Syri held his breath as he stared up at the white-haired male standing before him. It's you again. The zeta recognized the man from the time in the castle just before Jae found him during the banquet. Just like then, the man's eyes were caring, and his gaze was soft. However, his gaze turned to worry when his eyes swam to the blood-stained cloth wrapped around Syri's arm.

"You're hurt." Reaching out, the man attempted to check on the wound, but Syri shrank away from him, causing the white-haired to withdraw his hand and smile softly. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." The man's voice was gentle and warm, just like his eyes. "I've been looking for you for a long time...Syri."

It was no surprise to the zeta that the man knew his name; he had spoken it once before. But Syri could not resist the curiosity that filled him upon hearing his name come out of a stranger's mouth. "How do you know my name?" Syri inquired, his brows furrowing. "Have we met before?"

"Yes," the man answered with a nod. "A very long time ago." A small smile came to the man's lips when Syri inquired, "When? Where did we meet?"

"We-"

"Wait," Syri spoke suddenly, stopping the man from continuing. The white-haired scrunched his brows at Syri's interjection, but he held his tongue and waited patiently for the zeta to sort his thoughts. Syri turned his gaze toward the ground as his mind swam with potential outcomes and consequences if he were to hear what the man had to say. "If this is about my past, kindly refrain from telling me."

Taken aback by Syri's request, the man cocked his head to the side and asked, "Why? Why would you not want to know? Haven't you wondered why you can't link any wolves?"

Syri's head snapped up at the man's words. It was true that Syri had always wondered why he could not link any werewolves he had met. But he did not need another conflict to enter his life at that moment. Too much had happened in the past seventy-two hours, and Syri did not want to have to deal with anything more. So, whatever the white-haired had to say to Syri would have to wait. If it had been unknown to the zeta for eighteen years, it could remain unknown for a few more days. First, Syri needed to make sure Jae made it through his punishment and recovery. Secondly, he needed to tend to his wound. And thirdly, he needed to figure out how to calm down the frantic gamma rushing toward him from the stables.

Turning to the man standing in front of him, Syri gave a quick bow before apologizing, "I am sorry, but now is just not a good time. Please give me a few days." With that, the zeta walked around the white-haired and hurried to Estan who immediately took Syri into his arms. Confused at the zeta's response, Aki watched the gamma hug Syri affectionately before shaking his head slightly and turning from the zeta. Syri's request sparked sadness in the beta, but Aki did not want to rush Syri into something he did not want and decided to wait until the zeta was ready to hear what he had to say.

"Where have you been?!! I've been looking everywhere for you. Do you know how worried I was when I went to Jae's room and couldn't find you? What happened? Are you alright?" Syri remained quiet until Estan had finished battering him with a million questions. Syri was opening his mouth to answer when a gasp left Estan's lips. Syri followed Estan's gaze to the bandage poking out from underneath the sleeve of his shirt as the gamma said, "I smell blood. Did you get hurt?"

Syri's unhurt hand instinctively moved to cover the wound on his arm before the zeta reluctantly nodded his head. "Ae, but it's not serious. My friends at the stable dressed it, so it should be fine in a few days."

"Well, that's for me to decide. Your friends' aid is much appreciated, but they are not physicians. Come, let me take a look, Little One." Estan's tone was serious, but it was not blaming, nor was he angry. Estan was upset that Syri had not gone to him upon being injured, but he also was relieved that he had found the zeta.

Syri nodded in agreement before reaching out and taking Estan's outstretched hand. Estan smiled at the zeta softly before gently closing his hand over Syri's and leading the zeta away from the stables and into the palace.

"How did this happen?" Estan inquired of Syri as he unwrapped the bandage, revealing the gruesome wounds. "Who hurt you?" Silence filled the room when Syri lowered his head, lifting it only to ask the gamma one thing. "How is Jae?"

Estan released a sigh at the zeta's inability to worry about himself as he set to touching up the cleaning of the wound. "He is still unconscious. Yejin has him resting in the delta's cabin."

"When will he wake up?" Syri asked when Estan grabbed a fresh roll of white medicinal cloth.

"Soon...soon."

Syri remained silent as Estan completed dressing his wound, suddenly feeling exhausted when the gamma stood to put away his medical kit. The zeta had had a stressful and painful day, and his exhaustion was finally catching up to him. "Rest on one of the beds for a bit. I'll make some hot tea."

