Mingi sat facing the front door, tapping his foot impatiently while chewing on his nails. His anxiety was at an all-time high as they waited.

The rest of his pack had resigned to finding things to do to help out Tine and Marylou. Wooyoung helped with meals, Jongho and Yunho worked on fixing a few patches in the roof, and San would do scouting runs.

They were all on edge now that they knew Ultima was involved out here in more ways than one. The two beta females were definitely spooked.

Lance had a silver tongue though, because Tine went to go check with some of the neighbors they were on decent terms with and most of them had pledged to back his cause.

Even though it made no sense because there were no humans out here to create any kind of a threat.

Mingi knew it was Lance's way of trying to build up his army. He wouldn't be surprised if the bastard had some sick, twisted plan to try and bend everyone to his will. Hell, he had watched Mingi's own father do it to his son, and succeed...

The alpha shivered at the memory, or what was left of it. He had worked hard to block out most of his time as a 'willing' member of Alpha Pack.

He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Yunho standing behind him. "How are you holding up?"

Mingi just grunted and went back to staring at the door. If he just kept doing this then he wouldn't have to worry about his anger getting out of control...

Boy way he glad Avayla wasn't here. Even though he missed her terribly, he didn't want his little girl to see him like this. Not until she understood what it was like to fight with her own wolf. And even then... he knew he had a lot more rage in him than most.

"He will be here soon. Come on, come eat something." Yunho tugged at his shoulder gently.

Sighing, Mingi let the beta pull him from his chair. He smiled at the back of his head as Yunho took his hand. Even though he would never be able to admit it out loud, he was grateful that Yunho was here. He seemed to be the only one who could calm him down, and really, Yunho could calm any of them down. Except himself. That was Wooyoung's job.

He let out a little chuckle, causing the beta to turn his head and arch an eyebrow. Mingi just shook his head in response as he sat at the table.

"Alright, let's dig in!" Marylou said happily as she picked up the sandwich in front of her. "Tinee, you make the best food!" She cheered, but it came out muffled due to the food in her mouth.

"LouLou," Tina said, giving her a look and shaking her head at the same time.

It was hard to believe that this happy pair had been in the same fortress as him, and he never knew it. But then again, Mingi had never taken the time to socialize with the captives... He was waiting for Seonghwa to get taken so he could...

No.

Mingi shook his head and focused on eating the lunch in front of him while everyone else chatted comfortably.

A loud buzzing sound started to fill the air and everyone was silenced immediately.

Mingi shoved his chair away from the table and ran to the front door, nearly yanking it off its hinges as he pulled it open.

A helicopter was working on landing in an open space not far from the cabin. It was a tight fit, but Mingi watched with anticipation as it touched down and the blades started to slow.

He ran forward as a man stepped out of the vehicle and turned around. A small smile tugged at his face as he held out his hand and shouted, "Mingi, long time no see!"

Mingi shook it happily and nodded. "Come inside! Everyone is waiting!" He yelled back.

Colonel Gregson turned around and motioned for the pilot to cut the engines before he, and two other men, followed Mingi into the cabin.

Everyone was waiting on the far wall, except for Yunho, who walked forward and greeting the Colonel happily. "Thank you for coming."

"Well, Mingi made it sound urgent and like it could benefit both our causes again."

"It will." The beta said, glancing at Mingi.

"Now I don't believe we've met." The man said, turning to the other five in the room.

Mingi watched as they introduced themselves one by one, and noticed that the Colonel still held no ill-will toward them. The other two, however, had a hard time hiding their disgust once they realized what was going on. Especially when San grew protective over Wooyoung and Tina kept Marylou behind her.

The Colonel wasn't bothered by it though. And honestly, Mingi expected it. Humans could be so narrow-minded sometimes. "Now, what is going on?" The man asked, turning to Mingi.

There was a sense of ease that seemed to fall over both men as they looked at each other. They had been through this before and both sides had proven their worth. It was a special bond of trust they had that Mingi hoped he could count on.

"We have reason to believe that there is someone trying to build another Alpha Pack."

Colonel Gregson paled at his words and his eyes widened. "But I thought the head alpha was killed."

"He was. But now someone else is trying to get it started. He was under my father before, so he knows what needs to be done to get it started. They are tucked away in the mountains, so it's the perfect place to build an army without being noticed." Mingi said, glancing at the others.

San stepped forward and set down a piece of paper that he had drawn a crude map on. He eyed the Hunters nervously and his hands twitched as he started to explain. "There is a canyon just to the west of here. If you follow that, it takes you to their front gates."

