"Maria!" Hongjoong called.

She hurried over to the kitchen followed closely by Yeosang. "What is it?"

"What is a winter snowbell?"

The color drained from the beta's face as she stared at Hongjoong. "What did you just say?"

The alpha held up San's note. "What is a winter snowbell? San says he needs it for something. What is it?"

Maria shook her head and took a step back. "No. I can't." Her eyes shot to San, show was glaring at the woman with red eyes. "How did you find out about it?"

San let out a low growl and flicked his head at the book in her hand.

"Maria?" Yeosang asked quietly, laying a hand on her shoulder. Everyone except Yunho and Wooyoung were in the room now. Seonghwa had just come back from putting Avayla down for a short nap and had moved to stand next to Mingi.

Kenneth held onto his mates hand and kissed her forehead. "They deserve to know."

The woman leaned into his touch and nodded. Then she closed her eyes and spoke with trembling words. "You all know that we were banished from my old pack for losing a baby. That wasn't the entire truth. I was sick, yes, but it wasn't a normal sickness. I had some infection in my lungs that was killing me. Winter snowbell is a rare flower that grows in deep snow, and it only blooms every four years. It's an old, rare plant that is used for healing. When worked into the correct potion, it can heal internal malfunctions. But it comes with a terrible cost. The person who consumes it becomes dangerously sick, and if they aren't strong enough, it can kill them."

The room was silent as she spoke.

"I was taking it to try and heal my lungs. That's why I lost the baby... I was fighting for my own life."

"It was horrible." Kenneth said. "She had night sweats and terrors, spent countless days throwing up, and always had a fever. Winter snowbell is not something that is meant to be digested, so your body rejects it. You have to keep taking it to keep it in your system."

"And you'll only know if it works if you drink the mixture one day and it tastes like fresh, cold water. Or melted snow. The rest of the time, it is the most vial substance you will ever drink. And it's different for everyone. For me, it tasted like a combination of human cough syrup, rotten eggs, and spoiled milk... Just another defense your body puts up to try and reject it." Maria shuddered at the memory.

"Why on earth would you need that?" Mingi asked, rounding on San.

Hongjoong watched as San straightened out and tried to figure out what to say. He held out the bad and paper again and San wrote a very shaky 'WY'.

"Wooyoung? What about him?" Seonghwa said, looking around at everyone.

San whined and stamped his paw on the floor in frustration.

Then Jongho straightened up and his eyes flashed red. "No." His hands balled up into fists.

San stared him down and just blinked.

"You'd be willing to risk his life? It's not worth it!"

"Jongho, calm down." Hongjoong moved to stand in between them. "What are you talking about?"

The younger had to look away and take several deep breaths to keep his wolf under control. Hongjoong could feel his inner struggle and put a hand on his second in command. "They want to use this flower to try and cure Wooyoung's disease." He hissed through his teeth.

Everyone in the circle shifted. "But, didn't Maria just say..." Yeosang whispered.

"San..." Seonghwa said quietly.

The alpha turned and looked at each one in turn.

Hongjoong bit his lip. "Did you know about this? Is this why you couldn't give us a solid yes or no answer?"

San nodded.

"Does he know the risk?" Mingi growled. San rounded on him and growled back, making the taller flinch.

"Ok, ok." Hongjoong said, holding his hands up. "We are not going to do this again. Jongho, well you go get the other two please? I think we need to have a family discussion."

The younger nodded and walked away.

Hongjoong worked to usher everyone into the living room, Maria and Kenneth included. Tensions were high, especially when Jongho walked in holding hands with Yunho. Wooyoung moved to San's side immediately and leaned into him.

"We know about the winter snowbell." Hongjoong said.

.

.

.

.

What? Wooyoung turned to look at San. How did they find out?

I had to tell them. Maria thinks she can fix us, but I could take two weeks before we can shift again. We are running out of time to collect the flower.

Wooyoung whined as his ears fell back.

"Maria told us what it does." Hongjoong continued, looked to her for approval. She nodded her head from where she was leaning into her mate. "She has taken it before."

The omega snapped his head to look at her. So it was possible to live through it. There was a survivor sitting right in front of him.

"I know what you are thinking." Kenneth said, his face hardening. "It's not for the faint of heart."

"Ok, will someone please tell me what is going on here?" Yunho asked, sitting up straighter. "What did I miss?" He looked at Jongho, who clenched his jaw and stared at the floor.

Jongho isn't taking it well I see...

No. But did you really expect any of them to take this well? San said, fidgeting a little.

No...

"They found a cure." Hongjoong spoke quietly. "But there's a risk." He added when he saw Yunho start to get excited. "According to Maria, its old magic that, while it could heal Wooyoung's disease, his body will try to reject it. It could kill him."

"What?! No!" Yunho tried to get off the couch, but Jongho wrapped his arms around his waist, pining his arms to his side to hold him in place. Pain crossed the alpha's face and he looked like he was about to break down as he buried his face in Yunho's back. "I just told you that you could never leave me again!" Tears formed in Yunho's eyes as he stared at Wooyoung.

