"Is he still alive?" The captain of the Alpha's guard inquired as he and two of his men stood outside the cell holding the unconscious prince. Yejin held in a scowl but did not stop his gaze from piercing through the beta as he extended his hand and demanded, "Key, please."

"In a rush, are we?" The captain lifted a brow as he looped his finger through the ring attached to his belt that housed an array of keys. "Mmmm, let's see...where did I put the key...?"

Seeing how the captain was in no hurry to release Jae, Yejin clenched his jaw before drawing his sword and swinging it over his head, much to the beta's surprise. A loud clank sounded as Yejin sliced through the lock on the cell door before smoothly sheathing his blade.

"What do you think you are doing?" The captain asked in a raged shock as Yejin opened the iron bar door and entered the cell before stooping down and laying the prince over his shoulder.

"His day is up. You have no right to stop me," Yejin reminded the beta when he exited the cell and started toward the stairs. "Good day, Captain."

"Where are you taking him?" The beta called after the alpha as Yejin ascended the stone steps. Ignoring the beta's request, Yejin quickly brought his prince out of the dark hole of the dungeons where a saddled Tran was waiting in the courtyard outside.

A small cart was hooked up to Tran beside which stood a silent Yehwa. The beta quickly went to her brother's side when she saw him emerge with the prince. With the help of the beta, Yejin gently laid the prince in the cart before mounting his steed. 

"We'll be back in a few days," Yejin informed the beta as he took ahold of Tran's reigns. Yehwa nodded her head in response before quietly bidding, "Be safe."

The alpha smiled at his sister before tapping his heels into Tran's sides to spur the vorst into a slow trot. Yehwa watched Yejin ride out of the courtyard and into the palace grounds before leaving to find someone dear to her. Watching the delta and theta be punished for loving each other caused Yehwa to long for the one she loved but could not have, so the beta set off in search of her one to watch over them from afar.

Yehwa was intentional in hiding her fated one from her family of royals not only due to her loyalty to the Luna but also for the safety of her mate. However, Yehwa could not ignore the intense longing she felt for her mate; thus she searched for a method to dampen her bond with her fated one causing her to seek help from Estan. Finding no solution, as the sigma had refused her help saying such a bond was not meant to be dampened, Yehwa had resorted to watching over her fated one from afar.

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

"Woah," Yejin voiced while pulling on Tran's reigns to bring the vorst to a stop. The alpha examined his surroundings to make sure the vicinity was safe before dismounting and grabbing Tran's bridle to lead him up to the cabin situated atop a hill overlooking the palace.

After searching the cabin and making sure it was secure, Yejin carefully brought his prince into the small abode and laid him on the bed. Yejin then tied Tran's reins to a tree just outside the cabin and grabbed a medical pack that had been prepared by Estan from the cart before entering the cabin and closing the door behind him.

The next hour found Yejin gently cleaning and dressing Jae's wounds. The true blood did not move nor make a sound while Yejin tended to him. Once Jae's wounds had been wrapped, Yejin left the prince to rest and set to cleaning the cabin. Yejin released a breath as he looked at the small home. Chairs were fallen on the ground, books and papers lay scattered and torn, and two cups were shattered on the floor; all were evidence of the cruel fight that took place just a day and a half prior resulting in the near-death of Haikon and Xander.

Yejin clenched his jaw as he studied the evidence of the fight. The delta and theta had been discovered during the banquet and harshly dragged to the Alpha in front of the visiting packs. And it was intentional. The timing was too perfect. Someone wanted the delta and theta dead, and Yejin needed to find out who. It was known that Haikon and Xander were friends with the prince, so the possibility that they were targeted to hurt the prince was very probable. This gave Yejin even more reason to find the culprit behind the theta and delta's attack.

Taking in the scene, Yejin documented each scent that lingered in the cabin. The strongest scents were those of the theta and delta; their scents clung to each object in the cabin, but Yejin was also able to detect very faint traces of five alphas all of which were foreign smells to him. Blood stained the furniture and walls, and Yejin hated having Jae stay in such a location to heal, but if Yejin was going to get to the bottom of everything and tend to Jae at the same time, this was the place to be.

Not minding about food or drink, Yejin continued to work hard at deciphering the crime scene. The alpha did not waste time trying to find something to eat or drink as he knew Estan would be visiting the cabin shortly. The gamma had planned on bringing the alpha food and supplies on his trip to check on Jae and help care for him. Yejin, however, did begin to worry when his mate did not appear for another three hours. Estan was well aware when Jae's day was up and when Yejin took the true blood to the cabin, so why hadn't he come?

