TWM | MW [✔]

16.

Hours of fruitless searching through the woods, and Mingyu had to face facts—Wonwoo was really gone. Rina was still missing too, which didn't bode well. All Hyunseob could tell them about the talisman was that it was sorcerer in origin, used to communicate a message. A message probably meant for Wonwoo. Jinseok was still out with his hunters, searching the woods around the pack. The rest of the alphas were gathered with Namjoon and Hyunseob.

"Let me go to the Ongs' place," Mingyu insisted once more, torn between yelling at Namjoon and pleading with him.

"We don't know that they're the ones who took Rina," Seungcheol said again.

"They're the most powerful sorcerers in a hundred miles. Who else would dare?"

"If we assume that they took Rina as collateral to get Wonwoo back, then our best option right now is to wait and see if both Rina and Wonwoo return safely."

"Why would they let Wonwoo go?" Mingyu demanded. "They took Rina to force our hand and make us give him back."

"Once he explains..."

Mingyu laughed. "Explains what? We stole him, Namjoon. Held him here against his will."

Hyunseob's quiet voice interjected. "He doesn't see it like that, not anymore. Once they understand that..."

"The Ongs took Wonwoo away from his druid family by force, used threats to keep him in line. When he tells them about us, they'll do whatever they can to keep us apart."

Namjoon and Hyunseob exchanged a look. They hadn't been aware of the lengths the Ongs had gone to.

"Then we focus on getting Rina back. Once we're sure she's safe, we'll do what we can to negotiate with the Ongs for Wonwoo," Namjoon said.

They all knew that was pointless. Their pack had nothing of value they could bargain with. The Ongs would laugh in their faces.

Namjoon glanced west, canting his head to the side. Mingyu followed his gaze, but it was his ears that caught on first. Someone was running their way, one of the betas from the yard. Yeonjun stepped forward to meet the wolf, dropping to a crouch next to him, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"The Ongs called the scrapyard. They've let Rina go about ten miles north of here."

"Find Jinseok," Namjoon said to Yeonjun. "Tell him to take the cars and bring her home."

Mingyu was prepared to accompany them, but Namjoon stopped him.

"No, Mingyu. Yeonjun will go with them. We need you here. Freeing her that far away might be an attempt to lure as many of our fighters from the pack as possible. Our boundary can't be left vulnerable right now."

He opened his mouth to argue with Namjoon, but the alpha was quicker.

"As soon as they've returned with her, you can go to the Ongs. I give you my word, Mingyu. But the pack has to come first."

Mingyu reluctantly subsided, forcing back his instinct to say to hell with it and go after his mate. He couldn't put the pack at risk. Wonwoo wouldn't want him to.

"I'm going to watch the boundary. The second Jinseok and the others cross back..."

"You have my full blessing to leave. You may want to consider bringing Hyunseob with you. The Ongs won't even see you if he isn't present." Being their only mage, Hyunseob was their sole ambassador to the magic world.

Mingyu turned toward Hyunseob. The mage was sitting nearby with Kwangho, a blanket over his shoulders. Mingyu didn't think he'd ever seen him look so frail. He crouched down in front of them.