RA | YG [✔]

17.

"Father," Jungwon's quiet voice came from across the clearing and Soonyoung's head shot up.

"Jungwon?" he said incredulously and took a step towards him. Then he stopped. "They captured you?" Soonyoung swung around back to Beomgyu, his dagger raised high, fury descending on his features. Beomgyu tried to shrink back but the guard holding him pinned his arms behind him cruelly. Taehyun growled but the knife remained pressed to Beomgyu's throat.

"No Father, no!" Jungwon shouted. "Beomgyu is my friend. He hasn't hurt me."

The roar that made the ground shake hurt Beomgyu's ears even as he could have cried with relief knowing that Yeonjun was back. The huge white wolf that charged into the clearing made his heart jolt. Soonyoung dragged Beomgyu away from his man and pulled him back to his chest. The knife flashed as it was pressed to his throat. "Let my son go or your mate dies!" he shouted.

The wolf bowed its head and in seconds, Yeonjun stood there in its place.

"I mean it," Soonyoung threatened.

Yeonjun opened his arms in a conciliatory move. "Jungwon, go to your father."

Jungwon moved closer to Beomgyu. "Father, I'm not a prisoner. They weren't the ones who attacked the village. Please let Beomgyu go."

Soonyoung scoffed. "If you had been free to leave, you would have found me. They captured you to taunt me after they massacred everyone."

"No, Father," Jungwon said sadly. "I wasn't in the village. I was meeting my mate when the attack happened and I was too scared of what you would say to tell you I was alive."

Soonyoung stared at his son incredulously and let go of Beomgyu to grab Jungwon by the arm. "You let me think you were dead?"

Jungwon nodded miserably. "I'm sorry." Soonyoung shook Jungwon's arm angrily and Taehyun jumped up, snarling, only to have a rebel step forward and threaten him with a spear. Jungwon glanced back. "Taehyun, I'm all right. But you need to be careful."

Soonyoung looked at Taehyun, then back at Jungwon, completely at a loss.

"Can I suggest we sit and talk?" Yeonjun raised his voice. "You outnumber us and threaten two of our mates. I also have an injured man." He glanced as Hyunjin, fully human, ran into the clearing with Minji and headed for Jeongin. "We just want to talk."

Soonyoung glanced back at Jungwon. Beomgyu could see him absorb the information and realize Yeonjun included his son in that sentence. He dropped his son's arm. Jungwon deliberately took two steps back to where the fire glowed then sat down. He looked expectantly at his father.

Soonyoung glanced back at his men. "Watch them."

Hyunjin gently leaned Jeongin back into his chest, murmuring quietly in his ear. Minji quickly tore strips of cloth to bind his cut.

Beomgyu took a step forward, only to have one of his arms nearly wrenched out of his socket as Jinseok grabbed him quickly. He yanked Beomgyu back into his chest and for the second time, Beomgyu was held with a knife to his throat.

Yeonjun froze, staring in Beomgyu's direction. "Jinseok? What the fuck are you doing?"

Beomgyu didn't even dare swallow. Another gamma nearest to Jinseok dropped to his knees. "Forgive me, Sire." Jinseok growled at the other gamma, presumably in disgust.

Yeonjun ignored him, not taking his eyes off Beomgyu—off Jinseok. "I assume you were paid to betray us?"

Behind him, Beomgyu heard Jinseok scoff. "You can't be allowed to rule Askara. Look how soft you have been on the humans in Caedra. It's disgusting. Paying the unlicensed humans a wage? You betray your own kind, not the other way around."