"Mmm," Syri hummed in agreement and swung his legs onto the bed he was perched on. "Thank you, Inso." A yawn followed the zeta's word of thanks, causing Estan to smile at the pink-haired softly.

"Of course, Little One. Sleep well." Estan's words were like a charm, and before he knew it, Syri was passed out asleep on the bed. Estan gently tucked the blanket beneath Syri's chin before going to his office space and sinking into the chair by his desk.

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

A pained groan woke the resting alpha, and Yejin shot straight up at the sound of his prince being in pain. Yejin rushed to the bed to see Jae sitting up against the headboard with a pained expression. "Jae!" Yejin exclaimed when the true blood attempted to turn and stand from the bed. "You shouldn't move just yet. You're still healing." Yejin's warning did not seem to stop the prince as Jae took a breath before standing to his feet and walking toward the table at the right end of the cabin.

"And I'll still be healing tomorrow and the day after," Jae voiced in response as he picked up a pitcher resting on the table and poured water into a mug before taking a hearty drink. "How long was I out?"

"Almost two days."

"What is the situation with my father?" Jae inquired, setting down the mug before roaming around the cabin in search of his shirt.

"The Alpha has been quiet. The Luna has decreed that your father will not be able to touch you or Syri until the duel." Jae halted his search at the name of the zeta. "How is he? ...Syri?"

"He is resting in the infirmary. Estan found him at the stables," Yejin answered while stooping to pick up the prince's shirt where he had thrown it onto the floor when he had undressed Jae to tend to his wounds.

"What is Syri doing in the infirmary? What do you mean Estan found him?" Jae's tone was serious as he inquired of the alpha. 

Yejin straightened his stance and took a small breath before answering. "Syri had gone missing for about a day. Estan had come to check on you, and when he returned to the palace, Syri was nowhere to be found. After searching for a half day, Estan found him standing outside the stables with a wound on his arm. He hasn't told Estan anything about what happened or how he was injured."

"I am going to him," Jae determined as he took his shirt from Yejin's outstretched hands and pulled it over his head.

"Thought you might say that," Yejin exhaled. "Ajax is waiting for you outside." The alpha gestured to the door of the cabin with a tilt of his head.

"Thanks, Yej," Jae thanked his friend as he made his way to the door and exited the cabin. "Will you be alright? Are you sure you'll make it?" Yejin inquired when Jae tucked his foot into the left stirrup of Ajax's saddle.

"I'll be fine," Jae responded before gritting his teeth and hoisting himself up into the saddle to sit atop his steed. "Okay, I'll be right behind you," Yejin told the prince before running to his vorst once he had made sure Jae was steadied on Ajax.

Within the next few moments, the prince and his right-hand were sprinting toward the castle. Pain rushed through Jae's body, but he braved through it. Seeing Syri was his first priority. His body was his last. Rage began to fester within the prince at the thought of someone harming the one he loved. If he found out who injured the zeta, Jae swore that they would never see the light of day when he found them.

Jae was quick to dismount the moment he reached the stables. Leaving Ajax to be tended to by his crew, Jae hurried toward the castle with Yejin right behind him. Not stopping until he reached the infirmary, Jae took a moment to catch his breath before quietly entering. Hearing the door open, Estan stood to his feet from where he had been resting and went to greet his prince. The gamma bowed his head to the true blood as Jae walked past before a pair of strong arms wrapped around Estan, immediately bringing peace to the gamma. Estan smiled sweetly and released a breath of relief when he felt the arms of his love.

The true blood held his breath as he approached the bed that hosted the sleeping zeta. Syri's form was so small underneath the covers it made Jae's heart ache. How could someone be so cruel to hurt someone so pure?

The zeta was so exhausted that he did not feel himself be lifted into Jae's arms and carried out of the infirmary. "I'll go check on them in the morning," Estan released with a yawn as he watched the prince carry Syri into the corridor and toward his chambers. "Mm," Yejin sounded in agreement as he held his love. "It's best to let them be together. They haven't had a moment of peace in a long time."

"Come," Yejin voiced softly as he took his love's hand in his. "We should take this time to be together in peace as well. I have a feeling there won't be many more moments like this for a while."

"Ae," Estand nodded in agreement. "The world is about to become chaos. The duel is in three days."