𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫 || 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐖𝐨𝐧

Chapter 18

Mingyu carried three heavy bags of shopping into the house.

“I’m back,” he called. “And I brought marshmallows.”

Wonwoo had idly mentioned a love of marshmallows during their visit to the movies, in everything from s’mores to hot chocolate. And with all the progress he had been making, Mingyu thought he deserved a treat or two.

Silence echoed through the house, followed by the unhappy cry of a cat. Mingyu set the bags on the kitchen table, a shiver running through him as he spied the open back door.

“Wonwoo?”

The omega didn’t have a habit of leaving doors open, which Mingyu assumed came in part from growing up in a regimented household. He walked to the door, almost tripping over Spot, who hurried to greet him, rubbing against his ankles.

“I’m glad you’re happy to see me, but you’re not getting more food. You had your share this morning.”

Stepping around Spot, he went outside.

“Wonwoo? Are you out here?”

An unnatural stillness greeted him, and his shifter animal was suddenly on high alert. He crossed the yard, looking around as he tried to pick up what was causing his unease. And then he saw the upturned wheelbarrow next to the shed. He walked toward it, staying vigilant as he tried to work out what had happened.

“Wonwoo?”

Crouching, he righted the wheelbarrow. Wonwoo’s scent was strong at that spot, suggesting he’d been there, but as Mingyu straightened up, he caught another scent. It was faint and unfamiliar, but definitely alpha.

“Wonwoo!”

He ducked inside the shed, the scent stronger within.

Someone had been there very recently. Mingyu started searching, alternating between calling and listening. The other outbuildings didn’t shed any light on the situation, and there was still no sign of Wonwoo. Throwing off his clothes, Mingyu shifted. He needed his senses at their best if he had any hope of tracking the omega. To start, he returned to the wheelbarrow, confirming Wonwoo’s scent there plus one—no, two—strangers. One alpha, one beta.

The stronger of Wonwoo’s scent trails led back to the house, but Mingyu followed the weaker, the one that was intermingled with the intruders’ scents. It led through the trees and over to the side gate of the orchard. The gate was open, swinging in the wind, the lock broken. Outside, the scents disappeared, but Mingyu found tire tracks and traces of gas. Whoever it was, they were gone. And they’d taken Wonwoo with them.

His first thought was that it was Wonwoo’s team. Had they come after him, tracked him down? The thought made his blood run cold. He raced back to his clothes, shifting and dressing quickly. He had to call Seungcheol.

As he approached the house, he jolted to a stop when he caught sight of the back door swinging in the breeze, something out of place on it. He hurried closer. Nailed to it was a picture of Wonwoo, the omega’s eyes shut, his face slack. And hanging from the nail was a clear plastic bag with a phone.

No.

This wasn’t Wonwoo’s team. They’d want revenge. They wouldn’t have left any trace that they’d been there. And they certainly wouldn’t seek contact with whoever was left behind. Which meant this wasn’t about Wonwoo. This was about him. They’d found him, seen Wonwoo with him, and decided the omega was as good as any leverage they were likely to find.

His hands shaking, he pulled out the rusty nail and stared at the picture of Wonwoo. He looked like he was in a heavy sleep, a mockery of peaceful slumber. Had they drugged him? The idea made his stomach churn. Forcing his attention away from the omega’s still face, he opened the plastic bag and took out the phone. It turned on with the press of a button, and he found a single number programmed into it. They were waiting for his call.