Yejin had also not heard from Estan since he linked the gamma while on his way to the cabin and was about to leave to search for his mate when Estan's voice appeared in his mind. Hey love.

Hey, Estan. Yejin was quick to respond to the gamma's greeting. Is everything okay?

A few seconds of silence passed before Estan replied. I can't find Syri. I had put him in Jae's room to rest while I tended to Kace. But when I went to bring him something to eat, he was gone. I've been looking everywhere, but I can't find him. I don't know what happened. I don't know if he's okay. What do I do, Jin? The worry in Estan's voice was apparent as he revealed his concern for Syri's safety.

Yejin thought for a moment before answering. For now, find Yehwa and ask her to look for Syri. While she is doing that, come and check on Jae. And once you're done checking on Jae, you can go and help Yehwa look for Syri. Yejin knew Estan was worried for the zeta, but he also needed the gamma to tend to Jae so that the prince would wake up as soon as he was able.

Estan was on the verge of tears when he responded. I can't find Yehwa. I looked for her already. Den is also away with Kace. I don't know of anyone who can track him.

Yejin fell silent as he pondered for a solution. What about the stables? Syri had friends there who are alphas and betas. They should know his scent and can help you find him.

Oh! You're a genius, love! Estan thanked the moon goddess that his mate was highly intelligent before bidding farewell. I'll let you know when I meet with Syri's friends at the stables. And I'll get to the cabin as quickly as I can.

Okay, I'll see you then, Estan. I love you.

I love you too!

With that, Estan's voice left Yejin's mind, and the alpha returned to assessing the cabin while the prince continued to rest and heal.

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

The morning sun seeped into the zeta's room, casting a warm glow onto the cozy space. Syri brought his hands above his head in a refreshing stretch before opening his eyes and peering around the room. How had he gotten there? Syri thought back to the night before for a good moment before hazily recalling Calix lifting him into his arms at the stables and carrying him back to the dorms. A sense of warmth spread through the zeta when he remembered he was safe with his friends. The alpha prince of Black Moon would have no reason to go to the stables, so Syri was sure he would remain safe until Jae's return.

The warmth was soon replaced with a sinking worry when Syri thought of Jae and what he could be going through at that moment. Was the prince alright? Recalling Seth's evil sneer and cold words, Syri prayed with all his might that Jae would survive this new ordeal. After lifting a prayer to the moon goddess, Syri shook his head to clear his thoughts of Seth's dark grin and swung his legs over the side of the bed to get ready for the day. Syri did not have the heart to waste his friends' goodness and had full intent to work for his stay. So, the zeta quickly dressed and rushed out of the door to help with the stables.

Syri turned his face to the morning sky as he walked through the palace grounds to the stables. A gentle breeze blew through his pink hair, and a deep breath helped the zeta to distract his mind from the pain that throbbed in his arm. The wound had stopped bleeding thanks to the bandage and medicine placed on it by Calix, but the pain had yet to subside. Based on the depth and severity of the wound, it would take a couple of weeks to heal, and since it was dealt by the claws of an alpha, the scars would forever remain.

The zeta brought his face back down and returned his gaze to the front of him as he approached the stables. Kip and the crew had already brought their steeds back from the fields and were busy feeding and cleaning the steeds. A slender figure standing just in front of Syri on the path leading to the stables caught the zeta's attention. The woman's back was to him, but it was the sword strapped to her waist that caused Syri to stop in his tracks. Syri recognized her as the one who would come with news to Jae and escort him to the hall.

The woman's long dark hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and her arms were down by her side. Her movement of straining to see into the stables piqued Syri's interest. What was this highly-trained, deadly official doing at the stables?

After a moment of peering into the stables, the woman quickly turned around, startling Syri. Her light blue eyes locked with Syri's brown orbs, and she seemed surprised to see the zeta standing before her. Recognizing the zeta as the future mate of the crown prince, the woman bowed her head respectfully before walking past Syri and away from the stables. Syri quickly bowed to the woman as she passed him before watching her leave with slight confusion. What was she doing at the stables? Was she looking for someone?

The woman was quick to leave the zeta's sight, so Syri turned back to face the stables and was about to continue his walk when a familiar scent wafted past his nose. The zeta's heart began to race when he smelled it, but he had not the faintest idea as to why. He recognized the scent, but it did not belong to anyone he knew well. The scent rapidly became stronger until its source was standing right behind the zeta. Syri held his breath when he felt the presence of a beta behind him. Turning, Syri found himself staring into a pair of warm brown eyes.