"May I speak with you?"

The deep voice behind Syri startled the zeta. He had been staring out the window watching the moon cross the night sky. Estan had heard from Yejin that the response party had arrived and was investigating the scene of the slaughter, and Syri's thoughts had been filled with concerns and prayers that Jae would remain safe throughout this conflict. Although he had been enveloped in his thoughts, somewhere in the back of his mind, Syri had been expecting to receive word from the person behind him.

Immediately recognizing who was speaking, Syri turned around to confirm Brenton standing before him. The rho had his head bent to the ground to avoid eye contact. Syri's heart began to ache when he saw the rho's ashamed and broken expression.

Knowing their past would need to be resolved in order for the time they would spend together as guard and Ante Luna to be as painless as possible, Syri had decided to hear Brenton out and see what he had to say. Although what had happened deeply scarred Syri, he knew it was the wolf inside Brenton who had hurt him, not Brenton himself.

However, Syri kept his guard up while around Brenton for he was not certain whether or not Brenton could control his wolf as of then. Maintaining a non-affected expression, Syri answered, "You may."

"Thank you." Brenton's hands clenched together as he prepared to speak, illustrating how nervous he was to speak to Syri. However, Brenton remained silent for a few, long moments. Syri was not sure whether he would actually be able to talk to him.

What Brenton did next caused Syri to widen his eyes and take a step back. Brenton got down on his knees and touched his forehead to the floor. "I am incredibly sorry for the wrong I have done to you. I have no excuse; I was weak and could not control the wolf inside me or my greed for you. I do not ask for your forgiveness. I merely want to take responsibility for what I had done."

Syri remained quiet as Brenton began to cry. This was the first time Brenton had cried since running out of the cabin after regaining consciousness to see Syri bare and betrayed by what he had done. After joining the pann, Brenton put himself through ruthless training to become stronger and learn to control his wolf. Unlike other werewolves whose human and wolf pairs lived in harmony, Brenton had always been in conflict with his rho. After losing a dear friend to the actions of his wolf, Brenton swore to himself he would not allow the rho to get the best of him again.

"I am so sorry, Syri," Brenton choked on his words as he cried out the remainder of his tears before rising back to his feet and looking at the zeta through wet eyes. "Please allow me to guard and protect you. I am here as a pann, and I swore to perform my duties to the fullest. I know it won't right my wrongs, and I understand if you wish to request for a different pann, but I swear to guard you with my life even if I die trying."

Syri's eyes filled with tears at Brenton's genuine plea. The rho's resolve could be seen clearly in his eyes. He was determined to protect Syri no matter the circumstances. A tear rolled down the zeta's cheek as he recalled his memories with Brenton and the good times they had together. Time had passed since Brenton and Syri last saw each other, and neither of them were the same person anymore. They had undergone their own trials and tribulations to end up where they were now, face to face with the other.

Understanding Brenton's plea to make things right, Syri nodded his head slightly before responding to the rho. "I have no intention of asking for a replacement, nor do I wish to evade you or what you had done to me. I understand you had no control over your wolf and that you, too, were hurt by your actions. I have healed, and there is nothing to forgive regarding you and me."

Syri fell silent for a moment as he gathered his thoughts before continuing, "But I cannot forgive your wolf. He did something that I will never be able to forget. I do not wish to see or speak to him unless he is begging for forgiveness."

Brenton was impressed by the strength in Syri's response. The zeta had grown immensely since their last interaction and now held a deep sense of self-respect and belief. "You went through intense training to become a pann, so please use your skill and strength to ensure I will not have to interact with your rho unless in the direst of situations."

Brenton looked Syri straight in the eyes and bowed his head before answering, "You have my word."

Brenton had no qualms with keeping his wolf locked up inside him. All his life, the rho had been aggressive and possessive over lower-ranking wolves, so Brenton had no objections to keeping him from possibly harming another wolf. He had not spoken to his wolf since regaining consciousness in the cabin and had no intentions to speak to him ever again so long as he remained aggressive.

Happy that he would be able to remain by Syri's side and protect the zeta, Brenton gave the Ante Luna a small smile before gesturing to the corridor that stretched out before the two. "You should get some rest, Ante Luna. We have long days ahead."

"Ae," Syri agreed, returning the small smile that had been gifted to him. "As should you. There is no telling what the future holds for us. We should get all the rest we can while we are still able to afford such a luxury."

Nodding in agreement, Brenton followed the zeta away from the window at which they had been standing before separating to go to their respective rooms to rest. Brenton smiled to himself as he lay down on the soft bed. The rho stared at the ceiling as he processed the past day. Fear and shame had washed through Brenton when he saw Syri standing at the top of the steps next to the Prime Luna. He had thought he would never see the zeta again, and yet, there they were, standing before each other as pann and Ante Luna.

Approaching Syri to apologize sincerely was the hardest thing Brenton had done in his life. He had fallen for the zeta harder than he ever thought he could and had hurt him deeper than he ever thought possible. Knowing that Syri had found happiness and love had relieved some of Brenton's concern for the zeta, but he knew he would need to resolve the conflict and hurt between them as much as he could if he were to stay beside Syri for the foreseeable future and guard him closely.

Brenton was relieved that he and Syri had come to a compromise, but he knew he would need to remain on guard when he was next to Syri and maintain a professional relationship between the zeta and himself. Syri was the Ante Luna and betrothed mate to Crimson Night's Alpha. He and Brenton were on different levels. No matter how much Brenton longed to rekindle the warm friendship the two had months ago, he knew their past and present circumstances prevented their relationship from evolving past anything more than pann and Ante Luna.

