Kace lay awake staring at the leaves blowing above him gently in the night wind. The waning crescent moon coming to an end indicated that the duel between Jae and his father would be happening the following night. The binate turned his head to the side to look at the true blood lounging against one of the tree's branches.

Kace had been utterly confused by the true blood. He had stayed with him the past two days and nights, never leaving his side except to go hunt for food or scavenge for berries. Kace had been sure the prince of Eternal Dawn would have given up by now and returned to the palace's comfort, but he was pleasantly surprised when the true blood refused to leave him alone.

Maybe he isn't so bad. Maybe he's not like the others after all.

Hearing the prince's deep breaths indicating he was asleep, Kace slowly rose to his hands and knees and silently moved to where the true blood was resting. Kace's heart rate rose the closer he came to the true blood. Stopping just short of the prince, Kace began to study the man's sleeping face.

His lashes were long and lush; his hair was cut short so that his strong, well-shaped brows showed strongly. His soft brown hair complimented his caramel skin, and his broad shoulders hinted at his strength. The prince's chest rose and fell slightly with each breath, and Kace found himself sitting down next to the true blood.

The prince was still emitting a calming scent, and before Kace knew it, he was falling asleep next to the true blood. After a few minutes of the binate's head bobbing, Den woke to a sudden thump on his shoulder. Looking to his left, Den's eyes widened when he saw Kace's head resting on his shoulder. Realizing that Kace had taken the initiative to get close to him before falling asleep, a small smile came to Den's lips, and he carefully wrapped an arm around the binate to keep him warm in the cool night.

The sun had just begun to rise when Kace woke. He had never had a better night of rest and did not go through any fits or nightmares. The world was horizontal when Kace opened his eyes, filling him with a moment of perplexity until he realized he was lying on something soft and muscular.

Quickly lifting his head and sitting up, Kace saw Den gazing straight ahead at the rising sun. The true blood's face was lit by the golden rays; he looked serene, and Kace found himself staring at the man for a few short moments until the prince turned his head to the binate and smiled softly.

"Good morning," Den said to the binate. His voice was low and gentle, causing Kace to relax after the slight startle. A moment of silence passed as Kace just stared at the prince. Realizing Kace was going to remain quiet, Den smiled at him once more before turning his face back to the sun.

"Good morning." Kace's voice was quiet and soft, and it barely reached Den's ears. But the prince heard it, and it made his heart happy. This was only the second time Blue had spoken to him, so Den cherished the binate's greeting and kept Blue's words in his heart.

Not anticipating a response, Den politely asked, "Did you sleep well?" As expected, the binate silently nodded his head in response. However, what came next surprised the prince.

"Sorry...for..." Seeing Blue gesture to his shoulder, Den caught the drift that the man was apologizing for falling asleep on his shoulder.

Smiling gently, Den responded with, "Not to worry. I am glad to have aided in your good sleep."

A soft blush came to Blue's cheeks at the prince's words. Kace had not expected that response, and he was too scared to admit that it made his heart flutter slightly. No one had been so gentle with him except Jae, but the way the true blood was looking at him took Kace's breath away.

There was so much warmth and care in the man's eyes, his emerald orbs gazing into the binate deeply as if they were looking directly into his soul wanting to know him, wanting to know the wonders that lay beneath the hurt and damage surrounding the binate's fragile heart in a strong shield.

It is okay?... To trust him... Kace did not take his gaze from the true blood; he kept his eyes locked with Den's as he contemplated what he was to do. Long ago, Kace had sworn off trusting anyone if they were not Jae. He had been hurt too much, too deeply. His very own father selling him to the Alpha to be his dog hurt Kace more than anything, but the torture that followed solidified the binate's hate toward all strong wolves. Except...this wolf. Den was different. He had plenty of chances to hurt Kace, to use Kace. Once discovering they were fated mates, Kace ran because Den would hold immense power and authority over him through their moon-given bond. But Den had not used his authority over Kace in any way. He even saved him from the savage wolf of Black Moon.

What perplexed Kace was the way Den looked at him. Jae had always gazed at Kace softly, causing the binate to fall for him even more, but Eternal Dawn's prince looked at him...differently. Sure, his eyes were soft, but...there was something more, something deeper and full of passion, something caring and...warm. And Kace wanted that. He had been searching for something like this, someone he could trust wholeheartedly...someone he could give his heart to.

It had only taken him until that moment to realize it. He was shutting everyone out because of the fear of being hurt by those he trusted. But, for some unexplainable reason, Kace felt that he could trust Den and that his trust would never be broken. The warmth he sought was finally right there...right in front of him looking at him so softly and so warmly. And so, Kace knew what he was to do. It was the scariest thing he would ever do, but he knew he needed to. He was going to trust Den.

"Kace."

It took a moment for the binate's quiet word to register with Den. The true blood lifted a brow and sounded "Hm?" as if to ask if Kace had actually spoken to him.

"Kace," the binate repeated. "My name...is Kace."

Den's lips parted slightly in wonderous surprise. Blue was opening up to him. And he finally knew Blue's name! Excitement flooded the true blood, but Den sternly reminded himself to continue to be soft and slow in his actions and words. No matter how much he wanted to whoop for joy, Den restrained himself and smiled gently in response while his heart raced a thousand beats per second. "What a beautiful name."

Kace's ears heated unintentionally from the prince's compliment, and he lowered his head bashfully before asking, "What...what's your name?"

Den smiled at Kace's effort to get to know him and wondered what made the binate decide to open up to him. "Den, my name's Den." Silence fell between the two once more, but it was not the tense, awkward silence that had existed before; it was calm and serene. Kace saw Den's eyes fall to the scars on his neck and wondered what Den thought of his scars. He worried that the prince would be repulsed by his torn body, but Den reaching out and gently touching the scars told Kace otherwise. He knew Den was not repulsed by them when the prince gently pulled him into a soft embrace.

"I'm sorry you've been hurt, but I want you to know that as long as I am your mate, no one and no thing will ever hurt you again. You have my word as your mate." Den then pulled away to look at the binate before adding, "If you are willing, I will love you, care for you, support you, protect you, and never leave you." Den let a moment of silence pass before taking a breath and respectfully asking, "Will you be my mate?"

Tears touched Kace's eyes at Den's politeness. This caused Kace's trust and respect for the prince to skyrocket. He had heard of wolves asking for official permission from their fated ones, but those were for other wolves' fairytales. Kace had never afforded himself the luxury to dream of such things, and never in his life did Kace think he would be fated to such a respectful and polite wolf. But here he was, being asked by the crown prince of Eternal Dawn if he would be his mate. Why was the moon goddess being so favorable upon him now? Kace was flabbergasted. He had never expected to have so much favor when being fated.

Realizing he had not yet given a response, Kace respectfully bowed his head and answered, "Ae. I would be honored to be your mate, Prince." Quick to lift Kace's head, the true blood said, "Call me Den, Kace. I am your mate, not your Prince. We are equal." A smile covered Kace's lips when he heard Den's words, and all he could muster was a nod before Den pulled him into his arms. Surprised at the gentleness of Den's embrace once he was in the true blood's arms, Kace almost immediately relaxed in Den's hold and found himself burying his nose into Den's chest and inhaling the prince's strong earthy scent.

For once, Kace was at peace. His heart was warm, and his mind was still. And so, he stayed wrapped in the true blood's caring embrace as the sun continued to rise.