"Alright, how are we looking?" Hongjoong asked once everyone was seated around the table.

"I have some more intel." Sungjae sat up a little straighter. "More of the pregnant female alphas have been in to see me. They are getting worse." He bowed his head with worry.

"Is it spreading to anyone else?" San frowned as he tapped the table.. "Are there any other pregnancies that are struggling?"

The omega shook his head. "Not that I've noticed."

Eunkwang sighed and braced his elbows on the table so he could press his lips against his forefingers. "And Nova told you to keep this quiet?"

"Yes. She's started moving all the pregnant females to a separate home for monitoring. Any with families are being told the procedure used isn't perfect yet, so they are getting tests done and need to be looked after all hours of the day. Which isn't exactly a lie..."

Hongjoong exchanged a quick glance with San. It was easy to see that the omega was uncomfortable with the turn of events. Yet it still didn't seem like enough for them to be able to actually do anything.

That was the most frustrating part.

They were still prisoners here and had found nothing they could use to get away.

Avayla was always with Nova's Elite now. It appeared they were... friends... which was a entire different problem that Hongjoong tried not to stress about.

"Nova is sick too."

Everyone in the room froze as Sungjae's words blanketed them with the heavy news.

"She... No one as been brave enough to tell her because she's been so on edge lately. But she's starting to show signs." Sungjae picked at the tablecloth, then looked up when Hyunsik and Changsub, who had started working in the medical buildings as well, walked in.

The betas took a seat next to him and Hyunsik pursed his lips. "It's odd, though, because the sickness seems to effect them all differently. Two of the first alphas to be confirmed pregnant are at completely different stages. One can't stop throwing up while the other is simply too weak to get out of bed."

"This just doesn't make any sense..." San scrunched his nose and took his turn to sigh. "I thought this was the whole reason they brought Avayla here, to prevent this from happening or to help somehow?"

"No," Changsub smacked his lips after taking a drink from the wineglass in front of him, "No I don't think that was it. Otherwise I feel the Elite wouldn't be spending so much time with her."

"Especially since one of them was chosen." Hongjoong sat back in his chair and huffed. "Sungjae, are you able to find out exactly what it is that is making them sick? Any tests that can be run?"

"No, Nova is the only one who sees those kinds of results... But I will try." The omega quirked his lips to the side as he thought about it. "Maybe with her starting to get sick, I can get past her."

"Try, please." Hongjoong paused for a second, then looked at Eunkwang. "And if we can't get answers, then I want to figure out how we can sneak out of here."

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"Ava!" Siyeon called from the doorway. "We are here!"

"Coming!" Avayla called back. She worked on tucking her breast back into her shirt, shifting Kendra in her arms, before going to the front door to let everyone in.

"Yoohie!" Maria yelled from down the hall, running directly into the alpha's arms as soon a they were all in the living room.

"Hello, gongju, how are you my angel?" Yoohyeon picked her up to swing the girl around, laughing along with her.

"Papa found a new book for me, will you read with me?"

Avayla beamed at how happy the question made Yoohyeon, the smile she gave seemed to light up the entire room. "I would love to. Can I visit for a bit first?"

Maria nodded, seeming content to stay in her arms as everyone slowly made their way to the kitchen.

"We brought dinner tonight." Minji held up a couple of bags.

Only Mingi, Siyeon, and Yoohyeon had come tonight, so the four alphas fell into an easy rhythm of grilling meat and preparing a salad.

Theo made an appearance for a few minutes, coming in to greet them with a nod and kiss Avayla on the top of the head before letting her know that he was going to go for a walk.

"Is everything alright?" Siyeon as he left the room.

"I'm not sure." Avayla sighed and set down the knife in her hand. "He's been... distant. And I can feel it in our bond, too. But he hasn't wanted to talk to me about it yet."

"Maybe you should plan a date night! Just the two of you. We can watch the girls." Yoohyeon offered.

"That would be really nice actually, thank you." Avayla reached over to take Yoohyeon's hand while smiling. "How are you doing by the way?"

The other alpha's shoulders dropped slightly, but she managed to keep a mostly positive glint in her eyes. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't anxious. But I'm trying to stay... optimistic. I should find out any day now if it took."

"Can we ask how they do it?" Minji started setting plates of food down as they finished.

"I... I can't tell you. Nova said for the process to be most successful, I had to be sleeping."

Avayla twisted her lips to the side, then frowned. "Why though?"

"They only thing I can think of is she's trying to counteract our dominance." Yoohyeon started to frown as well. "But Nova was the only one in the room when the procedure took place. And she's the one who does all the testing as well."

That news didn't sit right with Avayla. For something that was supposed to be such a big deal for the pack, why would Nova choose not to trust others to help her?

"Well we will continue to hope for the best." Siyeon placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "if anyone deserves this, it's you."