Satisfied with remaining next to Syri and guarding him as best he could, Brenton vowed to himself that he would do his best to protect Syri from the rho hosted within him and any outside threats who had the intention of harming the zeta.

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>

Syri looked around at the numerous people surrounding him. He was unused to being in the presence of so many people at every waking hour. To mention a few, Aki, Insea, the four pann, Armina, and Estan had remained close to the zeta ever since he had woken from a short nap following the arrival of the pann.

Estan, in particular, refused to leave Syri's side. Syri did not mind having his brother, mother, and Estan close to him for prolonged amounts of time, but the addition of the four pann was a bit much. However, their presence was the one thing Syri could not refuse. Armina had requested them specifically for Syri's protection, so the zeta could not bring himself to turn them away.

Brenton's indifference and professionalism toward the zeta impressed Syri, and he could tell that Brenton had grown as both a pann and a person in the time they had been apart. After the initial introduction, the pann had returned to the precaution of wearing their masks for the duration of the time they were in public. Being highly trained and accruing many enemies, the league was famous for mask-wearing as a means of protecting its pann's identities and anonymity.

The group had just finished a meeting with the officers, who had remained at the palace to defend the castle and nearby villages from any possible threats, and were on their way to eat a light meal before meeting with the village chief to discuss evacuation plans should they be necessary.

Just as the group reached the small dining room, Aki took Syri by the hand and brought the zeta to the side. Syri looked up at his brother, whose face had fallen, and quietly waited for the beta's explanation of pulling him aside. The four pann had stopped just before the door to the dining room and waited for the Ante Luna at a respectful distance.

"I've been recalled to Eternal Dawn," Aki began, his voice low and solemn. "The pack is getting uneasy with the attack so close to the border."

Syri gave Aki a small smile before nodding his head. "I understand. How long will you be gone?"

"I'm not sure. It could be until this matter is resolved which could take a few days to a few years."

"When do you leave?"

"Tonight."

Syri released a breath at the beta's answer. The zeta bit his lip and dropped his gaze to the floor. So soon? I just got you and Mom back...

Aki heard Syri's words through the link and set his hand on the zeta's shoulder. He understood his brother's sentiments. Sometimes it was easier to relay emotions and thoughts through the link rather than spoken words. Aki also did not want to return to Eternal Dawn so soon. He would rather stay with his brother whom he had just found, but his pack was preparing for a war that was very possible to come. As future Beta, it was Aki's duty to protect Eternal Dawn to the best of his abilities.

"There's something I'd like to do before I leave." Aki's words drew the zeta's gaze back up, and he put on a small smile for his brother. "Follow me?"

Syri nodded up at his brother and quickly followed the beta down the corridor away from the dining room. Reem, Brenton, Haikon, and Xander promptly followed the beta and zeta at a distance as the six made their way outside the castle and onto the palace grounds.

Bringing Syri onto a bridge that crossed a stream leading to the large pond at the back of the garden, Aki stopped and turned to face his brother before taking Syri's hands in his. The pann remained on the flat ground just behind the bridge and stood with their backs to the two in a protective stance, scanning their surroundings for any signs of danger.

"This is something I was going to wait and let Father do," Aki began after releasing a breath, "but it's best to do it now. You were taken before you were old enough to be added to the pack link, but I think it's time you heard the voices of your family."

Syri's eyes widened, and a huge smile came to his face. He had always longed for a pack link and to be included in the expansive family, and now, his dream was coming true. Syri followed Aki in closing his eyes, his hands still in his brother's.

At first, complete silence filled his mind. The sound of the wind in the trees, the chirping of the insects, the milling about of palace workers, everything was silent. Then, he heard the sound of his own breathing, then Aki's, and then there were gasps and voices of excitement until Syri's mind was filled with happy murmurs.

There's a new one. It began with one voice.

Someone's been added. Then another chimed in.

It's Beta Tora's youngest son!

The lost one?

He's returned! And soon, there were multiple voices in Syri's mind, the voices of his pack.

Welcome to the family, Syri!

Welcome, Syri.

Welcome!

Tears filled Syri's eyes at the many congratulatory welcomes and inquiries into his health and if he would be visiting Eternal Dawn any time soon.

Now, now, everyone. Don't overload him. Syri's racing heart stilled at Aki's calm voice as his brother entered the chat. He's still getting used to having the link.

"What do you think?" Aki's voice brought Syri out of his mind, and the zeta opened his eyes to see the beta looking at him affectionately. "Is it too much?"

Syri shook his head in response. "No, I love it."

"Good," Aki smiled. "But if it does become too overwhelming, you can dim the voices to be just emotions and small pulses in your mind. You can always tune in later to see what people are talking about. Most of the time, it's just nonsense and pack gossip. You won't be able to tune out Alpha Gen's voice, but he only chimes in if there is something important to announce."

"Thank you," Syri beamed up at the beta. He was excited to now be linked with his pack.

"With this came the family link, too, so you can talk to Father, Mother, and me whenever you'd like," Aki added.

"Wow." The one word was all Syri could muster out of him as he reopened his link to the pack and continued to listen to the news and events that were happening in his large family.

"Once you become Jae's mate and mark each other, you'll also have access to Crimson Night's link, so learning how to mediate both pack links will be something you'll want to practice," Aki suggested as he watched Syri's happy reactions to the voices in the link.

"Mm!" Syri sounded in agreement before returning to listening to Eternal Dawn's family link.

Oh, Syri. What a treasure you are. Aki kept these thoughts to himself as he watched Syri slowly begin to interact with other members of the pack. The world has been too cruel to you. I wish I could've found you sooner. But, now that have, I will do everything in my power to make sure the world is cruel to you no more. I promise. I'd gladly give my life to protect you, my sweet brother.