Once again, Wooyoung felt his heart sinking. All they did by coming home was cause more pain...

Don't go there. San said, a low rumble coming from his chest.

Wooyoung looked at him, knowing he was right. He had to stay strong and positive. So he stood up and walked over to Yunho, sitting in front of him and placing a paw on his knee. He had to find a way to show Yunho that he thought it would be ok.

"Why w-would you want to r-risk this?" Yunho asked, still trying to break out of Jongho's grip.

The omega extended his leg to point to Yunho's stomach, then turned to look at San.

"I know, Youngie, I know." The beta said, a slight growl of frustration entering his voice.

"We know you want to have a pup." Yeosang added. "But is it really worth risking your life? Because it's not to us."

"We'd rather have you here and alive, but just be an uncle, than not be here at all." Mingi leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees and sighed deeply. "Do you really think you could even handle it?"

Wooyoung nodded immediately. He and San had spent many long hours discussing the consequences, and while San wasn't one hundred percent behind the idea, he agreed to support Wooyoung's decision.

"Youngie..." Hongjoong said, his face scrunching up in pain as he glanced at Maria. She was still curled into Kenneth's embrace.

He had to show them... Then he got an idea. Wooyoung jumped up and stared at Mingi, pointed a paw at him, then drew and 'X' on the ground.

The alpha shook his head slightly in confusion.

Wooyoung huffed and looked around the room. There was a toy sword sticking out of a toy chest in the corner, so he ran over and grabbed. He returned to standing in front of Mingi and poked the sword into his chest right over his heart.

"Oh! You killed Mingi's father!" Yeosang said.

Wooyoung nodded and then turned to Yunho and Jongho. They straightened up as he walked over and placed both paws on Jongho's legs and stood on his hind legs. He tapped Jongho's leg twice, then placed his nose against the spot where his mating mark used to be.

Jongho shivered at the contact and let out a little sigh. When the omega pulled back, he blinked a few times as they locked eyes. "You... You survived losing your mating bond twice..." He whispered.

"What?" Maria said, lifting her head off her mate's shoulder.

San let out a whimper from behind them, trying to tell Maria that it was true. Wooyoung could hear one of the others filling her in, but at this moment all he cared about was trying to show Jongho and Yunho how confident he was in his decision.

"Where can we find these flowers?" Jongho asked turning to look at Maria.

She gave him a grim look. "The mountain peaks to the west of here. They grow in the deepest know drifts, underneath the snow. Getting them is almost as dangerous as taking them."

The alpha nodded and placed his hand on the side of Wooyoung's face.

"Ok." Yunho said for the both of them. "If everyone else agrees, then we do too."

Wooyoung whined and pressed his head against Jongho's chest.

"How can we not agree?" Seonghwa said, his voice wavering a little. "He has a point. He survived losing a bond twice. That kills most wolves. Plus he did kill Alistar. Wooyoung is tougher that we give him credit for. If anyone can get through taking this, this winter snowbell, then it's him."

The omega felt his heart pound as he got agreements from the rest of his family.

Hongjoong stood up and clapped his hands twice. "Ok. What do we need to do to make this work? Maria, you said we need a separate place to set up the unlocking spell. And we will work on getting the ingredients you need. Do you know what is needed for the snowbell potion?"

"Yes. I do." She said, confidence slowly returning to her voice.

"Perfect. Now who will go look for the snowbell?"

San stood up and let out a little yap. Jongho stood too. "I'll go."

"No, you're needed here for Theo." Hongjoong said, rubbing his chin. Then he turned to Yeosang. He didn't need to say anything before his beta nodded.

"It's ok." Yeosang said with a smile. "Just don't be gone for too long."

"I love you." Hongjoong breathed, kissing Yeosang passionately.

"Seonghwa and I can do ingredient runs then." Mingi said. "Are we going to need to go far?"

"I don't think so." Maria sighed. "But I can double check. There's a few rare ingredients, but I wouldn't be surprised if one of the neighboring settlements might have them. I do have some connections."

Wooyoung felt his chest swell as his family planned how to help him. He hummed when he felt San's tongue against his neck.

It's finally happening, Sannie. We are going to have a family.

I love your optimism my love, but promise me you'll try not to get your hopes up too high. I'm still standing by my side of the deal. His tone got harsh and he stopped licking the omega's neck.

Yes, I know. Wooyoung bowed his head.

Wooyoung, look at me.

He obeyed, looking up to meet San's gaze.

I will not give up my side of the deal. I will not. If I sense that the treatment isn't working, I will not hesitate to stop giving it to you. I don't care how much you beg. I will stop it, because I will not lose you.

I wouldn't have it any other way, Sannie. I don't want to leave you.

San shook his head. I just don't want you to resent me if that happens.

I would ne-

Wooyoung. I will chose you over the potential of having a pup any day. I need you to understand that. I know this will be rough on you, but it's going to be just a rough on me, and the others. I'm sure they will support my decisions to stop the treatments if it comes to it.

Wooyoung leaned forward and nuzzled into San's neck. I'm scared too. But thank you for letting me try.

Anything for you, my love.