The Colonel bent over the piece of paper to examine it and San backed away quickly. He had voice his concerns about working with the hunters, but Mingi, Jongho, and Yunho had all reassured him that things would be fine. Mingi even offered to call up Yeosang, but San didn't want to bother them.

It didn't stop him from making sure he was always between them and Wooyoung, though.

"These aren't going to be like the last ones, either." Yunho added. "They have joined forces with a pack that knows a lot of ancient magic, so there will be shields and protective spells all over the place."

"Plus I want to try and stick to the same arrangement we had last time." Mingi added, his voice getting a little deeper.

Colonel Gregson chuckled. "You don't have to try and intimidate me, Mingi. I have no problem with striking the same deal. Any captives or wolves who try to run will be spared."

"But Sir!" One of the men exclaimed, looking at his leader with shock. "This goes against everything we stand for!"

"Forgive him, he's new." The Colonel said with a sigh before turning to the boy. "You will follow orders, got it? We are still going to be killing plenty of wolves. Mingi and his pack have proven to me in the past that not all of them are mindless and vicious like we were raised to believe. If this is the same situation as last time, which I know you've been told about because it's been added to the training regiment, then there are wolves there that are being held against their will or do not know the darker deeds going on. I will not harm innocent lives. Just like I would expect them to return the same courtesy to us. If you don't like it, then you can leave."

The boy turned bright red and looked down at the floor after the scolding. "Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir." He mumbled.

The Colonel nodded once before turning back to Mingi. "Now, where is the rest of your pack? I believe we rescued your mate last time, where is he?"

The two Hunters flinched at his words and exchanged a disgusted glance. Mingi growled in warning and they both looked at the floor. "He... He has been taken again. As a way to get back at me. And the other two are back home, watching after the kids."

A soft smile touched the man's eyes. "So you had your baby."

"Yes, Yunho had one also. And Yeosang is pregnant as well. That is why he and his mate stayed behind."

"Hongjoong, right? So who is in charge while your head alpha isn't present?"

"Technically me." Jongho said from where he was standing next to San. "Although Mingi and I really share the responsibility, especially in cases like this."

"Good to know, I didn't want to step on anyone's toes. I'd like to go with you to scout the area. That way I know what to expect and what kind of weapons and man power we will need."

San glanced at Mingi nervously. "It's not an easy path. Especially with the snow."

"I'll manage." The Colonel said firmly. "I say we leave as soon as possible."

Mingi nodded at turned to the mated betas. "Are you ok if we come back here when we are done?"

"Of course, loves." Tina said, nodding quickly. "We will keep the place warm for you and have food ready as well."

"Be safe." Marylou said from behind her mate.

"Thank you." Mingi gave them a grateful smile before he and his back followed the Hunters from the house.

As the men walked away, the five of them stripped and shifted, then waited off to the side while the Colonel and his men geared up. They threw on heavy winter coats and grabbed bags of supplies to wear on their backs.

Then they were off.

The journey was slow, since the Hunters couldn't travel as fast as Mingi and the others could. But he did his best to keep his impatience from showing.

The mouth of the canyon loomed before them, taunting them with the fresh powder that covered their path.

Wooyoung took the lead this time, using his light body to get on top of the snow and pack it down for the rest of them while San guided them from behind.

Mingi took his place in the middle so he could be close to the Colonel.

I've got a bad feeling about this. Yunho voiced from his place behind Wooyoung. Something doesn't feel right.

Just take a deep breath. Jongho said, whining from behind Mingi. Nothing about this feels right.

No... I feel like we are being watched. Yunho said as they got deeper into the mountains.

When they reached the cave they had stayed in the last time. The beta tried to insist that they stopped to recollect themselves. His nerves were rising and it was making Mingi uncomfortable. Yunho, you need to calm down. Help Wooyoung clear the snow.

The beta sighed and trotted forward once the ledge was wide enough to allow his to stand by the omega's side.

The trail started to open up to a wide valley, and rising up before them was a tall, stone wall with a large wooden gate.

Mingi growled, hating that Seonghwa was trapped in there.

They fanned out so they could all look at it together. The Colonel shook his head and peered through a pair of binoculars. "It's heavily guarded, that's for sure."

He started rambling on about defenses and the weapons he'd need. Mingi would nod along and both San and Jongho came to form a semicircle as they listened to the brainstorming while the two Hunters kept watch.

Leaving their mates exposes and vulnerable.