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'Hey, Theo!' Annabelle perked up as soon as she saw Theo walking toward her with his hands shoved in his pockets. 'I was hoping to run into you again!'

Theo couldn't help but smile. He could feel he enthusiasm rolling off her despite not being about to hear her.

With the knowledge that Avayla's new friends would be visiting, he had decided to venture out so he could think some more. Somehow he had ended up finding the kind beta he'd met a few days ago, finding her by following her subtle, floral scent.

Annabelle bent forward to capture his attention again when Theo's eyes started to drift. 'Are you alright?'

Theo licked his lips then pressed them together. He wasn't exactly sure how to answer that question... So he shrugged. It seemed like the best way to convey whatever it was he was feeling.

'Would you like to take a walk?'

That sounded wonderful. Theo nodded and waited for her step inside her cabin to grab a coat. She also came out with a notepad and a pen, holding it to him with an even wider smile. 'Here! I thought this would be easier for you than drawing in the dirt.'

Theo laughed, the vibrations tickling his throat in a way that made his entire body vibrate. He followed after her, appreciating how she always made sure to keep her head turned toward him whenever she spoke.

She ended up taking him toward the hunting lodges. It was mostly betas who lived there, many of which were in the process of skinning animals or tending to hides.

A few stopped to look at him, even waving or calling out a welcome. Even more greeted  Annabelle with big smiles and one girl came up to give her a hug.

They listened to her explain who Theo was and that he was deaf. He would be lying if he said he wasn't slightly embarrassed, especially when a few looked at him with confusion or shock.

But one man, Angelo, came forward to shake Theo's hand and welcome him. 'Can you hunt, Son?'

Taking a moment to write it down, Theo held out the notepad to say, 'Yes, very well. It's one of my favorite things to do.'

'We were just getting ready to take a small party out. Why don't you join us?'

Theo held up one finger and reached out to his mate. Avie?

T? Is everything alright? She answered immediately. He could fell her concern for him through their link, which only made his guilt rise and flow to her.

Yes, I'm fine. I've been invited to go hunting with a few betas here. Is that alright?

Of course, but will you be alright on your own? Do you want me to come to?

Theo took a moment to think about her question. It was a fair thing to ask. She'd always been so protective over him. But... She was making her friends here and now... Now he wanted to try and make his own. He needed to see if he could do things on his own.

Because he'd made a big decision in that moment, one that fueled the fire of confusion slowly spreading between them.

If Avayla decided she wanted to stay... then Theo would support that decision.

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At first the darkness only lasted a few hours before Mingi was able to start seeing shapes and colors again. That came with a raging headache, so he spent most of the time with his eyes closed anyway, but...

He was slowly starting to panic. He felt like h was dying... ripping himself apart from the inside out...

His heart was constantly racing, matching the speed of his thoughts.

Something was wrong... Something was so, so wrong...

Now he truly had no concept of time. Spending so much time with his eyes closed, or in total darkness.

He stopped eating the day his vision didn't come back for the stretch of time it took someone to bring him two meals.

And it only took two more uneaten meals for Nova to come bursting into his room.

"What do you think you are doing?!" She yelled, storming over to where Mingi was curled up on his bed. She dug her nails into his shoulder to force him onto his back, and the only reason he could tell she was looming over him was because he could feel her breath on his face. "I haven't gotten any more samples from you, I'm getting reports that you aren't eating your meals, do I need to remind you how many of your loved ones I have within my grasp?!"

Mingi felt his wolf stir in him at her words, the first time in a long time.

Maybe it was because of the threat against his family.

Or maybe it was because he could sense sickness in her too.

Nova's voice was raspy and her scent was bitter. Something was wrong with her too, and oh how he wanted to laugh at the irony.

"Answer me, dog! Or I swear I will track down your daughter and skin her alive!"

That did it.

Somehow Mingi mustered the strength to throw the alpha off him, roaring with crumbling rage. He heard her when she thumped against the floor and he lunged in that direction, arms stretched out in front of him.

The blackness was winning, though, because he yelped when his hands smashed into the hard floor with several pops and crunches.

Then Nova tackled him, screeching in his ears while they grappled for control.

It was starting to feel like too much...

His chest ached, especially where his heart was pounding faster and faster each second.

Both alphas screamed profanities at each other, with Nova occasionally calling for help.

During one time, Mingi felt how she twisted her body to look over her shoulder, giving him the chance to grab whatever was on the floor next to him.

It gave him great pleasure when he realized it was the device she'd made for him and he mustered as much strength as he could to slam it into her skull.

Nova screamed in pain and rolled to the side. Soon the metallic scent of blood reached Mingi's nose. Normally he wouldn't care, but he'd been away from that smell for so long and he was so out of sorts, his stomach instantly flipped and he had to clutch at it as he rolled over to stand.

When the other alpha didn't immediately attack him again, Mingi took the chance he was given.

With his arms out in front of him to try and guide his way, he did the only thing he could.

He ran.