TWM | MW [✔]

15.

The message from the talisman was simple. His uncle's work, naturally—elegant but to the point. The Ongs had taken Rina, Jinseok's missing beta. She'd be released unharmed once Wonwoo was returned to them. Mingyu would never let him go, but the pack wouldn't survive more loss. It wouldn't be just one, either. They'd keep taking wolves—or worse—until they got what they wanted. Wonwoo had to go back.

Jinseok's hunters weren't paying much attention, and Mingyu had taken off in such a hurry that he hadn't left any of his betas to watch over Wonwoo. It wasn't hard for him to slip across the boundary, though he was careful to cross at a section that he'd reinforced himself. He focused hard to dampen his energy with magic. It would make it harder for Mingyu to sense him crossing. Once outside the pack, he broke into a run, using the sun to guide him. Even his weak sorcerer magic had been enough to use the talisman to send his uncle a reply. It meant that when he finally emerged from the trees onto a road, there was a car idling there, waiting for him.

He got in the back, nodding to Shindong, his uncle's right-hand man.

"Let Rina go."

"Rina? Oh, you mean the wolf. All in good time, Wonwoo. Your uncle wants to see you first. He needs to ensure that you've been returned unharmed."

The driver got them on the road, the sudden motion pushing Wonwoo back into his seat. It took him a minute to figure out what Shindong had meant. His uncle wanted to make sure that Wonwoo was still useful to him—that he hadn't been bonded. Only then would he let his leverage go. Wonwoo would talk to him; he would make him understand that he belonged with Mingyu. What they had was a true bond. Not a training bond, not whatever profitable arrangement his sorcerer 'family' had seen fit to make for him.

"How did you capture Rina?"

From what Mingyu had said, a lot of sorcerers wouldn't tangle with wolves directly. Yet, there was no sign that Maken Pack or any other wolf had been involved.

Through the rearview mirror, he saw Shindong roll his eyes. "Magic. Wolves are arrogant enough to think that they have all the power."

"I'm not sure you proved them wrong by capturing Rina."

As far as Wonwoo knew, she was one of the youngest, and therefore weakest, of the hunters. They hadn't tried to capture Jinseok or one of the older betas. It had been a calculated move on their part. But that was his experience of sorcerers—risk as little as possible for the most gain.

"Here we are, going to all this trouble to rescue you. Are you sure you want to piss me off?" Shindong asked.

"You didn't 'rescue' me. I walked out of there of my own free will once I realized you'd taken Rina."

The expression on Shindong's face changed, becoming guarded.

"It's taken us weeks to find you. Your uncle's been so worried."

Wonwoo scoffed and turned his gaze to the window, staring out. He knew what his uncle had been upset about—the break in his training contract, the potential of losing his value if they didn't get him back. If he was going to get everything he wanted, then he'd have to find a way to spin this that would convince his uncle there was something in this for the Ongs. But first, he had to make sure Rina was returned safely.

They drove into town, the familiar sight sending a wave of nervous anticipation through Wonwoo. The car pulled up at the gates, which opened to let them in after a brief pause. Wonwoo's stomach did somersaults as they drove down into the underground lot beneath the house. He wasn't looking forward to facing his uncle again, though somehow he'd known he would always end up back here.

"Your uncle is waiting in his office," Shindong prompted when Wonwoo was slow to get out of the car.

Wonwoo rolled his eyes and climbed out, traipsing after Shindong as he led the way upstairs.