flashed red.

San grabbed his arm, and they clasped each other's forearms in acceptance. The pack bond slammed into San as he was accepted by his new head alpha. His heart felt like it was going to explode as he got used to the new sensation.

He as so young when his pack left him, he never got to experience what the bond felt like.

It brought him to his knees and he let go of Jongho's arm. Yunho knelt next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing slightly. "Deep breath. I know it takes some getting used to, but you said it yourself. We need to go."

San took a deep breath and nodded. He stood and closed his eyes, scenting the air. They were coming from the west, so he led his new pack east.

His pack.

He smiled at the though and glanced to where Wooyoung was holding hands with Jongho. Yunho walked on Jongho's other side, using his height to keep an eye on their surroundings.

The hunters weren't far away. They needed to hurry.

He felt his wolf growing restless with the need to protect his new pack.